Action RPG

Elden Ring Nightreign vs. Elden Ring – What’s Actually Different?

BBG News

FromSoftware ventures into the specialized multiplayer field when the release of Elden Ring Nightreign is set for May 30th, available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4, and PC. Although it leverages some resources and settings from the 2022 open-world smash hit, this game offers a distinctly unique experience in numerous aspects. Let’s explore these differences together as we delve into…

Limveld vs. The Lands Between

In the same fictional world as Elden Ring, Nightreign is situated, with an emphasis on “world” or “universe.” Unlike The Lands Between, it runs alongside rather than within. The specifics of its connection to the original game’s storyline and consequences are yet to be determined. For now, consider the events in Nightreign as independent from the Shattering and the competition to claim the title of Elden Lord.

Map Size Comparison

From a single glance, it’s clear that the Lands Between are vast, and adding the Land of Shadow to the mix only amplifies this enormity. However, Limveld is not nearly as expansive – it’s an island roughly equivalent in size to Limgrave. As for its vertical extent and hidden depths, we can’t yet fully grasp the play area it offers. But consider it a more compact location with reduced travel time between key points of interest.

Exploration

Upon arriving in the Lands Between, your initial thought might have been, “I’ll take on that big guy riding a horse; what’s the worst that could happen?” Sooner or later, you probably found yourself delving into the various hidden areas and nooks marked on the map, uncovering caves, secrets, and treasures. The act of exploration remains an integral part of the game, with nearly every corner offering a unique discovery. While there’s a main objective if you decide to pursue it – confronting the Legacy Dungeon bosses and gathering the Great Runes, fragments of the Elden Ring – you’re otherwise free to roam and explore at your leisure.

As you continue vanquishing foes, uncovering weapons, and boosting your powers with Runes within the game Nightreign, this process unfolds across three days and nights, leading to an ultimate confrontation with a Nightlord. Despite having ample room for exploration, as time goes by, a boundary will gradually encircle the map, restricting your movement and eventually leading to a boss fight.

Rogue-Like Structure vs. Open World

In essence, both games share an open-world spirit. Be it the colossal castle smack dab in Limveld or the seemingly harmless Haligtree – if it’s visible, it’s potentially dangerous. As for Nightreign, it stands apart with its time constraint and encroaching world, but a notable difference is that any weapons amassed during one playthrough won’t persist into the next. This game follows a rogue-like format, meaning you’ll always begin anew at level 1, battling your way up, growing stronger to confront the Nightlord.

Changing Map vs. Static World

In Elden Ring’s adventure through The Lands Between, the landscape underwent various alterations as the story unfolded, but generally remained consistent during gameplay. On the other hand, Nightreign’s Limveld undergoes dynamic changes thanks to modifiers (known as Shifting Earth), which can spawn challenging environments like craters filled with lava and tougher enemies. Additionally, you may encounter AI-controlled invaders known as Nightfarers, fend off attacks from The Fell Omen, and battle bosses capable of stealing your character levels if they land an attack (with those levels being lost for that playthrough if the boss isn’t defeated). These events can happen unexpectedly and without notice, though the Shifting Earth can be altered or replaced if you rest at the Roundtable Hold.

Nightlords vs. Bosses

At the culmination of each run lies the formidable test known as the Nightlords. As players engage in combat with one of eight entities, it offers a stark contrast to Elden Ring’s abundance of bosses (disregarding repetitions). Along your journey through Limveld, various bosses and mini-bosses will emerge, but the Nightlords stand out as something extraordinary. For instance, Libra: Creature of Night, is one such adversary that offers deals for potent weapons or additional advantages, in exchange for raising the fight’s complexity in mysterious ways.

Progression Differences

In the game Nightreign, your character’s progression is not just limited to a single run; it is saved in two ways: Relics and Murk. Earning Relics as you play through each run will enhance your abilities by either improving stats or modifying skills. For instance, this can lower cooldown times or increase the effectiveness of your skills. On the other hand, Murk serves as the in-game currency that allows you to purchase items from the vendor at the Roundtable Hold. These items range from emotes, Relic Rites, and even more Relics themselves. Although it’s different from slowly building an arsenal in Elden Ring, the acquired benefits should significantly boost your character for future runs.

Movement Differences

In the game Nightreign, unlike when you were on your Spectral Steed, there’s no concern about taking fall damage. To compensate for the absence of Torrent, your character moves at a quicker pace. Furthermore, you can scale up cliffs and walls, and use Spiritsprings as well.

Reviving Teammates

In contrast to Elden Ring, an innovative feature in Nightreign is the capability to resuscitate allies. Instead of instantly perishing and returning to their realm, requiring a summoning, allies will fall into a downed state in Nightreign. To revive them, you’ll need to repeatedly attack them, which may seem peculiar, yet it offers an unusual sense of satisfaction.

Co-op Focused vs. Solo-Favored

The preliminary trailers for Nightreign sparked doubts about it being a game exclusively for multiplayer. But after some explanations and a test on one network, you can explore Limveld independently, much like in Elden Ring. However, the overall experience is tougher, particularly with adjustments to Spirit Ashes, where only one character, the speculated Revenant, seems capable of utilizing them. Despite the emphasis on multiplayer, there’s still merit in going solo, as…

Remembrances

In the game Nightreign, a unique storytelling mechanism is implemented: Remembrances. These serve as supplemental lore for each character, similar to journal entries, yet offer additional features such as accessing distinct scenarios where you’ll engage with non-player characters and receive personal tasks. These activities might require venturing to different areas of the map and potentially encountering enemies not typically found during regular gameplay. The experiences for each character’s Remembrance are individually tailored, similar to the Raider’s one-on-one coliseum battles. They provide insight into their pasts by offering more detail about their backstories.

Online-Only vs. Offline

Regrettably, despite your eagerness to conquer all challenges alone, Elden Ring titled “Nightreign” operates exclusively in the online realm. This decision aligns with its emphasis on cooperative play, however, if this aspect doesn’t appeal to you, there’s always the original game available.

Pricing

Similar to “Helldivers 2” and the upcoming title “FBC: Firebreak”, the game “Elden Ring Nightreign” retails at $39.99, which is a decrease from the original game’s price of $59.99. Even the Deluxe Edition with extra DLC scheduled for release this year costs $54.99, as opposed to the $79.99 charged for the “Shadow of the Erdtree” Edition.

DLC

The decision regarding what Nightreign’s DLC might provide in comparison to the base game is yet to be determined. FromSoftware initially suggested new playable characters and bosses, but later retracted this statement on Steam. It seems likely that new weapons and spells will be included, possibly along with additional abilities for Nightfarers. However, it remains uncertain whether an additional map will also be part of the expansion. While it’s possible that the DLC could go beyond these features, it’s unlikely to match the scale of Shadow of the Erdtree, considering the significant price difference between the two.

Playtime

In terms of game duration, Elden Ring could potentially provide up to 100 hours of immersion as you meticulously traverse the Lands Between to finish the narrative, with much more left unexplored. On the other hand, a typical playthrough in Nightreign spans around 45 to 50 minutes. However, being a rogue-like game, once you’ve mastered all the Nightfarers and unlocked their Remembrances, the game offers significant replay value due to its dynamic map and cooperative multiplayer features.

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2025-05-21 14:43

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