Elden Ring: Nightreign review – The Soulslike co-op dream is almost fully realized, and it’s glorious

I’ve been playing FromSoftware games since the original Dark Souls, which is now somehow almost 14 years old. The game that created an entire sub-genre following in the footsteps of 2009′s Demon’s Souls was the start of something very special.

It feels like Elden Ring: Nightreign is the next step of the journey that began all those years ago, as FromSoftware has taken its punishing combat and open-world gameplay and combined it with a co-op emphasis and different mechanics of other genres to create something unique and extravagant, although not quite perfect.

Dying is better with friends

FromSoft’s co-op has always been a nagging point for me. It’s never been simple, never easy, and I’ve always wanted more from it. Nightreign isn’t the endpoint of Soulslike co-ops, but it shows what the developer is truly capable of. Alongside the upcoming Switch 2 exclusive The Duskbloods, FromSoft is flexing the future of what its games will look like, so don’t be surprised if the next big Dark Souls or Elden Ring game features seamless co-op from beginning to end as an option.

While multiplayer has felt like an accessory in the studio’s previous titles, Nightreign is definitely meant to be played in co-op. You can also play solo, but it feels exceedingly difficult and almost like it’s missing the point of the game. There’s fun to be had and it’s possible to do, but this is an experience that’s way better with friends or strong allies met in random matchmaking.

Because of this, one of the game’s most egregious and glaring negatives is the lack of crossplay between platforms (PC, Xbox, and PlayStation). This feels like a huge oversight in 2025, where the feature has become commonplace. So if you can, make sure your friends all have it on the same platform (teams of three only, no duos at launch, unfortunately). Figuring out this core multiplayer feature in 2025 is FromSoft’s final boss, and once it’s conquered, we are truly in for some fun.

Having said that, I’m thrilled to say that Nightreign is a fantastic experience if only because it’s more Elden Ring, but with a co-op twist that takes inspiration from roguelikes and battle royale to craft an addicting, satisfying experience that’s also not for the faint of heart, as is the studio’s M.O.

Even without crossplay, fighting Elden Ring’s terrifying boss battles with friends has never been easier than in this new experience, where teams of three drop into an evolving version of the base game’s Limgrave map. It’s called Limveld, and it’s being taken over by the night.

Nightreign features eight playable characters at launch, all with their own unique abilities and backstories. Each expedition starts with players selecting their character, all of whom can be upgraded over time with itemized buffs called Relics, in an ever-changing adventure, effortlessly capturing the allure of battle royale and roguelike games.

Prepare to die and run like hell

When you begin your adventure, you will die. You will die a lot. But with each expedition, you learn more about the map, the game’s characters and mechanics, and find and earn items that help make everything a bit easier.

Every match of Nightreign takes place over the course of three in-game days (about 15 minutes each). Drop in, plot a course on the map, and start killing enemies to level up as much and as fast as you can, because a storm circle is closing in. When the circle closes and concludes each day, a boss fight will occur against a variety of enemies from the base game, and other previous FromSoft games, too, which always makes for a nice surprise when you see an old foe who tormented you in previous titles.

Survive the first night and get ready to do it all again the next day. Survive a second major boss fight and then get ready for a bigger battler against a new, powerful endgame boss called a Night Lord, where success means big rewards and progression for your character and their story.

The roguelike elements of Nightreign combine with traditional BR mechanics in that you land at level one with your own character and base weapon and go from there. It’s all about speed in Nightreign—kill quick, loot quick, and move quick as the circle encroaches, all while dealing with Elden Ring’s classically challenging enemies. It’s incredibly fun, and sometimes frustrating, but always interesting with a group of friends. The map is littered with optional bosses and other points of interest that drop big buffs and high-tier loot, and taking them down is a huge help when it comes to accomplishing your goals.

The loot on the map has rarities and randomized abilities, as you may expect, and just about every powerful weapon from Elden Ring can be found there. My first random legendary weapon I found was Devourer’s Scepter, but it’s all here: Sword of Night and Flame, Dark Moon Greatsword, all of it, and each run shapes how you play, depending on what you get.

Like other games with random loot drops, some runs will feel magical as it all comes together. During the review period, this happened for me once after I luckily found Rivers of Blood and Moonveil and dual-wielded them to a hard-fought, well-earned victory over a tough boss. In other games, I found nothing and struggled. Welcome to Elden Ring.

A world worth living (and dying) in

As you play through Nightreign, you progress your characters and their storylines by beating bosses, completing expeditions, and surviving three nights. The better you do, the more currency and Relics you unlock, thus furthering your chances for success.

At a base level, each hero has low HP, mana, and stamina. Leveling up is a necessity, as you won’t stand a chance against many enemies. Dying means losing a level and your stats gained, but you can be revived by teammates who hilariously have to beat you up with their own weapons to revive you. This can be frustrating with occasional desync and lag while in co-op, only adding to the sweaty experience.

In the review period, I had several matches that felt doomed after dying early on. But we pushed on, found a way to survive after some clutch revives, and ended up somehow defeating the bosses presented against us. This is where the game truly shines, and its replay value is immense.

That feeling of frustration followed by accomplishment, relief, and satisfaction after tackling a difficult boss has been around since Demon’s Souls. It still feels amazing, and now you can experience it with pals as a pre-made team in bite-sized experiences, marking what feels like it could be a true turning point for FromSoft into a new era.