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Elden Ring Nightreign is finally here, launching months after it was first announced last year during the Game Awards 2024 showcase. It's safe to say that it's one of the most exciting games in terms of May releases; however, given the fact that Bandai Namco and FromSoftware are venturing into new gameplay territory with this one, you may be wondering if it's the right pick for your gaming library.
As a standalone adventure that sees up to three players team up in online co-op to take on various dangers and work together to face the Nightlord, Nightreign takes place in a parallel universe to Elden Ring, set in the new setting of Limveld. You take on the role of Nightfarers, choosing from one of several different characters that each have their own unique abilities and weapons. You can pick from the likes of a Raider, to the archer-type known as the Ironeye, and more. Nightreign is for sure a fresh take on the Soulsborne format, and there are plenty of Elden Ring Nightreign tips for folks to already dig into. However, with the FromSoftware game The Duskbloods to look forward to in the future as well, you may be hesitant to give this game a shot.
Elden Ring Nightreign release date and reviews
FromSoftware released Elden Ring Nightreign on May 30, 2025.
Coming just a year after the much-anticipated DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, we weren't expecting the co-op extravaganza to land so soon; however, it's already proven to be one of the most exciting (and surprisingly divisive) new games for 2025.
Currently, Elden Ring Nightreign has mixed reviews on Steamwith players finding the game fun but frustrating due to limited matchmaking options. In our Elden Ring Nightreign review, author Will Sawyer writes: "Elden Ring Nightreign is certainly an odd game, and one that will mainly appeal to only the most hardcore of Elden Ring fans."
We are keen to see how the game evolves in the future and to see how perceptions may shift as more players pick up this title. So stay tuned for updates.
Elden Ring Nightreign platforms
Elden Ring Nightreign is on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One as of May 30, 2025. The great news is that you won't need to own a copy of Elden Ring to access this cooperative experience with your friends, as it is a standalone adventure.
While the new multiplayer experience is landing on multiple platforms, it's unfortunately been confirmed that there will be no Elden Ring Nightreign cross-play support. But with it on current-gen and last-gen consoles, it allows for cross-generation support, meaning PS4 players can battle alongside PS5 players, and Xbox One players can join up with Xbox Series X/S players.
Elden Ring Nightreign trailer
What is Elden Ring Nightreign?
Elden Ring Nightreign is a three-player co-op game, a standalone spin-off adventure set in a universe parallel to the events of Elden Ring. You'll join two friends at the Roundtable Hold and then head off into the setting of Limveld, a country that "once thrived thanks the power of the gods" but is now "nearing it's end". Within it, you'll be fighting together with other players to survive three day-and-night cycles. Outlast the day, and you'll need to contend with the coming Night's Tide, which shrinks the map until you're left with no option but to battle one of many different Elden Ring Nightreign bosses.
The world becomes progressively more challenging across each of the three days, culminating in a battle with the Nightlord himself. FromSoftware says you can opt to play Elden Ring Nightreign solo, but there is strength in numbers.
Elden Ring Nightreign isn't Elden Ring DLC
Elden Ring Nightreign isn't a DLC, it's a standalone adventure. Publisher Bandai Namco has also confirmed that it won't be free-to-play and that it isn't a premium-priced experience either. However, saying that, the game isn't exactly cheap either. Nightreign costs $39.99/ £34.99 for its standard edition and $54.99/£47.99 for the deluxe edition.
As this is standalone, it's unlikely that any progression or items will carry over from Elden Ring or Shadow of the Erdtree. So keep that in mind before finalizing your purchases.
Elden Ring Nightreign characters
Elden Ring Nightreign is a departure from the classic FromSoftware model. You won't be able to create a character from scratch, and will instead choose from one of eight unique Elden Ring Nightreign characters. Known as Nightfarers, each one has their own fighting styles, unique abilities, and ultimates, fulfilling a fairly typical class role, be it fighter, mage, or assassin.
As you head into the realm of the Nightlord, you'll need to work together with two other players to ensure a balanced party – collaborating to take down powerful foes and venture into more dangerous parts of the open-world Limveld map. You'll be able to customize the appearance of your character in Elden Ring Nightreign by unlocking skins, and you'll be able to upgrade your equipment by unearthing special relics.
Bandai Namco has released a series of character trailers, with details about each Nightfarer's abilities, which are as follows:
- Raider: a "powerful sea-farer" who wields big weapons and makes use of a defensive character skill to reduce incoming damage.
