FromSoftware’s latest experiment, Elden Ring: Nightreign, takes the beloved Souls formula and injects it with a thrilling sense of urgency.
The result is a tense, cooperative survival experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.
With the beta weekend now concluded, I’ve played through every session, and it was exhilarating.
Nightreign merges FromSoftware’s signature combat with a roguelike structure that forces players to refine their skills under constant pressure.
Shifting from an open-world solo journey to a cooperative, time-limited survival challenge, it pushes players to strategize and adapt quickly.
A Familiar World, Forever Changing
Each session starts players off in different parts of the world, scavenging for resources, weapons, and crucial buffs before the night comes and players are forced into a boss fight.
Combat remains deeply rooted in FromSoftware’s signature style—measured, methodical, and brutally unforgiving.
However, with time against you, it adds a desperation to each encounter, forcing even veteran players to go for risks they wouldn’t have before to stay ahead.
The Nightfarers
The beta offered four characters to choose from that each offer a unique playstyle: Wylder, Guardian, Recluse, and Duchess.
My first game was with Recluse—the mage—and admittedly she was the one I played in every session.
By enhancing the core mechanics and bringing changes players have wanted for years, the short experience felt more complete mechanically than a beta should’ve otherwise.
Giving players systems and abilities that they have been longing for is a great strength of the game.
A Promising Evolution or a Risky Experiment
Despite its strong foundation, the game’s co-op balancing could use some fine-tuning.
My most enjoyable runs came when a player disconnected, leaving only two of us.
The dynamic felt more engaging and manageable compared to the sometimes chaotic nature of full three-player teams. Offering a two-player option at launch could be a great addition.
On the technical side, I personally had no issues finding matches after the first session, but some players I spoke with experienced connectivity problems without a wired internet connection—something FromSoftware should address.
The core gameplay loop was excellent: tight, challenging, and rewarding. Even with limited content, each run felt fresh.
However, Nightreign may appeal more to existing Souls fans than newcomers due to its steep difficulty curve and experimental design.
Much like Bloodborne and Sekiro, Nightreign feels like a bold experiment that could influence FromSoftware’s future titles.
If the full release expands on the beta’s strong foundations, it could prove to be one of the studio’s most innovative offerings yet.
Feature Image Credit: Elden Ring Nightreign Press Assets
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