Elden Ringmay get most of its plaudits for its gameplay, brutal bosses and open-world format, but you also cannot deny that itis a gorgeous game.FromSoftwaregames haven’t always been praised for their graphical fidelity, butElden Ringmanages to match anything that the AAA big hitters managed to create in 2022, with the addition of the quintessentially brilliant world design, lore and interconnectedness that we have come to expect fromSoulsgames down the years.
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There are so many standout locations and regions withinElden Ringthat have you scrambling to pick your jaw up from off the floor before a mob enemy catches you off-guard. But I want to look at each of them and try to work out, pound for pound, which of these regions offers the most aesthetically-pleasing and graphically awe-inspiring places to visit in The Lands Between. It’s like picking your favorite children, but even if they won’t admit it, every parent has their favorite deep down.
9Weeping Peninsula
I don’t think I will get much backlash for stating as fact that the Weeping Peninsula, the optional early game area inElden Ring, is easily the most underwhelming area, not only in terms of content, but also in terms of spectacle and aesthetic. It’s not a bad-looking place. Don’t get me wrong. It’s just thatElden Ringsets the bar high, and by that lofty standard, The Weeping Peninsula fails to deliver.
It’s essentially an extension of Limgrave, but without all the intriguing aspects that makeElden Ring’sfirst area so impressive. Honestly, the only area of The Weeping Peninsula worth mentioning here isCastle Morne, and even that area does little to stand out among all the other Legacy Dungeons within the game. It’s a great place to get your bearings, but don’t expect a lot of eye candy.
8Mountaintops of the Giants
I remember throughout my time inElden Ringgoing through the paces and imagining what was waiting for me on the Mountaintops as I scouted the land for the two halves of theHaligtree Secret Medallion (Right). Had I known that the majority of the area would just be dominated by snow and thick fog as far as the eye could see, however, I probably wouldn’t have been as hellbent on getting up there.
I’m being harsh, as this area has some cool landmarks, like the Forge where you fight theFire Giant, andCastle Solis interesting, too. But due to the spaced-out design and a lack of interesting distractions and events when exploring this area, it just feels like a slog with no sights to see along the way to keep you invested. Plus, theMap (Consecrated Snowfield)won’t allow you to see a foot in front of you, so aesthetically, that’s about as bad as it gets. It’s an example of whyElden Ring’slate game leaves a lot to be desired and this area pales in comparison to practically all others.
There’s a lot to love about Limgrave. After all, there’s nothing quite like opening those big doors and staring at the expansive world ofElden Ringwith the Erdtree in the distance for the first time. Limgrave is packed with interesting areas, likeStormveil Castle, various Catacombs and more. This area runs into the same issues as The Weeping Peninsula, however, in that it’s an opening area, and therefore, has to keep the overall spectacle dialed down a notch. Because, after all, if you start at a ten, you have nowhere to go.
That being said, I love Limgrave because it is densely packed with lots of places to explore, beautiful vistas to stare off into and various events where we meet important NPCs. If this were a list where we talked about the environmental design and how great it is as an introduction to open-world Souls games, then perhaps the placement would be different. But from a purely aesthetic point of view, Limgrave is a little plain compared to some other locations.
6The Haligtree
Here’s one that will only be appreciated by thoseElden Ringplayers who did more than what was asked of them, as The Haligtree is an optional area of the game that plays host to what is arguably the hardest boss of any Souls game in existence,Malenia, Blade of Miquella. So in terms of spectacle and challenge where combat is concerned, that’s present, clear as day, but the area also stuns due to its design and awe-inspiring vistas. In principle, it’s a typicalSoulslegacy dungeon where you explore a claustrophobic castle environment with beautiful gothic architecture, but due to the treetop setting, it’s got its own charm.
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The sections where you must navigate the branches ofMiquella’s Haligtreeand walk across dodgy-looking rope bridges are gorgeous, and the way branches engulf every structure in the area adds to the effect. But the problem with this area is that, due to the overinflated health bars of mobs and ganks, you are pretty much forced to sprint through large portions of this area, and therefore, miss a lot of the finer details that make this place special. So while it is stunning, FromSoftware’s end-game struggles lead to them shooting themselves in the foot here.
Caelid is a hard region ofElden Ringto place because if you’re honest with yourself, Caelid looks horrible, grotesque and uninviting. As manyElden Ringplayers will know, however, that’s what makes Caelid such an intriguing place. The fact that you constantly feel on edge is part of the charm. The way that the Scarlet Rot has completely taken over this region, and every monstrous being seems determined to kill you at all costs, makes this place feel like a beautiful nightmare you never want to wake from.
