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In December 2024, the Elden Ring Reddit community welcomed user vuduthmb with a remarkable 19,000 upvotes, who asserted the title of “oldest gamer ever to finish Elden Ring and [Shadow of the Erdtree] on NG+7” at the age of 72. It’s a challenging claim to verify, yet I haven’t encountered anyone older who has accomplished an NG+7 run. (If you’re out there, let yourself be heard!) Some referred to him as Elden Ring Grandpa, paralleling Skyrim Grandma Shirley Curry. Another moniker emerged during my conversation with vuduthmb – better known as Mike Williams – over the phone, and it’s quite possibly my favorite: The Elder Lord.
This will surely evolve as generations progress, but gaming remains relatively rare among seniors aged 65 and up, which is the reason narratives of individuals such as Skyrim Grandma and currently the Elder Lord can be unexpectedly entertaining. (By the way, Williams is aware of Skyrim Grandma. “That’s uplifting, right? What a wonderful story,” he remarks.) It’s unfortunate, not only because gaming serves as a marvelous pastime for retirement – finally, time and resources for gaming – but also because this often presents a captivating viewpoint. Living 72 years encompasses a wealth of experiences. We can all merely aspire to still be conquering games like Elden Ring at that stage of life.
I aimed to engage with Williams to gather his perspectives on Elden Ring and gaming, as well as the reaction to his post. I got the vibe that he’s a genuinely kind gentleman who delights in expressing his passion for games, akin to the rest of us.
The RPG journey
“I find myself more inclined towards RPGs now,” states Williams regarding his gaming habits. “I still engage in online play, and I continue to enjoy it. The only notable difference I’ve experienced is that, with age, I believe it takes me a bit longer to grasp how to play a game, especially in an online setting. My usual approach involves playing solo for a time until I feel assured with it, and then I’ll dive into the multiplayer elements. However, I’m not hesitant about gaming online.” In retirement, he finds online gaming “fantastic for keeping in touch with younger folks and contemporary culture.”
“I believe my reflexes are quite sharp, and I consider myself fortunate to be in reasonably good health for a 72-year-old, and I genuinely don’t feel restricted,” he adds. “You know, experience compensates for a lot; it significantly aids, and once more, simply having time and being willing to persist makes a difference.”
If you aspire to be gaming in your 70s and beyond, Williams’ suggestion is to prioritize self-care now. “You must ensure you get enough rest, maintain an exercise routine, and follow a nutritious diet,” he mentions, and I truly need some serious Twitch streamers to take heed (I confess, I only started exercising a few years ago). “I don’t drink, I don’t smoke. You just have to look after yourself, and then the games will take care of you. But you must set down the controller, venture out, and appreciate your surroundings; that sort of thing.” In essence: connect with nature, everyone.
Williams has been gaming “since I first encountered Pong at a bar late one evening. It left such an impression on me that I nearly dropped my beer. Shortly thereafter, they introduced Missile Command. Vector graphics in four distinct colors!” Fast forward just a couple of years, and Williams possesses a PS5 Pro and an Xbox Series X. He initially attempted Elden Ring, the first FromSoftware game he genuinely played since the King’s Field series that began back in the 1990s, on Xbox. However, he set it aside around level 68 when he “got sidetracked by other games.”
He’s an avid enthusiast of shooters – Doom, Helldivers 2, Call of Duty – but has also explored RPGs like Morrowind and the Mana JRPGs, and is now fully “transitioning into my RPG phase.” Other beloved games encompass Street Fighter and Super Metroid. “Ask me again tomorrow, and my top choices might vary,” he remarks regarding his favorites. It was only four or five months ago that he genuinely became engrossed in Elden Ring on PlayStation, where he’s accumulated nearly 700 hours. At some point, it just clicked.
“By the time I was approaching Radagon and Elden Beast, I realized this is the game I had been waiting for,” Williams reminisces. “I felt at ease with it, and I recognized this is what I want to engage with for a while. Once I triumphed over the Elden Beast and Radagon, I sensed that anything was achievable. What impressed me most about Elden Ring was encountering this boss that feels entirely insurmountable. This is impossible. There’s no way you can achieve this. And then, before you know it, you accomplish it. There’s something about that mechanism that resonated with me entirely. It was impossible, yet I did it regardless.”
The Elder Lord
With
With his Elden Ring character now approximately level 378, Williams possesses the attributes and equipment to experiment with any build. He believes that “everything is enjoyable,” yet often reverts to his trusty favorites: Strength and Faith. “That’s when I truly need to achieve something,” he states. “I really have to take down a boss, you know? Or when I’m navigating a new, perilous area, I prefer to tackle it using a Strength-Faith build.” His preferred choices will be recognizable to any veteran Elden Ring enthusiast: Blasphemous Blade, the Sacred Relic Sword, Flame Grant Me Strength, Golden Vow, and the sturdy brass shield.
If you can conquer foes like Malenia and Consort Radahn on NG+7, you can likely tackle anything a contemporary game presents. Williams maintains that age has not diminished his enthusiasm for gaming, and Elden Ring has grown in significance for him. “One thing I’ve been asserting for a long time, for decades now, is that video games are a developing art form, and I’ve been mocked, ridiculed, and you know, it’s just amazing to witness a game like Elden Ring come along and validate that that’s not absurdity,” he states. “If you consider that absurd, look at this. I believe Elden Ring might be a game of a generation.”
“It was quite disheartening when I entered the gaming world; when I began bringing home Super Nintendos and such, people would call me childish and say video games were for kids,” he shares. “It was dreadful at the beginning. It’s significantly improved now.”
It endlessly delights me that Williams’ experience with Elden Ring, from defeating bosses to building his character, aligns so closely with the critical and communal journey. The Blasphemous Blade! The brass shield! It’s also further evidence that games are inclusive and can be a lifelong passion. I inquired if Williams had any message to convey to the Elden Ring and gaming community that was so appreciative of his post. I hope others will take notes as well.
“I would suggest not attempting to regulate others,” Williams replied. “Avoid trying to control fellow gamers; be accepting and accommodating of everyone. You know, there’s space for everyone in gaming.”
Apologies, my fellow Elden Ring enthusiasts, the Nightreign network test will only permit you to play for a limited number of hours each day.
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