A fan has completely recreated the Elden Ring in Excel

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 feat of programming prowess took approximately 40 hours—20 hours dedicated to coding and another 20 to rigorous testing and debugging. The creator proudly stated, "I built a top-down Elden Ring in Excel using formulas, spreadsheets, and VBA. It was a lengthy project, but the outcome was well worth the effort."

The impressive in-game features include:

• A sprawling map encompassing 90,000 cells;
• Over 60 unique weapons;
• More than 50 distinct enemies;
• A comprehensive character and weapon upgrade system;
• Three character classes—tank, mage, and assassin—each with unique playstyles;
• 25+ armor sets;
• Six non-playable characters (NPCs) with engaging quests;
• Four distinct game endings.

This fully playable game is offered free of charge. However, players should note that control relies on keyboard shortcuts: CTRL + WASD for movement and CTRL + E for interaction. While Reddit moderators have verified the file's safety, users are advised to exercise caution due to the extensive use of macros.

Interestingly, the game's Erdtree sparked a festive comparison to a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. User Independent-Design17 proposed that the Australian Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda, may have served as inspiration for the Erdtree's design. They highlighted the striking visual similarities between the in-game Small Erdtrees and the Nuytsia floribunda. Further fueling this theory, fans noted deeper parallels: the catacombs at the Erdtree's base, where souls are guided in Elden Ring, mirror the Aboriginal Australian cultural significance of the Nuytsia as a "spirit tree," whose vibrant colors are associated with the sunset, the perceived journey of spirits, with each flowering branch symbolizing a departed soul.