While turning a beloved RPG into a roguelike multiplayer game sounds like a nightmare, Elden Ring: Nightreign somehow defies expectations and delivers for its established fans.
It was quickly made clear that FromSoftware had big plans for Elden Ring, but jaws dropped when Nightreign was revealed. Rather than a movie or a sequel, fans got a spin-off that took the franchise in a completely different direction. There’s reason for skepticism when it comes to “Elden Ring does Fortnite,” but FromSoftware continues to prove that it has the Midas touch.
The Good:
- Very strong replayability, despite lacking live service elements
- Makes big additions to the existing Elden Ring gameplay while still feeling like a proper successor
The Bad:
- Lack of live service elements gives Nightreign a shelf life
- Single-player experience stinks
- No cross-play or voice communications
Review Details:
- What Platform Did the Reviewer Play On?: PC
- Platforms Available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Official Release Date: May 30, 2025
Elden Ring: Nightreign offers hours of fun, but there’s a time limit
Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree was an all-time great expansion that left players wanting more, even years removed from the base game’s release. Nightreign doesn’t quite scratch that same itch, but it can come close.
Rather than being another classic single-player action RPG, Elden Ring: Nightreign is effectively a PvE battle royale. Three players drop into a battlefield, scrounge for weapons and power-ups, and are forced into a boss fight as the play area shrinks in size. While there is plenty of jargon to make this sound unique, it’s a gameplay loop that Fortnite and Apex Legends players will be completely familiar with.
While some Soulsborne fanatics have recoiled in terror over the idea of turning Elden Ring into this sort of game, it works shockingly well.
Combat is almost exactly like the original Elden Ring, complete with many of the same weapons, spells, and items. A few key changes were added to the formula with the ability to climb up ledges and sprint, but almost everything will feel intuitive to veterans of the Lands Between.
The one major exception is the addition of “heroes.” Each player steps into the role of one of a handful of original characters in the game. These largely fall along the lines of familiar character builds from the games, whether it’s the dexterity-scaling katana wielder or the strength-based berserker dual-wielding colossal weapons. Each of these characters has a unique skill and ultimate that offers extra space for player expression, with these offering some interesting synergies.
The gameplay of Elden Ring: Nightreign ultimately boils down to a frantic, non-stop, fun scramble. Time management is just as important as actual combat, as players need to weigh the benefits of a long fight against a tough boss against raiding a camp of weaklings.
Elden Ring: Nightreign is fun, but lacks many standard multiplayer game features
Players will quickly sort out best practices, but FromSoftware has a few features to keep each run feeling fresh. There are numerous scripted events that can disrupt players’ plans, and portions of the map will transform for a set number of runs after successfully defeating an end boss. And of course, the very nature of finding powerful weapons or items can prompt players to take an approach they weren’t planning.
All these combine to make an exceptional co-op gaming experience, but there are two serious issues that hold Elden Ring: Nightreign back.
While Nightreign is incredibly fun with friends, the single-player experience is generally dreadful. Enemy strength just isn’t effectively balanced for one player. Console players in particular should take note of this, as they will need Xbox Live or PlayStation Plus in order to have a decent experience with the game. All this makes FromSoftware’s standard-but-tragic lack of crossplay multiplayer even more glaring.
The other key issue is that this game has a defined shelf life. While there are potentially hundreds of hours of fun ahead, and likely more with the eventual DLC, Elden Ring: Nightreign is not a live-service game. There are only so many bosses, weapons, environments, and team compositions. Players will inevitably experience everything the game has to offer, which isn’t the case with a long-running live-service game.
The Bottom Line: Elden Ring: Nightreign is an incredible treat for Soulsborne fans that can rally some friends, but those who can’t might not get their money’s worth.
Score: 8.0/10
