Elden Ring Nightreign stands as one of the most experimental games to come out of FromSoftware in the last decade. With so many questions up in the air — how does its multiplayer work, how long are the sessions, how does the class system function — I was lucky enough to spend a few hours with the game, and I can confidently say: it all just works.
Once I loaded into the game, I selected my class: Duchess. This choice immediately stood out because of its unique skill. The ability to track all the damage done to a boss over the last few seconds meant that, when used correctly, you could melt away a boss’s health bar — especially when paired with other class abilities. It’s the kind of synergy that felt powerful and satisfying right from the start.
After picking my class, I was dropped into the map, having selected an area based on a specific Night Boss. From the outset, it became clear that your starting weapon might be decent, but gear is the real priority. FromSoftware did something particularly cool in Elden Ring Nightreign: your attack power, defence, magic—all your stats—are primarily determined by your weapon and the equipment you’re holding. To balance this, you can carry six items in total, three for each hand. This creates a deep layer of strategy in both combat and exploration.
Elden Ring Nightreign is a gear game in the best possible way. You don’t just find better weapons — you’re constantly balancing your loadout to suit your playstyle. The equipment you hold matters just as much as your main weapon. It’s not just about attacking or defending better; it’s about how your loadout works in synergy with your overall strategy. Whether it’s boosting your defence, enhancing your attack power, or upgrading your magic, every piece of equipment has a role to play. This approach drives you to explore, fight, and seek better loot to improve your setup.
“Elden Ring Nightreign is a gear game in the best possible way.”
As you explore, you’ll notice a ring of rot fire slowly closing in on the map, a mechanic that’s reminiscent of battle royale games like Fortnite. If you’re caught outside the ring, you’ll start taking damage — and that pressure forces you to keep moving. As the ring closes, it eventually leads you to the location of the day’s Night Boss. For our group, this was the Centipede Demon from Dark Souls 1, with a remastered version of its battle music. Suffice to say, we got our butts handed to us. We learned the hard way that we needed to level up more before diving into a fight like that.
Levelling in Elden Ring Nightreign is similar to other FromSoftware games in that you gain runes by defeating enemies, and you level up at a Site of Grace. However, it’s much more streamlined than the usual Elden Ring or Soulsborne system. Rather than manually choosing specific stats to level up, the stats that increase depending on your class. This simplifies the levelling process, which is a positive for players who might be overwhelmed by the complexities of traditional builds. However, it also makes “build breaking” much harder, adding a layer of depth that’s all about choosing the right class and equipment for the challenges ahead.
One of the standout features of Nightreign is its approach to progression. When you die, you don’t just lose everything. Depending on how well you did, you return to the Roundtable Hold with meta-progression items that boost different aspects of your character. Honestly, we were having so much fun with the core gameplay that we didn’t dive too deep into these mechanics during our session. We kept queuing up and jumping back into the action, enjoying the thrill of the challenge.
The randomization in Elden Ring Nightreign is also a major highlight. Even though the random elements were dialled down for this preview, it’s still clear how much variety the game will offer. Every run feels different, with new encounters, enemy placements, and loot to discover. Unpredictability is a huge part of keeping Elden Ring Nightreign feeling fresh and engaging. In its final version, I can only imagine how far this will go.
Exploration is at the heart of Elden Ring Nightreign, and FromSoftware has made some key adjustments to make movement more fluid and enjoyable. First off, there’s no fall damage—which is a game-changer. Second, running speed is incredibly fast, but not so fast that it feels unmanageable. This is especially important when you’re trying to escape the Ring of Rot.
You can move quickly enough to get out of bad situations but not so fast that you’re never in danger. And then there are the jump pads—these incredible devices that launch you into the air, letting you reach high-up areas you wouldn’t otherwise be able to access. They add an extra layer of verticality and exploration to the game.
“The game feels like a natural evolution of FromSoftware’s DNA, with a fresh twist that breathes new life into their formula.”
One of our most memorable runs started with a trip into some ruins to gather weapon upgrade materials. As we explored, we lost track of the Ring of Rot and found ourselves on a desperate mad dash to escape the ever-encroaching flames. We ran, climbed, and fought off enemies as the walls closed in on us. Just when we thought we were safe, we found ourselves right in front of the Night Boss.
This time, we faced a tough duo — a formidable combination of an amped-up Imp and what looked like one of the Fell Twins. The fight was brutal, with several members of our team getting downed. But Elden Ring Nightreign has a clever system: when you’re downed, you’re not out. Teammates can revive you by hitting you, and the faster your attack power, the quicker you can revive fallen allies. If everyone gets downed, it’s a wipe—but you can still continue your run, just lose all your runes if you’re not facing a Night Boss. If you wipe during a Night Boss fight, though, it’s game over.
After taking down the duo, we were able to collect a powerful upgrade from their souls. Each class gets a unique boost from these boss drops, and unlike regular loot drops, where only one player can claim the item, everyone in the group gets to share in the upgrade.
The unpredictability of Elden Ring Nightreign’s world is what will lead to those unforgettable “water cooler” moments. Just as we were exploring the map, something incredible happened. Out of nowhere, we heard a terrifying yell: “You think you can escape me?!” It was Margot, the Fell Omen, blasting down into the middle of our group and obliterating us in an instant.
This wasn’t a planned Night Boss fight; it was a random encounter that took us completely by surprise. It never happened again during our session, and when I spoke to other players, it hadn’t happened to them either—even though they were in the same area. This is the kind of thing that makes Nightreign so special—the world feels alive, unpredictable, and full of potential for exciting, unexpected moments.
Going into this preview, I was excited but also a little skeptical about how FromSoftware would handle a multiplayer-focused version of Elden Ring. After spending a few hours with just a small slice of the game, all of those doubts have been completely wiped away. The game feels like a natural evolution of FromSoftware’s DNA, with a fresh twist that breathes new life into their formula. The more I played, the more I wanted to keep playing. That’s the sign of a truly great game.
There’s still so much we haven’t seen—like the full narrative, the implications of the multiverse approach, and how bosses from other games like Bloodborne could play into this universe. The one thing I’m really hoping for is a return of the Soul of Cinder from Dark Souls 3. That moment when phase two hits, with its beautiful mix of themes, is something I’d love to experience in this new game.
With Elden Ring Nightreign set to launch on May 30, 2025, I’m counting down the days. FromSoftware has crafted something that feels both fresh and familiar, blending the depth and challenge of its iconic games with new, exciting mechanics. After just a taste, I’m completely hooked — and I can’t wait to dive deeper into the world they’ve built. Whether it’s the thrill of exploring random encounters, the strategic depth of gear and classes, or the unpredictability of the Night Boss fights, there’s no doubt Elden Ring Nightreign has the potential to be something truly special. So mark your calendars—this is a journey you won’t want to miss.
