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All the success and love in the world will not shield you from its fangs.
It doesnt care if you’re on vacation.
It doesnt care if you got that promotion.
But when the big day arrived, I found myself approaching theElden RingDLC with trepidation.
Who is this guy?
And what are these Martial Arts attacks?
I felt no pressure to be happy when exploring the desolate Scorched Ruins.
The DLC became my safe sad space with its relentless lack of cheer.
After a few hours playing the DLC, I was hooked.
In-game struggles became an outlet for my own mental health struggles.
In spring this year, I became used to days dragging by while I waited to feel human again.
Could the beautiful, absorbing flow state of gaming be coming back to me?
I hadnt felt this immersed in a game for so long, and had worried I would never again.
Riding into the Cerulean Coast for the first time, I gasped aloud.
Inspired, I continued into The Cerulean Coast to face Ghostflame Dragon.
While his flame continued to kill me, nothing was stopping me from trying once more.
This boss fight gave me a much-appreciated sense of purpose.
At a time in my life when everything felt futile, I could feel myself caring about something again.
And that something is one of the greatest DLCs ever made.
A spark I hadnt seen in so long.
To my surprise, I looked alive again.
As alive as I feel when exploring The Shadow Realms.
I may have died many times in-game, but my hope in real life persevered.
After your rematch with Radahn, see out this year with ourbest games of 2024
