Elden Ring is a notoriously massive game. It's so large that it's highly unlikely you've seen and done everything in The Lands Between on your first playthrough. This is especially true if you've zoomed through the story, with dungeons, minor bosses, and loot all revealing more about the world.

Related: Lingering Questions We Have After The End Of Elden Ring

The game heavily encourages repeat playthroughs in builds alone, meaning that you'll get more than your money's worth, even at full price. Souls games are known for their players doing continuous runs on New Game Plus and challenging themselves even further past the initial credits roll.

10 Try Out A New Build

Elden Ring Easy Mode Optimal Build

In your first time through Elden Ring, you likely found a build you liked and stuck with it. Upgrade materials aren't in abundance, so it's difficult to restructure your character for completely different sets of equipment. That's where a New Game+ run comes in. You suddenly have the freedom and extra resources to try out a different build.

The extra benefit is that you're not starting from Level 1 either. All you need to do is find the appropriate smithing stones, make your way to Raya Lucaria, respec your stats, then upgrade the weapons you want to try out. You'll have all the late-game benefits of a new build.

9 Tackle Dungeons In A Different Order

elden ring volcano manor dungeon

While Elden Ring's open world encourages players to explore in any direction, the difficulty difference between zones likely funneled you down a similar path to most people. In New Game Plus, not only do you know the lay of the land, you also know what to expect.

Instead of trekking to Stormveil Castle, you could make a beeline toward the Radagon fight. You could also skip past them both and go straight to Raya Lucaria, or try your hand at Leyndell. Doing these challenges in a different order will have you think differently about progression, and give you some extra challenge if you're looking for it.

8 Do A Co-Op Playthrough

elden ring co op

Many Elden Ring players focused on a solo run during the first playthrough. There is a co-op and PvP element to the game, but many like to dive into the game on their own terms before engaging with it. Once you beat the Elden Beast, not only will you have plenty of Furled Fingers to use on a New Game Plus run, but you'll also know where the hot spots are to team up with a friend.

Related: Elden Ring: Best Pieces Of Equipment For Co-Op

Perhaps you want to run through and see how many players will invade you. Another option is to run through all the main bosses with a friend, and see how you work together. Whatever you want to try, the world is your oyster.

7 Find Weapon Duplicates

Elden Ring Legendary Devourers Scepter

There is a big community in Elden Ring that will trade all sorts of weapons, items, and more to each other. It's likely that you didn't find some of the better weapons for your build during your first playthrough.

However, you can duplicates of the Legendary Armaments you already have, and use them as bargaining chips to get the materials you're really after. Stuff you came across was likely elusive to other players and vice versa, meaning you don't have to scour the internet looking for guides as long as you have the right incentive.

6 Dive Into PvP

Elden Ring bloody finger nerijus fight

There's nothing quite like invading another player's world and giving them lots of trouble for going off the beaten path. The PvP in Elden Ring is chaotic, intense, and tons of fun. There are countless clips online of people battling each other, and a New Game Plus run is the perfect time to throw your hat into the ring.

You'll at least have a solid build as well as a firm grasp on how the game works, so you'll have a fighting chance against other players. With plenty of fingers at your disposal, all you need to do is pick the right area and get hunting.

5 Destroy Bosses Who Initially Gave You Trouble

Elden Ring Margit the Fell Omen

Elden Ring's New Game Plus doesn't scale as hard as some of the other games in FromSoftware's lineup. This means that there are numerous bosses who likely wiped the floor with you that you could easily stomp in round two.

Related: Elden Ring: Best Ways To Lower The Difficulty

If you're like most players and struggled against Margit, going back with a complete build and amazing stats is one of the best feelings. Elden Ring shifts from mostly a game where the world is out to get you into a power fantasy where you're the boogeyman taking on all the creatures who fall at your feet.

4 Increased Challenge

The player approaching Godskin Duo.

New Game Plus will mostly be an easier experience for you. There is a bump in the damage and health of enemies and bosses, but it's not so drastic that you're back to square one. However, some of the lategame bosses will still give you a run for your money, likely even moreso than the first time.

If you're like many players, then you crave the challenge that a game like Elden Ring can offer, and a second playthrough with stacked bosses could be just what you're looking for. The more times you run through a New Game Plus, the harder the enemies become until they'll eclipse your strength once more.

3 Piece Together The Characters And Lore

Elden Ring landscape

Unless you're VaatiVidya, then it's unlikely that you pieced together Elden Ring's lore and understood its characters on your first playthrough. You were likely so focused on staying alive that the intricate details of The Lands Between slipped past you.

RELATED: Tragic Elden Ring Stories Hidden In The Environment

That's where a New Game Plus run can fill the gaps. Because you largely know what to expect, you can take more time appreciating your surroundings as well as the magnificent art direction of the game. Read more of the item description, pay attention to NPC dialogue, and start to fit the pieces together.

2 Uncover Areas You Missed

Image showing the insides of the dungeon.

If you managed to explore every nook and cranny of Elden Ring on your first playthrough, that would be an impressive feat. The game has something hidden around every corner and FromSoftware hid many places extremely well.

Exploring everything in the game is a daunting task, so there's plenty of room for error on an initial run. When you come back for New Game Plus, not only will the world not be as threatening to you, but you'll also have a good understanding of where the developers hide certain areas. You might've missed some major forts or dungeons along the way.

1 Complete Side Quests You Missed

Yura standing outside Raya Lucaria Academy in Liurnia

Elden Ring doesn't take its time to explain what you should do when tackling side quests, nor does it warn you when you're about to lock yourself out of one. Instead, it's up to you to figure out what to do and when to do it.

Some quests don't have an "expiration date," but some will be locked away or the required characters will move depending on where you are in your adventure. Doing a New Game Plus run allows you to better plan out how to tackle those side quests to ensure that you don't miss out on some cool moments and awesome gear.

Next: Elden Ring: Things To Do After You Beat The Game