Elden Ring board game in the works, because of course it is

pcgamer.com:

Elden Ring is getting a board game adaptation from Steamforged Games(opens in new tab), the serial Bandai Namco board game adaptation collaborator behind the prior Dark Souls(opens in new tab) and Monster Hunter: World(opens in new tab) board games.

In a news release(opens in new tab) on their website, Steamforged announced the Elden Ring board game will be sold via a Kickstarter campaign. The announcement was accompanied by a render for a miniature of infamous(opens in new tab) early-game boss Margit, the Fell Omen.(opens in new tab)

«The video game’s characteristically challenging fights will be recreated by intelligent dice-free combat, requiring players to strategise and adapt their plans during each encounter,» said the release.

“Our mission is always to deliver authentic tabletop adaptations that capture the essence of what fans know and love about the IP. Fans should expect a dark, richly-realised tabletop world of mystery and peril, with satisfying combat and rewarding exploration. Prepare to lose hours to this game, and to be glad about it,” said Mat Hart, the co-founder and chief creative officer at Steamforged.

None of that particularly describes what the game will be like, though. Diceless combat is more promising, as it's often a key to more functional, balanced, deterministic fights like those seen in Gloomhaven(opens in new tab) or even Into the Breach.(opens in new tab) I'm most interested in the idea that Steamforged might try to adapt or echo some of Elden Ring's open world spirit.

You can sign up for notifications about the Kickstarter campaign on the Elden Ring board game's pre-launch page over there.(opens in new tab) The time span before launch is «months,» however.

Will it be a good board game?