A Reddit user, brightyh360, shared an incredible project on the r/excel subreddit: a top-down version of Elden Ring, painstakingly recreated in Microsoft Excel.
This feat of programming prowess took approximately 40 hours—20 hours dedicated to coding and another 20 to rigorous testing and debugging. The creator stated, "I built a top-down Elden Ring in Excel using formulas, spreadsheets, and VBA. It was a lengthy undertaking, but the outcome was well worth the effort."
The impressive in-spreadsheet game boasts:
- A sprawling 90,000-cell map;
- Over 60 weapons;
- More than 50 enemies;
- Character and weapon upgrade systems;
- Three distinct character classes (tank, mage, assassin) with unique playstyles;
- 25+ armor sets;
- Six NPCs with accompanying quests;
- Four different game endings.
While entirely free to play, the game utilizes keyboard shortcuts for control: CTRL + WASD for movement and CTRL + E for interactions. Reddit moderators have verified the file's safety, however, users are advised to exercise caution due to the extensive use of macros.
Interestingly, the game's Erdtree sparked a festive comparison to a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. User Independent-Design17 suggested the Australian Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda, as a potential inspiration for the Erdtree's design. They highlighted the striking resemblance between the in-game Small Erdtrees and the Nuytsia, noting deeper thematic parallels. The game's depiction of catacombs at the Erdtree's base, where souls are guided, mirrors the Aboriginal Australian cultural view of Nuytsia as a "spirit tree," whose vibrant colors, associated with the sunset (the supposed path of spirits), and branching structure symbolize the souls of the departed.
