Elden Ring Nightreign Review: A Souls-Like, With a Rogue-Like Soul

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In this critique of Elden Ring Nightreign, we’ll delve into how the game combines soulshades (souls-like) and dicey adventure (rogue-like) for an exceptionally distinctive playthrough.

Elden Ring: Nightreign deviates from the typical FromSoftware style, which might disappoint some fans. Yet, for those open to new experiences, there’s a wealth of enjoyment in this latest release from FromSoftware. It’s a refined blend of what fans adore about FromSoftware games, but with a touch of rogue-like gameplay. Even if you don’t usually appreciate co-op in souls-likes, I believe Nightreign can still offer a lot of fun – it certainly did for me!

With the preamble out of the way, let’s get into the review now.

Table of Contents
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  • Elden Ring Nightreign: An Excellent Rogue-Like, But Divisive Souls-Like
    • Performance, Presentation, and Audio
    • Gameplay and Combat System
    • Progression, Or Lack Thereof
    • Narrative and Storytelling
    • Boss Designs and Spectacle
    • Limveld and the Level Design
    • Multiplayer and Single-Player Game Modes
    • Few Shortcomings
    • Netcode and Live Service Elements
  • In Conclusion

Elden Ring Nightreign: An Excellent Rogue-Like, But Divisive Souls-Like

To me, Elden Ring Nightreign has always felt like an unusual concept. The premise is that it’s reminiscent of Souls games but steers clear from the traditional linear, stat-based progression seen in its predecessors. Instead, it leans more towards games with rogue-like elements or “randomizer” mods for Souls series. It’s easy to grasp why FromSoftware would choose to create a game like this. The popularity of the randomizer and permadeath mods for their earlier games has been substantial. Although I don’t delve into modding much, the “randomizer” mod for Dark Souls was what kept me revisiting the game during my college years. Furthermore, the emphasis on multiplayer in this installment also makes sense, to some extent.

Admittedly, there’s no denying that the multiplayer aspect, particularly PvE, in FromSoftware’s games is a blast. In truth, it was Bloodborne’s online PvE that truly captivated me and brought me into this remarkable franchise. Despite the fact that multiplayer has always felt like a secondary consideration in their games, when it did function smoothly, the cooperative play could be exhilarating. It’s only natural to speculate that FromSoftware might want to create a game centered around multiplayer. Yet, given the developer’s rich history and the Souls franchise itself, Nightreign’s emphasis on multiplayer can be hard to accept. Frankly, the concept of a multiplayer-focused game from FromSoftware initially left me hesitant, and I began my journey in single-player mode instead.

Reflecting on it now, I realize that decision might not have been the best one. Despite the challenges it presents, let me tell you, Nightreign has been an absolute blast to play in a multiplayer setting – probably the most fun I’ve had in ages!

Performance, Presentation, and Audio

Initially, let’s tackle the familiar aspects before diving into specifics. The upcoming Elden Ring Nightreign shares many similarities with its predecessor, but boasts enhancements overall (generally speaking). At its foundation, it retains the same engine as Elden Ring, albeit with some adjustments.

Firstly, the game appears to employ a refined texture rendering system, effectively addressing any streaming problems that were common in the original Elden Ring. This improvement has made for a smoother gaming experience, particularly during combat encounters with bosses who utilize heavy effects.

Secondly, the visual effects and transparencies have been optimized in Nightreign, reducing instances of stuttering or frame rate drops that were previously seen during these intensive sequences. Although there are still occasional frame rate dips, they are less frequent compared to the original Elden Ring on PC.

Regarding its visual style, Nightreign shares similarities with Elden Ring, but instead of a golden hue, it leans towards a more nighttime-inspired palette. If you’ve played any games from FromSoftware’s Souls series, you’ll feel right at home here. However, the user interface has a slightly busier look due to the inclusion of character abilities at the bottom. But don’t worry, if this is a concern for you, you can easily turn off that part of the UI. As for its audio, once again, FromSoftware delivers an exceptional sound design experience in Nightreign, from the title theme to the ambient sounds, it’s all perfectly executed.

