The year's unrelenting cadence continues with the arrival of FromSoftware's Elden Ring Nightreign, a decidedly-curious spin on the studio's established gameplay formula. The reviews for Elden Ring Nightreign are pouring in, with outlets giving thoughts and impressions on this new title.
Nightreign is a co-op game, putting players into teams of three across matches that can last over a half-hour, tasking teams with taking out enemies and bosses pulled not just from Elden Ring but across the Dark Souls franchise as well.
At the time I'm writing this, it has a 78 on Metacritic from 64 reviews, with a 79 on Opencritic from 81 reviews. That's a positive score, though it's certainly not the unanimous praise that FromSoftware titles often garner. Below, you'll find some highlights from across a few different reviews:
- GamingTrend (85/100): "So is Nightreign worth checking out for someone unaccustomed to roguelikes but who is a fan of Elden Ring? Yes, I believe so. The more I played, the more invested I became, and my initial worries quickly took a backseat to the incredible experience FromSoftware has created. Go in with an open mind, a few friends, and prepared to die, often."
- Game Informer (80/100): "Nightreign is at its best when I’m at my best, which means From Software’s take on the roguelite genre needs to meet me halfway, leaving its frustrating misgivings at the roundtable hold. When the matchmaking works, when the map randomness gives my trio a fighting chance, and when the storm doesn’t punishingly throw an unfair wrench into the expedition, I’m excited to rise to the challenge. The reward for my efforts is the mastery, knowledge, and adrenaline I spent dozens of hours building in Elden Ring, condensed into a single run. And every success is as visceral and glorious as the last."
- IGN (70/100): "Let’s get the most important caveat out of the way first: If you are hoping to tackle Nightreign entirely solo, and are anything less than a hardcore Elden Ring player that actively seeks out ways to make that already difficult game even more challenging, Nightreign isn’t for you. Yes, there is technically a single-player option, but it is so poorly balanced that I would be shocked if it isn’t patched and adjusted within the first month of release. And this is coming from someone who lives and breathes these types of games."
- RPG Site (70/100): "During my time with Elden Ring Nightreign, I was waiting for something to jump out and amaze me like the original game and Erdtree had, but that sensation never came. Nightreign delivers glimpses of what I love about the previous games, but the jump to this new format just never quite landed as well as I had hoped. When I played with my friends or when I finally tackled that Nightlord I had been stuck on, it hit with that same exhilarating sense of accomplishment that I love, but so much else left me wanting."
- The Guardian (60/100): "FromSoftware’s experiment in upending its established gameplay formula is admirable, and taking down gargantuan foes alongside friends really adds to the joy you feel at finally besting what at first felt like an insurmountable task. It’s just a shame that the game’s skewed pacing and overreliance on Elden Ring’s pool of assets so greatly mars the experience."
A different beast, but one that may resonate with Elden Lords
Overall, most critics seem to appreciate how the Elden Ring gameplay formula works in a game focused around co-op. Common pain points are the lack of variety and the lack of crossplay, as well as the fact that Nightreign is borderline impossible to play solo.
My colleague Brendan Lowry is mostly positive in his 4-star review of Elden Ring Nightreign, writing that "Indeed, it's a genius new way to experience the Elden Ring combat and sandbox that fans know and love — though there's one major flaw holding it back from reaching its full potential."
Elden Ring Nightreign is slated to lauch on May 30, 2025 across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4.
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