Elden Ring Nightreign is offering an experience that FromSoftware has never really delivered before. While co-op has been a part of FromSoft's games for decades, Elden Ring Nightreign marks the first time the developer has focused solely on it. And that's just the surface layer of Nightreign's departure from the usual FromSoft action-RPG formula.
Throwing three players onto a map that slowly shrinks over time, Elden Ring Nightreign is essentially a co-op roguelike with some battle royale elements. To try and counterbalance this experimental new take on the formula, FromSoft is bringing back some familiar faces. Elden Ring Nightreign's reveal trailer confirmed that a handful of iconic bosses from FromSoftware's past will be returning in Nightreign, and there's no reason they couldn't be accompanied by an arsenal of returning weapons.
Elden Ring Nightreign Returning Boss Wish List
Elden Ring Nightreign is bringing back some familiar faces, and there are a handful of past FromSoftware bosses who deserve a spot on the roster.
FromSoftware Weapons That Should Return in Elden Ring Nightreign
The Moonlight Greatsword
A FromSoftware staple, the Moonlight Greatsword has appeared in almost every FromSoft game since 1994's King's Field, the studio's very first release. With Elden Ring Nightreign being a standalone spinoff, it would be neat to see it bring a new version of FromSoftware's most iconic weapon to the table.
Elden Ring's Rivers of Blood
Elden Ring features over 300 weapons, and the Rivers of Blood may be its most infamous. A Katana capable of both slashing and piercing attacks, the Rivers of Blood is renowned for its absurdly high bleed damage and powerful Ash of War. Though the Rivers of Blood has been nerfed quite heavily since Elden Ring's 2022 launch, it'd be nice to see it return to its former glory in the PvE-focused Elden Ring Nightreign.
Bloodborne's Saw Cleaver
Though there aren't nearly as many weapons in Bloodborne as there are in Elden Ring or the Dark Souls series, many fans consider them to be the best in FromSoftware's arsenal due to their ability to completely shift movesets mid-combat. Bloodborne's Saw Cleaver may not be the most efficient 'Trick Weapon', but it's undeniably iconic, and its presence in Elden Ring Nightreign would mean a lot to fans of the 2015 game.
Dark Souls 3's Ringed Knight Paired Greatswords
Dark Souls 3 didn't feature the most balanced arsenal in FromSoft history, but it did offer a lot of build variety. Dark Souls 3's Ringed Knight Paired Greatswords are a great example of the game's diverse arsenal, allowing players to dual-wield two gigantic flaming hunks of metal in style. While Radahn's Starscourge and DLC Greatswords feel like spiritual successors to Dark Souls 3's Ringed Knight Paired Greatswords, they require multiple playthroughs in order to dual-wield.
Dark Souls' Dragonslayer Spear
A weapon that's appeared a few times throughout the Dark Souls series, the Dragonslayer Spear was the weapon of choice of Ornstein, of "Smough and Ornstein" fame. Along with a strikingly elegant visual design, Dark Souls' Dragonslayer Spear is known for its imbued lightning attacks.
Demon's Souls' Northern Regalia
Taking it all the way back to the beginning, Demon's Souls' Northern Regalia deserves another shot in the spotlight. Players unlock the Northern Regalia sword by combining King Allant's Soulbrandt with Old King Doran's Demonbrandt, which requires some serious effort on the player's part due to the difficulty posed by both fights.
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
"ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is a standalone adventure within the ELDEN RING universe, crafted to offer players a new gaming experience by reimagining the game’s core design.
Join forces with other players to take on the creeping night and the dangers within featuring 3-player co-op.
Take command of uniquely skilled heroes, each possessing their own abilities and distinct flair.
While individually formidable, their skills create powerful synergies when they unite as a team.
Overcome a relentless environmental threat that sweeps through a land that changes between each game session and defeat the magnificent boss of that night!"
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Number of Players
- 1-3
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike, Roguelite
