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Elden Ring Nightreign

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"Nightreign" redirects here. For the Arooj Aftab album, see Night Reign.

Elden Ring Nightreign
Developer(s)FromSoftware
Publisher(s)Bandai Namco Entertainment
  • JP: FromSoftware
Director(s)Junya Ishizaki
Producer(s)
  • Yasuhiro Kitao
  • Shingo Kawabata
Programmer(s)Yuki Kido
Composer(s)
  • Shoi Miyazawa
  • Tai Tomisawa
  • Soma Tanizaki
  • Yoshikazu Takayama
  • Yuka Kitamura
Platform(s)
Release
  • WW: May 30, 2025
Genre(s)Action role-playing, roguelike
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Elden Ring Nightreign[a] is a 2025 roguelike action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game is a spin-off to Elden Ring, using many of its features and gameplay elements, and focuses on roguelike and cooperative mechanics. Players control Nightfarers on a quest to dispel the reign of night.

It was revealed at The Game Awards 2024, and was released for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on May 30, 2025. Upon release, it topped the May sales charts across all platforms, received generally positive reviews and has sold 3.5 million units.[1]

Gameplay

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The game is set in a procedurally generated version of Limgrave, now named Limveld, the first open-world area of Elden Ring. While the game has a single-player mode, it is intended to be played cooperatively by teams of three players who collaborate over three in-game days to prepare for the final boss.[2] Similar to battle royale games, Nightreign features a shrinking gameplay area which resets after players defeat the minor boss at the end of each in-game day.[3]

An updated game mode was released on June 19, 2025. This featured a new challenge mode where you can challenge a more difficult version of the Nightlord Adel the Gaping Jaw, called Everdark Sovereign. This challenge features the Nightlord starting off in it's second phase and progressing to a newly added Third Phase. Then on the 26th of the same month, they added Sovereign Fulghor, Champion of Nightglow. On July 9th, they released a third Sovereign mode for Gnoster, Wisdom of Night.

Story

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Setting and characters

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Elden Ring Nightreign takes place in an alternative timeline of the Lands Between. After the Shattering, a "primodial darkness" descended upon the Lands Between, plunging the realm with "NightRain", a cataclysmic event that brings forth monstruous beings from other realms and perpetual rain. Eight beings of tremendous power known only by their monikers and their title of Nightlords rule over this ruined land. In an alternative version of the Limgrave region, dubbed "Limveld", the effects of said cataclysm are evident. The land shifts regularly to other dimensions and total chaos. As a result Marika's religion has been abandoned (save for a few churches), and the people no longer pray to her or the Elden Ring. The Erdtree is absent from Limveld, its golden hue no longer visible. The Roundtable Hold, now dilapidated and in a state of disrepair, has become a safe haven for warriors dubbed "Nightfarers" who are summoned to end the perpetual Night and challenge the Nightlords.

Synopsis

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While the game has a main story, there are also individual storylines for each of the eight playable Nightfarers called Remembrances. Certain Remembrances will result in different game endings.

The main story starts with the Wylder, the Nightfarer that specializes in the longsword, running from the darkness and eventually facing against Morgott the Fell Omen. Wylder then wakes up in the Roundtable Hold and is greeted by The Priestess. She tells the Wylder their goal to defeat to Nightlords and save Limveld. Here, the Wylder meets other Nightfarers such as Guardian, the bird-humanoid knight who uses the tall shield and halberd; Ironeye, an assassin that uses the bow; Raider, the pirate berserker from outside the Lands Between; Recluse, an isolated witch; and Executor, a mute who specializes in the katana. Along the journey, the Nightfarers may eventually find a magic pocket watch that belongs to the Priestess, who will then reveal herself as the dagger-wielding Duchess, another Nightfarer. Later, the Nightfarers will come across The Revenant, a Nightfarer who takes the form of a possessed doll who summons her dead family to fight in her stead.

After the Nightfarers defeat the Nightlord Gladius Beast of the Night, the Nightfarers realize that threat of darkness still lingers over them, and that they must defeat more Nightlords. After defeating 4 Nightlords, the Roundtable Hold begins to falter and crumble as the Night grows stronger. The Priestess/Duchess says that the leader of the Nightlords has revealed himself: Heolstor the Night Aspect. The Primodial Night manifested into being. Which after being conquered by a hero, manifested into form. After defeating Heolstor, the player will receive the Night Rune and there are multiple endings depending on actions throughout the game.

