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Is Elden Ring Nightreign Worth Playing?

BBG News

2022 saw the release of Elden Ring, which swiftly climbed the ranks to become one of the most beloved games of its era. Many gamers believed their adventure had concluded following the impressive Shadow of the Erdtree expansion in 2024; however, FromSoftware took everyone by surprise with the unveiling of a spin-off titled Elden Ring Nightreign, featuring elements of roguelike gameplay and cooperative mechanics.

In a shift from his usual solo-focused game development, this creator is venturing into a novel direction, renowned for creating challenging single-player titles. Although Nightreign can be played solo, it’s generally more accessible when played with others. There’s an enigma shrouding this new journey, and if you’re debating whether to embark on Limveld’s adventure alone or with companions, we’ll assist you in determining whether Elden Ring Nightreign is a worthwhile investment or not.

Review

One of top-mob.com‘s Executive Editors, James Lucas, covered the game for the website in his piece “Elden Ring Nightreign Review: You’re Worried About The Nameless King? He’s The Easy Boss” and was so impressed with his experience with it that he gave it a score of 4.5/5.

Initially, James approached the game with a blend of anticipation and reservation, but in the end, he was thoroughly captivated by its engaging battles, awe-inspiring boss encounters, and FromSoftware’s innovative twist on their classic approach.

It’s an interesting take on the Soulslike formula, bottling the usual loop into short-burst rounds.

At the culmination of each playthrough, you encounter colossal adversaries known as Nightlords, which serve as the primary objective for character development in each gaming session. Engaging with them transforms the arena into a spectacular stage for their breathtaking attacks, some of the most awe-inspiring I’ve witnessed during my unfortunate demises. While it may be exasperating at times, witnessing the mesmerizing chaos they unleash is truly a sight to behold.

These encounters are quite spectacular, yet they come with minor glitches concerning the bosses. They are extremely swift and pack a powerful punch, but if you’re accompanied by two other players, at least they can revive you, avoiding an immediate game over. This might be frustrating for some, but as Lucas pointed out in his review, “…even the most challenging of beginnings can be recovered from the brink of defeat, making those last moments against a boss before they vanish into the ether some of the most gratifying FromSoftware has ever created.

The main criticism leveled against the Nightlords was that they are soft and difficult to defeat, causing prolonged battles. This can be rephrased as: “In many games, it became evident that my teammates were struggling and on the verge of collapse, stumbling into attacks they would normally evade effortlessly, leading us down a path of avoiding the boss, reviving each other, until we ultimately succumbed.

One engaging feature of Nightreign notably enriches the backstory and character development within Elden Ring, all while maintaining FromSoftware’s intricate storyline. Unlike most multiplayer games, it offers a surprising abundance of subtle details that shed light on the intriguing history of this elusive realm.

As a gamer, another thing I love about Nightreign is that it finally makes status effects matter in a significant way. When used against Nightlords, these statuses bring about unique changes that can drastically alter the course of battle. For example, the Gaping Jaw status prevents them from leaping around the arena and spewing poison, giving me an opportunity to unleash my full potential without worry.

His primary problems and worries about Nightreign centered on irritating player matching issues and the debatable choice to exclude cross-platform compatibility. In light of Nightreign’s emphasis on collaborative gameplay, it is my hope that these difficulties are addressed.

All in all, Lucas had a splendid experience with Elden Ring Nightreign, encountering just a few small issues here and there. It’s a captivating development from one of the most cherished studios of the last ten years, and there’s plenty of room for growth as it receives future updates.

Cost

At the moment, you can purchase Elden Ring Nightreign on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC, both physically and digitally. The standard edition of the game retails for $39.99 across all platforms.

Besides the standard edition, there’s an upgraded version available too, priced at $54.99. This premium package comes with the core game, extra downloadable content, a digital art collection, and a compact soundtrack.

Ultimately, there’s an exclusive collector’s version priced at $199.99, available only on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Steam. Apart from the main game and potential future DLC, this edition includes a 25cm Wylder figurine, SteelBook casing, Nightfarer Cards, a 40-page hardcover artbook, a collector’s box, and a digital soundtrack download code.

Time Expenditure

The duration of completing Elden Ring Nightreign can vary quite a bit based on several minor aspects such as waiting in lobbies and the frequency of deaths against bosses. Each expedition lasts approximately three days, with each one taking around 15 minutes. So, generally speaking, you might anticipate that a successful run will take roughly 45 minutes, though this can change depending on how long it takes you to conquer the Nightlord.

To conquer the final boss, you must vanquish four Nightlords first. If you manage to overcome them all on your initial attempt, it would take approximately 4 hours for you to complete the game – an impressive feat indeed, akin to Hercules’ labors. However, more realistically, you should anticipate spending between 10 and 20 hours, depending on your gaming prowess and whether you play with others.

As a passionate fan, if you’re aiming to experience everything Nightreign has in store – from wrapping up all eight Nightfarers’ storylines to grabbing every trophy and achievement – expect to invest around 30-40 hours to complete your journey!

What Players Are Saying

Big On The Bosses, Less On The Story – Hilton Webster

In simpler terms, I found Elden Ring, the original version, truly remarkable – it breathed new life into the Souls series, which had begun to feel familiar and repetitive upon multiple plays. The ability to explore almost anywhere from the start made each player’s journey unique. Plus, enhanced combat mechanics and diverse build options were icing on the cake, ensuring its success.

Nightreign is primarily centered around the fighting aspect of Elden Ring, making it perfect for those who yearn to engage in Dark Souls or Elden Ring battles with their friends. If you’re looking for a quick, intense combat experience that echoes Elden Ring, Nightreign fits the bill. However, if you cherish exploring vast worlds and uncovering stories hidden within them, you might find Nightreign lacking.

nightreign has clearly defined its identity as a multiplayer boss-rush game, and it excels at this particular style. However, this type of gaming experience might not appeal to everyone.

Should’ve Learned The Attack Patterns – Thomas Turner

If you’re someone who’s invested countless hours into each title from FromSoftware’s Souls series, as well as popular battle royale games such as Fortnite and Apex Legends, Nightreign seems overly ambitious and falls short in many aspects.

The concept of creating a game in the vein of Souls-like roguelikes, known for their intricate and rewarding combat mechanics, is incredibly engaging. Building upon Elden Ring’s expansive arsenal of weapons and formidable bosses as a foundation seems like an excellent starting point. Furthermore, reintroducing beloved bosses from past titles would have been the perfect finishing touch.

It’s astonishing how some design choices in Nightreign’s multiplayer mode leave us puzzled. For a team-oriented co-op game, it’s surprising that there aren’t more effective ways to communicate with fellow players beyond pinging. Additionally, releasing the game on multiple platforms and not incorporating cross-play functionality seems questionable. Lastly, if randomness is key in roguelikes, it’s odd that each run in this game tends to feel remarkably similar.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’d have loved to delve into the world of Elden Ring: Nightreign if it had mastered the lessons from its genre peers. If it had implemented seamless voice chat and cross-play, it could’ve been a game that brought friends together or even introduced me to new gaming buddies. However, beyond the battlefield, there seems to be nothing that sets Nightreign apart from other multiplayer games in the same genre.

Not Really An Elden Ring Game – Mohamed El Ouardighi

Despite having played every Soulsborne title that has been created, I must admit that the essence which defines a Souls game seems to be missing, regrettably.

If Elden Ring were to receive a DLC expansion or a new game mode, that would be logical. However, turning it into a separate game wasn’t essential.

Did I enjoy it? To some extent. Was it the best? Not really.

And before you come for me, yes, I completed the game, and this is my opinion.

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2025-06-02 17:35

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