Elden Ring Nightreign: A Bold New Era of Multiplayer Roguelike Adventure!

Without a doubt, FromSoftware dared greatly with Elden Ring Nightreign, as it significantly deviated from their previous titles. Although multiplayer cooperation has been a key aspect in both Dark Souls and Elden Ring, this is the first time FromSoftware has created a game centered on camaraderie and teamwork. However, the most striking change lies in its design: Elden Ring Nightreign is a session-based multiplayer roguelike similar to Risk of Rain 2, which may have left some players wondering about this departure from the introspective exploration, atmospheric storytelling, and intricate quests that these games are renowned for.

Experiencing Elden Ring Nightreign has completely erased any doubts about FromSoftware’s innovative reworking of their action RPG blueprint. The roguelike design keeps us hooked just like the finest examples in the genre, and the swift-paced modifications addressing pacing issues have alleviated numerous frustrations from Elden Ring gameplay. Opting for pre-made characters instead of custom builds was a daring move given players’ love for crafting unique builds, yet it proved advantageous.

As a dedicated fan, I recently got an exclusive sneak peek at Elden Ring Nightreign, courtesy of Bandai Namco. While my hands-on experience was somewhat limited compared to the final release, it’s clear that FromSoftware wants us gamers to uncover the rest of the game as a collective. This meant we could only try four out of eight playable characters, encountered bosses from a restricted pool, and missed out on any environmental changes or meta-progression beyond the initial layer. However, even with so much left unsaid, I had an amazing time experimenting with each character, devising strategies with my team, and even encountering familiar bosses from the original Dark Souls. I can’t wait to see what awaits us in the full game!

Elden Ring Nightreign’s Roguelike Cycle

In Elden Ring Nightreign, each gaming session spans across three days, with each day lasting approximately 15 minutes. The third day marks a shift to a new location, introducing a vendor and an anvil before confronting the final boss, which is the only activity on that day. We initiate a run by soaring above the area, swiftly choosing our landing spot alongside our team. Upon touching down, the map shrinks similar to Fortnite, with a circle gradually consuming it until it converges towards the center. This pattern forms the structure of each day: once the circle stops shrinking, a boss battle commences, and defeating the boss restores the circle to its original boundaries. Although the map remains mostly unchanged (with castles and camps in fixed positions), the types of enemies, loot, events, and bosses alter every time you start a new run.

In no time at all, we set a regular pattern with our team members. Defeating a small camp of less formidable foes consistently provided enough Runes for the initial level-up, a crucial step in this game. Advancing from level one to two doubles a character’s health pool, and it’s advisable to reach at least level 12 before day three. Although the stat layout in Elden Ring has been transferred to Nightreign, the distribution of stats during leveling is automated and connected to the chosen character. After overcoming a small camp and increasing our level at a Site of Grace, we usually chose to confront one of the larger forts or engage in a fight with a nearby field boss for additional rewards. As the game progressed, we’d always strive to locate a Church of Marika on the outskirts to gather more flask charges before it became unreachable. To aid our decisions, there’s an intuitive ping system similar to that in Helldivers 2, allowing players to mark locations on the map, and teammates can confirm those marks as needed.

As an adventurer in Elden Ring Nightreign, I’m constantly weighing the risks at each new destination. Do I venture into the maze-like mine to gather Smithing Stones for weapon upgrades before the encirclement? Or should I brave a Gaol, hoping for an easy boss battle to snag some Runes and a powerful perk? Sometimes, I’ll even gamble by running towards the circle for valuable loot. It might not result in instant death, but there’s always room for daring moves. To save time, I sometimes send a fellow player off on their own to scour a nearby tower for hidden treasures. The game is filled with verticality, and thanks to mantling ledges and wall-climbing without fear of fall damage, every exploration feels exciting!

Gear, Perks, and Progression in Elden Ring Nightreign

In Elden Ring Nightreign, one of its captivating features lies within the gear system. Each item of equipment comes with built-in passive abilities that are active regardless if held or not, making it beneficial for a magic-centric character like the Recluse to occasionally equip an ultra greatsword for benefits such as “reduced chance of being targeted.” Unlike other games, there is no equip load system and gear doesn’t require specific stats, which might be one of Elden Ring Nightreign’s best aspects. In a short amount of time, we were able to try out various weapons and playstyles that would typically take many hours in Elden Ring to find, upgrade, and customize—we could even wield the Moonlight Greatsword and Maliketh’s Black Blade in both hands with no drawbacks. Bows have an endless supply of ammunition, and the Recluse can maintain a constant level of Focus Points (FP) without limitation. Having a diverse arsenal of weapons with complementary passives is crucial, and this results in completely unique loadouts from playthrough to playthrough.

