ELDEN RING: NIGHTREIGN
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ELDEN RING: NIGHTREIGN is a standalone game within the Elden Ring universe. It released on May 30, 2025.
Overview
Nightreign is a cooperative action rogue-lite directed by Dark Souls and Bloodborne level designer Junya Ishizaki[1] with an emphasis on three-player co-op, although it can also be played as a single player experience. Director Ishizaki noted that "the cooperative gameplay in Nightreign emphasizes collaboration without forcing tightly coordinated strategies. Players can approach challenges individually while coming together when needed."[2]
Nightreign takes place in alternate timeline diverging from that of the main game during The Shattering. The mythoses of the two games are "connected yet distinct." The story of Nightreign focuses on its characters; the lore and identity of the game "influenced various aspects of world-building and gameplay design," according to the director.[2]
On February 12, 2025, it was announced that Nightreign would receive DLC after the game's launch, later in the year. This DLC will include additional playable characters and bosses. This DLC is included with the Collector's and Deluxe editions of the game, though it won't become available until a later date.
The ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Network Test ran from February 14, 2025 to February 17, 2025.
Gameplay
Setting
Main article: Limveld
Players launch their journeys from the Roundtable Hold, entering an "ever-changing" land called Limveld, where they face off against the forces of the Nightlord. The Nightlord has eight different manifestations that become available over the course of the game.
Limveld offers a randomized assortment of dungeons and bases. The items (and their strength and Skills) are randomized as well. Throughout three in-game days, the map can undergo drastic changes from events such as volcanic eruptions and meteor strikes.
Player Characters
Main article: Nightfarers
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Each player can choose any of the eight pre-designed characters called Nightfarers. Each character wields powerful Character Skills[3] and Ultimate Arts[3] such as a special dagger that creates weak spots in enemies and the ability to summon a giant tombstone from below.
Each Nightfarer has permanent upgrades called Relics, which can be activated via Relic Ritual at the Roundtable Hold. The Nightfarers have additional appearances that can be unlocked with in-game currency earned by playing.
Enemies
In Limveld, players encounter a randomized array of enemies and field bosses. Although there are new enemies and bosses, many are returning from the enemies found in Elden Ring. This includes enemies unique to Elden Ring's expansion Shadow of the Erdtree.
At the end of the three days, if they survive, the Nightfarers face the Nightlord that they chose to challenge before setting out.
Ancestral Foes Await
In Limveld, "ancestral foes" from the Dark Souls trilogy can be encountered. The Dark Souls Twitter account referred to them as "remnants of a fire that once burned bright."[4] Bosses such as the Centipede Demon, the Nameless King, and the Duke's Dear Freja are seen in the promotional media. In the game's setting, the Nightlord is drawing these enemies from other worlds. Director Ishizaki received permission from directors Hidetaka Miyazaki (DARK SOULS I and DARK SOULS III) and Yu Tanimura (DARK SOULS II) to use them in this entry.
Ishizaki noted that the difficulty and popularity of returning bosses is secondary to their actual compatibility with Nightreign's gameplay dynamics.[2]
Mechanics
Each session is estimated to last about 40 minutes. In multiplayer, the game is designed to allow players the freedom to either stick together or to divide and conquer, reconvening only to face the Nightlord. There is multiplayer matchmaking as well as password-only lobbies.
When a player is downed, hitting them restores some of their health. Abilities and spells with a wide area of damage can revive multiple allies at once. Each time a player is downed, it takes additional damage to resuscitate them.
The game is designed to not have any sort of chat, and communication with allies relies on a ping system. Nonetheless, the game's director emphasizes that he doesn't want to discourage players from using a third-party application for voice chat.[5]
Story
Nightreign takes place in a universe parallel to that of Elden Ring[6] and George R. R. Martin had no involvement in the game's story.[7] The games' timelines diverge during or after The Shattering.[2][7] The story of Nightreign had a central focus during the game's development and reportedly influenced both gameplay design and world-building, according to the director.[2] Rather than focusing on Grace (the focal point of Elden Ring), Nightreign focuses on the theme of Night.
When asked, director Ishizaki said that mysteries from Elden Ring's story aren't be revealed since he doesn't want to distort any of the memories that players already have.[5] Instead, the story of Nightreign focuses on the lore of the Nightfarers and Nightlord. The mythos of Nightreign is connected to that of Elden Ring, but distinct in many ways.[2]
Playing through the game grants access to the stories of the Nightfarers and related scenarios called Remembrances.[2]
Meta
Promotion
- Promo Slides
Pre-Order
Pre-Order Bonus
Digital Editions
Collector's Edition
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Development
Promotional Screenshots
Trailers
Trailer Screenshots
Gameplay Reveal
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Pre-Order Trailer
*Since most footage is repeated, only new screenshots are added.
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Notes
- There is not a two-player option for Nightreign. Director Ishizaki remarked that this was a result of game balancing.
- There has been some indication that the developers may explore this as an option in the future.
- In singleplayer mode, enemy health pools scale to accommodate.
- Nightreign is not a live service game. Players can unlock and play all parts of the game once they own it.[8]
References
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