Developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, Elden Ring is one of the very few games worldwide that gained popularity in less than a month from its release.
Elden Ring was launched on February 25, 2022, and, within 3 weeks, massive demand grew, with more than 12 million copies being sold around the world.
If you are a regular gamer, you probably know how irritating it is to handle all the web-related issues that can arise during online gaming. To effectively handle problems like bans, geo-restrictions, DDoS attacks, or ping and latency issues, your best bet is to use one of the best VPNs for Elden Ring.
Elden Ring is an action-packed role-playing game where players are required to combat and explore using things like weapons, magic spells, horse riding, stealth attacks, and crafting, and it can either be played offline or online depending on what mode players choose. Additionally, there are two multiplayer options from which to choose: PvE (co-op) or PvP.
PvE (co-op mode, or player vs. enemy) is the mode where players team up together against other opponents or enemies and PvP (player vs. player) is the mode where players play and combat against each other.
In this article, I’m going to discuss how a VPN can help you focus completely on your gameplay rather than worrying about other Internet-related concerns, and which ones are my top VPN recommendations for online gaming.
In a Hurry? Here Are 5 Best VPNs for Elden Ring
Why You Need an Elden Ring VPN Service
There are several issues that you may face while playing online games that the best VPNs can efficiently help prevent. Here are some of the common issues you might face, and the solutions that a virtual private network can provide:
Bypass Geo-restrictions and Firewalls
Firewalls in schools, colleges, and organizations restrict their students or employees from engaging in things like online gaming, streaming, or torrenting, mostly because such activities are considered a distraction from regular tasks. The problem is, what if you might want some time off to relax after working really hard?
And did you know that online games actually cost different amounts in different countries. Moreover, the release date and time differ from one country to another. Additionally, there are a few countries that restrict access to certain games due to their working or earning models.
This is where firewalls and geo-restrictions become a nuisance, restricting your online gaming. A VPN can help you change your virtual location and IP address, making it appear that you are actually in another country.
Reduce Ping and Latency
Lag or ping while playing an online game can spoil the whole experience of enjoying Elden Ring, sabotaging your every move.
Factors like ping (a unit to measure latency), packet loss (data lost on the way), and jitter (variation in response time) can cause delays or lags in your game and damage the whole gaming experience.
If you go with one of our recommended VPNs that offer the fastest servers along with a quality Internet connection, you won’t have to struggle with delays.
Security from DoS and DDoS Attacks
Denial of Service (DoS) or Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) are cyber attacks that hackers or opponent players commit. Such attacks target game servers or systems, causing them to be flooded with more traffic, thereby preventing them from being able to handle requests and offer services as normal.
Both these attacks are meant to interrupt services. However, in DoS, there is a single source to attack the target, while in DDoS, there are multiple sources that attack the target. DDoS is more dangerous as compared to DoS because of its increased possibility of hitting the target.
Using a VPN, your IP address is not detectable by your opponents. Also, a VPN encrypts the Internet traffic, sending it to the secure VPN server. This military-grade encryption secures gaming activities from DoS or DDoS attacks.
Avoid Bandwidth Throttling
Bandwidth throttling is a tactic used by your Internet Service Provider to reduce congestion and data over-usage. prompting your ISP to purposefully throttle your bandwidth. While playing Elden Ring, you might face ISP throttling, resulting in high latency and lag.
If you use an Elden Ring VPN service, it will encrypt your traffic so your ISP won’t be able to detect that you are performing activities that require a lot of bandwidth, giving them no excuse to throttle your usage.
And since the VPN services listed above offer unlimited bandwidth, you will be able to play as much as you want with no bandwidth throttling or limits.
Avoid IP bans
If you are a regular gamer, you will already know how common it is to get your IP banned while gaming online. Some of the reasons why Elden Ring can ban you:
Irresponsible behavior or going against the rules of Elden Ring.
Breaking rules by allowing other players using the same game server.
Hackers or vengeful opponent players might use illegitimate means to get your IP banned.
If you are caught using a VPN for Elden Ring.
We always recommend players play safely and fairly, but it is all too common to find your IP banned due to unfair play of other players. To avoid this, you can easily get another IP address by using a premium VPN and start playing again.
A premium VPN not only encrypts your online activities, but it also hides the fact that you are using a VPN through obfuscation measures. Such features can help you avoid bans effectively.
Security while Gaming on Public Wi-Fi
Every good-quality VPN provides you with a lot of security and privacy features, like a Kill Switch, military-grade AES-256-bit encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, and a no-logs policy, so you will be totally protected against DDoS attacks or any other kind of cyber-attacks if you use an Elden Ring VPN while playing this game online.
How to Choose the Best VPN for Elden Ring
There are several key factors that you need to consider while selecting one of the best Elden Ring VPNs:
Good Security and privacy features – Always go with a VPN service that offers a lot of top-notch security features, like an automatic Kill Switch, a zero-log policy, a DNS leak protection system, and strong encryption. These ensure that your data and device are protected all the time.
