Game Overview
Developer: FromSoft
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Platform: Windows (reviewed), PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Release Date: May 29, 2025
ESRB Rating: M for Mature
Price: $40
Links: Amazon | Steam | Official Website
Elden Ring has become synonymous with grand experiences, rich exploration, and intense challenges. However, the latest spin-off, Elden Ring: Nightreign, introduces a distinct twist by merging its core elements into a fast-paced multiplayer action format, set against strict time constraints and a contracting play area.
The adaptation is surprisingly successful, transforming the epic narrative and intricate gameplay of Elden Ring into streamlined sessions of less than an hour. This approach provides a refreshing experience tailored for replayability with companions.
Gameplay Dynamics
Each session in Nightreign begins with players descending onto a single expansive map, akin to the start of a Fortnite match, by clinging to the talons of a spectral eagle. Upon landing, players must navigate within a contracting “safe zone” over two in-game days, culminating in encounters with challenging mini-bosses. Surviving both days leads to a showdown with one of several formidable Nightlords selected at the start of the run.
Fans of Elden Ring will recognize the game’s aesthetic—a world littered with remnants of a fallen realm, featuring familiar enemies and items. However, the pace markedly shifts, driven by an encroaching ring of blue flames, propelling players to hastily collect experience and loot instead of leisurely exploring for hidden secrets.
To facilitate this increased speed, Nightreign incorporates several notable adjustments to the original Elden Ring mechanics. Players can execute an unlimited “surge sprint,” allowing swift traversal across the map. Additionally, a springy wall jump enables quick ascents on steep cliffs, complemented by jump pads for rapid leaps and the absence of fall damage, creating a gaming experience reminiscent of a 3D Sonic title.
Combat still retains elements familiar to Elden Ring, focusing on stamina management for attacks, blocks, and dodges against predictably telegraphed strikes. Yet, battles feel more dynamic with the inclusion of powerful class-specific skills and “ultimate art” attacks that recharge over time. The rapid player progression enhances the luminosity of the power fantasy, allowing a quick ascension from novice to formidable contender.
Class Dynamics
Nightr reign features eight character classes that align with traditional action-adventure archetypes such as tanks, mages, and agile fighters. In my experience, I gravitated towards the Ironeye class, endowed with endless arrows that emitted steady damage while allowing a safe distance from the bulk of enemy strikes.
One major advantage of Nightreign’s fast-paced format is its flexibility; players can experiment with different classes without enduring hours of commitment. Over numerous quick runs, team members can mix and match character classes, discovering synergies that can lead to triumph.
As players repeat runs, they will gradually familiarize themselves with the thoughtfully crafted map, which presents various geographical zones and notable locations. Although the specific enemies and items shift with each run, players will learn the landmarks and potential paths to explore.
These repeated attempts also enhance the players’ instinct for when to engage in combat or retreat. In the early game, new characters should focus on defeating lower-level foes to gather experience, before tackling the more formidable sub-bosses that appear later in a run. As players progress, they must adeptly ignore weaker adversaries to optimize opportunities against the larger challenges.
Despite having a strategy in place, success isn’t guaranteed in Nightreign. Some runs may yield disappointing weapon drops or low-level adversaries, while others could present advantageous items that simplify encounters with even the toughest bosses. Players may also face setbacks from greed, such as venturing back toward lucrative opportunities only to be engulfed by the blue flame, or missteps that lead to fatal falls, causing a detrimental loss of character level.
Between runs, players can equip relics that provide permanent, albeit minor, statistical boosts. Overall, succeeding in Nightreign involves persistence and the right blend of luck and strategy to ultimately conquer the Nightlords.
Team Play Mechanics
Although Nightreign offers a single-player mode, it is fundamentally designed for cooperative play with three players simultaneously. Collaborating in a trio allows players to take on aggressive foes while one member flanks or revives downed allies in a comically awkward yet effective manner.
Effective communication among teammates is vital not only for combat coordination but also for strategizing movement as the playable area shrinks. Without voice chat, players can only communicate via a cumbersome system of marking points of interest on the map.
In my pre-release multiplayer sessions, I encountered significant lag issues, leading to frustrating freezes and unexpected enemy deaths due to server instability. Such technical difficulties raise concerns about performance as the game prepares for public release.
Despite these setbacks, the energetic, compact approach to the Elden Ring experience proves enjoyable. While Nightreign may not fulfill the desires of long-time fans seeking a classic sequel, it stands out as a captivating and action-oriented variation on the established gameplay style.
