The Lore Showdown: Elden Ring vs Zelda's Tears of the Kingdom

Fantasy adventures are incomplete without discovering ancient ruins or hearing about local myths. This holds true for video games as well, even outside of RPGs with a strong emphasis on storytelling. Almost every fantasy title, including Elden Ring and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, incorporates references to its past within its present narrative. These games are particularly abundant with mysteries since they take place after destructive wars that have devastated their lands and cultures.

Being two of the most popular fantasy open world games, comparing the treatment of their backstories in Elden Ring and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an intriguing exercise. Both games draw on the real-life legacies of their developers, whether it's FromSoftware's acclaimed Soulsborne titles or Nintendo's pioneering Legend of Zelda franchise. However, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom adds an extra layer of complexity by being a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, resulting in some interesting shifts in how its lore is revealed.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom places great emphasis on conveying its lore to players. It wants to ensure that players fully understand the story and the world it has created. This is evident in how the game presents its backstory, with a focus on providing a clear and concise narrative that is easy to follow.

The philosophy of unrestricted freedom is the first similarity between both titles. Players are free to explore any direction they please in the Lands Between and Hyrule, discovering adventure even if they are unprepared. Unlike Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Elden Ring and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom suggest players begin by following specific paths through their maps. Additionally, Tears of the Kingdom goes a step further by displaying its lore in a similar fashion.

FromSoftware has a reputation for hiding their lore within item descriptions, but Legend of Zelda takes a different approach by showing instead of telling. The game features flashbacks scattered throughout Hyrule, marked by massive sigils in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. After finding the first flashback, players are directed towards a temple that displays the location of every sigil and the order in which they should be viewed. Although players are not required to engage with the memories, this design choice demonstrates the game's emphasis on storytelling and encourages players to explore the narrative.

Anyone searching for straightforward and easily digestible story details may not find Elden Ring to be the best fit, although it is less convoluted than previous FromSoftware titles. The game introduces Sir Gideon Ofnir, who serves as a combination of a mission controller and a master of lore, similar to the Sheikah researchers in Zelda. While some of his information may be speculative, he still imparts general knowledge about the major players in the Lands Between. Players will have to rely on item descriptions and various clues to piece together the rest of the story.

While Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom prioritizes visual storytelling, Elden Ring takes a different approach by keeping certain key events and character backgrounds shrouded in mystery. Players are left to piece together information about the Night of Black Knives, Queen Marika's initial conquests, and the enigmatic Tarnished on their own.

Unlike the Hyrule of the Zelda games, which has been thoroughly explored, the world of Elden Ring still holds untold secrets waiting to be uncovered in the upcoming expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree. It remains to be seen if Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will receive its own DLC with additional lore, but it's intriguing to see how these two games with similar frameworks handle their storytelling in distinct ways.