- Ironeye: an archer with "pinpoint accuracy" who uses their skills with a bow to mark enemies, observe their surroundings, and deliver powerful shots.
- Duchess: a character skilled in evasion and uses quick, agile moves to effectively dodge attacks and hide from enemies.
- Recluse: A witch-like character that wields cursed magics that allows them to use powerful spells and invoke a blood chant to brand enemies.
- Wylder: A character with "well-balanced abilities who can make use of a grappling claw to draw in enemies, or deliver a powerful hit with an iron stake.
- Guardian: An eagle-like warrior-type character with high defensive abilities who wields a shield, and can perform a whirlwind move.
Elden Ring Nightreign gameplay
Elden Ring Nightreign gameplay is markedly different to the original Elden Ring. Where that experience dropped you into a sprawling open-world and left you well enough alone to figure out how to proceed, Elden Ring Nightreign is more focused. It's a session-based game, allowing you and two friends to launch into Limveld, the layout of which changes each time to step into it, and attempt to outlast three full day-and-night-cycles.
As you explore the land and battle enemies together you'll uncover more powerful weapons and better rune and relic rewards – used to upgrade your equipment and abilities. Sites of Grace can be located throughout the shrinking map too, giving you a chance to level up and gain crucial power for the session.
Leveling is different in Elden Ring Nightreign versus its single-player counterpart. You won't be investing runes into individual stats, but rather into entire levels which increase your character stats across the board.
Nightreign has eight characters to choose between and stat expansion is different for each of them. Character stat progression doesn't carry across between sessions – meaning that regardless of whether your group succumbs to the dangers of Limveld or is able to defeat the Nightlord, you'll always begin a new adventure back at level one.
There is however progression in the form of Relics – earned through both successful and unsuccessful runs – which provide massive bonuses, impacting everything from exploration to your equipment.
As the Elden Ring Neighreign overview trailer details, each time you step into Limveld, you can choose to hunt enemies to increase your level, search for treasure to secure more weapons and armor, or infiltrate bases to gather information from operational maps hidden within, or take on powerful boss-like enemies roaming the lands to get your hands on rewards.
There's also a base for Nightfareres known as Roundtable Hold, where you can prepare for battle. Here you can equip relics (that alter your stats and skills), and use the Fitting Mirror, which is where you can unlock special costumes and change up the appearance of your Nightfarer - and yes, there's even some costumes from Dark Souls and Bloodborne in the mix.
We also got a look at a small Jar merchant that we can find in "a corner of the back room", according to the official Elden Ring Nightreign website. Operating a bazaar that sells "various goods", you're able to spend any currency known as "Murk" that we earn as battle rewards.
Curiously, as we fight against the night and take on the foes that inhabit the land, we also recover "fragments" of "lost memories" that will allow us to get a better picture of our chosen Nightfarer's recollections. The conversations we discover within the memories might even reveal a new objective for us to take on in Limveld.
GamesRadar+'s senior writer Austin Wood said it "feels like a modded version of FromSoftware's best game ever" in our Elden Ring Neightreign hands-on preview, which is well worth checking out if you want to get a first-hand feel of what's in store.
Elden Ring Nightreign combat
The Elden Ring Nightreign combat experience builds on the baseline Elden Ring experience, but there are some notable differences. With the character creator gone, there are eight builds to choose between as you load into a session, each with its own equipment, weapons, and proficiencies. From the gameplay footage we've seen so far, it's the combination of the three characters that unlocks the best opportunities in Elden Ring Nightreign, with tank, DPS, and support builds coming together to tackle big challenges.
There's some subtle changes too, with fall damage removed from the experience, and movement sped up to allow faster exploration and navigation as you combat a shrinking map. Otherwise, you should expect Elden Ring Nightreign to handle similarly to the original Elden Ring, with the controls and core combat mechanics returning.
It's also been revealed that Elden Ring Nightreign features a different kind of revival system that will see you actually attack incapacitated teammates to bring them back into the fray. Game director Junya Ishizaki explained the decision to include this unique take on reviving in an official PlayStation blog:
"As we were tossing around ideas, we realized that 'attacking' is the most consistent element of Nightreign's gameplay," Ishizaki says. "We tested to see if it would work for resuscitation, and we discovered a wide variety of tactics depending on range, frequency, and probability, so we formally implemented it. We also found it quite amusing."
Elden Ring is one of the best action games ever made, but only time will tell if this co-op spin-off will be considered one of the best online games in today's market.
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