Support NeoGAF

[adamsapple]

Game Information

Game Title: Elden Ring: Nightreign

Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (May 29, 2025)
• PlayStation 5 (May 29, 2025)
• PC (May 29, 2025)
• Xbox One (May 29, 2025)
• PlayStation 4 (May 29, 2025)

Trailer:

• Elden Ring Nightreign: 'Libra' Boss Reveal Gameplay – IGN First
• ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN | Overview Trailer
• ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN | Overview Trailer

Developer: FromSoftware

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 81 average - 88% recommended
Metacritic - 78 average based on 39 reviews (PS5 vers)

Critic Reviews


Atarita - Eren Eroğlu - Turkish - 80 / 100

Elden Ring: Nightreign masterfully combines the souls-like and rogue-like genres in an online format, delivering an experience that's even more enjoyable than you might anticipate.

Bazimag - Hamidreza Ghaneei - Persian - 8 / 10

Overall, Elden Ring: Nightreign offers a fresh and different experience for fans of this beloved title and the roguelike genre, with a strong focus on co-op gameplay and fast-paced progression. While it might not appeal as much to newer or less experienced players, it will no doubt keep dedicated fans of online co-op games, Elden Ring, and the Souls series entertained for hours.

But Why Tho? - Eddie De Santiago - 9.5 / 10

Elden Ring Nightreign does its best to let players have fun, get stronger, and take down big, bad bosses together. I can't speak for the greater FromSoftware fanbase, but after these shared triumphs, I'll have a hard time going back to doing it alone.

CGMagazine - Justin Wood - 9 / 10

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.

CNET - David Lumb - Unscored

Nightreign is so unlike every other game out there that its sheer novelty may be enough to tempt FromSoftware veterans and newcomers alike. It's polished, is easy to get into the action and has a very high skill ceiling. If players stick through its lack of direction and difficulty, they'll find a multiplayer game that feels rewarding to win in a way few other games are.

Dexerto - Joe Pring - 4 / 5

After Elden Ring set the bar impossibly high for what's expected of open-world RPGs, Nightreign delivers a fantastic accompaniment to FromSoftware's core portfolio. It's unafraid to turn the established Souls formula on its head and ask if it can mesh well with other genres.

While the answer is a resounding yes, Nightreign won't be for everyone. For series veteran fans with no interest in multiplayer, it's a hard sell. Solo play is an officially supported mode, but it feels much like an afterthought.

Played with the intended group size, however, Nightreign is an irresistible co-op experience with far more depth than I expected.

Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 9 / 10

"A bold direction that exceeds expectations"
Elden Ring Nightreign offers a bold and exciting shift in the identity of the Soulsborne series by incorporating co-op gameplay and fast-paced randomization. It's an experience that balances the usual challenge with innovation, rewarding cooperation, tactical intelligence, and bold exploration. Despite some reservations about the depth of the story and repetition, the game proves itself a strong and refreshing addition to the FromSoftware universe.

Enternity.gr - Konstantinos Kalkanis - Greek - 8 / 10

Με το Elden Ring Nightreign, η From Software πειραματίζεται ξανά πάνω στην κλασσική συνταγή, αυτή τη φορά με περισσότερη ελευθερία

Fextralife - Fexelea - 8.7 / 10

Elden Ring Nightreign is a must-play for any souls combat fan, and an excellent experience to tackle with your friends. The smartest asset reuse in the industry, it masterfully delivers addictive gameplay with some innovative ideas that only slightly miss the mark on execution and leave you wishing they had added more new content.

GRYOnline.pl - Paweł Woźniak - Polish - 8.5 / 10

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.

Gamepressure - Maciej Bogusz - 8.5 / 10

Elden Ring: Nightreign offers a fast-paced gameplay and a return to the kind of raw challenge I've come to love in soulslikes. And that's exactly what I wanted, the more time I spent with Nightreign, the more I found myself enjoying it.

Gamer Guides - Ben Chard - 92 / 100

Elden Ring Nightreign gripped me from start to finish and constantly fills my every waking thought. This is a game that will have me glued to my chair for many nights to come.

