Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Triumphs as Best Game Expansion at Golden Joystick Awards 2024

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has taken home the accolade for Best Game Expansion at the Golden Joystick Awards 2024, solidifying its place in gaming history. This result, while perhaps expected, highlights the impressive legacy of the series. In 2022, when it first debuted, Elden Ring was the marquee title at the awards ceremony, securing victories across five different categories, which included recognition for Studio of the Year awarded to FromSoftware.

However, the competition this year was intense, casting uncertainty over the potential for a repeat win. Shadow of the Erdtree stood out among a formidable roster of contenders, which included significant expansions such as the 2023 GOTY nominee Alan Wake 2, the exceptional roguelike update for God of War: Ragnarok, the decade-closing expansion of Destiny 2 known as The Final Shape, the Vessel of Hatred DLC for Diablo 4, and the new chapter for World of Warcraft titled The War Within.

Each of these expansions could have easily claimed the award, underscoring the magnitude of Elden Ring's achievement. In our review, which awarded Shadow of the Erdtree a five-star rating, we described it as one of the most visually stunning experiences of the year. Despite having a challenging final boss, subsequent adjustments seemed to have eased the difficulty for players. While there is currently no announcement regarding the future of Elden Ring, the critical acclaim and commercial success of both the original game and its recent expansion leave fans optimistic for a return to The Lands Between in the near future.