Why Elden Ring Is FromSoftware's Friendliest Platinum Trophy

Long before a Tarnished ever graced the Lands Between, trophy hunting had already become a competitive sport among console loyalists. Achievements arrived on the Xbox 360 in 2005, and Sony followed suit with its trophy system on the PS3 in 2008. By 2009, trophy support had become standard practice, with even Metal Gear Solid 4 receiving a patch to retrofit the shiny rewards. Since then, players have compared trophy lists, captured screenshots, recorded video clips, and occasionally let the PS5 seize audio at the exact moment a platinum pops. Against that backdrop, the question of whether Elden Ring deserves its reputation as a brutal FromSoftware challenge takes a curious turn. The answer, much to the relief of weary trophy hunters, is that Elden Ring is actually the most platinum-friendly entry in the developer's celebrated catalog.

FromSoftware's reputation for difficulty is well earned, but Elden Ring's trophy list displays an unusual dose of mercy. Of the 42 trophies or achievements available, a hearty 30 are tied to defeating various bosses scattered across the Lands Between. The collectible demands are similarly restrained: hunters must gather all legendary weapons, talismans, ashen remains, and sorceries or incantations. There are also three separate ending trophies covering three of the six possible endings, while the remaining trophies are mostly related to natural story progression. In other words, a player does not need to hoover up every single item in the open world, and the game does not ask them to master every obscure mechanic just to earn a digital badge of honor.

Compare that to the older siblings, and the difference is almost comical. Demon's Souls infamously asks a player to kill a dragon with their fists, a requirement that sounds less like a trophy objective and more like a dare from a particularly vindictive game director. Bloodborne insists that hunters collect every single weapon in the game, which often means poking through sinister chalice dungeons and hidden corners far beyond the main story. Dark Souls 2 demands multiple New Game Plus cycles to collect all rings at their various levels, while Dark Souls 3 turns covenant grinding into a part-time job, forcing players to join, advance, and farm factions for equipment needed to unlock trophies.

The contrast can be summarized in a tidy table of suffering:

Naturally, Elden Ring is not entirely free of headaches. A couple of achievements can send players on a scavenger hunt, such as locating the Godfrey Icon talisman or the formidable Sword of Night and Flame. The recent patches also did not do any favors for those who braved Malenia, but the trophy list itself remains far kinder than the boss herself. Most achievements unlock naturally through ordinary progression, and aside from the ending trophies, the entire list can be completed in a single playthrough. Any build or playstyle can eventually secure the platinum, whether a sorcery-slinging astrologer or a colossal-weapon-wielding brawler.

For FromSoftware veterans who have endured the covenant grind of Dark Souls 3 or the fist-versus-dragon madness of Demon's Souls, Elden Ring's ultimate accolade feels almost like a warm handshake rather than a gauntlet to the face. Even in 2026, trophy hunters returning to the Lands Between often praise the game for respecting their time, a rare sentiment in a genre famous for demanding every last drop of patience. After all, when a developer known for punishing its fans suddenly serves up a reasonable checklist, the only sensible reaction is to grab that platinum, take a screenshot, and ride Torrent into the sunset. 🏆