Written by George R.R. Martin of Game of Thrones fame and created by Demon's Souls creator Eitaka Miyazaki, Elden Ring is the most anticipated game of 2022. Now publisher Namco Bandai has released a 20-minute gameplay preview, and perhaps the Internet hype will reach Cyberpunk 2077 levels.

Like the Souls title, Elden Ring is an action RPG, this time focused on exploring the world of The Lands Between. From the gameplay footage, the world appears to be quite massive and gorgeous. The game is set in a meticulously crafted open world, where Souls-like combat takes place. Its combat is going to be challenging, but we definitely don't want to see a Soulsborne-like difficulty controversy.

Elden Ring will be released on February 25, 2022 on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC.

Elden Ring's high fantasy setting is grim, but the game itself is bright and colorful. The amber hues of the setting sun flow into an idyllic forest where monsters roam, and the bleakness of the characters and creatures is a stark contrast to the warmth of the world itself.

Compared to other high fantasy titles, Elden Rings is highly imaginative, and a great deal of effort seems to have been put into setting it apart from the rest. Like "Assassin's Creed" and "Far Cry,"

players run toward strongholds and forts and take down encampments of bad guys.

Players can go to catacombs (claustrophobic, narrow corridors that feel very "Soul"-like), or they can enter huge, spacious dungeons. These dungeons have multiple entrances and different approaches.

Because of Miyazaki's work, the bosses are huge and complex, which should make the game challenging even for veteran "Souls" players. Also, unlike past "Souls" titles, "Elden Ring" offers both cooperative and PvP multiplayer. Thus, players may be able to work with friends to defeat fire-breathing monsters.