Just Play it - Aimen TAIB - Arabic - 10 / 10

Elden Ring: Nightreign redefines multiplayer games and elevates them to a whole new level of challenge. In this nightmare-like adventure where mercy doesn't exist, there's no place for the weak. You'll face breathtaking bosses where there's no room for mistakes. And if you think playing with friends will make the journey easier, think twice, because Nightreign will mercilessly crush your bones… and your friends too.

Kakuchopurei - Lewis Larcombe - 90 / 100

Elden Ring: Nightreign takes FromSoftware's mastery of tension and triumph and remixes it into a co-op formula that's stressfully brilliant, borderline ridiculous—and dangerously addictive.

It's not trying to out-Elden Elden Ring. Instead, it turbo-charges the experience with a multiplayer twist that turns despair into shared laughter, and panic into camaraderie. The rogue-lite loop keeps things snappy, the class system is absurdly well-designed, and even as someone who's never touched a Souls game before, I felt like I belonged in this world of moonlit carnage and beautifully timed dodges.

MondoXbox - Mirko Rossi - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Elden Ring Nightreign blends soulslike intensity with mechanics from other genres. A high-adrenaline yet deep game, it introduces a blast of fresh air with ideas like shrinking safe zones and build-from-scratch expeditions. While solo play needs refining and asset reuse is noticeable, strong combat and co-op potential make it a worthy entry point for newcomers and a satisfying twist for veterans.

MonsterVine - Luis Joshua Gutierrez - 3.5 / 5

Elden Ring Nightreign is a blast to play. It has a lot going for it and is an Elden Ring game at its core. The game is challenging and fast-paced, forcing you to adjust to whatever is thrown at you. Running through some of the best bosses in the FromSoftware catalog is something I never thought I could do in one game. But at the same time, not having a mode to play with less than three people does shoot itself in the foot, and the lackluster story is disappointing.

Oyungezer Online - Onur Kaya - Turkish - 6 / 10

Nightreign is a mediocre experience that I can only recommend to groups of friends who are hardcore Elden Ring fans looking for something to play together.

PSX Brasil - Marco Aurélio Couto - Portuguese - 80 / 100

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.

Quest Daily - Tom Greer - 8 / 10

Elden Ring Nightreign delivers a dynamic, adrenaline-fuelled take on the Souls formula. It's tailored for hardcore fans with fast pacing, and brutally tough bosses... But its reliance on recycled content, and long expedition times may deter newcomers or those seeking a more traditional Elden Ring experience. For seasoned FromSoftware devotees like myself, it's a compelling challenge. I only hope matchmaking improves at launch — because I'm itching for another run.

Restart.run - Jesse Vitelli - 4 / 5

I walk away from Elden Ring Nightreign with an admiration for the weird thing the team at FromSofware has crafted. Something that doesn't feel like a cheap cash-in of the namesake but an idea that the team wanted to explore. It doesn't get everything perfect, but I'd rather see developers take big swings than stay stagnant. Much like Nightreign's speedy pace, FromSoftware once again proves it's not standing still.

Stevivor - Steve Wright - 8 / 10

Elden Ring Nightreign won't be every FromSoft fan's cup of tea, and this is especially true if you're a lone wolf.

TechRaptor - Joe Allen - 8 / 10

Elden Ring Nightreign is a pleasant surprise. Its thrilling bosses, well-crafted character archetypes, and strong combat make it worth your time, but don't expect the usual FromSoftware lore standard.

The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9 / 10

Elden Ring: Nightreign manages to seamlessly blend multiple gameplay systems, creating a highly addictive gameplay loop. Despite some solo balancing issues, it is another FromSoftware masterpiece, and one I hope will stick around for many years to come.

TheSixthAxis - Jason Coles - 7 / 10

Elden Ring Nightreign is a fun multiplayer offshoot, but it also doesn't come close to the dizzying heights we're used to seeing from FromSoftware. It's an interesting experiment, and I am glad it exists despite my mixed feelings, but it's a shallow happiness when I expect far more profound experiences from this company.

