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Elden Ring Nightreign review: A genre-blending multiplayer masterclass

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As a gamer diving into Elden Ring: Nightreign, I’ve found myself in a world that’s both vast and intimate – it may seem limited in scope initially, but the ambition beneath is boundless. FromSoftware has truly pushed boundaries with this experimental masterpiece, blending contemporary influences seamlessly while still holding onto their signature style. It’s not for the faint-hearted though; this isn’t just another Souls game.

In Nightreign, multiplayer isn’t compulsory – a relief for those who prefer solo gaming. However, you can challenge the formidable Night Lords alone, though the single-player mode might seem more inviting than it actually is.

The harmonious combination of its eight pre-made characters, high enemy population, and incessant speed were intentionally crafted to create an environment where survival is scarcely achievable even with a team of three, let alone solo play.

Following more than 20 hours of exploring the wonders of Limveld and revealing its hidden mysteries, I’m pleased that FromSoftware chose a no-nonsense strategy. Among the cooperative games I’ve encountered, Nightreign is incredibly hard to resist.

Elden Ring Nightreign screenshots

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What is Elden Ring Nightreign about?

In the same way Limgrave was impacted by The Shattering in the initial Elden Ring, Limveld represents a parallel universe grappling with distinct consequences of that catastrophe, specifically the phenomenon known as the Night’s Tide.

To break the spell, you’ve been chosen as a Nightfarer to halt its spread and complete devouring of Limveld. Last for two days by dodging the Night’s Tide, tapping into power from Limveld’s hostile inhabitants, and gathering equipment to enhance your odds against each Expedition’s main adversaries, the Nightlords.

Built different

After completing Nightreign’s tutorial boss, I was granted mercy and transported to the Roundtable Hold. There, a resident Priestess provided me with a quick summary of the background story.

It appears that Limveld is about to succumb to the tide of darkness, known as the Night’s Tide. Unless courageous warriors known as Nightfarers can halt its progression and vanquish the Nightlords who are causing it, the world stands on the brink of destruction. This situation echoes the bleakness often found in FromSoftware games, but it’s crucial to put aside any preconceived notions about what a Souls game is or should be before proceeding.

In Nightreign, instead of being dropped in Limveld with an ambiguous goal, each Nightlord you encounter initiates a new Expedition, which begins at the Roundtable. This setup resembles Monster Hunter’s mission board structure. You need to select a monster from the provided list, take its weaknesses into account, and tailor your equipment accordingly before setting out on your adventure.

As a thrill-seeking adventurer, I can’t help but be captivated by the allure of Expeditions, particularly Tricephalos, the latest addition as a greenhorn Nightfarer. Brave its perils for three days, and you’ll have the audacity to engage in combat with Gladius – a colossal, triple-headed hound that seems to take delight in a game of sword fetch!

Firstly, it’s crucial that you arrive safely, and that’s because Nightreign is equally about the trip as it is about the end point.

For my initial voyage, I selected Wylder, which resembles a conventional Souls-style Quality Build. Similarly, Nightreign’s eight classes correspond to familiar archetypes found in other Souls games. The Raider is a muscular barbarian who prefers weapons that are more oversized than him. The Recluse is a dedicated spellcaster, while the Executor (a likely favorite) is an expert with katanas and has high Arcane scaling, making it ideal for Bleed and status effect builds.

Each character possesses unique skills tailored to their specific playstyle, which can be enhanced using Relics – Nightreign’s system for permanent advancement. Many of these are acquired by either completing (or not) an Expedition, or they can be bought from a NPC in the Roundtable Hold using currency earned.

The majority of the playable Relics feature straight stat increases, reduced cooldown times, and changes to Weapon Arts. Even after 20 hours of gameplay, I kept discovering new combinations. This realization came to me as I experimented with a fire-based build for Wylder. Interestingly, Nightreign, which is known for its pre-set characters, offers just as much room for skill and build customization as its previous versions, without requiring meticulous stat optimization (min-maxing).

Each of Nightreign’s eight characters have a suite of unique abilities to spice up combat.

Always on the move

After overpowering Gladius, a number of fresh Nightlord factions along with their corresponding missions will become accessible to you. While dexterity, fortune, and reliable allies might help you in some instances, they won’t be enough to take you all the way.

Luckily, Limveld is brimming with valuable items. Every day, your team will be given a specific duration to gather weapons from enemy outposts and mini-bosses strategically placed across the map, before the battle royale-style Night’s Tide encircles you.

Approaching problems as separate parts might seem feasible, but it’s seldom wise. Limveld is merciless – its challenges are meant to be faced collectively rather than individually. Nightreign does offer the option for solo play, and adjusts enemies accordingly when companions are absent, but this experience often results in frustration instead of enjoyment.

Fighting numerous foes in skirmishes can be a real hassle without companions to aid, and reducing their health points doesn’t make daily battles with bosses or the Nightlords themselves any less challenging than the toughest fights FromSoftware has ever created.

Despite initial worries about limited map diversity, the roguelike gameplay mechanism proves surprisingly addictive in Limveld. While it may not offer an entirely evolving world, the game is packed with unexpected elements that help prevent the feeling of repetition.

Nightlords must die

With each passing Expedition, Limveld undergoes a gradual corruption. Places you’ve frequented before during your travels will host new adversaries, while sections of the map will change, transforming into transient landscapes that replace the original ones.

These Earth-changing phenomena manifest in a multitude of forms, show up unexpectedly, and offer nearly essential prizes for achieving success.

In our final battle, the formidable Nightlord, Caligo, proved to be an unbeatable obstacle for my team until we stumbled upon The Mountaintop – a gigantic, icy landscape that mysteriously appeared in the northern part of Limveld. Braving its treacherous slopes and overcoming the boss gave us almost complete resistance against Frostbite, significantly diminishing Caligo’s menacing presence.

These Nightlord battles can differ greatly in terms of challenge, yet not all need extensive effort to conquer. However, they do have one thing in common – they’re unforgettable. Together, they represent some of the most awe-inspiring confrontations FromSoft has ever crafted. The final boss battle against Nightreign, which I won’t reveal here, surpasses the grandeur of bosses from Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC in terms of spectacle.

The complexity of the bosses from the Dark Souls trilogy stands out sharply against the often-praised return of these characters. While I didn’t face them all during my gameplay, the Gaping Dragon and Centipede Demon, well-known entities, appeared strikingly old-fashioned in an otherwise contemporary game. Without any updated move sets, they seemed to belong to a different realm altogether.

The choice seems somewhat excessive, bordering on being more for audience satisfaction than story development, yet it’s a minor issue that doesn’t significantly diminish the overall success of this engaging spin-off.

Verdict

Following Elden Ring raising the bar exceptionally high for open-world RPGs, Nightreign serves as a remarkable addition to FromSoftware’s main collection of games. It courageously challenges the traditional Souls format and explores whether it can harmoniously blend with different game genres.

Although Nightreign certainly appeals to many, it may not suit everyone’s tastes. For long-time series enthusiasts who aren’t keen on multiplayer features, it might be challenging to convince them to try it out. Solo play is officially offered, but it seems more like a secondary focus rather than a central aspect of the game.

With the ideal number of players, Nightreign offers a captivating cooperative gameplay that exceeds expectations in terms of its depth.

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2025-05-28 17:20

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