Leading the action-RPG genre, game developer FromSoftware plans to crush records again this Friday with Elden Ring, their latest entry in a long line of beloved titles. They are widely known for creating Demon’s Souls, the Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne, and 2019 Game of the Year winner, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

This time around, FromSoftware has collaborated with George R.R. Martin, author of the best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, to handcraft a new story that pushes the envelope of dark fantasy storytelling.

In Elden Ring, players will craft their own journey through the Lands Between in order to collect all of the Great Runes; fragments of the broken Elden Ring, to become the Elden Lord and restore order after a destructive war among corrupted demigods.

FromSoftware is famous for allowing players to tailor their gaming experience to their liking, and Elden Ring is no different. Whether it be a lowly knight or a sorcerer, it’s up to the player to see what works best for them as they encounter ruthless enemies and bosses in their journey. Elden Ring stands as a deviation to FromSoftware’s standard linear experience allowing players to traverse a vast open world on foot or horseback. Whether it be mountains, forests, or plains, the freedom to choose where you want to explore is abundant. Players will also be able to summon their friends to conquer the Lands Between together, but beware, allowing your friends to join the Lands Between also allows other players to sneak in as invaders, so be wise about your summons! With this being said, it’s now up to you to venture into the Lands Between, restore order, and become the Elden Lord.

February has already been a stacked month for gamers with the recent releases of Techland’s Dying Light 2 and Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Forbidden West, both being over five years in the making. With many game developers back in the office, we’ll start to see more groundbreaking titles hit shelves and digital markets this year. It’s worth mentioning that Elden Ring was awarded The Game Award for Most Anticipated Game at the 2021 Game Awards, so if that doesn’t drive home the anticipation that gamers have, I don’t know what will.

Elden Ring releases on February 25 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.