The games you need to play to prepare for Elden Ring: Nightreign

The diverse mix of genres in the fictional game “Elden Ring: Nightreign” is awe-inspiring, and even more so is how seamlessly they blend together. However, since the game is a unique fusion of various influences, it’s advisable to play certain games as preparation before jumping into the chaos that is “Nightreign“.

Games to play to prepare for Elden Ring: Nightreign

In my gaming experience, categorizing Nightreign by genre feels like an impossible task. It seamlessly blends elements from Elden Ring and the Souls series, rogue-likes, hero shooters, and battle royales, while infusing a distinct flavor into each. Consequently, the games I recommend here span across all those genres, but if you’re new to this title, I strongly suggest diving into the games from its unique genre first before exploring the others.

Play Elden Ring before Nightreign for the mechanics

Absolutely, it’s important to note that the fundamental essence of Nightreign is deeply ingrained in the core Elden Ring gameplay. In fact, most of Nightreign’s weapons, spells, Talismans, and combative aspects are borrowed directly from Elden Ring.

In Nightreign, the characters you control possess abilities beyond those of the Tarnished. They can run at speeds nearly matching Torrent, scale walls, and leap from flat surfaces. Moreover, they have exclusive Skills and Ultimates that distinguish them. If they wield their preferred weapon class, they also have a distinct moveset. However, using weapons such as a Greatsword or Estoc for everything else remains the same.

In Nightreign, it seems that the world bosses take precedence over the weapons. If the main game adheres to the network test, most of the bosses in Nightreign will likely be drawn from Elden Ring’s original roster. Mastering the techniques of Elden Ring bosses (excluding Remembrance ones) is crucial, as Nightreign may prove significantly more difficult without this knowledge. Learning their moves won’t be as straightforward in Limveld as it would be in the Lands Between, where Sites of Grace are often found just outside the boss room.

In addition to playing Nightreign, having experience with Elden Ring and its DLC could be beneficial. Many symbols and icons scattered throughout Nightreign may seem familiar if you’ve previously encountered them in Elden Ring. These symbols represent locations, types of elements, and debuffs, as well as providing basic information about the items or situations found at those locations. While it’s possible to learn these details as you play, having prior knowledge could make your initial experiences smoother.

Play Dark Souls before Nightreign for the fights

In terms of underlying structure, Elden Ring serves as a crucial basis for Nightreign, laying down the mechanics and systems. Yet, when it comes to confronting bosses in Nightreign, you’ll encounter a diverse range of challenges drawn from the extensive Dark Souls series. During the network test, we encountered the Centipede Demon from the original Dark Souls, and in promotional materials, we’ve spotted characters like Duke’s Dear Freja from Dark Souls 2 and the Nameless King from Dark Souls 3.

It’s likely that FromSoftware will draw upon the entirety of the Dark Souls series, pulling out its most memorable and distinctive bosses, as well as some unconventional picks that only they can justify. If Elden Ring was your introduction to the Souls-style gameplay, you might find it beneficial to play the earlier games for a couple of reasons.

Initially, it appears that the bosses you’ll encounter are primarily taken from their original games. If you’re not familiar with handling classic bosses, who will serve as your daily challenges, be prepared for numerous returns to the Roundtable Hold. Fortunately, except for the more intricate battles from Dark Souls 3, most of the old fights are much simpler than what you’d experience in Elden Ring or other contemporary Souls-like games.

One reason to try out the older games is for the chance to relive the classics that shaped and perfected an entire game genre. Although Dark Souls 1 and 2 might feel less polished mechanically compared to Elden Ring and Dark Souls 3, they still offer a fantastic gaming experience. Dark Souls 2 stands out as particularly significant, since I consider it the least of the trilogy, but its innovative experimentation with the formula played a substantial role in shaping Elden Ring’s final version.

