This list contains spoilers!
Summary
In many ways,Elden Ringis the peak of FromSoftware game design, perfecting everything that came before and becoming one of the best games of the 2020s. However, it’s worth celebrating the story ofElden Ring,too, because it is so layered, dense, and full of surprising twists and turns. Most of all, the other denizens of The Lands Between often have their own stories in the background, and they’re the most compelling narratives of all.
Whether it be a quest across the world to find a mother or a crackpot plan to bring about a new age through resurrections, the many side characters ofElden Ringhave incredible stories that are progressing alongside the player.This list is ranked purely by how good each side story is.
8Millicent
The Swordswoman Successor
When players first enter Caelid, they probably regret their choice. The land is covered in a cancerous red rot that corrupts everything it touches. Yet, high above Caelid in an unassuming church lies Millicent, a red-haired swordswoman who players can heal, beginning her adventure for meaning and understanding of her existence, andsome of the most complex lore in the game.
That’s because Millicent is a daughter of Malenia, the legendary Empyrean swordswoman. How this happened and why is what Millicent’s story explores, ending in tragedy and catharsis that gives important context for the actual boss fight with Malenia herself.
7Diallos
The Redeemed Nobleman
Almost all side stories in FromSoftware games end in tragedy in one form or another, and Diallos is no exception, yet his story is one of the most heartbreaking of all and a true redemption from the man he was.
Coming from the noble house of Honslow, Diallos is a nobleman who never had to adventure or fight, and he comes to realize how much of his life was a lie. Yet, he returned to Jarburg to protect the Living Jars, andheroically dying off-screen, finally becoming the knight he wanted to be from the beginning.
6Needle Knight Leda
The Reposed Zealot
There are few more mysterious and enigmatic characters inElden Ringthan Miquella, the Empyrean brother of Malenia, who seems to beguile service through his powers. When players begin their search for Miquella, Needle Knight Leda is the first friendly face on the path who is also searching for her master.
Yet, Leda proves to be a very complicated character in her devotion to Miquella. When it becomes clear that Miquella’s intent may not be good, and that Miquella had brainwashed many of his followers, Leda remains a violent faithful, turning mad in her devotion, before turning her fanatical attention towards the player.
5Melina
The Doomed Finger Maiden
Melina is one of the most mysterious characters inElden Ring, despite being one of the most familiar to almost every player. She is the finger maiden who helps the player level at Sites of Grace, yetshe has a clear air of mystery around herand seems to be one of the few tangible connections to Marika in the Erdtree.
In actuality, theorists are almost certain that not only is Melina a daughter of Marika, but that she is also the infamous Gloam-Eyed Queen seeking the destruction of the Gods. That makes her eventual sacrifice all the more complicated, and her motivations remain ever shrouded in greater mystery.
4Alexander, The Living Jar
The Noble Warrior
Sometimes, it’s easy to know when a character will instantly become a fan favorite, and Alexander is undoubtedly beloved in the fan community. This giant jar seeks to become a brave warrior and will remain a faithful friend to the player throughout the entire adventure.
However, Alexander’s innards hold a dark secret (as explored in theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC), and eventually, his martial valor consumes him, where his obsession to be the best means that he will fight the player to the death. Yet, he remains a beloved figure in the game, and his goofy voice never fails to make players smile.
3Morgott
The Damned Lord
In a game full of tragic figures doomed to a fate they do not deserve, none is more tragic than Morgott. Morgott, a son of Marika, was born Omen, meaning he had physical elements of the Crucible like horns and a tail. This made him a second-class citizen in The Lands Between and an enemy of the Golden Order.
However, the irony is that Morgott is the most devoted zealot of The Golden Order, far more than his siblings, who abandoned the Erdtree after the Shattering. Morgott alone does everything he can to defend a God who hates him, making his deceptions, attacks, and many battles with the Tarnished tinged with cathartic tragedy, where his valiant death is one part victory, and one part mercy.
2Gideon Ofnir
The All-Ears
InElden Ring, the Tarnished are a group of exiled warriors cast out of The Lands Between, only to be beckoned back after the Shattering so that one could become Elden Lord. There are many different kinds of Tarnished, but without a doubt, Gideon is the most duplicitous and cunning.
While Gideon appears to offer the player guidance throughout the game, there’s evidence that he’s actually spying on the player as they progress and hiding information. He’s a terrible father to his adopted daughter, and abandons everything in greed for the throne by the end, standing in the way of the player in the final moments of the game.
1Miquella
The Unalloyed
Miquella is, without a doubt, one of the most complex characters in all ofElden Ring. While players are on their path to become Elden Lord, Miquella is launching 4D-level chess moves to try and ascend to Godhood to try and usher the world into an era dominated by his pacifying brainwashing ability.
Miquella sacrificed every part of himself to bring his plan to fruition and controlled the actions of many. He’s a morally ambiguous character full of contradictions who is always active behind the scenes, becomingan incredibly satisfying bossthat forces players to their absolute limits.
