FromSoftware has expanded the Elden Ring universe with a new spin-off title called Elden Ring: Nightreign, a roguelike action game built specifically for cooperative play. Released at a lower price point of $40, Nightreign introduces a big shift from the traditional Soulsborne formula by emphasizing team-based gameplay over the solo experience.
Unlike the sprawling open world of the original Elden Ring, Nightreign focuses on randomly generated expeditions where three players team up to tackle challenging encounters and bosses. Each run features procedurally generated layouts with randomized gear, builds, and power-ups, creating a unique experience each time. The core combat remains punishingly difficult and methodical, staying true to FromSoftware’s signature style.
The game’s biggest change from the Elden Ring formula is its strong emphasis on multiplayer. Players can matchmake online to form three-person teams or play with friends. The revive mechanic, which lets team members bring back fallen allies, is central to the gameplay and isn’t available if you choose to play alone.
This multiplayer focus has become a major talking point among players and critics. While the co-op play is reportedly seamless, the lack of cross-play between different platforms has made finding games harder. When fewer than three players form a party, the game will automatically fill the extra spots with random players, though communication options are pretty bare-bones.
The game’s amount of content is pretty limited compared to FromSoftware’s main games. You’ll run into bosses from older Dark Souls games and a few new ones, but the overall boss lineup is small. Critics note the game may start to feel repetitive after around 20 hours, since there’s a limited variety of enemies and only one map. The roguelike features are there, but don’t go as deep as what you’d see in other top games of the genre.
Praise the sun but not the solo
Many reviewers have pointed out that Nightreign is a tough sell for solo players. While you can play it alone, solo runs are described as extremely difficult because enemies are scaled to multiple players, and you don’t get the revive mechanic. Boss fights and enemy groups were clearly designed with co-op in mind, making solo attempts frustrating, even for veteran players.
Technical performance at launch has been mostly stable, though there were some early server hiccups, especially on PlayStation. The game has pulled in generally positive, but lower-than-usual review scores for FromSoftware, averaging in the 7–8/10 range. Combat and co-op are the main highlights, while complaints center around poor solo balance, not enough content, and undercooked roguelike mechanics.