High Internet speeds – Whether you want a VPN for gaming, torrenting, or streaming, you will always need high Internet speeds. Look for a top-quality VPN that has speed-optimized servers.
Ability to bypass geo-restrictions and firewalls – Choose a VPN that can easily bypass restrictions imposed by countries or networks on certain games or websites.
Broad Server network – If you’re living in a country where Elden Ring is restricted, you will have to use a VPN server in another country to gain access. You will also want to choose a VPN that has servers near your location to provide you with the best speeds.
User-friendliness – Select a VPN service that is user-friendly in terms of app compatibility, language support, customer support, and money-back guarantee.
5 Best Elden Ring VPNs
If you are looking for the best VPN for Elden Ring, these are the top 5 providers that came out on top after our extensive testing:
1. ExpressVPN
With a presence in about a hundred countries, ExpressVPN has high-speed servers that ensure foolproof protection against all kinds of cyber attacks, threats, and interruptions in your gaming.
Express has an advanced Kill Switch to disconnect your Internet connection completely in case your VPN connection becomes disturbed, and its split tunneling feature helps you decide which apps should use your VPN tunnel and which ones should use your regular Internet connection.
ExpressVPN’s strict no logs policy guarantees no records or tracking of your online activities, keeping your identity and original IP completely safe from online snoopers. It also is capable of protecting you against DNS and IP leaks, which we verified.
Its smart DNS feature ensures bypassing all geo-restrictions and other restrictive networks, giving you access to all the websites, games, and streaming platforms from around the world.
Its blazing fast speeds and servers in all locations will help in reducing ping and lag to enhance your gaming experience, and its servers come with automatic obfuscation, enabling you to hide the fact that you are using a VPN at all, minimizing your chances of getting detected and banned by Elden Ring for using a VPN.
This service has compatible apps for all devices and operating system options, like Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, smart TVs, router options, and more, and it is easy to navigate even if you are a VPN newbie.
Though it is on the pricier side, you can get a deal on your subscription by clicking here.
- Extremely fast internet speeds
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Works with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and more
- Over 3,000 servers across more than 94 countries
- Allows you to connect 5 devices simultaneously
- Offers a trusted 30-day money-back guarantee
- Very pricey
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most secure VPN providers on the market, with all the necessary security features, like an advanced Kill Switch, a strict no-logs policy, split tunneling, DNS and IP leak protection, and AES-256-bit encryption.
It even provides you with an optional extra layer of protection by letting you encrypt your Internet traffic twice using double VPN protection.
Its obfuscated servers ensure that you can hide your VPN usage from all the websites that you access, so your chances of getting banned from Elden Ring are almost nil. Further, it offers specialized servers for gamers to play online, so you can be sure to avoid almost all the negative aspects of playing Elden Ring online, like ping, cyber-attacks, bans, and more.
Similar to ExpressVPN, NordVPN also has a split tunneling attribute to give you the freedom to decide which apps should use which connection (regular or VPN).
NordVPN offers a special CyberSec feature that protects you from malware, botnets, ads, and other malicious files and content available in abundance online.
NordVPN is compatible with Windows, smart TV, Apple TV, Android, Xbox, and reconfigured router options, and you can test it out for up to 30 days, risk-free, with a refund promise.
- Ultra-fast internet speeds
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Has more than 5,500 servers across over 60 countries
- Allows you to connect 6 devices simultaneously
- Cheaper monthly subscription plans than ExpressVPN
- Offers an entrusted 30-day money-back guarantee
- Windows apps can be slower
- Some UI issues
3. Surfshark
The cheapest of the top three VPNs on my list is Surfshark.
Even with this affordable price, Surfshark is still great at helping break through firewalls in restrictive networks so you can access your gaming from anywhere.
Surfshark is packed with all the essential protection and privacy features, like a Kill Switch, a no-logs policy, AES-256-bit encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, and obfuscated servers, and it is one of those few VPNs that has a built-in ad-blocker to help protect you from malware and pop-ups.
It is also fully capable of unlocking streaming platforms, like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, etc., and other websites bypassing geo-blocks and firewalls, and it allows users to connect an unlimited number of devices to a single user account.
Surfshark is compatible with Android, Windows, routers, smart TV, iOS, macOS, Apple TV and more.
The reason why Surfshark is further down on our list is that some of the Surfshark servers might annoy you with buffering when you try to play Elden Ring or stream shows. Switching servers can usually help fix this problem, though.
- Good internet speeds
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Network of over 3,200 servers across more than 95 countries
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Cheaper plans than both ExpressVPN and NordVPN
- Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Buffering issues on some servers
- Slower than the other VPNs above it
4. CyberGhost
CyberGhost VPN is the most budget-friendly as well as the most user-friendly VPN on the list.
Like my other VPN picks, CyberGhost VPN is not only packed with all the protection features, but all of them are enabled by default on all its apps.
What makes it even more user-friendly is that you can try the CyberGhost service risk-free for not 30, but 45 days, which is the longest duration of a refund policy among all my picks.
