Elden Ring: where to start and what to buy

On August 28, 2026, ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition lands on Nintendo Switch 2: base game, Shadow of the Erdtree, and new content (starter classes, armor sets, and horse customization) in one box. The same day, on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, the Tarnished Pack releases: that extra layer only.

If you open the store and see Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree, Game of the Year, Shadow of the Erdtree Edition, and now Tarnished Edition, it’s normal to feel lost. This guide answers one question: what to buy in 2026 for your platform.

The date is also on our release calendar.

What Elden Ring is (no spoilers)

Open-world action RPG (the Lands Between), built by FromSoftware with heavy input from George R. R. Martin. You create a character, explore on foot or horseback, try weapons and spells, and face unforgiving bosses. Optional online help exists, but the core is single-player.

You don’t need Dark Souls first: the tone and difficulty are similar, but the map and route freedom are a different beast. Dark Souls was always more linear; this one aims for true open world.

Official screenshots:

What’s in the store

Quick look. There is only one DLC for the single-player RPG; everything else is the base game, extra packs, or bundles that combine them.

*The DLC does not stand alone: you need the base game on the same platform.

What each column means:

• Base: main Elden Ring campaign (2022). PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series, PC.
• DLC — Shadow of the Erdtree: the only RPG expansion. Play it after you’ve made solid progress in the base game.
• Tarnished extras: Heavy Knight and Idus Knight starter classes, four armor sets, and three Torrent (horse) skins. New cosmetics and builds; not a second DLC or more story.

Nightreign is not in this table: it’s a separate game, not a numbered DLC.

What to buy for your situation

Starting from zero on Switch 2

Tarnished Edition. The full set. Don’t hunt for a standalone base on Switch 2 “without DLC”: the official entry point is this pack.

Starting from zero on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC

1. Buy the base game (or a bundle that already includes Shadow of the Erdtree if it’s cheaper).
2. Add Shadow of the Erdtree if the bundle doesn’t include it.
3. On August 28, grab the Tarnished Pack if you want the new content (optional: not needed to finish the story or the DLC).

You don’t need to wait for Switch 2’s Tarnished Edition if your platform already has the game: that edition is mainly how to start the series on Nintendo.

You already own Elden Ring (with or without DLC) on PS / Xbox / PC

• No DLC: buy Shadow of the Erdtree whenever you want the expansion.
• With DLC: you’re caught up on major content. Tarnished Pack is cosmetics / new classes, not a second Elden Ring.
• Don’t buy Switch 2’s Tarnished Edition “for the extras” if you won’t play on that console: extras come to your platform via the pack.

Game Pass / PS Plus?

Subscription catalogs change. The base (or packs) has been on Game Pass before; don’t assume Tarnished Edition or the DLC are day-one additions. Before paying full price, check the current listing on Xbox / PlayStation. More on plans in Game Pass explained and PS Plus explained.

Play order

1. Elden Ring (main campaign / world) until you’re comfortable and well into the game.
2. Shadow of the Erdtree after: the expansion expects a seasoned character; jumping in cold is a bad idea.

ELDEN RING Nightreign is a separate title (co-op focus / sessions unlike the classic open RPG). If you want the Lands Between story and world, it does not replace the base or the DLC. Buy it only if that format appeals to you, not “to complete the series” like another numbered entry.

Bottom line

In 2026 the big call is entry platform. Switch 2 = Tarnished Edition. Everything else = base + Shadow of the Erdtree, with the Tarnished pack as an optional cherry on the same day as Nintendo’s launch.

More on the official Tarnished Edition page and how to get the Tarnished Pack on other platforms.