Action RPG

Here’s Where Elden Ring Nightreign’s Mixed Reviews Rank In FromSoftware’s History

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Summary

  • Elden Ring Nightreign ranks tenth in FromSoftware’s all-time Metacritic scores.
  • FromSoftware evolved from Japanese-inspired RPGs to modern hits under Miyazaki.
  • Quality over quantity: FromSoftware has seen higher reviews with fewer releases since the late 2000s.

Today, FromSoftware is widely recognized as a dominant force in game development. Consistently, they deliver critically acclaimed games that are often challenging, and fans eagerly anticipate each new title they produce.

Despite high anticipation for Elden Ring Nightreign, it faced an unexpected challenge when critics delivered a mix of positive and negative responses upon its release.

With the dust beginning to settle, the title ended up with a score of 78 on Metacritic (despite us at top-mob.com giving it a 4.5/5), something which has left many long-time Souls fans balking. Fear not, however, for as low as it may seem, the game is actually one of FromSoft’s best-reviewed ever.

Elden Ring Nightreign Becomes One Of FromSoftware’s Best-Reviewed Games Ever

Prior to gaining fame for the ‘Souls’ series, FromSoftware had a wide-ranging collection of games under its belt. While it produced numerous Armored Core games that received varying feedback, many of its initial releases were action RPGs with strong Japanese influences. Some of these early attempts were successful, but others fell short. In the early 2000s, they released notable titles like Shadow Assault – Tenchu, Murakumo: Renegade Mech Pursuit, and King’s Field 4: The Ancient City.

Ever since Hidetaka Miyazaki joined the team in 2004 and Demon’s Souls was released in 2009, the course that FromSoftware has taken has significantly changed, as we know it today.

To determine Nightreign’s position within FromSoftware’s impressive legacy, we scrutinized the Metacritic scores for each of their games.

The Results

In Metacritic, Elden Ring Nightreign has been rated at 78, which positions it just outside the top ten in FromSoftware’s overall rankings. This score ties it with The Adventures of Cookie & Cream and Armored Core 2 for the 11th spot. Otogi: Myth of Demon’s holds the ninth position, while Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors takes the tenth. FromSoftware’s recent releases then take over the top spots.

In the rankings, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon came in eighth place with an 86 score, however, it’s worth noting that the top seven critically acclaimed games from FromSoftware were either led or significantly impacted by Miyazaki.

As a passionate gamer, I can confidently say that my journey through the realms of Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, and Dark Souls 3, all tied at fifth place with an impressive score of 89, was just the beginning. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice took me to new heights, earning a score of 90. The thrill of Dark Souls 2, which scored 91, only intensified my excitement. Then came Bloodborne, which I found myself utterly captivated by, scoring an impressive 92. But it’s Elden Ring, with its staggering score of 96, that truly redefined the narrative of FromSoftware’s history. It’s hard to overstate the impact this creative genius has had on my gaming experiences.

The Overall Rankings

Game Year of Release Metacritic Score
39 Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor 2012 38
38 Shadow Assault -Tenchu 2008 46
37 Murakumo: Renegade Mech Pursuit 2002 48
36 Kuon 2004 57
35 Armored Core: Nine Breaker 2004 57
33 Evergrace 2000 59
33 Armored Core: Last Raven 2005 59
32 King’s Field 4: The Ancient City 2001 60
31 Echo Night: Beyond 2004 60
30 Eternal Ring 2000 62
28 Forever Kingdom 2001 64
28 Armored Core: For Answer 2008 64
27 Armored Core 4 2006 65
25 Armored Core: Formula Front 2004 66
25 Armored Core: Verdict Day 2013 66
22 Lost Kingdoms 2 2003 68
22 Ninja Blade 2009 68
22 Armored Core V 2012 68
21 Deracine 2018 68
19 Silent Line: Armored Core 2003 69
19 Enchanted Arms 2006 69
18 Chromehounds 2006 71
17 Lost Kingdoms 2002 72
16 Armored Core: Nexus 2004 73
15 Armored Core 3 2002 74
14 Armored Core 2: Another Age 2001 75
11 Armored Core 2 2000 78
11 The Adventures of Cookie & Cream 2000 78
11 Elden Ring Nightreign 2025 78
10 Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors 2003 79
9 Otogi: Myth of Demons 2002 80
8 Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon 2023 86
5 Demon’s Souls 2009 89
5 Dark Souls 3 2009 89
5 Dark Souls 2011 89
4 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice 2019 90
3 Dark Souls 2 2014 91
2 Bloodborne 2015 92
1 Elden Ring 2022 96

Further Analysis

It’s important to keep in mind that, while the list includes 39 games, FromSoft also created exclusive Japanese titles and games that were released before Metacritic was established. As a result, not all of their developed games are featured on this particular list.

In the later part of the 2000s, I noticed a significant transformation in FromSoftware’s approach from quantity to quality. They started releasing fewer games but those that made it to the market were exceptionally well-received, often earning high scores. To be fair, they have had their share of less successful titles in the past.

Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor, launched for the Xbox 360’s Kinect in 2012, garnered a disappointing 38 out of 58 ratings from critics. Games Master UK gave the game a score of 6/100, remarking, “At some stage, From Software should have realized that their game was practically unplayable, but it was already too late.” (This version is more conversational and uses “practically” to soften the criticism.)

Title Assault – Tenchu performed somewhat better, earning a score of 46 based on only eight reviews. However, it received similar harsh criticisms, with one reviewer commenting that it appears the developers were simply rushing to release an Xbox Live Arcade game for quick profits.

The last game that left many chuckling due to its poor quality is Murakumo: Renegade Mech Pursuit, which received a score of 48. Essentially, IGN stated that it’s incredibly bad – really bad! It’s visually unappealing, frustratingly difficult, and monotonous, and most other reviewers concurred with this assessment.

To put it simply, although Elden Ring Nightreign’s review ratings might seem surprising given today’s standards for FromSoft, remember to appreciate the quality of work that this current iteration of the company delivers, rather than dwelling on what they produced in their earlier years.

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2025-05-29 16:38

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