Elden Ring Nightreign is an unusual experiment by FromSoftware, bringing aspects of the studio’s history together with a gameplay loop full of Roguelike elements. Its cast of characters might not all literally be from past games, but besides the Dark Souls skins, they are all clearly influenced by key parts of FromSoftware’s distinct line-up of titles, and the nods to the developer’s traditions are much appreciated by many fans.
But there’s one tradition that hasn’t made its way into Elden Ring Nightreign, and given the medley of influences at play, it seems quite puzzling that it isn’t in the game. While many of FromSoftware’s games have been totally disconnected from one another until now, there is one character who has been a staple inclusion in almost all of them for the past 16 years, conspicuous by their absence.
Elden Ring Nightreign’s New Everdark Boss is Further Proof That All Nightfarers Aren’t Equal
Elden Ring Nightreign has added a new Everdark boss, further proving that some Nightfarers are more well-equipped for specific encounters.
Without Patches, Elden Ring Nightreign’s World Feels a Little Bit Lonelier
Speaking of Roguelikes, it feels quite strange that the lovable rogue himself, Patches, is nowhere to be seen in Nightreign. The chaotic, shifting land of Limveld would seem perfect for the wily little guy to ply his wares. Known as Patches the Unbreakable, Patches the Untethered, Patches the Spider, and many other names, he has been present in many of FromSoftware’s games for the last 20 years. His appearances have never really been tied to one IP, either, as, despite being in Demon’s Souls, he made his way to Bloodborne and other titles without issue, seeming to find the perfect way to latch on to a new world ripe with opportunity.
With Nightreign containing not only references but full-blown assets from Dark Souls, the question remains of why Patches was not featured in Nightreign. It’s a little unclear, really, as Patches could provide a bridge between all IPs if he were present. Given the game’s very dour and melancholy story, Patches would be a very welcome sight indeed. His sneaky antics and ability to sniff out a bargain would surely be vital to the powerful Nightfarers of Elden Ring Nightreign, and he could surely lend a bit of humor to the whole situation. The world might seem to be ending, but a guy can still make some coin, after all.
Patches Might Not Be Around Now, but That Doesn’t Exclude Him Forever
FromSoftware has already shown that it is willing to support the game further, even adding a new merchant, the Collector Signboard. While it is a little disappointing that the developer added a slab of painted wood to the game before the iconic Patches, it doesn’t mean he can’t still turn up later. Elden Ring Nightreign’s DLC plans aren’t known yet, and there is every chance that the kind of content added in future updates opens the door for new permanent NPCs. He could even have a small questline involving sourcing some new gear from the game, offering little quips about which world he thinks it’s fallen out of, before laughing away further questions.
There are plenty of new locations Nightreign can add in updates, as there is nothing to say Limveld will be the only location. Nightreign has a huge number of locations it could pull on, including some of Patches’ favorite spots, like Mount Gelmir, or even a Mensis-themed nightmare land. Wherever there is war, corpses, and money to be made, Patches can be relied upon to turn up, and hopefully he finds his way under the veil of night.
Elden Ring Nightreign
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
- Released
- May 30, 2025
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike, Roguelite
