Elden Ring Nightreign Review: A Glorious, Grueling Co-op Celebration Souls Veterans Will Adore
FromSoftware’s latest offering, Elden Ring Nightreign, plunges players back into a familiar yet thrillingly reinvented world. This multiplayer-focused spin-off is an exhilarating rush, a masterful blend of soulslike challenge and roguelike unpredictability, and a clear celebration of the studio’s monumental achievements. While it carves its own path, Souls veterans will find themselves right at home, ready to devour every punishing encounter.
Authentic Souls, Amplified by Three
Right from the get-go, Nightreign asserts its FromSoftware DNA. The first true boss, the fiery Tricephalos Nightlord – a chain-whip wielding cerberus that splits into three relentless pursuers – serves as a formidable early hurdle. It’s a classic FromSoftware roadblock, demanding skill, patience, and a new twist: mandatory three-player co-op.
This isn’t just Elden Ring with tacked-on multiplayer; it’s a ground-up experience built around shared struggle and triumph. Teams of three “Nightfarers” drop into a map with randomized elements, spending two intense in-game days buffing stats and abilities before confronting one of eight formidable Nightlords on the third day. Fail, and the run resets. This “multiplayer concoction only FromSoftware could have created” is described as intense and exhilarating.
More Than Mechanics: A Symphony of Shared Moments
Beyond genre labels, Nightreign shines as a generator of unforgettable shared experiences. The review paints vivid pictures: the awe of a volcano erupting mid-game, the frantic comedy of being trapped in an underground maze as a “storm of death” closes in, the pure, multilingual euphoria of conquering a tough boss with international teammates, and even the real-world interruption of a doorbell during a critical Nightlord fight (they still won!). These are the hallmarks of truly great multiplayer games, and Nightreign delivers them in spades.
How It Works: Speed-Running Elden Ring in Bursts
The gameplay loop is a frantic dance. Players explore and level up under the constant pressure of an encroaching blue storm (a la Fortnite), funneling them towards a boss. Survive, repeat on day two, then face the ultimate Nightlord. The map is static, but locations, items, and mini-bosses are randomized, with environmental events and invasions keeping runs fresh. It’s like “speed-running Elden Ring in half-hour bursts,” a microcosm of exploration and combat leading to colossal boss battles.
Diverse Nightfarers, Deep Co-op Strategy
Players can choose from eight Nightfarers, each inspired by Elden Ring classes but with unique skills and ultimate attacks. Wylder, the knight, uses a clawshot for mobility and a staggering ultimate. The archer Ironeye might convert even bow-skeptics. These distinct playstyles encourage co-operation, with skills designed to synergize. The Duchess’s rewind ability, for example, can amplify a teammate’s ultimate, while downed players can be revived by allies, making strategic positioning and even defensive use of ultimates crucial.
While a single-player mode exists for the “truly sadistic,” Nightreign is best experienced with voice chat, fostering banter, strategy sessions, and shared emotional highs and lows. The challenging Nightlord battles, with their sweeping AoE attacks, feel akin to MMORPG raids, demanding precise coordination.
Online Hiccups and Missed Opportunities
The review notes some typical FromSoftware online teething issues during the review period, including matchmaking failures and lag, though these didn’t “truly impede on a successful run.” More critically, the lack of crossplay is flagged as a “huge oversight,” limiting who you can team up with.
A Playground of Peril and Progression
Despite the initial overwhelming nature of the map and its abstruse icons, learning its intricacies is deeply satisfying. While optimal paths might emerge over time, random events aim to keep things spicy. Crucially, no run is wasted. Relics (passive buffs) and a permanent currency for new Relics and cosmetics ensure constant progression. Each character also has a “Remembrance” questline, adding narrative flavor and useful rewards.
A Love Letter to Fans, A Steep Climb for Newcomers
Nightreign feels like a “thank you” to Elden Ring’s 30 million players. It reuses assets and features bosses from across the Soulsborne saga, alongside eight new, incredibly challenging Nightlords. It’s a “celebration of the Souls series for veterans,” a party of familiar demonic faces and calculated combat. However, this fan focus and its breakneck pace might prove a steep learning curve for newcomers.
The Verdict: A Brilliant Foundation with Untapped Potential
Elden Ring Nightreign is an “outstanding” experience for fans, proving that multiplayer Souls can be just as fun, challenging, and satisfying. While it might not dethrone online multiplayer giants, it lays a “brilliant foundation for a longterm game.” The reviewer expresses a desire for ongoing live-service support – more Nightlords, Nightfarers, and map events – recognizing its immense potential.
Ultimately, Nightreign is a thrilling, demanding, and deeply rewarding co-operative adventure. It’s a testament to FromSoftware’s ability to innovate within their signature style, delivering a shared experience where, as the review aptly puts it, “a problem shared is a problem Souled.”
