‘Nightreign is a weird one’: Elden Ring Nightreign promises to be a divisive spinoff as reviewers say it’s both ‘deeply satisfying’ and a ‘frustrating slog’

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At long last, the dawn breaks over Elden Ring: Nightreign – the point where the review embargoes are lifted, and we fans can finally share our thoughts on FromSoftware’s innovative foray into roguelike gaming! The ensuing days will no doubt be filled with spirited discussion as we delve deeper into this captivating world.

In our Nightreign review, author Tyler Colp expressed that Nightreign is “an innovative reinterpretation of Elden Ring, yet simultaneously an annoying waste of time.” After having played Nightreign alongside Tyler, I concur with his evaluation: Nightreign showcases impressive creativity, but it can also be incredibly difficult and frustrating to play.

Discussions about Nightreign, a game that shares the name with one of the top-rated games from the last decade, yet has a 78% rating on Metacritic and OpenCritic, will likely spark disagreement as players compare its instances of roguelike success to its seemingly random difficulty. Here’s what other critics have to say.

In this revised version, I aimed to make the sentence more conversational and easier to understand by breaking it down into simpler phrases and using a more natural tone.

“It proves to be a relentless sprint that can be both exhilarating and excruciating.”

GamesRadar: 3.5/5

According to Will Sawyer’s review on GamesRadar, Nightreign is a thrilling, speedy journey that intensifies and invigorates the fundamental Elden Ring gameplay, but let me tell you, it’s quite challenging.

According to Sawyer, Nightreign’s Expeditions may last up to 45 minutes and are characterized by intense, relentless hunting that leaves little room for mistakes. He points out that the game’s chaotic, unpredictable design can make it seem excessively difficult when encountering a boss with an enormous health bar.

“There is excellence in this Elden Ring spin off, but it’s excellence that is just a little bit tarnished.”

In simpler terms, game reviewer Mitchell Saltzman from IGN finds the spinoff game “Elden Ring Nightreign” to be quite peculiar. He notes that it has elements which could potentially be frustrating, particularly its tough solo mode that he believes is unbalanced and may require adjustments in the first month of release. However, when played with others, Saltzman feels that the central progression of a Nightreign run offers a concentrated taste of Elden Ring gameplay experience, summarizing 80 or more hours of character development into a shorter timeframe.

“An exhilarating rush and a celebration of the studio’s prior achievements.”

Eurogamer: 4/5

At Eurogamer, Ed Nightingale expresses his enthusiasm about Nightreign by describing it as a game centered around creating unforgettable experiences with others. Examples of these moments might include narrowly avoiding impending doom in its battle royale-inspired settings or successfully completing a flawless run. Nightingale acknowledges the challenging singleplayer mode, which he terms “cruel,” and mentions that newcomers may find the initial playthroughs overpowering due to the multitude of mechanics and systems to grasp. However, he believes Nightreign has great potential for long-term gameplay, provided FromSoftware offers continued support for it.

“Nightreign’s highs make it worth fighting through the lows, but I couldn’t blame any warrior who would rather just sit the battle out.”

Digital Trends: 3.5/5

According to Giovanni Colantonio from Digital Trends, the main issue he encounters in Nightreign is its matchmaking system. He finds the multiplayer aspect an outdated online integration, making it excessively difficult to join a game due to disjointed queues, absence of crossplay, and lack of cooperative duo missions. Even when players can team up with randoms, Colantonio warns against it, stating that effective communication is vital for success because players moving off in different directions without coordination can derail a mission.

In other words, Nightreign’s music is said to be performed with vigor, and it’s pointed out that the game prioritizes power management rather than role-playing game (RPG) optimization, which results in an enjoyable experience within the roguelike genre.

“Seems like the best case scenario of adapting Elden Ring into a fundamentally different kind of game.”

Paste: 8.0/10

At Paste, Garrett Martin comments that although Nightreign may not be flawless, it manages to accomplish more than one might anticipate given its imperfections. For Martin, it’s remarkable how well this amalgamation of various elements works, as each component, on its own, wouldn’t typically lead to success. Essentially, Nightreign is like a lovable Frankenstein monster created from pieces of FromSoft games, resulting in a more effective roguelike than many might have thought possible.

Martin mentions that navigating Nightreign can sometimes be challenging and disheartening, but if your group works well together and each member knows their part, Nightreign can offer a rewarding experience, with a distinct ambiance that stands out in the co-operative multiplayer genre.

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2025-05-28 23:17