Elden Ring: Nightreign is not your traditional FromSoftware experience. Forget slow exploration and lore-hunting trips. This DLC-like standalone mode throws you into a fast, intense roguelite run that lasts 35-45 minutes and demands quick decisions, fast reactions, and tight teamwork.
What Is Nightreign?
Nightreign is a multiplayer roguelite experience for up to three players. You pick a character, each with a passive skill, an active ability, and an ultimate, and head into a two-day run to prepare for a boss fight against one of the seven Night Lords.
You’ll gather gear, fight elite enemies, and earn upgrades through random soul fragments that offer different bonuses. But you’re always racing the clock: when night falls, a deadly fire ring shrinks like in a battle royale, forcing you toward the boss arena.
High Pressure, High Reward
Every second matters. You must loot, fight, and decide fast, often under pressure. Think Doom Eternal levels of intensity, where constant movement and decision-making are key. And like in Doom, this game can drain your focus and energy.
If that kind of gameplay stresses you out, Nightreign may not be for you.
Solo vs Co-op
While you can play solo, it’s painful. The game is clearly built around 3-player coordination, yet it lacks in-game voice chat or full communication tools. Playing without friends, especially on different platforms (no crossplay), can be frustrating.
Nightreign is best played with two trusted teammates and voice comms. Going in with randoms can quickly ruin a run.
The Meta and Replayability
Some characters, like the mage or archer, are stronger due to their range, but each class is viable with enough mastery. Soloing with those ranged characters, however, is a nightmare.
Each character has a unique cryptic storyline, encouraging you to replay with all eight characters, but some quests can be time-consuming and feel unrewarding. If you’re not into hidden lore or hard-to-trigger events, this could be a turnoff.
Repetition and Rough Edges
While procedural elements exist, the map layout becomes repetitive after 20+ hours. Bosses move constantly, which is great for challenge, but frustrating for melee players chasing them around the arena.
And there’s no option to vote-skip or quit a failed run, which can waste precious time.
Verdict: Is It Worth Playing?
Yes, but only if you’re ready for the intensity.
Elden Ring: Nightreign is a bold, difficult and fast-paced spin on the original game. If you love high-stakes action, roguelites, and don’t mind communicating with friends externally, it’s a fun challenge.
If you’re looking for a calm, lore-rich solo adventure? You may want to go back to the base game instead.
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