When Elden Ring was first launched back in February 2022 it took over the gaming community like a storm. The game had a monumental success which redefined the open world RPG genre. Around 2024 Elden Ring got another expansion known as the Shadow of Erdtree which was also a big success for FormSoftware. Now, the developers are rolling in with a cooperative soulslike game known as the Elden Ring Nightreign.
“ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is a standalone adventure within the ELDEN RING universe, crafted to offer players a new gaming experience by reimagining the game’s core design.”
Nightreign will be released on 30th May 2025 which will be a major spinoff of Elden Ring. The game will take a major step into cooperative, roguelike gameplay which will allow fellow tarnished to survive in a cursed land of Limveld with 2 other players.
From Open World to Roguelike Survival
Elden Ring was all about open world where exploration was heavily emphasized alongside soulsborne usual combat mechanics. Nightreign is a structured multiplayer focused roguelike game.
Players will take control of several characters known as the Nightfares. These classes of warriors will venture into Limveld to lift the curse. The game will run on a three-day cycle where you have to explore, gather loot and of course defeat multiple bosses before the nightfall.
The game seems like it has some inspiration from battle royale mechanism. The map shrinks at night so you need to move fast and make the right decision. Moreover, each run features randomized enemy placement, loot and boss fights.
“Overcome a relentless environmental threat that sweeps through a land that changes between each game session and defeat the magnificent boss of that night!”
The World of Limveld – A Darker, Harsher Realm
Limveld is a doomed kingdom which is cursed by endless night. Unlike the vast world of the Elden Ring, Limveld is limited. The world of Limveld is more dangerous, tighter and designed for ultimate chaos during cooperative encounters.
The Limveld is made of ruined castles you will come across various loot and some familiar enemies from the base enemies. You will also see open spaces where you can get ambushed by enemies. Remember when you got invaded by Margit in the base game? Yep exactly that!
Keeping the Soulsborne DNA Alive
Despite the major shift in the game genre Nightreign still retains the authentic soulsborne formula. You will definitely struggle while fighting the bosses. The combat is almost still the same but there are some new movesets with the pre-built Nightfares classes. So, in a way it will be exciting! Oh and to make it more exciting there is no more fall damage in Nightreign!
Character Classes – Choose Your Playstyle
In Elden Ring you had the liberty to customize your character and build your playstyle accordingly. In Nightreign you will get preset characters each has unique approach and combat mechanics. So far FormSoftware released four characters in their testing run.
Wylder
Wylder is a heavy armored knight with grappling hook as a special ability. The warrior is a frontline fighter who combines their durability with strong melee attacks. Moreover, you can use your grappling hook to either bring enemies close or reduce the gap between bigger enemies.
Duchess
Duchess is a dexterity based character who eccles in speed, precision and magic infused attacks. She is one of the most agile and fast warriors among all the classes. She wields a magic dagger which unleashes rapid combos. Her special ability allows herself and her nearby allies to be invisible for some seconds.
Guardian
Guardian is another warrior who is built to absorb massive amounts of damage. The guardian has a cool combat mechanism as they can glide and hover. This warrior can perform a massive jump to launch himself at the enemy this helps to crowd control.
Recluse
Recluse is a sorcerer class which focuses on powerful high-damage spells. The Recluse is best played at long range as they can easily reposition themselves and unleash deathly magical spells. Moreover, Recluse has an ability to mark the enemy which allows allies to gain health by hitting the marked enemy.
Roguelike Elements
The Nightreign has roguelike elements because each run resets the character levels and you need to rebuild your character from the beginning again. Moreover, each run is different from the previous ones so you will not get bored.
A New Era for Soulsborne Fans
Nightreign is not Elden Ring 2 nor is it trying to be. Whether you’re a veteran soulsborne or a newcomer you will definitely enjoy Nightreign. However, the combat may feel challenging but it is always exciting to try out a soulsborne game especially if you can try it out with your friends.
