How to Enjoy Elden Ring — Perspective of a 31-Year-Old Dad

Elden Ring was released on February 25, 2022, shortly after I knew I was going to be a father. So, playing video games wasn’t my priority. Still, I decided to purchase it on day one, and I quit shortly after.

I was already time-constrained, and it was released during an awkward time between Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Triangle Strategy—two major Nintendo releases I had to play no matter what.

Then, we also need to consider that Elden Ring is a huge game with a lot to explore and a very steep learning curve, especially if you have little experience with FromSoftware games.

I had played Dark Souls and loved it, so I knew I was going to enjoy Elden Ring’s gameplay as well. But the open-world nature of the game, combined with the lack of guidance on its mechanics, took away some of my initial enjoyment.

Flash forward 2.5 years later, I decided to give the game another fair try. But I almost regretted it, as I now have even more responsibilities and less time to play.

Still, after pushing through and sticking with it for a few more hours, I finally found a way to enjoy it until the credits rolled.

So, if you want to know how to enjoy Elden Ring, here’s how a busy father did it:

Finding the Right Time to Play

Right now, my go-to gaming time is in the morning before work. My girlfriend and baby are both asleep, and I can usually get in at least two hours of playtime each day.

Since these two hours fly by quickly, I set specific goals, like defeating a specific boss, acquiring a particular weapon, or completing a questline. I allow myself to explore freely during each session, but my main priority is making progress to reach the end of the game.

Use Guides!

Time is short, meaning I can’t play this game the intended way. I’d love to lose myself for hours exploring every nook and cranny of this fantasy world, but unfortunately, I had to take some shortcuts by looking at guides.

After watching a couple of guides on YouTube, my enjoyment with Elden Ring skyrocketed. Watching a guide on how to farm runes or create a decent build gave me short-term objectives and taught me a lot about the game’s mechanics.

The two guides I relied on were:

Best Builds

Rune Farming

After establishing a good build and a reliable rune farming method, I was able to freely explore and tackle the main bosses in any order. However, if I spent too much time trying to defeat a boss, I’d look up a quick guide as well.

Use Summons and Don’t Be Afraid to Call for Help

At first, I was one of those purists who refused to use spirit or summons, but now I realize how foolish that was. This game isn’t fair, so why make your life harder by not using spirits? If you have limited time to play and want to make genuine progress, there’s no shame in getting an extra hand.

Among the best is Mimic Tear, the spirit I used the most. It mimics your character’s equipment and worked great with my Dex Bleed build.

However, your Mimic won’t be much help unless you keep upgrading it so make sure to follow this guide I usedt:

Learn How to Reset Your Stats

When I started, I didn’t follow a build and placed my points wherever I thought I needed them. After looking at build guides, I realized I had a terrible stat distribution.

I looked up how to reset your stats, and it wasn’t easy. You’ll need to clear Raya Lucaria and beat the main boss. You’ll also need a specific item that might be tough to get depending on where you are.

Here’s the guide I used:

Afterward, I was on my way to complete my dream build and clear the game!

Can you enjoy Elden Ring as a busy father?

Elden Ring is a fantastic game with tons of content, but as we get older, time for ourselves shortens, and playing massive games like this becomes more difficult.

Don’t be afraid to use guides in video games and other resources such as social media or chat groups to ask for help! There’s no shame in that. When you play a game, it’s up to you to decide how you’ll tackle it.

This is how to enjoy Elden Ring if you’re busy like me or feel like the game is unforgiving and impossible.

You’ll still die a lot though, it’s part of the fun! Enjoy.