Elden Ring Nightreign emerges as the latest offering from FromSoftware, the acclaimed developer known for its work on the Dark Souls series and the widely celebrated Elden Ring. This new title introduces a multiplayer twist to the beloved Elden Ring formula, igniting a lively debate among fans of the original game.
What is Elden Ring Nightreign?
Nightreign transforms the combat mechanics of Elden Ring into a fast-paced multiplayer experience. Players can choose from eight distinct Nightfarers, each boasting unique strengths and weaknesses. For instance, the Recluse excels as a powerful magic user capable of inflicting significant damage, albeit with low resilience against enemy attacks. Conversely, the Raider is a tank-like character, adept at absorbing damage but lacking speed in offensive maneuvers.
The primary objective remains the same: players must defeat the formidable Nightlord, a challenging boss, while navigating the treacherous landscape of Limvel Island. To achieve this, they must survive three in-game days, gathering equipment and leveling up their characters by confronting various bosses scattered across the map. Each run presents a unique combination of maps and bosses, ensuring a fresh experience with every attempt.
As players progress through the day, which lasts approximately 14 real-time minutes, a storm circle gradually closes in, compelling them to move or risk taking continuous damage. Nightfall brings additional challenges, as players must confront a night boss that tests their preparedness and skill. Successfully defeating this boss resets the storm circle, allowing players to explore once more until the next storm and subsequent boss encounter. Surviving these trials ultimately leads to an arena showdown with the third and final boss.
With each victory over bosses, players unlock new characters and enhance their arsenal with better relics, deepening their understanding of the Nightfarers. Priced at , Elden Ring: Nightreign is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series consoles.
Despite its promising premise, the reception among players has been mixed. While critics have lauded the game, awarding it an aggregate score of 78% on OpenCritic, player feedback on Steam has been less favorable, resulting in a “Mixed” rating from over 31,000 reviews. Many players have expressed frustration with the steep difficulty of solo runs, the challenges of finding teammates through matchmaking, and the absence of a duo option.
In response to these concerns, FromSoftware has actively engaged with the community. The developer announced that patch 1.02, set to release next week, will introduce automatic revivals during gameplay for solo players and increase the rewards for successful runs. Additionally, they provided guidance on adjusting network settings to improve matchmaking experiences.
For those eager for a duos option, a resourceful game modder has already created a solution for PC players. The Seamless Co-Op (Nightreign) mod allows players to team up with a partner, facilitating a more collaborative gaming experience without the need to search for a third player.