Additionally, CyberGhost VPN is fully equipped to unblock most streaming platforms and restricted websites from all corners of the globe. Moreover, its specialized servers are meant only for gamers to play uninterruptedly.
CyberGhost VPN provides compatible apps for Apple TV, smart TV, Android, routers, Windows, and other options, and you can use up to 7 devices to a single account.
- Very fast internet speeds
- More than 8,900 servers across over 91 countries
- Allows you to connect up to 7 devices simultaneously
- The most budget-friendly VPN on the list
- The most user-friendly VPN on the list
- Compatible apps for Windows, routers, Apple TV, smart TV, Android
- Offers a reliable 45-day money-back guarantee
- Very limited payment methods
- Not as customizable for advanced users
5. UltraVPN
UltraVPN is a very reliable and fast VPN provider based in the USA. Though this might sound like an asset, it is not. Since the US is a part of the 5 Eyes Alliance, there are some issues with the privacy that UltraVPN offers.
On the flip side, though, its fast speeds rarely drop and it has the capability of bypassing geo-restrictions for most streaming services, other websites, and games, including Elden Ring.
UltraVPN provides all the essential protection features against cyber attacks and identity leaks, such as a no-logs policy, a Kill Switch, 256-bit encryption, and DNS leak protection.
Though UltraVPN is a fairly small service with just about a hundred servers across 60+ countries, it is capable of resolving all gameplay-related issues like ping, cyber attacks by vengeful players, and delays.
- Fast and reliable internet speeds
- Good for streaming as well as gaming
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 100 servers across more than 60 countries
- Simultaneous connections of up to 6 devices
- Cheaper than both ExpressVPN and NordVPN
- Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Based in USA
- Smaller size
- Maintains some data
- It doesn’t have a compatible app for smart TVs
Can I Use a Free VPN for Elden Ring?
A free VPN won’t be as successful while playing Elden Ring online, and it likely won’t be effective in reducing ping, latency, or DDoS attacks.
Moreover, these free VPNs rarely provide enough security or speed to avoid delays while playing. In fact, many free services compromise your privacy entirely, making money by selling your data.
In addition to this, free VPNs do not offer a lot of servers and therefore are more prone to IP bans, DoS attacks, DDoS attacks, higher pings, lags, delays, and hacks by vengeful players.
Instead, I recommend you use a premium VPN that has a reliable money-back guarantee. This way, you get to try the VPN risk-free and worry-free, and you can cancel for a full refund within the trial period, which is like using a top VPN for free for a month (or more).
Playing Elden Ring with a VPN on Windows
To play Elden Ring on Windows, you will have to use Steam. Most good-quality VPN services are designed to work with Steam traffic. So using a VPN for playing Elden Ring on Windows with Steam isn’t a very difficult process.
To play on Windows with a VPN:
- Choose a VPN provider that offers compatibility with Steam. I recommend using ExpressVPN.
- Subscribe to the VPN service and download its app on your Windows PC.
- Install the app and sign in to it with your username and password.
- Connect to any servers, but preferably a nearby server, because that will offer the fastest server connection.
- Launch Steam and open Elden Ring.
- Start playing the game on your Windows platform!
There are other methods as well to install a VPN on Windows to play Elden Ring using Steam. You can either choose to use the native software or integrate your VPN app with the Windows operating system.
How to Play Elden Ring with a VPN on Xbox
Generally, VPNs aren’t supported by game consoles like PlayStation or Xbox series. For this reason, you will have to convert your router into a VPN router. Make sure you choose a VPN that is compatible with router options.
Below is a quick step-by-step guide for playing Elden Ring on any of your game consoles using a VPN router:
- Choose a VPN that can easily work to make a VPN router, such as ExpressVPN.
- Download and install ExpressVPN on your router.
- Configure the VPN on your router.
- Restart the VPN router by unplugging it, keeping it unplugged for about 2 minutes, and then replugging it.
- Ensure that both your VPN connection as well as your Wi-Fi is working.
- Switch on your game console and ensure that it’s connected to the web.
- Launch and begin playing Elden Ring.
Not every VPN will work as a VPN router.
If by any chance it is not possible for you to use a VPN router, there’s another method for playing Elden Ring on your Xbox. You can do so by sharing your VPN connection over Wi-Fi from your PC.
FAQs
Certainly! It is definitely possible to play Elden Ring with a VPN on your game consoles, mobile devices, and other platforms.
To play Elden Ring on Windows, you need a VPN compatible with Steam, as Elden Ring works on Windows only via Steam. Alternatively, to play the game on Xbox, you will need to set up a VPN router.
Conclusion
Elden Ring is an increasingly popular and in-demand game. Though there are many issues you can face playing this game online (like DDoS attacks, cyber threats, IP bans, lag), a premium VPN is fully equipped to handle all these issues effectively, making it a good idea to play online using a VPN for Elden Ring at all times.
My first recommendation as the best VPN for Elden Ring is ExpressVPN, thanks to its widespread server network, extremely fast speeds, and its advanced security features. It is capable of letting you play on both Windows and Xbox.
Get the best deals on the best VPNs by clicking on the links in our articles!