Elden Ring: Why Leyndell Capital is the Game's Best Legacy Dungeon

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Among other aspects of FromSoftware games that have garnered praise, fans will often point out the environmental and visual design are a particular standout. Rightfully so, games ranging from the original Dark Souls to Bloodborne have some of the most recognizable and iconic locations in games. From Demon's Souls onward, FromSoftware RPGs have featured a distinct, Metroidvania design framework that's intelligently structured and interconnected. Exploring each world has evolved over time, especially as Soulsborne games have expanded beyond Dark Souls and experimented with the formula. Elden Ring in particular experimented the most with environmental design.

While the exploratory elements of previous Soulsborne games have come close, Elden Ring is the first game in the subgenre to go truly open-world. World and dungeon design in Elden Ring is still rife with the interconnected and clever design, but all the open-ended and exploratory aspects of the subgenre meld with FromSoftware's environment design to make a truly unique open-world. That's because, in between the non-linear aspects of the game's world are the «legacy dungeons,» otherwise known as the regions that cater to the level design players expect of FromSoftware. Arguably the best example of these legacy dungeons is Leyndell, the Royal Capital.

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While the introductory Stormveil Castle and the deceptive Academy of Raya Lucaria are fantastic examples of great dungeon design, the Leyndell Capital acts as a sort-of «greatest hits» of FromSoftware's environment design. Elden Ring's Leyndell Capital incorporates the labyrinthian nature of Bloodborne, the awe-inspiring vistas of Dark Souls and other