Summary

  • Elden Ring: Nightreign introduces a 3-day cycle for an intensified RPG experience.
  • This structure creates a natural rhythm, balancing preparation and exploration during the day with high-stakes action at night.
  • The goal is to create a dynamic experience that keeps players engaged while offering a fresh way to experience Elden Ring's core elements.

The recently revealed Elden Ring: Nightreign follows a three-day structure in which players have three in-game days to prepare and strengthen their characters before facing a final boss on the third night. FromSoftware shared more details about Elden Ring: Nightreign in a recent interview, shedding light on its development.

Elden Ring: Nightreign caught a lot of people off guard during The Game Awards 2024, as it takes a big step away from what FromSoftware usually does. Instead of focusing on a single-player, lore-rich experience, this game is all about cooperative multiplayer gameplay. Up to three players can team up in a PvE setting, with an emphasis on challenging battles and exploring the world. While the idea of exploring the world of Elden Ring with friends sounds thrilling, this dramatic shift from what the series is known for feels a bit unusual. Now, the developer has shared more details about what players can expect in the game.

In a recent interview with IGN, game director Junya Ishizaki explained that Nightreign is built around a unique three-day in-game cycle. Each day is split into two phases: daytime and nighttime. The game condenses the Elden Ring RPG elements like leveling up, exploration, and challenging combat into shorter, more focused sessions. Ishizaki explained that this structure creates a natural rhythm, alternating between preparation and discovery during the day and high-stakes action at night. The goal was to craft a dynamic experience that keeps players engaged while offering a new way to experience the most important elements of the original game.

Elden Ring: Nightreign's 3-Day Structure Offers a Condensed RPG Experience

During the day, players will be able to roam the world, collect resources, and make their characters stronger. But when night falls, the difficulty will ramp up, featuring intense boss battles that will push Elden Ring: Nightreign players to constantly adjust their strategies. This cycle repeats until the final night, where players face the Nightlord, where they can earn powerful relics to boost future runs.

Ishizaki also revealed that while cooperative gameplay is a key feature and the game is designed for three-player teams, playing solo is still an option. For those who want to take on this challenge alone, the difficulty of enemies will adjust to suit single players, ensuring the experience remains balanced. While the game focuses on multiplayer, it is worth noting that Elden Ring: Nightreign is not a live-service game. The idea was driven by a desire to bring something new to the table while staying true to the challenging nature of the Soulslike genre.

With a release date set for 2025, Nightreign is shaping up to be an intriguing experiment for players. Whether it will win over Elden Ring’s loyal fanbase or set a fresh direction for the franchise is yet to be seen.

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9 /10

Elden Ring Nightreign
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Action RPG
Soulslike
Roguelite
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
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Released
May 30, 2025
Developer(s)
From Software
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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"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
Genre(s)
Action RPG, Soulslike, Roguelite