This game is amongst my top 3 favourite souls-like games. The open world innovation definitely takes a positive step in this direction and does not hold the player's hand for guidance. The boss design, level design in certain areas and the soundtrack make the entire experience very memorable. The build variety is unlike any souls game released and you will most likely find a build out there that suits your play-style. 9/10

Here are my pros and cons for Elden Ring.

Pros:
- Amazing soundtrack throughout the entire game
- Bosses are incredible in terms of design and spectacle
- Legacy dungeon areas are perfect, with tons of exploration being possible as well was some being non-linear
- Main progression route has flexibility on what the player decides to do, which is a great feeling
- Massive variety of builds to use which all feel unique and fun, some being stronger than others

Cons:
- It can be easy to over level early on due to the map being open world (kind of expected and can't be fixed)
- Many of the catacombs or caves will re-use bosses which can feel repetitive
- The open-world areas can sometimes feel empty, but this isn't massively noticeable
- Occasional lag spikes when going through areas (Caelid, Leyndell etc.)

Overall an amazing game to play, definitely give it a try!

This is my favourite game of all time. The combat in this game, as well as the design of locations and bosses, are very immersive and is very satisfying once you progress the learning curve. This game is very different to other souls-like games that have been released, and that difference will either be appealing or unappealing. The only parts I wish had more focus was the exploration, since there is not much reason to other than getting upgrade materials in certain areas. Aside from that, if you have played other souls-like games and you enjoyed parrying enemies, this game is 100% for you. Don't let the combat learning curve stop you from pressing on and overcoming the difficulty, because this game becomes very satisfying to play once you overcome it. 10/10

Here are my pros and cons for Sekiro.

Pros:
- Amazing combat and gameplay loop, can be hard to learn but it feels super rewarding when you do pick up the combat
- Bosses are very aggressive and require the player to do the same, which is different from other souls games where you use methodical attacks
- Soundtrack is very fitting for the game and sounds great
- The main story is very easy to digest

Cons:
- Level design is a bit weaker than other titles with a very linear progression system and linear map design. Doesn't have as much to explore
- The story being very digestible can make it somewhat forgettable due to lack of depth. Would love to learn more about the world of Sekiro.

Overall, this game deserves its GOTY title, definitely give it a try!