Play Hades and Hades 2 to understand Roguelikes

In “Nightreign”, the rogue-like aspects draw inspiration from various sources, but “Hades” is one of the more prominent influences. Following significant battles in “Nightreign”, you’re given the choice among three potent boosts, items, or weapons. Throughout a game, it’s crucial to strategically combine these enhancements to create a build capable of defeating the daily bosses and the final boss on Day 3.

In the game series, both Hades and its sequel share similar mechanics, but what sets Hades apart is that it grants you an almost limitless time to pick your buffs (known as Boons). Essentially, Hades provides a practice ground for trying out and testing these boons in a less harsh setting.

In the game ‘Nightreign’, it’s beneficial to swiftly decide on your combat rewards, usually not exceeding 30 seconds per choice. With just 15 minutes available each day, you aim to gather around eight to nine buffs if your team is efficient in eliminating enemy camps. When playing ‘Hades’, try timing yourself during the boon selection process. If you reach the 30-second mark, make a quick decision instead of dwelling on multiple options.

Play Apex Legends to understand a trios-based Battle Royale

Nightreign differs significantly from fast-paced PvP shooters like Apex Legends, but it has unique aspects that set it apart from other hero shooters and battle royales. One such feature is its pace – unlike Apex, which is among the fastest shooters on the market with each fight unfolding at a rapid pace, Nightreign might offer a slower, more tactical gameplay experience.

In the same vein, Apex and Nightreign typically field teams of three members each. However, having extra teammates who don’t contribute much can be detrimental. For a more fruitful game, it’s essential that every member of the squad contributes to some extent.

As a gaming enthusiast, I must say, thirdly, I find myself scavenging for upgrades – an exhilarating part that both Nightreign and Apex demand on the spot. The quick decision-making required to choose what to grab makes Apex an excellent training ground for such rapid choices. In Apex, there’s no time to hesitate as other players won’t let you loot peacefully. However, in Nightreign, I appreciate that I can focus on scavenging without the added pressure of being shot at by other players. But, beware! The tougher enemies in Nightreign can prove to be quite a challenge, even for less experienced players in most situations.

Primarily, Apex Legends stands out as a blend of hero shooter and battle royale genres. To emerge victorious, you must strategically employ your Skills and Ultimates, all while monitoring the encroaching safe zone. Similar to Apex Legends, Nightreign (as well as numerous post-Apex BR games) incorporates a ping system for marking objectives and facilitating communication with teammates who are not using voice chat.

If possible, I advise against playing Ranked Apex Legends if you’re mainly there to grasp the concept of hero shooters and Battle Royale games. The competition becomes incredibly intense very quickly, and unfortunately, there’s a persistent cheating issue within the game. Although sticking to the casual battle royale playlists in Apex won’t eliminate sweaty situations entirely, it should provide a more accurate representation of solo play in Nightreign than struggling through ranked matches.

Play Witchfire to prepare for Nightreign

At present, Witchfire is available in early access, offering an engaging experience that combines elements of Souls-like games, rogue-lites, and extraction shooters within a dark fantasy setting. Despite being in developmental stages, it’s already proving to be quite enjoyable. This single-player game operates much like Nightreign – explore a map, vanquish formidable adversaries, gather upgrades, and as the challenge intensifies, consider greater risks for superior rewards to tackle tougher battles.

In the game Witchfire, similar to Hades, you will construct builds as you progress through each match. Unlike Nightreign, the time allotted for construction is more lenient. However, Witchfire offers a tougher challenge than your adventures in Hades, and this difficulty increases the more you play. Your performance in Witchfire can serve as an indicator of how you might perform in Nightreign. Keep in mind that this comparison isn’t perfect. But if you consistently excel in Witchfire, particularly against its challenging levels, it will demonstrate a foundational understanding of buildcrafting in a more Souls-like setting.

Here are some games I suggest trying out as you get ready for Elden Ring: Namely, Nightreign. While FromSoftware’s latest adventure is hard to categorize or compare, none of the games below will fully prepare you. However, they all provide chances to develop transferable skills and are enjoyable even when played casually. I hope you have a great time with them!

2025-02-23 18:17