Elden Ring Nightreign is the multiplayer Souls game I’ve always wanted

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Even though I don’t understand Japanese, I could tell from the guys behind us who did that they were cheering us on. The room was buzzing with excitement as everyone gathered around our demo station during our Nightreign presentation. Our press group was one of only two teams to reach this stage, the other being a well-known group of Souls game players. So there we were, a Duchess, a Wylder (me), and a Guardian, battling against a colossal three-headed dog armed with a giant chain attached to a greatsword. We held our own until it divided into three smaller dogs. “Great,” I exclaimed to my teammates, “One for each of us.

We experienced some critical situations during the game. Our Duchess player utilized her power to make us invisible, enabling us to perform a couple of crucial resuscitations. We executed some incredible ultimate combination moves. Unfortunately, despite reducing him to approximately 40%, we ended up losing. Upon standing up, my hands were trembling. People approached me to offer their congratulations. Our team managed to secure the first place position. It was our third attempt at reaching that point. Had the other team had another opportunity against him, I believed we would have emerged victorious. A week later, I got another chance to face a different team in another event. Although only two out of three original members were present, it wasn’t too shabby. However, we always accept rematches, regardless of their source.

Exploring Elden Ring: Nightreign proves challenging to put into words. It’s a cooperative PVE multiplayer experience where you join forces with two other Nightfarers (each having their unique class; our demo featured four). Together, you set out on an adventure across the world of Elden Ring in search of wealth and acclaim. Your journey begins at Roundtable Hold, though it’s distinct from anything you may have encountered before, as Nightreign itself is one-of-a-kind. As you delve into these differences, the true nature of Nightreign gradually reveals itself, and it’s not the game I initially expected.

When preparing for a run, the first action you take is deciding on your character class. There are four options: the versatile Wylder, who carries a grappling hook and an attack that frequently stuns enemies; the agile Duchess, equipped with her own unique weapon, the power to make her team invisible, and an ultimate ability that can reapply damage and status effects from the last 1.5 seconds; the tank-like Guardian, who uses heavy weapons and has an ultimate ability to control space; and the intricate Recluse, a caster with the potential for massive damage but fragile health. I found all of them appealing, but I was particularly drawn to Wylder due to his grappling hook, the thrill of timing my ultimate skill to stun the boss, although the Duchess became increasingly attractive as we progressed in our gameplay.

After gathering your team, we’ll guide giant eagles over a map reminiscent of Elden Ring’s Limgrave region. It’s crucial to know that upon arrival, you’ll find yourself surrounded by enemies in a small camp. Eliminate them swiftly and then make haste to a nearby Site of Grace to upgrade your character. Keep in mind, in Nightreign, each level significantly boosts your power, so it can tip the balance decisively in your favor.

From there, your options are wide open. You might venture into a nearby cave in search of Smithing Stones to enhance your weapons, or visit a church to recharge your healing flasks. You could explore the castle or battle a dragon instead. Maybe you’ll travel from camp to camp, eliminating smaller enemies, raiding chests, playing it safe and accumulating resources. Alternatively, you might find the key to an Evergaol, unleashing some formidable creature once you’ve freed it. Or perhaps you’ll simply choose a path and follow it.

It’s advisable that you choose something, as Nightreign incorporates The Fortnite Circle. Periodically, a circle of fire will contract, destroying anything beyond its boundary – including you. Unlike in Fortnite, this circle doesn’t push you into engagements with other teams. In Nightreign, there are no other teams. Instead, the contracting circle is designed to prompt you to make decisions and then hold you responsible for their outcomes.

Is entering that cave truly wise, considering you’ll need to exit and when was the last time that encircling formation closed – do you recall? Battling that dragon at level 2, is this the best course of action? Not just about winning, but even if possible, are the resources spent on it worthwhile given the clock ticking? Time is precious; every second counts.

As the game progresses, the challenges become tougher, your choices narrow down, and past decisions impact your current actions. The objective remains constant: survive, improve, and acquire better equipment (though not all may be used in combat, they still matter statistically) to take on the final boss within Nightreign’s three-day cycle. Teamwork is crucial, whether it’s signaling your ultimate abilities, marking strategic locations, or giving away an unneeded weapon to a teammate.

As a gamer, I’ve always found myself tackling the Souls series solo, mastering each challenge on my own. Occasionally, I’d summon aid from another player, but generally, it was a one-man (or one-woman) show. Nightreign, however, flips that script. It demands teamwork, trust, and the ability to sync strategies. A single skilled player can take their team far in Nightreign, but they’re only as strong as their weakest link – if a teammate is struggling, it impacts everyone. In Nightreign, we rise or fall together.

