Elden Ring Nightreign is a standalone multiplayer game that anyone can enjoy, even without having played Elden Ring. It plays out like a rogue-lite, with changing world layouts and different bosses to take on. Here’s everything you need to know about Elden Ring Nightreign before you jump in.
Elden Ring Nightreign Is Set in Limveld
Not to be confused with Limgrave, Elden Ring Nightreign‘s world is called Limveld. From what we know, this is a region that’s gradually being eroded by the light that has saturated the land. Your job is to hunt the Nightlord to try to restore balance.
As you might expect, Limveld looks a hell of a lot like Limgrave, but with a few key differences. The layout changes with every run, and there are world events to help keep you on your toes. For instance, your adventure might get interrupted by sudden enemy ambushes, or meteor strikes that completely change the landscape. In another run, you might encounter dark forests shrouded with corruption.
The Gameplay Loop
Players will start at level 1 for each run. You pick a Nightfarer (read: class), then you try to survive three days in Limveld. By the end of the three days, you fight the Nightlord and try to win the run.
During these three days, you can hunt enemies and level up. You can also search for treasures, weapons, and items. There are bases scattered all over Limveld guarded by soldiers, and you can raid them to find hidden maps.
Because this is a FromSoft game, Elden Ring Nightreign is also full of tough enemies and mini-bosses to fight before you face the Nightlord. While you’ll be able to explore Limveld with a party of three other players, you can also split up if you so choose.
One important thing to note is that the game will get tougher when night falls. You’ll be forced to face hordes of tougher enemies, and it’s recommended that your party bands together to weather the storm. If an ally falls, it’s possible to revive them by attacking them with physical or ranged hits.
Nightfarers Cater to Different Play Styles
There are a total of eight Nightfarers to choose from in Elden Ring Nightreign. Each one comes with a different weapon type, and unique skills and weapon arts. The overview trailer is a nice showcase of what these Nightfarers can do.
For instance, the Wylder is a melee-based character who comes with a grappling hook. The grappling hook can be used to either pull enemies towards you, or allow you to close the distance quickly. The Guardian, on the other hand, is a tank class equipped with a massive shield. It focuses on defense, and its Whirlwind skill lifts enemies off their feet and can also deflect arrows.
There’s also a thief/rogue-like class called the Duchess, a berserker-style character called the Raider, and an awesome-looking mage class called Recluse. I’m particularly excited about the Recluse, as she seems capable of supporting the party, while also dealing tons of magical damage.
Regroup at the Roundtable Hold
The Roundtable Hold was originally introduced in Elden Ring, and it serves as your main base of operations in Elden Ring Nightreign. Here, you can interact with a Jar merchant and access the Small Jar Bazaar. This is where you’ll purchase useful items for your run, including Relics, which enhance your abilities. From what we’ve seen so far, there are tons of Relics to be found in Nightreign. They can range from increasing your stats to improving the effectiveness of your skills, and I suspect this is where you’ll find the most potential for build variety.
There’s also a Fitting Mirror to be found in the Roundtable Hold, which lets you alter your appearance. You can unlock costumes and outfits for the Nightfarers, and these serve as callbacks to characters from other FromSoft games. For instance, you can dress your Nightfarer up as Solaire from Dark Souls, the Curse Bearer from Dark Souls II, and even the Hunter from Bloodborne.
Relics and outfits are purchased with Murk, the main currency of Elden Ring Nightreign.
There’s Still Lore and Story in Nightreign
Elden Ring Nightreign is very much a multiplayer experience centered around fighting bosses, but there’s still going to be fun lore tidbits to look forward to. As you spend more time doing runs and hanging out in the Roundtable Hold, your Nightfarer’s lost memories may return. It’s not confirmed, but it seems to be heavily implied that every Nightfarer has their own unique backstory.
As you unlock more of their memories, you may be able to access new gameplay objectives. This, in turn, will help you uncover the origins and purposes for each Nightfarer. So yeah, lore fiends rejoice.
Elden Ring Nightreign is set to be released on May 30 for PC and consoles.
