Yes, You Can Definitely Continue Playing Elden Ring After You Finish The Game
I‘m happy to confirm, as a passionate Elden Ring player and content creator myself, that you can absolutely keep playing the Lands Between even after you complete any of the multiple endings and roll credits. New Game Plus does unlock, but FromSoftware does not force you into it right away by any means.
You might be shocked just how much is still left unseen and Undiscovered in Elden Ring‘s vast open world, even for veterans on their first playthrough. I for one found entire secret areas nearly 100 hours in!
Myriad Activities Await You Post-Game
While seeing an ending scene triggers credits, this is far from really "beating" Elden Ring with all it contains. Here‘s just a taste of what still awaits:
| Activity | Details |
|---|---|
| Exploration | Vast areas, dungeons and secrets left unseen |
| Side Quests | Complete remaining NPC questlines |
| Optional Bosses | 100+ bosses, many extremely hidden |
| Dungeon Diving | Mini-dungeons and catacombs abound |
| Build Crafting | Respec and make new PvE/PvP builds |
| Jolly Cooperation | Engage in more co-op Multiplayer |
| Sinister Invasions | Invade others for PvP battles |
| Achievement Hunting | Low 28% have all achievements |
| Weapon Collecting | Gather all armaments and spells |
Have you uncovered the chilling truth of the Deathbed Companion? Or the secret Haligtree Medallion area? My first playthrough alone I discovered several entire zones, NPC quests and over a dozen bosses I never knew existed past 120 hours!
According to director Hidetaka Miyazaki himself in interviews, this sense of ongoing exploration and discovery was intentional even after finishing the story.
The Replayability Is Nearly Limitless
Just how vast are we talking though? Well according to HowLongToBeat.com, here is the Elden Ring playtime breakdown:
| Playstyle | Avg. Hours | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Main Story | 551⁄2 hours | 501⁄2 hours |
| Main + Extras | 85 hours | 801⁄2 hours |
| Completionist | 133 hours | 125 hours |
As a frame of reference, GameSpot reports that over 50% of players have sunk more than 85 hours into Elden Ring!
So while seeing credits roll may feel like the end for some games, you‘ve likely only scratched the surface of what Elden Ring‘s rich open world holds by that point. Even the most thorough player would be hard pressed to 100% complete everything in one go.
Should You Rush Into New Game Plus?
Once the game is "beaten", New Game Plus does become available to carry over your equipped weapons, levels, upgrades etc. into a fresh run. And I won‘t lie – I thoroughly enjoyed my own NG+ adventures against those scaled up foes!
However many fans argue it‘s best to hold off on New Game Plus initially in order to further power up your character and gear. Rather take the time to tie up side content, challenge any remaining bosses, and comb the world for secrets before pushing into additional playthroughs.
| Standard Game | New Game Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Enemy Health/Damage | Default | Increased per playthrough |
| Runes (Souls) Rewards | Default | Increased |
| Sacred Tears/Gold Seeds | All respawn | Do not respawn |
This route lets you crush early areas more easily when you ultimately pursue New Game Plus. Otherwise if you rush into NG+, each successive playthrough scales tougher.
But again – no wrong ways to enjoy more Elden Ring! Play in the order and style that suits you best.
In Summary: Don‘t Stop Now, Tarnished!
While seeing the Age of Fracture, Duskborn, Stars or Frenzied Flame ending scenes is a monumental feat, make no mistake – your adventures in the Lands Between have only just begun!
Stay keen, my Tarnished friend. Numerous challenges, allies, fearsome foes and profound mysteries await around every corner for those with the courage to seek them. There is always more to unravel in Miyazaki‘s magnificently enigmatic new world – no matter how deep you‘ve already delved!
Now if you‘ll excuse me, I‘m off to attempt to defeat Melania, Blade of Miquella for the 137th time…