XGN.nl - Ralph Beentjes - Dutch - 7 / 10

Elden Ring Nightreign departs a lot from the usual FromSoftware formula, which doesn't always work out. From a hasty experience to boss fights you can't learn from, it can often be frustrating. The mechanics are solid however and it might tap into a whole new audience.

 

[Hyet]

The journalist played this well. Be positive because you don't wanto to say From made a bad game in case it blows up, but don't go into a very high grade because it's a departure from their usual stuff. Excellent approach for covering their asses until the public ultimately decides what it thinks about this (and so, determine the discourse around the Duskbloods in the inmediate future).

 

[Wooxsvan]

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Reviews look good.

Nothing alarming, which is good enough for this genre.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Which version comes with the cow?

 

[Luipadre]

Still too high

 

[analog_future]

Ouch. Not sure why FROM wants to water down the Elden Ring IP so badly, but here we are.

 

[Draugoth]

They should stick to single player

 

[Luipadre]

console framerate still looks dogshit

 

[sloppyjoe_gamer]

Passing on this.....not interested in a multiplayer only Elden Ring

 

[Gonzito]

Go back to single player From Software. Stop this nonsense

 

[Schmendrick]

"....there is technically a singleplayer option but it`s so poorly balanced .....the bosses are definitely designed with multiple players in mind....."

aaaand I´m finally definitely out.

 

[Gideon]

Passing on this.....not interested in a multiplayer only Elden Ring

You can play this offline I believe I saw that somewhere. (But it's badly balanced according to reviews, so I'm gonna wait for a sale)

 

[LordCBH]

Thank fuck it's in the 70's. I'm sure Geoff is contemplating jumping off a cliff since he won't be able to include this as a GOTY candidate.

Hell his ass will probably do it anyway.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Not for me. Please, go back to making slower dungeon crawls like KF and DS1.

 

[Astray]

Somewhat middling reviews given FROM's recent pedigree.

Thank fuck it's in the 70's. I'm sure Geoff is contemplating jumping off a cliff since he won't be able to include this as a GOTY candidate.

Hell his ass will probably do it anyway.

Best multiplayer game nomination coming in lol.

 

[Abysse]

The next AAA releases could score worse than this garbage. Unbelievable.

 

[ClanOfNone]

"....there is technically a singleplayer option but it`s so poorly balanced .....the bosses are definitely designed with multiple players in mind....."

aaaand I´m finally definitely out.

Yeah, no interest in multiplayer means I'm gonna wait and see where the inevitable patches take it.
Hopefully it gets a viable single game layer mode.

 

[RoboFu]

looks like great scroes. not sure what you guys are talking about.

 

[sncvsrtoip]

From a good in gaas as sony ? ;d

 

[BossLackey]

looks like great scroes. not sure what you guys are talking about.

If it's not in the nineties, GAF thinks it's absolute dog shit.

 

[JusticeForAll]

Looks like the worst from release in many many years.

 

[SJRB]

"....there is technically a singleplayer option but it`s so poorly balanced .....the bosses are definitely designed with multiple players in mind....."

aaaand I´m finally definitely out.

Yeah that is bad news for sure.

 

[Pey.]

My review (7.5/10) with some 4K screenshots > https://www.pcmrace.com/2025/05/28/elden-ring-nightreign-review-pc/

 

[CosmicComet]

Looks weak

 

[SJRB]

So playing solo is basically hard mode.

 

[Mortisfacio]

To any PC player, why would you even want this game? Seamless co-op mod seems like the better option to play this IP.

 

[devutos]

Lame as expected. At least this being out makes it more likely they will now announce something about their next proper game.

 

[Punished Miku]

I think all my criticism is finally just barely starting to move the needle. You're welcome everyone. I see some 7s and the words "poorly balanced" appearing.

 

[Ogbert]

As expected.

An average spin off.

 

[Pey.]

To any PC player, why would you even want this game? Seamless co-op mod seems like the better option to play this IP.

It's a roguelike, it's a different experience.

