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 monumental undertaking consumed approximately 40 hours—20 hours dedicated to coding and another 20 to rigorous testing and debugging. The creator stated, "I built a top-down Elden Ring in Excel using formulas, spreadsheets, and VBA. It was a lengthy project, but the results were well worth the effort."
The impressive recreation boasts:
- 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) each with unique playstyles;
- 25+ armor sets;
- Six NPCs, each with their own quests;
- Four different game endings.
While completely free to play, controlling the game requires keyboard shortcuts: 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 extensive use of macros.
Interestingly, the game's Erdtree sparked a Christmas Eve discussion amongst Elden Ring fans, resembling a "Christmas tree." User Independent-Design17 proposed that the Australian Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda, may have served as inspiration. They highlighted the striking visual similarities between the in-game Small Erdtrees and the Nuytsia, extending the comparison to deeper cultural parallels. The game's depiction of catacombs at the Erdtree's roots, where souls are guided, mirrors the Aboriginal Australian reverence for Nuytsia as a "spirit tree," its vibrant colors associated with the sunset, the presumed path of spirits, and each flowering branch representing a departed soul.
