A Reddit user, brightyh360, shared an incredible project on the r/excel subreddit: a top-down version of Elden Ring recreated entirely in Microsoft Excel. This feat of programming took approximately 40 hours – 20 hours for coding and another 20 for testing and debugging. The creator states the result was well worth the effort.
This impressive Excel 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 associated quests;
- Four different game endings.
While completely free to play, the game utilizes keyboard shortcuts for control: CTRL + WASD for movement and CTRL + E for interaction. Reddit moderators have verified the file's safety, but users are advised to exercise caution due to the extensive use of macros.
Interestingly, the game's Erdtree has sparked comparisons to a Christmas tree, particularly given its appearance on Christmas Eve. User Independent-Design17 suggests the Australian Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda, may have served as inspiration. They noted a striking resemblance between the in-game Small Erdtrees and this real-world tree. Further parallels exist in the game's depiction of catacombs at the Erdtree's roots, mirroring the Aboriginal Australian cultural view of Nuytsia as a "spirit tree," connecting its vibrant colors to the sunset, the purported path of spirits, with each flowering branch symbolizing a departed soul.