Among the various boss battles in Caligo’s Fissure in the Fog, two stand out as particularly impressive to me – the main boss themes and the final boss. These are masterfully crafted. There’s also another boss in the game that echoes one of my favorite Dark Souls bosses, but I won’t reveal it to avoid spoilers.

Gameplay and Combat System

In Elden Ring: Nightreign, it’s the gameplay and combat that truly make it engaging. While the fundamental mechanics resemble the original Elden Ring, there’s a fresh twist – character skills. You still have your usual light and heavy attacks for every weapon type, along with elemental affinities, but what sets Nightreign apart is the selection of eight preset characters, each with their unique set of active and passive abilities.

In a rogue-like style, you don’t design your character from scratch in Nightreign. Instead, you can switch between these predefined characters at any time. Each character, known as a Nightfarer, comes equipped with two active skills and one passive skill that define their playstyle. This new feature adds an exciting layer of depth to the gameplay experience.

In this game, there are two types of abilities to consider: Character Skills and Ultimate Arts. Character Skills may not cause much damage, but they have a quick recharge time and can be used consecutively to either stun enemies or boost the power of your weapon attacks. On the other hand, Ultimate Arts take longer to recharge, but they dish out significant damage when activated. Additionally, Ultimate Arts have additional functions, such as reviving fallen comrades or bestowing them with temporary bonuses. I found that the skills are seamlessly integrated into gameplay in Nightreign. The variety of combinations you can create using these abilities alone is impressive. Although weapon arts seemed less prominent in Nightreign compared to skills, I believe the trade-off was justified.

In Nightreign, while the combat abilities might not rival those found in dedicated character-action games, they’re still an enjoyable part of the game for me. What I appreciate most about its gameplay is its simplicity – it’s remarkably lean, with minimal unnecessary features. There’s a hint of RPG elements, but they don’t overwhelm like they often do in souls-like games. The interface is streamlined, which is a definite plus in my opinion, as it minimizes time spent on menus.

Progression, Or Lack Thereof

Previously discussed, Nightreign doesn’t strictly adhere to the format of a “souls-like” game. Unlike some games in this genre, it lacks a linear progression system, which may seem unusual initially. But give it time as you dive into Expeditions, uncover Relics, and grasp the intricacies of its mechanics – everything will fall into place for you. However, if you’re anticipating a conventional souls-like experience similar to the original Elden Ring, you might find yourself let down. It’s essential to understand that despite some similarities with Elden Ring, Nightreign is a unique entity unto itself. It doesn’t rely on the narrative thread of Elden Ring, nor does it aim to replicate the souls-like style.

In my viewpoint, that’s truly fantastic! Although I was hoping for another game similar to Elden Ring, I must admit that Nightreign has an equally satisfying feel. If you fancy adjusting your Nightfarer’s stats, the game incorporates a system called Relic Rites. In essence, as you progress through Expeditions or complete them, you’ll be rewarded with Relics. At any moment, your Nightfarer can equip up to three of these Relics. Each Relic accommodates three stats, some of which are passive abilities linked to a specific Nightfarer. Although it might seem insignificant, the Relics provide a decent chance for optimization or “min-maxing”.

To put it simply, Nightreign isn’t primarily focused on the typical “optimization” or character building. Instead, it offers a laid-back gaming experience perfect for spending a leisurely weekend with friends. Occasionally, games should indeed serve as a means to unwind and connect with others.

Narrative and Storytelling

Initially, I was hesitant about the narrative aspect of this game. Even when I started playing, my feelings were uncertain. Though there were introductory scenes that established the setting and the Nightfarer’s responsibilities, they didn’t quite match up to the engaging narratives of past FromSoftware games. But let me assure you, if a captivating story is what you seek, Nightreign delivers in spades! Unlike other games where the story unfolds linearly, this one requires active participation to unravel the tale of the Nightfarers and the Nightlords. A unique feature called Remembrances serves as a dedicated system for storytelling within the game.

