Elden Ring Fans Think It's Actually A Mario Game

Do you remember that weird theory that Elden Ring is set in Ohio? While it's since been debunked that the Lands Between are a fantasy replica of the Buckeye State, we're back with another wild idea for what FromSoftware's rotten realm is based on. Is Elden Ring a secret Mario game?

FromSoft has been making Souls-like games since 2009's Demon's Souls, while Nintendo has been bringing the Mushroom Kingdom to life since Super Mario Bros. hit the scene in 1985. One is a relatively simplistic platformer, while the other is a AAA nightmare that will consume hundreds of hours of your life. However, they might be more similar than you first thought. 

Is The Lands Between Based On Super Mario World? 

Going viral online, someone has noticed similarities between Super Mario World's Dino Land and the Lands Between. Twitter user Lucky Bun shared their interpretation of the Elden Ring map when compared to the 1990 SNES classic. It's a comparison we can't unsee, so bring on Mario the Tarnished with Yoshi as his trusty steed instead of Torrent. 

Here Chocolate Island is reimagined as the red hues of Caelid, Yoshi's Island is the Weeping Peninsula, and Donut Plains is Liurnia of the Lakes. The map even goes as far as to turn Star World into Crumbling Farum Azula. Taking the usually grim and grisly aesthetic of the Elden Ring map and turning it into a colourful caper fit for that portly plumber, we can't wait for modders to put a Mario filter on the Lands Between. 

Open-world games are the norm these days, with everything from God of War to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild delivering sprawling backdrops you can explore at your own leisure. Ironically, fans pointed out that Super Mario World includes elements of open-world gameplay. 

What Have Fans Said About The Elden Ring X Mario Crossover?

Both Elden Ring and Mario players loved the map. One supporter said, "I grew up with this Mario game... How did I not think of this?", while another added, "Can't wait to see the youtube lore videos unpacking this." Someone else suggested: "Elden World 2 You play a princessless plumber, and spamming fireballs from faith-flower seems to be the only viable option for damage, as you fight your way to reach the Erdmushroom to restore the golden star-order."

Another even said Nintendo could adopt these ideas for the future of the Mario franchise and concluded: "Humm this actually got me thinking on how a open world Mario game would be. I dont mean like odyssey, but say a mix between Super Mario World and a open world game. Where you go from one point of the island to Bowser's castle in a open island to explore." Okay, so we know Atlas Plateau doesn't technically sit above Caelid, but we're sold on the idea Elden Ring is an apocalyptic Super Mario World.