Elden Ring: Nightreign Reviews
Elden Ring Nightreign is a fun concept, but despite excellent boss fights and a fun start, it quickly becomes repetitive and tedious.
Elden Ring Nightreign won't be every FromSoft fan's cup of tea, and this is especially true if you're a lone wolf.
Elden Ring: Nightreign is both a love letter and a remix of everything FromSoftware fans adore. While the multiplayer focus won't work for everyone, the sheer amount of challenge, variety, and the ever-elusive dopamine hit make it something special and something to be remembered.
Elden Ring: Nightreign does not seek widespread audience - and that's a really good thing. FromSoftware doesn't make compromises. Instead of doing “more of the same,” it has opted for a design that is completely new, system-dense and ruthlessly honest. Does it have flaws? Of course; excessively long boss fights can be frustrating. Still, Nightreign demands, but it also rewards. And it does so without half measures.
Review in Polish | Read full review
I first went into Elden Ring: Nightreign during the PS5 network test some months ago, and my expectations weren't overly high. After that network text, I was left somewhat optimistic. All the FromSoft magic was there, excellent, minimalistic writing, fantastic audio, and crushing enemies. All of this has continued into the final game.
Elden Ring: Nightreign is a bold move to expand the series through a cooperative, dynamic format. While its streamlined progression and limited exploration may disappoint purists, the addition of roguelike and battle royale elements doesn't quite fit FromSoftware's design ethos. It might draw in new players, but longtime fans may find the balance between innovation and tradition a bit off.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A fascinating precursor to FromSoftware's multiplayer pivot, Elden Ring: Nightreign offers us a glimpse at the thrills, and pitfalls, of adapting the studio's signature style to meet contemporary standards. Propulsively fun gameplay loops and a killer art direction gently usher in one of the least considered efforts from the studio to date.
Despite its various balance and design issues, Elden Ring Nightreign is still an intriguing experiment from FromSoftware. The fusion of roguelike elements with the Soulslike formula feels as naturally complementary as survivor-likes expanding on gear-driven systems-full of potential by design. While it's clear that the studio lacks deep experience in this particular coop genre blend, Nightreign could have gone further.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Elden Ring Nightreign is a very clever game. FromSoftware has produced a multiplayer-focused “Souls” experience that borrows some of the best ideas from the multiplayer giants while retaining the Soulslike formula and style. It’s not really for me. I’m a mega Souls fan, but I’m there for the dark fantasy storytelling and exploration more than the action and bosses. But I can appreciate what FromSoftware has done with this, and I certainly think the team has nailed what they set out to achieve with it.
Elden Ring: Nightfall is less a meticulously crafted title and more a playground for the developers to experiment with bold new ideas. At its core, Nightfall is so distinct from FromSoftware’s previous works that it can’t be wholeheartedly recommended to every fan. However, if you're drawn to roguelike structures infused with Soulsborne-style combat, and enjoy cooperative multiplayer—especially with a well-synced group—Nightfall offers a rewarding experience despite some rough edges. Otherwise, you might be better off waiting for the studio’s next single-player epic.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Elden Ring: Nightreign reimagines FromSoftware's soulslike formula as a thrilling cooperative experience, blending roguelike and Battle Royale elements. Fast-paced movement complements strategic, pattern-based combat across dynamic biomes, with emergent gameplay systems keeping every run fresh. Addictive and accessible, Nightreign shines brightest with friends to vanquish Night Lords. It's a bold evolution for fans.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Elden Ring: Nightreign offers a fresh and distinctive experience, not just for fans, but also for FromSoftware and the broader Elden Ring universe. It marks a bold departure from the studio’s traditional formula, skillfully incorporating successful elements from other genres and titles. While Nightreign has flaws, it stands as a promising foundation for what could eventually become a full-fledged online multiplayer RPG from FromSoftware.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Elden Ring Nightreign is truly worthy of its namesake. Fans who still have the Elden Ring itch even after the DLC should gear up for some jolly good cooperation.
A new generation of From Software directors is maturing and Elden Ring Nightreign is among the first of their fresh crops. Even as a roguelike co-op spinoff it shines like one of the brightest stars held back by the mighty Starscourge Radahn. However, if you unfavour the RNG gods or Miyazaki himself, not only bad luck but horrible connection and inconsistent designs shall rain upon you and your teammates. Therefore, be brave Nightfarers and join forces against the powerful Nightlords!
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Elden Ring: Nightreign is sure to be a divisive entry in FromSoft's catalog. It isn't the Elden Ring sequel that people might want, and it isn't necessarily a game that will appeal to those who love Souls titles. It's a weird, experimental concept grafted into the skin of a different game. It's an engaging and enjoyable game to play, assuming you meet it halfway. The core mechanics are strong, the boss fights are fun, and it's an enjoyable game. If you've ever wanted to see what a more multiplayer-focused take on the genre is like, Nightreign shines, but those looking for a single-player experience will want to look elsewhere.
Overall, Elden Ring: Nightreign offers a different kind of experience—both compared to the original Elden Ring and within FromSoftware’s entire body of work. But this difference works in its favor, resulting in a compelling experience. It might not be all that exciting to play solo, but in the ideal scenario—with a solid team by your side—it’s easy to get lost for hours in its epic, unforgettable battles and the thrill of taking down its many bosses. So if you’ve always enjoyed the challenging combat of the Souls series and Elden Ring, and don’t mind a reduced focus on exploration and storytelling, Nightreign could be a deeply rewarding experience for you.
Review in Persian | Read full review
“Elden Ring: Nightreign” offers addictive, rewarding gameplay for fans of hitting challenging bosses, but only if you play with two other people who understand the game, and even then the high difficulty level and the typically corny losing of up to 50 minutes of gameplay without any progression can get on your nerves.
Review in Polish | Read full review
A pretty smart use of Elden Ring's world and mechanics in a new and exciting mode of play, but perhaps one that reuses too much and doesn't improve enough.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
There's fun to be had with Elden Ring Nightreign, especially if you're a skilled Elden Ring player who loves a challenge or can get a good team together, but it does have a range of issues. The fact that there's only one map means repetition quickly creeps in, for example, and the Relic system simply doesn't feel as impactful as it should. Being a multiplayer-focused game, the lack of cross-play is also egregious.
Elden Ring Nightreign offers an intriguing take by blending the soulslike formula with roguelike elements, delivering intense challenges and an engaging co-op experience, especially when played with friends. Although it features well-crafted combat mechanics and a diverse range of classes, the game also suffers from repetitiveness. With future updates and proper adjustments, Nightreign has the potential to become a strong addition to the FromSoftware universe.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review