Fundamentally, embarking on an Expedition accompanied by a Nightfarer allows you to gather Memory Pieces. These Memory Pieces can be returned to the Roundtable Hold to unlock additional quests for that specific Nightfarer. It is within these optional Remembrance quests that Nightreign primarily presents its narrative. Now, I must confess, the storyline is arguably the least compelling aspect of Nightreign. Nevertheless, for a multiplayer-oriented rogue-like game, Nightreign boasts an impressive amount of narrative depth. In fact, some of these Remembrance quests showcase exceptional storytelling in the souls-like genre. They even feature hidden cutscenes and boss battles connected to them.

To put it simply, while the game offers an engaging experience overall, its storytelling through the environment is quite sparse due to the dynamic nature of Limveld. Additionally, I found myself a bit let down as the game doesn’t delve deeper into the boss characters narratively, except for the final one. The other Nightlords lack narrative depth.

Boss Designs and Spectacle

Although the Nightlords may lack extensive narrative elements, they certainly deliver an impressive challenge. The boss encounters in Nightreign are arguably the most thrilling aspect of the entire game. Some of these battles are truly extraordinary, both in terms of their grandeur and the level of difficulty they present. Despite there only being eight Nightlords within the game, you’ll encounter other formidable foes that aren’t found in Elden Ring. I won’t give away any secrets, but if you’ve watched the game’s trailers, you might already have a clue about what I mean. Furthermore, certain bosses from the original Elden Ring have been given updated move sets in Nightreign.

In the game Nightreign, characters like Margit and Godskin Noble have fresh move sets that might take you by surprise initially. Moreover, the Godskin Duo makes a return in this game with an exciting new element, which I’ll leave for you to discover on your own. Additionally, there are some returning bosses from previous FromSoftware games such as the Nameless King and Centipede Demon that I’m eager to battle in Nightreign. Despite the might of the Nightfarers outmatching characters like the Chosen Undead or the Ashen One, these bosses still present a formidable challenge. However, they pale in comparison to the fearsome Nightlords.

In Nightreign, all eight Nightlord bosses are exceptionally well-crafted, offering both an enjoyable battle experience and a learning curve. What’s more, these bosses are not only tough but also intricately designed. Among the bosses created by FromSoftware, the Nightlords stand out as the most challenging yet. Yet, despite their difficulty, they never feel unreasonably hard. This is one aspect that I appreciate in the boss encounters within these games.

Limveld and the Level Design

After the unveiling of the game, Hidetaka Miyazaki, president and creative director at FromSoftware, revealed that Nightreign’s map is roughly equivalent to Limgrave. However, it’s important to note a few exceptions. Nightreign takes place in Limveld, an alternate rendition of Limgrave. During your initial journey, you’ll only have access to a limited part of Limveld. But upon defeating certain Nightlords, you will activate the Shifting Earth feature. The Shifting Earth is essentially a random occurrence that opens up a new area for you to explore within Limveld. These areas are similar to the Legacy Dungeons in Nightreign, and I find this aspect particularly enjoyable.

Essentially, during the Shifting Earth phenomenon, a fresh location in Limgrave becomes accessible, offering larger bosses and exceptionally potent rewards. For example, if a Rotted Woods Shifting Earth event occurs, a blighted area will appear to the south of Limveld. Entering this zone will instantly inflict Scarlet Rot upon you, but by exploring the secrets of this locale, you can not only neutralize the effects of Scarlet Rot for that particular journey, but also reap a reward – a boon. Each Shifting Earth event comes with its unique boon; some grant Legendary-level weapon enhancements while others provide a passive advantage.

Furthermore, these dungeons maintain a consistent design for their structure, only varying in the loot they offer. This means that with a few trips, you can memorize the layout of the Shifting Earth realms. I find this aspect quite appealing as it introduces an element of “higher risk, higher reward” to each Expedition.

Multiplayer and Single-Player Game Modes

Elden Ring: Nightreign is marketed as a multiplayer title, and in my personal opinion, it’s most enjoyable when played cooperatively. In fact, Bandai Namco set up a special Discord channel for us reviewers to connect and navigate the game together. To be truthful, during my tenure as a games journalist, I’ve never had as much fun while evaluating a game as I did with Nightreign. We engaged in lengthy discussions about the game’s lore, contested over which bosses we considered “defeated,” and experienced some truly dramatic moments where we managed to turn defeat into victory. These instances are what made me understand why FromSoftware wanted Nightreign to be a cooperative-centric game.

