Elden Ring: the Board Game Rot & Sorcery Gamefound Launch
On February 25, 2022 the world was introduced to the Soulslike lovechild of FromSoftware Director Hidetaka Miyazaki and writer George R.R. Martin. Elden Ring would become one of the most polarizing videogames of the past generation and would even go on to win Game of the Year at the 2022 Game Awards. Critics and players were swept away by the massive world and naturally integrated storytelling. Yet, once the Elden Beast was slain and the credits rolled, fans were left with a yearning sensation and wanted to explore the masterfully crafted world even more. Then enters Steamforged Games.
Learn more about Steam Forged Games and their products by checking out their website.
Founded in 2014, Steamforged Games saw a humble beginning in the corner of a Manchester, UK hobby store. Today, they are one of the most recognizable and respected teams in the board game space. Their most notable work being tabletop adaptations of triple - AAA video games such as Monster Hunter World, Horizon Zero Dawn, Dark Souls, Resident Evil, Gears of War, and most recently Elden Ring.
Elden Ring the Board Game found its way to stores on March 31, 2025. Its original campaign launched in 2022 raising over £3.3 million (~4.4 million USD) with more the 130,000 backers. Now Steamforged looks to build on that success with a new, accessible entry point that expands the tabletop Lands Between.
Just as they have done previously, Steamforged will return to crowdfunding as they introduce two all-new core boxes —Machinations of the Witch and Dominion of Rot— set in eerie fog of Liurnia and the corruption of Caelid. While these boxes are compatible with the contents of the first campaign (Realm of the Grafted King, Weeping Peninsula, and Stormveil Castle), they also act as standalone entries with previous contents not needed to fully play and enjoy the self-contained experience.
In the Lakes of Liurnia, sorceries lay dormant, secrets dwell deep, and the Machinations of the Witch ensnare even the most cunning. In the Dominion of Rot, players must survive theaffliction gripping Caelid, traversing ravaged lands to face grotesque enemies, including thefan-favourite Starscourge.
“With the first core boxes, we built an engine we’re extremely proud of, that pushedthe boundaries of tabletop combat to recreate the challenging fights of the videogame,” said Mat Hart, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at Steamforged Games.“Now, we’re expanding that foundation with new regions, new stories, and newgameplay, while making sure newcomers and returning players feel equally welcome.Fans can start their journey right here, with Rot & Sorcery, or returnto the beginning.”
As someone who has never played Elden Ring and finds little enjoyment in Soulslikes, I was fearful of even approaching this board game. But at Gen Con 2025, I was given the opportunity to demo portions of both Machinations of the Witch and Dominion of Rot, guided by the advice and wisdom of Steamforged game designers. Even with a minuscule amount of knowledge of the Elden Ring world, I still had a fantastic time. Gameplay felt similar to participating in a DnD campaign, but without a GM as the game smoothly runs itself. Combat had a degree of difficulty and strategy that matched the Soulslike genre. And that rush of excitement you get after defeating a powerful boss or pulling off some cool combo, is still there. But my favorite part was the level of strategy when deciding the best way to move in combat tiles and the most beneficial way to spend actions each turn. Below you can check out the demos I participated in for yourself.
Each core box offers a self-contained experience—fully playable without previous content—and includes richly detailed miniatures representing iconic enemies, immersive combat, and flavorful narrative. For returning Tarnished, the new boxes also integrate with those from the first Kickstarter for a grander, interconnected experience. The Gamefound campaign also features expansions and unlockable content that will be revealed while the funding period is live. Some content will be exclusive, making this a key moment for collectors and players alike. The Gamefound campaign is live now for both newcomers and veteran Tarnished. Discover the boxes, explore the expansions, and join the campaign.
©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. / ©FromSoftware, Inc