At the conclusion of every three-day phase (or cycle), the circle will eventually culminate in a challenging battle that leads to a boss arena. It is during these trials that your skills and preparation will truly be put to the test. It would be wise to reach a Site of Grace beforehand, ensuring you have enough flasks and that you’ve used your time effectively. What makes this realm unique is that Nightreign’s bosses are not solely from Elden Ring; for instance, the Centipede Demon from Dark Souls can also be found here, as well as Margit the Fell Omen. Notably, Margit has the ability to appear unexpectedly during your journey to spoil your day and relentlessly pursue you until he either kills one of you or is defeated by you. Additionally, an Evergaol may open to reveal an Ancient Dragon staring intently at you. You won’t encounter all of these bosses at the end of each phase, but regardless of who awaits you, these encounters will undoubtedly increase the pressure on your adventure.

These are instances when Nightreign unleashes his melodies. It’s when you successfully execute the Wylder’s final skill for an immense stun, simultaneously triggering your Guardian’s ability and coordinating with your Duchess to maximize damage at the same instant. In moments where both your teammates are defeated, you skillfully maneuver using positioning, cunning, and a dash of luck to inflict enough attacks on them, which revives them by draining their revival gauge bit by bit each time they fall. Lastly, it’s when you’re running low on flasks, barely surviving, and you must perform flawlessly. You find that perfect execution, clinging to it as a lifeline, hoping it will last long enough for your survival.

Afterward, you tumble down. And then, onto the following day, where difficulties escalate, decisions become crucial, and the payoff becomes even more enticing – and should you manage to persevere, another challenge awaits. You might stumble, succumb to the Circle, or encounter an unfortunate event in a cave, an untimely adventure, an unpleasant encounter with the Fell Omen. Any of these could terminate your journey, but it will, and when it does, you’ll be eager to dive back in. Each time, you vow that the next attempt will be distinct. Even in defeat, you gain permanent enhancements, known as relics. The deeper you progress on a run, the superior the relics you’ll amass. And though you may not prevail, you’re always moving forward.

In Nightreign, an unusual enchantment is at play. It strips away numerous conventional RPG traits (such as the ability to customize character classes or equip regular gear; absent are fall damage penalties, and you can dash swiftly across the map, making Torrent seem sluggish). Instead, it introduces typical rogue-lite mechanics. Defeating a boss presents a selection of unpredictable rewards, varying from weapons to minor enhancements like a 4% stamina boost, or more peculiar and mysterious effects, such as creating an ice storm whenever you start running.

The effectiveness of this game serves as a clear demonstration of how deeply From Software has expanded Elden Ring’s fundamental mechanics. They exhibit a tantalizing flexibility without collapsing, urging you to explore just how far they can be stretched. However, Nightreign’s most hidden power is its greatest strength. During runs that don’t end favorably, you always believe that you made the best decisions possible at each step: you selected the optimal class, visited the right locations, chose the appropriate upgrades, and collaborated as effectively as possible. If you falter, it’s not due to poor choices; it’s because execution in crucial moments was less than ideal. The key to success lies in the smallest details.

The game event spans across three consecutive days, but the third day primarily serves as a final examination. Upon overcoming the boss at the end of the second day, you’re transported to a concluding location which features a vendor who solely sells items (he doesn’t buy), a place for weapon enhancement using Smithing Stones (if available), and a Save Point. Once prepared, it’s then time to confront the Night Lord, in this scenario, a three-headed canine.

Instead of beating him, we reached him multiple times but never defeated him. When given an opportunity for a more skilled player to replace one of ours, we declined. In retrospect, I question if that was the best move. Reflecting now, I ask myself: What extra reward would I have derived from watching him lose, beyond what I experienced during the game itself? Maybe satisfaction, but at the cost of acknowledging some sort of surrender, deviating from the team that had led us there. The answer lies in the details. We chose to succeed together, bound by our initial decision – the choice made by the players on our own team – or not at all.

In no time, I’ll dive back into Nightreign once more. This time, my friends and I will participate in the Closed Network Test where we’ll collectively make our picks. We’ll attempt run after run, with success or failure hinging on our decisions and teamwork, seeking those ideal moments. The number of attempts required is uncertain; neither do I know which classes we’ll assume, what choices we’ll make, nor the buffs we’ll acquire or weapons we’ll use. However, one thing is certain: we’re determined to off that pesky dog. And then, we shall begin anew.

The sneak peek we showed was from an edition of the game given to us by its publisher. Elden Ring: Nightreign is set for release on May 30th, 2025.

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2025-02-12 17:28