In essence, Elden Ring Nightreign offers a single-player mode that’s been meticulously designed for a solo experience, similar to FromSoftware’s past titles. This mode is balanced to provide a fair and enjoyable challenge for those choosing to play alone. However, due to the rogue-like aspect of the game, playing solo presents a more difficult journey compared to joining an expedition with others. Though enemies and bosses have less health, they can still pack a powerful punch. A single mistake could potentially end your run. To aid solo players, there’s a revive mechanic that can be utilized once per encounter.

In various shops throughout Limveld, you can acquire an item named “Wending Grace.” This artifact allows for one automatic revival following death, similar to the game “Sekiro.” Despite this, I find that Nightreign offers a more enjoyable experience when played cooperatively.

Few Shortcomings

When it comes to discussing aspects that I’m not particularly fond of writing about, the drawbacks, I must say that Elden Ring Nightreign pleasantly surprised me by having minimal areas for improvement. However, one point I’d like to address is the game’s onboarding process, which, considering its departure from traditional FromSoftware games, could be more intuitive. Although there is a short prologue section that serves as a tutorial, it doesn’t fully prepare a new player for everything. Similar to previous games, most of the game’s systems are explained through menu-based text tutorials. Given the rogue-like aspect and progressive nature of this game, I believe more comprehensive tutorials than just simple text would be beneficial.

To wrap things up, I have one minor concern about the game balance, particularly with some bosses. Generally, the difficulty level in multiplayer and single-player modes is well-balanced. However, certain bosses might seem excessively challenging or “tipped over.” For example, Libra, the goat-headed boss from the Equilibrious Beast Expedition, has an unusual attack pattern. It can teleport directly to your location without any warning, and then promptly summon an area of effect (AOE) attack around your character. This sudden teleportation often catches players off guard, and the AOE attack can quickly inflict Madness. Despite being enjoyable to fight, Libra’s attacks seem unnaturally scripted.

Additionally, certain bosses seem excessively tough, taking a long time to defeat. For example, the beastly Caligo from the Fissure in the Fog Expedition can stretch out an engagement for up to 15 minutes, even when using affinities that hinder him. However, I believe these balance issues will be addressed with future updates following the game’s launch.

Netcode and Live Service Elements

To wrap up, it’s worth noting that unlike Elden Ring, Nightreign boasts a robust network infrastructure. Over my 60 hours of gameplay, I encountered no significant connection troubles. Nevertheless, it’s not flawless. Some players I teamed up with reported experiencing connection problems and even lag surges. In one instance, the game disconnected me, sending me back to the main menu, but I was able to swiftly rejoin the same lobby and ongoing Expedition thanks to the session recovery system. Overall, Nightreign’s online systems appear reliable, based on my personal playthrough.

Indeed, I believe any technical hiccups related to connectivity will be resolved prior to the game’s release. In addition, if you prefer, you can play the game entirely offline. However, opting for offline play means you’ll miss out on the co-op experience. Lastly, it’s important to clarify that Elden Ring Nightreign is not a live-service game. Instead, it’s a fully-featured title offering both solo and co-op gameplay. The game does not include any live service elements such as microtransactions or battle passes. Instead, cosmetic items can be unlocked through gameplay, similar to other FromSoftware games.

Discussing cosmetic items, Nightreign offers fantastic costumes for the Nightfarers, which make playing the Expeditions worth repeating.

In Conclusion

Nightreign combines the aspects I love from classic FromSoftware games, but with a twist of rogue-like gameplay. Some players might have reservations about this game, but I believe it’s worth checking out due to its unique approach. Although it could have been marketed as another Elden Ring spin-off, I’m glad they chose to create something fresh and original instead. Nightreign may not be as groundbreaking as its predecessor, but it’s got a lot of character, and at its core, it’s still an enjoyable video game.

If you’re an enthusiast of Elden Ring or games produced by FromSoftware and are searching for a well-crafted, feature-rich multiplayer game to enjoy with your friends on weekends, I believe Elden Ring Nightreign could be an excellent fit. And even if you typically prefer solo play, as I do, I recommend giving the game a try.

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2025-05-28 17:01