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 impressive feat took approximately 40 hours—20 hours coding and 20 hours debugging. The creator states the result was well worth the effort.
This Excel-based 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);
- 25+ armor sets;
- Six NPCs with accompanying quests;
- Four different game endings.
While completely free to play, users control the game via keyboard shortcuts: CTRL + WASD for movement and CTRL + E for interaction. Reddit moderators have verified the file's safety, but users are advised to proceed with caution due to the extensive use of macros.
Interestingly, the game's Erd Tree has drawn comparisons to a Christmas tree, prompting speculation about its design inspiration. User Independent-Design17 suggests the Australian Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda, as a potential model, noting striking similarities between the in-game Small Erd Trees and this real-world tree. Further parallels exist in the cultural significance: Elden Ring's Erd Tree roots house catacombs leading to the souls of the dead, mirroring the Aboriginal belief that Nuytsia is a "spirit tree," its vibrant color associated with the sunset, the supposed path of spirits, and each flowering branch representing a departed soul.
