FromSoftware has made its name by crafting deep, atmospheric RPGs that punish and reward in equal measure. Elden Ring: Nightreign, however, tears up the studio’s usual design doctrine and offers something far stranger: a 45-minute co-op roguelite built around speed, chaos, and teamwork. It works—brilliantly, at times—but only if you can meet its steep demands.
A Brilliant Idea with a Catch
Nightreign trades in the sprawling, exploratory isolation of the Lands Between for something leaner and more chaotic. Each run takes place on Limveld, a procedurally remixed island full of familiar Elden Ring locations, enemies, and surprises. You start at Level 1 and level up during the three in-game “days,” gearing up for a climactic showdown against one of eight wildly inventive Nightlord bosses.
The game is thrilling when it’s working as intended. The boss battles are some of FromSoft’s best—massive, creative, and often designed with MMO-style mechanics in mind. The pacing, too, is immaculate. Every decision feels urgent, with a battle-royale-style shrinking circle forcing your hand and encouraging creative routing and risk-taking. And the classes, or “Nightfarers,” are varied and genuinely exciting to use, each boasting unique abilities, ultimates, and narrative arcs that unfold via Remembrance missions.
But here’s the rub: Nightreign demands three things—cohesion, communication, and consistency. Without a coordinated trio of similarly skilled players (preferably on voice chat), the experience rapidly breaks down. The solo mode is barely functional, with poor balance, no revive mechanics, and overwhelming encounters clearly meant for groups. Worse, there’s no crossplay and no duos mode—meaning matchmaking is a roll of the dice, and you can’t simply queue up with a friend unless you both fill the same narrow conditions.
Mechanics Reimagined for Chaos
FromSoftware’s traditional systems are still here—dodging, stamina, backstabs, flask chugs—but Nightreign overlays them with meta-progression and speed-focused design. Loot drops include passive weapon buffs, and level-ups are streamlined to enhance core attributes with one click. This makes quick decision-making possible under pressure and rewards map knowledge as much as mechanical skill.
Each class—whether it’s the grappling-hook wielding Wylder or the parry-focused Executor—feels bespoke and capable of wild synergies when played together. For example, a support like Raider can spawn structures that provide buffs and cover, while a ranged Ironeye can capitalize on verticality and sustained damage. These interactions aren’t just satisfying—they’re essential. Nightreign demands coordination, especially when bosses start summoning adds, casting raid-wide attacks, or splitting your team across the battlefield.
Still, the accessibility curve is steep. Without a tutorial, and with limited tools for communicating with randoms (there’s no in-game voice chat), early runs can feel chaotic in the wrong way. And while Nightreign’s progression system—relics that offer run-start buffs and unlockable class enhancements—is deep, it leans too heavily on RNG and lacks enough player agency to reliably build toward specific playstyles.
A Triumph of Vision, if Not Execution
What Nightreign represents is arguably more important than what it gets right. This is a bold pivot for a studio known for unyielding structure. FromSoft doesn’t just borrow elements from roguelikes, battle royales, and extraction shooters—it absorbs them into its creative DNA. The result is a game that’s familiar but electrifyingly different: faster, loopier, and brimming with risk-reward tension.
Yes, some of its ideas aren’t fully baked—like frustrating solo balance or its rigid matchmaking rules—but the ambition is undeniable. The shifting Limveld terrain, randomized events, and highly synergistic co-op combat create a unique experience that’s hard to put down once you find your groove. It’s also visually arresting, packed with atmospheric detail and musical compositions that match the grandeur of its most intense fights.
Verdict:
Elden Ring: Nightreign is a thrilling and experimental triumph—one of FromSoftware’s boldest games to date. But its brilliance comes with conditions: without a well-matched squad and the right setup, many players will find themselves locked out of the experience’s best moments. Still, for those who meet Nightreign on its own terms, there’s nothing else quite like it.
