February 17th 2025.
Elden Ring Nightreign is a unique and unexpected addition to the Soulslike genre. Despite the community's hopes for a Bloodborne remaster, FromSoftware surprised us with a new multiplayer-focused spin-off game. It's not quite a sequel, but it's not a DLC either - it's a mid-budget standalone game that combines elements of roguelike, battle royale, and traditional Soulslike adventure.
The absence of plans for Elden Ring 2 may come as a surprise, considering the success of the original game. This may be our last journey to the Lands Between, or there may be more spin-offs in the future. Nightreign's concept is certainly unconventional - turning the original game into a co-op roguelike with randomly generated maps and a battle royale-style time limit.
It's worth noting that FromSoftware has never officially referred to Nightreign as a roguelike, but that's essentially what it is. The combat mechanics are familiar, with a mix of new and old enemies, and a variety of weapons and items. While the role-playing elements are simplified, the game still captures the essence of what made Elden Ring great.
The recent Network Test for Nightreign was quite a challenge to access, and it didn't work properly at first. Although it was supposed to be live for the whole weekend, players had to tune in for specific three-hour sessions each day. Despite some technical issues, FromSoftware extended their initial plans. However, the final session for UK players was scheduled for 3am to 6am on a Monday morning.
Unlike Elden Ring, which takes place in the entire Lands Between, Nightreign is set in a procedurally generated version of Limgrave called Limveld. While some parts of the original map are reused, there are also new elements to keep things interesting. The game can be played solo, but it's designed primarily for co-op play with a team of three. The goal is to complete a three-day mission that culminates in a boss battle with one of eight Nightlords. In the Network Test, players faced off against Gladius Beast of Night, based on the three-headed dog Cerberus from Greek mythology.
One of the game's unexpected inspirations is Fortnite, or more specifically, battle royales. After defeating the necessary mini-boss on the first day, the available area to explore shrinks, similar to how it works in battle royale games. The mini-bosses are based on existing enemies but with new moves and weak spots.
A run in Nightreign lasts around 15 minutes, making it possible to complete a playthrough quickly. However, the game's high difficulty ensures that things rarely go smoothly. The final day is solely dedicated to the boss battle, so it's best to use the first day to explore and gather weapons and items. This may involve taking on harder enemies in the hopes of obtaining runes from them.
Health items can be found in churches, while mini-bosses drop new weapons. The best loot is often found in dungeons, but entering them is a risk. If you don't complete the dungeon before the timer runs out, you won't be able to escape in time.
It's evident that the gameplay in Nightreign pushes the boundaries of what Elden Ring was originally designed for. From Demon's Souls onwards, FromSoftware's fantasy games have focused on slow and cautious progress, carefully considering each move and upgrading stats. In Nightreign, these elements are simplified or removed entirely. Instead of creating your own character, players choose from eight pre-made ones that act as different character classes. If everyone in the team dies, it's game over and all progress is lost, much like in a traditional roguelike. However, some elements are retained after death, such as relics that offer stat buffs. Players can also collect a new in-game currency between runs, which can be used to unlock more relic slots.
Nightreign is a strange game that may seem sacrilegious in how it alters Elden Ring's original design. While it succeeds in its peculiar concept, it remains to be seen if it's worth all the effort. The Network Test was enjoyable, but it already felt like the day sections, where players explore the open world, are considerably easier than the night sections, where they face off against bosses.
For veteran Elden Ring players, only the dungeons seem to pose a real challenge, while the bosses remain as punishing as ever. We'll have to wait for the full game to see if this holds true, and if there's anything beyond defeating all eight Nightlords. With a successful run taking less than an hour, it's possible that someone will complete the game on launch day. It's unclear if there will be any incentive to continue playing after that. Nightreign walks a fine line between being an innovative spin-off and a gimmicky cash grab.
Nightreign will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and PC for £34.99. The publisher is Bandai Namco, and the game is developed by FromSoftware. The release date is set for May 30th, 2025, and the game is rated 16+. Gladius Beast of Night is not an easy fight, but we're eagerly anticipating the challenge. Don't forget to email us, leave a comment, follow us on Twitter, and sign up for our newsletter. If you want to submit Inbox letters or Reader's Features, you can do so easily through our Submit Stuff page.
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