A secret area in Elden Ring not only adds to the already massive map but puts The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's expansive underground area, Blackreach, to shame. Dubbed the Eternal City, a massive underground location split into two areas: Nokron and Nokstella. The former almost mirrors the overworld, while the latter is an incredibly dense level with winding corridors. On the other hand, Blackreach is one of the most prominent locations found in Skyrim. The area is not only scattered with various sublocations for players to venture into, but the area seemingly encompasses a large chunk of the overworld of Skyrim with multiple entrances.

[Warning: Spoilers For Elden Ring are below.]

Like one of Elden Ring's hardest bosses, Godrick, the player must defeat Starscourge Radahn to gain access to the Eternal City of Nokron. While the player can access the area before the boss fight, it is only a small part of the map. Nokstella is a whole other beast, requiring the player to gain full access to Nokron and finish a relatively complex list of requirements. Skyrim's Blackreach, however, is relatively easy to gain access to, with most players either encountering it through the main storyline or an alternative side quest.

Related: How Elden Ring's New Game Plus Mode Works

One of the defining moments in Elden Ring is the introduction of the Eternal City of Nokron. Not only is it outrageously unique - a meteor creates the entrance to the area - but the location mixes up Elden Ring's open-world gameplay. While Blackreach introduces some of Skyrim's scariest and most horrific enemies, the area is pretty linear. It is also presented in a relatively standard fashion (an elevator ride down) and while massive, it is not much different than any other dungeon or cave in the game. Whereas Nokron is huge and one part of the Eternal City, unlocking the other half feels more nuanced than simply stumbling upon it.

Elden Ring's Eternal City Is A New Experience Compared To Skyrim's Blackreach

A player looking at the Eternal City of Nokron in Elden Ring.

The Eternal City in Elden Ring eerily feels like a return to the experience of games like Dark Souls or Bloodborne. Nokron is packed with plenty of secrets, bosses, and sub-locations for the player to uncover, in addition to discovering Nokstella. The Eternal City also feels like a different location than Elden Ring's overworld, the Lands Between, with a night sky littered with stars, various fauna, and interconnected buildings. This makes the location a nice change of pace from the massive battlefields and sweeping vistas the player is, at that point, intimately accustomed to.

In comparison, while the introduction of Skyrim's Blackreach is also a nice change of pace, it feels very restrictive. The surrounding area feels like a condensed version of the overworld with multiple ruins packed into one area. While the location sports its collection of fauna and even some weather changes despite being underground, Blackreach feels like another cave system, albeit a massive one. Its introduction also lacks the Eternal City fanfare, which adds to the already big Elden Ring map. Most players see Blackreach as a pleasant surprise rather than a new experience.

In the battle of the underground areas, the Eternal City of Elden Ring beats Skyrim's Blackreach hands down. The former brings a new experience reminiscent of previous FromSoftware games with two massive regions. Even though Blackreach is an enormous level with a unique set of secrets and sub-locations, it does little to add to the overall experience other than playtime. While both locations contribute to their respective games in some capacity, Skyrim's Blackreach adds to the formula with a new place. In contrast, the Eternal City in Elden Ring adds a new dimension to an already multilayered game creating an overall unique experience.

Next: Elden Ring's Easiest Essential Items To Miss