🍽️ Elden Ring: Nightreign – A New Flavor in a Familiar Dish 🍽️

You know that feeling when you’re used to a certain dish your whole life, and suddenly the chef decides to change the recipe a bit and add a twist? That’s exactly what FromSoftware did with Elden Ring: Nightreign. This isn’t just a sequel, a DLC, or a rehash of the original’s success. It’s a fresh experience set in the same mysterious, haunting world we all loved. FromSoftware took a bold step and blended the brutal challenge of Souls games with the loop-based progression style of rogue-likes.

But was it a smart risk? And does the game actually deserve your time, especially if you loved the original Elden Ring? Let’s find out!

Story

Right from the start, you can tell FromSoftware isn’t here to spoon-feed you. No cinematic cutscenes, no one tells you “you’re the hero meant to save the world.” The story is presented in their classic cryptic style. If you’ve played Bloodborne or Dark Souls, it’ll feel like coming home.

The story isn’t told—it’s felt. That means no straightforward narrative, but rather fragments scattered across the world. Each of the eight playable characters has their own backstory. You’ll piece it together from item descriptions, cryptic dialogue from NPCs, or even just the design of armor and weapons you find.

Every mission feels unique, and each major boss at the end of the three-night cycle is part of a larger mystery. You’ll constantly feel like something terrible happened in this world long ago—and you’re here to uncover it, and face what remains.

There are also “memory” moments where you relive scenes from characters’ pasts, adding just enough emotional depth to make you care about who you’re playing.

But let’s be real—the story isn’t the core of the experience. You won’t get all the answers on your first run. If you like games that clearly explain everything, this won’t be for you. But if you enjoy diving deep, connecting the dots, and exploring lore on your own, there are treasures hidden in every corner.

Gameplay

Every mission in Nightreign starts with a drop from the sky—like a fantasy-style Battle Royale. But instead of looking for guns, you’re searching for weapons, armor, and spells to survive. Each mission plays out over a repeating three-night cycle: daytime exploration followed by increasingly deadly nights.

Daytime is your chance to explore, collect gear, and prepare. But once night falls, things get intense. Enemies get tougher, and bosses show up. Each night ends with a major fight—and on the third night, you’ll face one of eight main bosses, each with their own story, look, and fighting style.

You can play solo or with up to two friends (3 players max). But be warned: playing alone is brutal. The game is balanced for three skilled players, and going solo means constant death and frustration.

What helps is that even when you fail, you gain something. You earn permanent skills for your character at the Roundtable Hold, which carry over between missions. Over time, you’ll feel faster, stronger, and better prepared for the challenge ahead.

This rogue-like structure will click with fans of games like Hades or Returnal—where every failed run brings you closer to victory.

But here’s the catch: while the beginning is exciting, and each mission looks great, after a while, it starts to feel repetitive. Maps are large but often similar—icy in one, ashy in another. Minor bosses repeat across missions like reused templates.

So if you jump into a new mission, chances are you’ll see familiar enemies, traps, and even boss fights—just reskinned. That repetition starts replacing creativity, which is not something we’re used to from FromSoftware.

If you’re playing with friends, you might overlook this thanks to the dynamic teamwork. But if you’re solo, the game can start to feel like a chore instead of an adventure.

Graphics

FromSoftware has never aimed for cutting-edge graphics, but they’ve always nailed the art direction—and Nightreign continues that tradition brilliantly.

Night isn’t just a time—it’s a character. The lighting, shadows, and creature designs are crafted to make you feel unease and tension before every battle.

Each area has its own mood, and major bosses have unique looks and strong presence. The way these moments are presented makes you feel like you’re in a cinematic scene, with music that pumps your heart faster.

That said, technically the game doesn’t look much different from the original Elden Ring. Same engine, similar resolution—sometimes even a bit lower. But that’s expected, since it’s still released on last-gen consoles.

Final Verdict

8/10

Elden Ring: Nightreign offers a bold and creative new experience from FromSoftware, blending Souls-like challenge with rogue-like progression. Playing with friends is a blast, and the bosses and environments make every moment feel like a twisted adventure. Yes, it can get repetitive, and solo play can be punishing—but if you know what you’re getting into, this is a worthy, memorable journey.