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 remarkable feat took approximately 40 hours—20 hours dedicated to coding and another 20 to rigorous testing and debugging. The creator states, "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 scope of the Excel game includes:
- A sprawling 90,000-cell map;
- Over 60 weapons;
- More than 50 enemies;
- A comprehensive character and weapon upgrade system;
- Three distinct character classes (tank, mage, assassin) with unique playstyles;
- 25+ armor sets;
- Six NPCs, each with their own 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 significant number of macros.
Interestingly, the game's Erdtree has drawn comparisons to a Christmas tree, particularly on Christmas Eve. Reddit user Independent-Design17 suggests the Australian Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda, may have served as inspiration. He highlights the striking visual similarities between the in-game Small Erdtrees and the Nuytsia. Furthermore, fans have noted deeper thematic parallels: the catacombs at the base of the Erdtree in Elden Ring, where souls are guided, mirror the Aboriginal Australian reverence for Nuytsia as a "spirit tree," its vibrant colors associated with the sunset, the presumed path of spirits, each flowering branch representing a departed soul.