Overcoming game bosses presents players with a selection of beneficial traits, some of which can be incredibly useful. For instance, one trait might make the player’s potion heal everyone in their team, whereas another could cause flames to burst from beneath the player as they move. It may seem appealing to bypass challenging bosses for easier loot from common enemies, but accumulating these traits significantly enhances your team’s success potential. These traits can also be acquired from random events within the game: among the few we encountered was a swarm of giant ants to repel. Another event involved an attack by Morgott, who pursues and harasses the team until he is either defeated or the team is eliminated.

When a character is knocked out in the game, teammates can revive them by inflicting damage on their body. With each consecutive knockout, the requirement for revival increases, leading to increasingly desperate attempts to resuscitate a fallen comrade. If they are not rescued before time runs out, they’ll lose experience points earned but can rejoin to collect dropped Runes. Losing levels later in the game is detrimental to the team, as gear passive abilities only become active at certain levels—for instance, level 12 for Legendary equipment.

Players can strengthen their power through Nightreign’s roguelike progression system. At the Roundtable Hold, there’s a Relic Rites Altar where collected Relics from runs can be equipped for each character. These Relics may offer beneficial perks such as adding scarlet rot to melee attacks, increasing AP after completing Gaols, or reducing the casting time of sorceries. A currency linked to these Relics allows for purchasing or upgrading additional ones. We’ve also observed that certain relics have character-specific bonuses tied to specific colors, which may not be compatible with a given character. This suggests there might be a way for players to alter the color of Relic slots on characters or perhaps add more slots. Bandai Namco hasn’t revealed much about the intricacies of these systems yet. Roundtable Hold also provides a training ground where players can test out every weapon in the game, along with gear and Relic combinations, on target dummies.

Elden Ring Nightreign’s Characters Have Distinct Abilities

In Nightreign, the characters differ significantly from those in the previous version. Unlike before, each character has set statistics and special skills tailored for distinct gameplay styles or offering useful group functions.

The Wylder

The character known as Wylder is versatile in nature. Initially equipped with a greatsword and buckler, his skills are adaptable to various scenarios, making him an excellent choice for new players in the game Elden Ring. His passive skill grants him the ability to withstand one free hit, which proves crucial against formidable bosses. His active skill, Hookshot, enables him to swiftly move towards larger enemies or drag smaller ones closer for combat. It can also be utilized on the surroundings to traverse distances swiftly. The strike following the use of Hookshot can even be enhanced by Relics, with one imbuing his weapon with a temporary fire boost upon activation.

The Wylder’s Ultimate is a powerful move capable of instantly shattering the defenses of certain bosses, either halting harmful mechanics or providing an opportunity for a crucial strike. These Ultimate abilities accumulate charge during battle, a task at which the Wylder’s toolkit shines.

The Guardian

The Guardian is a classic tank character, initially equipped with a shield and a spear. His unique trait allows him to assume a resilient stance with his shield, effectively absorbing significant damage. In combat, he can summon a whirling wind that either launches minor enemies into the air or inflicts reasonable damage on bosses using his active skill. When the winged Guardian unleashes his Ultimate, he takes flight, then plunges down in a powerful dive-bomb attack.

The Dutchess

The Dutchess is primarily a tricky character, equipped with a dagger and possessing the capability to evade attacks twice in quick succession. Her active skill replicates two seconds of damage inflicted on an opponent, which can be incredibly powerful when synchronized with other party members’ Ultimates. When she uses her Ultimate, it creates a veil around herself and the group, making them nearly undetectable and more challenging to target.

The Recluse

Among all the characters, The Recluse stands out as the most intricate one. To begin with, she wields a Glintstone staff, and her main trait is the ability to assimilate elements inflicted on adversaries. With each absorption, not only does she inflict damage but also restores FP (Focus Points). After absorbing three elements, this power transforms into a unique spell for her use, depending on the combination of elements absorbed. In addition, by hurling pots at enemies, you can stimulate the assimilation of a desired element. Her Ultimate ability marks an enemy such that when it’s attacked, it will heal those around it instead.

In our battle against the ultimate foe, it was a duo of Wylders and a Recluse that clinched victory. It should be intriguing to observe gamers trying out triple-Dutchess strategies, whereas those with more caution might prefer having three Wylders in their party.

From initial impressions of Elden Ring Nightreign, it’s evident that FromSoftware has hit the mark with this innovative project. The engrossing roguelike structure, the tension-filled Fortnite-style shrinking play area, a streamlined, easier-to-grasp combat system reminiscent of Elden Ring, and a robust social aspect combine to create a game that should appeal to both seasoned Souls players and newcomers.

The highly-anticipated game, Elden Ring Nightreign, is set to launch in 2025, available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant was fortunate enough to secure travel and accommodation for a sneak peek at the title.

2025-02-12 17:07