Summary
- Nightreign introduces innovative Nightfarer classes with unique abilities and weapon types.
- The visual codex provides easy access to weapon lists, stats, tutorials, and more.
- Improved multiplayer feature allows players to seamlessly connect with others without hassle.
A game like Nightreign was always going to have comparisons drawn to previous FromSoftware games, what with the returning bosses and continuation of the Elden Ring name. It borrows plenty from the past but also brings with it plenty of new features, many of which are welcome changes to previously poorly implemented systems.
7 Subtle Clever Ways Nightreign ties into Elden Ring
Elden Ring: Nightreign has some clever and subtle ways of approaching its lore, tying itself to the mainline Elden Ring with style.
From streamlining certain gameplay elements to fit the faster pace, to improving basic areas that were frankly quite outdated, the game demonstrates a lot of innovation and shows that FromSoftware isn't just a one-trick pony that recycles the same things over and over.
8 Classes
Choices That Actually Matter
One of the best additions to the game are the Nightfarers, who bring with them unique playstyles and gameplay approaches that are far more distinct than the class options that existed before. In a game like Dark Souls, players would choose between a few basic characters that had slightly different stats and starting weapons, but the options were fairly limited and only served as a simple starting point.
But in Nighreign, each character has their own set of abilities that only they have access to, as well as certain weapon types that are particularly powerful with them. However, players are never locked into one route and can switch weapon types on the fly if they decide they want to be a mage with a battle axe or an archer with a greatsword.
7 Codex
Information In The Palm Of Your Hands
When players journey through the dark worlds of FromSoftware's catalog, they often find themselves picking up dozens of weapons, taking down many enemies, and, of course, dying plenty of times. But despite all this, there has never been a handy way of seeing all this information, including tutorials, something which Nightreign chose to include in a big way.
The visual codex is a library of knowledge that players can access right from the start, containing everything from weapon lists and stats to run information to track those successful Nightlord kills. It's great to have this little piece of extra info with no extra requirements to unlock it, and it is certainly something that would be great to have in future titles.
6 Multiplayer
No More Waiting For Signs
FromSoftware has always had a strange relationship with multiplayer gameplay. In order to create a more immersive experience, they opted to use certain items and summon signs as a way of connecting with other players, but that system often either didn't work or was prone to issues, which paved the way for the modding community to step in with seamless co-op mods and more.
Elden Ring Nightreign’s Most Hyped Feature Is Also Its Weakest
Elden Ring Nightreign boasts a lot of great returning features from past games, but one in particular sticks out for the wrong reasons.
Thankfully, those problems are now all gone, and players can simply click the invite button or queue up in the matchmaking window without any further input needed. The reason for this is, of course, due to the cooperative nature of the game, but it seems like a great time for FromSoftware to update their co-op systems for the future, in order to make playing together fun again and not just a chore.
5 Tutorial
Learn The Ropes With More Than Just Dying
Soulslikes are notorious for their difficulty, and FromSoftware never exactly helped out new players with a nice, calming tutorial and instead often thrust them straight into a boss battle with just a few tooltips to prepare them. Nightreign still has the boss fight that players are supposed to die to, but the tutorial section is much more in-depth and provides way more information to the player than a couple of keybinds.
With a whole new set of systems to learn, each feature has its own section where it explains how it works and how it fits into the context of the world itself. And, if players ever need a refresher, they can check the codex for information or even replay the entire tutorial to take on the boss once again with their new knowledge.
4 Leveling
Simplifying All Those Confusing Stats
The leveling systems in games like Dark Souls have always been both simple yet also incredibly complex. Players get enough souls and go to level up, and are greeted by a huge screen of information that is a lot to take in all at once. Do they level up their health first, or do they need more stamina, and what does arcane even do?
Nightreign erases this problem entirely, letting players simply click the level button and instantly gain all the stats at once without having to manually choose between them. It does take away some of the choice, but it allows players to get right back into the action, and it seems like the logical fit for a game like this and future titles like The Duskbloods that are more interested in fighting than slow-burn progression.
3 Equipment
Weight And Requirements No Longer
In the past, players would take down a tricky boss fight in Elden Ring and be rewarded with a super cool-looking weapon that they would love to equip. But oftentimes, they are greeted with a red icon saying they don't have the necessary stats, or if they do, that using the weapon will give them a nice heavy roll, thanks to the added weight.
Those woes are finally gone now, as players can run around Limveld without ever getting overencumbered and are free to grab any weapon they like and use it to its fullest potential right away. Weapons are instead restricted only by level, which is a very minor barrier that is easily crossed, and what makes the new system even better is the weapon passives that come from equipping any weapon, meaning that players can run around with a full six slots full and gain all the power from them without ever getting weighed down.
2 Story
Lore And Questlines Galore
The Souls series has never been direct when it comes to its storytelling or narrative cohesion. Lore details are left scattered around the map for players to piece together, and it has taken decades to unravel some of the mysteries that the worlds have to offer, creating both a fascinating and also quite frustrating experience.
Elden Ring Nightreign: 8 Things To Do After You Beat All The Nightlords
Nightrein doesn't have to be over when all the Nightlords are defeated; there's still plenty left for players to do.
Now, players are instead given lore and story on a silver platter thanks to the remembrances quests that give context to each Nightfarer and their place in the world. Previously, quests were much more ambiguous and required careful attention, memory, and a few visits to the Wiki, but now players can grab a quest and enjoy the storyline in a much more straightforward manner that doesn't involve any hair-pulling or head-scratching.
1 The Map
Better UI And An Easier Time Getting Around
Elden Ring has already made a big leap for FromSoftware with its large open-world map that is far more expansive and rich than anything seen before it. The ability to pull up a physical map of the layout is incredibly useful, especially given the scale of some of the areas and the complexity of the terrain. But even with a nice visual, getting around could sometimes be a bit awkward, despite a trusty mount.
Nightreign made the bold move to get rid of Torrent, but replaced it with a faster sprint, a wall-jump, and more opportunities to fly across the map at great speeds, to remove the issue of getting stuck. Also, the UI itself has been improved, with better icons that explain the kinds of loot and a few other details to make the exploration feel more fluid and intuitive for the player. The map is by no means gigantic, but the traversal across it is way better than before and gives the player a lot more freedom in how they want to approach every obstacle on their way to victory.
Elden Ring Nightreign
- Released
- May 30, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike, Roguelite
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
