Excel Masterpiece: Elden Ring Transformed into Spreadsheet Saga

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 impressive feat took 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 result was well worth the effort."

The game boasts an impressive array of features, considering its unconventional platform:

• A sprawling 90,000-cell map.
• Over 60 weapons.
• More than 50 enemy types.
• Character and weapon upgrade systems.
• Three distinct character classes (tank, mage, assassin) with unique playstyles.
• 25+ armor sets.
• Six NPCs with accompanying quests.
• Four different game endings.

While entirely free to play, the game utilizes keyboard shortcuts for control: CTRL + WASD for movement and CTRL + E for interactions. 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 holiday-themed discussion. User Independent-Design17 suggested the Australian Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda, as a potential inspiration for the in-game Erdtree's design. They highlighted the striking visual similarities between the game's smaller Erdtrees and the Nuytsia, noting further parallels between the game's lore and Aboriginal beliefs. In Elden Ring, catacombs are located at the Erdtree's roots, serving as the resting place for souls. Similarly, Aboriginal culture considers Nuytsia a "spirit tree," associating its vibrant colors with the sunset—the perceived journey of spirits—and its branches with the souls of the deceased.