That being said, due to its uninviting nature and the over-reliance on a strong red hue, we aren’t going to say it’s aesthetically perfect. In fact, most people will see this as a place to dip in, do what’s needed and get out of dodge. But even if that is how you feel about Caelid, you’ll still get to witness the bleak beauty ofRedmane Castleand the pure spectacle of the fight againstStarscourge Radahn. It’s a limited area as exploration is a little more linear than most areas, but due to the pseudo-survival-horror atmosphere this area creates through its presentation, I still think it’s awesome.
4Crumbling Farum Azula
It may be partially down to the fact that theCrumbling Farum Azulalooks like an area lifted straight from the ashy world ofDark Souls 3that colors my fondness for this area, but even putting that aside, it’s still bloody gorgeous. This area is trapped in an eternal storm that exists outside of time, and due to this, the city formerly of The Lands Between is constantly crumbling and disintegrating while housing the greatDragonlord Placidusax, who awaits his master’s return. It’s a place that just defies belief, not to mention physics, and has some of the most spectacular dynamic views you’ll find anywhere in the game.
It’s stunning and plays host to some of the finest boss battles in the game, against the aforementioned Dragonlord Placidusax, andMaliketh, the Black Blade. But the problem with Crumbling Farum Azula, which drags it down, is that it’s a small and linear area of the game. It’s also an area that is a little one-note in terms of design, with not enough standout areas outside the aforementioned boss battles. Plus, it’s a nightmare to navigate due to the crumbling nature of the setting. In short, it’s a conceptually fascinating area with standout moments but lacks the variety and design elements to be considered one of the best.
3Atlus Plateau
Ironically, Atlus Plateau was the area after Caelid, Limgrave, and Liurnia of the Lakes, whereElden Ring’svisual design started to plateau in many ways, as the far reaches of Atlus Plateau feel like an autumnal extension of Limgrave, and often, not in a good way. A lot like the Mountaintops of the Giants, the ability to explore and feel like it was a truly rewarding endeavor started to wain in Atlus Plateau, and as such, the varied and vibrant areas to explore started to dwindle in number. But, even with this in mind, it still offers a lot, like the Windmill Village, Mt Gelmir, Volcano Manor and Hermit Village. The real reason this area ranks so high, however, is purely down to the strength ofLeyndell, Royal Capital
This end-game legacy dungeon is a sprawling, interconnected, hyper-detailed masterclass ofSoulsdesign, with meticulously crafted streets and back alleys, gothic architecture, all of which can be traversed, and the corpse of a dragon looming large over the city. This only really scratches the surface as you have the dark and dingySubterranean Shunning-Groundsunderfoot, the Elden Throne area, and the ability to cast the whole city into ash for a whole new look entirely. Atlus Plateau as a whole is underwhelming, but because of the strength of Leyndell alone, it’s a contender for the best area of all.
2Liurnia of the Lakes
Our silver medal goes to the expansive and water-filled area, Liurnia of the Lakes, an area that is chocked full of intriguing places, each with its own quirks and charms. You have the Frenzied Flame Village with the big eye of Sauron; you haveCaria Manor, Jarburg, The Village of the Alburniacs and so much more. When you think of Liurnia of the Lakes, however, chances are that your mind goes to either the Ancestor Moon or theRaya Lucaria Academy.
These are two areas of the game that lean into the more celestial side ofElden Ring’saesthetic offerings and provide an incredible setting to explore, essentially actingElden Ring’svery own Hogwarts, only in this case, it’s full of guys wearing Burger King masks that want nothing more than to kill you for entering their hallowed halls. Whether you like the twinkle of the blue crystals or splashing around in the swampy marshes, there truly is something for everyone here.
1The Underground (Siofra/Ainsel/Deeproot Depths)
I feel it’s only right to group all the areas of the underground inElden Ringtogether, because if I took them apart, I’m not sure if I could in good conscience choose between them. But what I do know is that if I did, they would all be in the running for the most stunning area in the game. I think a lot of the wow factor of these areas comes from the first time you descend below the map and discover that there is a whole other world awaiting you.
Whether you head down to theAinsel Riverfirst and head for Nokstella, you’ll be treated to cascading waterfalls, an enigmatic forgotten city, and of course, theLake of Rot, which feels like Caelid on steroids. And then, as the cherry on top of the cake, you can take a scenic coffin ride to theMap (Deeproot Depths), which is the bleak settlement found nestled in the roots of the Great Erdtree.
For my money, however, TheSiofra River Wellis the portion of the underground that is the most visually captivating. The area is like something from a dream. It’s abundant with stars and has so many little points of interest dotted around it that can be seen from the elevator as you come down for the first time, such as Nokron andMohgwyn Palace, your starting point for Shadow of the Erdtree. So if you want to see the most visually-outstanding aspects ofElden Ringfor yourself, then you’ll need to head below sea level, my friend: all the good stuff is buried below!
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