 

[FeralEcho]

If it's not in the nineties, GAF thinks it's absolute dog shit.

It's not bad as a score but from what is expected of the studio it's the weakest scoring From entry in a long time....let's not act like it's a surprise to see people dissapointed.

 

[Flabagast]

Hard Pass, without hesitation

 

[BossLackey]

It's not bad as a score but from what is expected of the studio it's the weakest scoring From entry in a long time....let's not act like it's a surprise to see people dissapointed.

As a massive From fan, I wasn't expecting this to blow my socks off. This is scoring pretty much exactly as I expected.

Why are the expectations of others higher?

 

[Loomy]

This seems like a fun game to play with friends. Not understanding all the negativity around it.

 

[missiles]

This seems like a fun game to play with friends. Not understanding all the negativity around it.

You answered your own question.

 

[Loomy]

You answered your own question.

The friends part or the fun part? Do we not have those?

 

[Luipadre]

Everything is fun with friends so thats not saying much lol

 

[Mortisfacio]

Everything is fun with friends so thats not saying much lol

A lot of popular games are largely enjoyed with friends. Phasmophobia, REPO, Lethal Company, Helldivers 2, etc. are all games I enjoy playing with friends, but find them pretty boring solo.

Personally as I've noticed this I've shifted my opinions on games. I have to group games into two separate categories: Games that are generally just good and stand on their own vs games that are good enough, but are only playable with friends

I find a lot of multiplayer games don't stand on their own when played solo.

 

[Boralf]

To any PC player, why would you even want this game? Seamless co-op mod seems like the better option to play this IP.

Because it gets stale with a fixed world with fixed item locations and fixed enemy and boss placement. I think the idea to make something out of the most popular Elden Ring mods (randomizer + co-op) is great for replay value, but the implementation is just all wrong. I especially hate the idea of the ring and don't like timers and rushing stuff. Plus it still looks too much like a modded version of Elden Ring.

 

[Kacho]

Meh. Curious to see how it does on Steam. No interest in actually playing it.

 

[Arsic]

Who is making the OT? The title better be "Praise The Rain"

I'm so fucking hyped to play this.

 

[MiguelItUp]

This seems like a fun game to play with friends. Not understanding all the negativity around it.

There seems to be a lot of negativity around anything some people just aren't into. I don't get why so many are so vocal about it, personally.

This is a $40 spin-off to try something new and different with the IP. These reviews/scores sound pretty damn positive for what they were doing, all things considered. I'm sure it'll feel strange to those that love From Soft but aren't really interested in this. But it's just a spin off, there will be other titles coming later. But for the meantime, this is better than nothing IMO, even if it isn't for everyone. I'm just more curious than anything.

 

[LazyParrot]

I love From Software games, but I always play solo. I didn't even use summons in Elden Ring. Not really interested in this at all.

 

[Success]

Expected but still a flop.

Miyazaki will fire this new director.

 

[Loomy]

To any PC player, why would you even want this game? Seamless co-op mod seems like the better option to play this IP.

This is a completely different experience they're going for though.

Expected but still a flop.

Miyazaki will fire this new director.

How can it flop if it hasn't released yet?

What's happening? lol

 

[Luipadre]

"The very core idea behind the conception of Elden Ring: Night Reign is flawed; loop-based games like roguelikes completely break the magic of FromSoftware's formula. It feels like a bundle of mods that quickly loses its charm due to repetitiveness—and that's if you're playing with someone who knows what they're doing; if not, the experience gets much worse."

Completely agree

 

[MiguelItUp]

Expected but still a flop.

Miyazaki will fire this new director.

....How does this look like a flop? Lmao. Any experiment netting positive is a win rather than a loss. Hell, even if it broke even, that's better than a loss. I'm sure they didn't expect this to blow everyone away. It's why it's priced the way it is. It's a very odd experiment for them through and through.

 

[Wilhelm_85]

Too bad the single player mode doesn't sound that great. I currently have zero interest in multiplayer stuff. Hope people enjoy it, though! I might pick it up later on a sale.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Nightroyale and extractborne

Great time to be a from fan