  • The Dawn. This is the default ending. The player will return to the Roundtable Hold and find a shriveled corpse. When presenting the corpse the Night Rune, all the Nightfarers turn to grace and return to their real bodies scatters across the Lands Between and beyond. The Primeval Nights intervention is undone and the Lands Between returns to its natural state, setting the stage for the events of Elden Ring. The primodial night decides not to bring a reign of night this time.
  • The Endless Night. This ending is achieved after completing all of the Remembrance quests for Ironeye and then defeating Heolster as Ironeye with the Edge of Order equipped. When approaching the shriveled corpse in the Roundtable Hold, Ironeye will instead kill the corpse, condemning Limveld to eternal Night.
  • The New Night. This ending is achieved after completing all of the Remembrance quests for Wylder and then defeating Heolster as Wylder with the Larval Tear equipped. Instead of approaching the shriveled corpse in the Roundtable Hold, Wylder would approach to corpse of Heolster and inject himself with a Larval Tear. Afterwards, Wylder will reincarnate as a new Nightlord and the cycle of Night continues again.
  • The Night of Love. This ending is achieved after completing all of the Remembrance quests for Recluse and then defeating Heolster as Recluse with the Bone-like Stone equipped. Instead of approaching the shriveled corpse in the Roundtable Hold, Recluse would follow the sounds of a baby crying and find her child. She would then cradle her baby and the game ends, never knowing the conclusion.

Development

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Elden Ring Nightreign was developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.[2] Bandai Namco Entertainment registered the trademark for "Nightreign" on October 24, 2024,[4] with it being revealed at The Game Awards 2024 in December. It was scheduled to be released on May 30, 2025.[5] The first network test took place in February 2025 on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with players able to register from January 10 to 20.[6]

Nightreign is directed by Junya Ishizaki, who worked as a designer on Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Dark Souls III, and Elden Ring. Fantasy author George R. R. Martin, who wrote the backstory of Elden Ring, was not involved with Nightreign.[7]

Reception

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Elden Ring Nightreign received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[8][9][10] OpenCritic determined that 77% of critics recommended the game.[11]

Elden Ring Nightreign sold 2 million units within its first 24 hours from release,[31] and 3.5 million within five days.[32]

Notes

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  1. ^ Japanese: エルデンリング ナイトレイン, Hepburn: Eruden Ringu Naitorein

References

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  1. ^ Pabriga, Cedric (July 10, 2025). "'Elden Ring: Nightreign Leads May 2025 Sales on All Platforms, Star Wars: Battlefront II Joins Top 20 - Gaming News". Gaming News.
  2. ^ a b Yin-Poole, Wesley (December 13, 2024). "Elden Ring Nightreign is a Standalone Co-op Spin-off – The Game Awards 2024". IGN. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  3. ^ Ogilvie, Tristan (December 13, 2024). "Elden Ring Nightreign – We Played It!". IGN. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  4. ^ Romano, Sal (November 4, 2024). "Bandai Namco trademarks 'Nightreign' in Japan". Gematsu. Archived from the original on December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (February 12, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign Release Date Confirmed". IGN. Archived from the original on February 13, 2025. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  6. ^ Gach, Ethan (December 13, 2024). "Elden Ring's Multiplayer Spin-Off Has A Playtest Coming Up And You Can Register For It Soon". Kotaku. Archived from the original on December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (December 12, 2024). "Elden Ring Nightreign: FromSoftware Game Director Explains Why the Spin-Off Exists, Reveals Whether George R. R. Martin Was Involved, and Why Fans Shouldn't Call It a Live Service". IGN. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Elden Ring Nightreign for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Elden Ring Nightreign for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Elden Ring Nightreign for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Elden Ring: Nightreign Reviews". OpenCritic. May 28, 2025. Archived from the original on June 22, 2025. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  12. ^ Duwe, Scott (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring: Nightreign review – The Soulslike co-op dream is almost fully realized, and it's glorious". Destructoid. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  13. ^ Colantonio, Giovanni (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring: Nightreign review: it's worth fighting through matchmaking hell". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  14. ^ Nightingale, Ed (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign review - Hey, Soul Sister". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  15. ^ Romano, Sal (June 18, 2025). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1903". Gematsu. Archived from the original on June 29, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  16. ^ LeBlanc, Wesley (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring: Nightreign Review - Encapsulating Efficiency". Game Informer. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  17. ^ Wakeling, Richard (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign Review - Distilled Souls". GameSpot. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  18. ^ Sawyer, Will (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign review: "An uncharacteristically frantic and fast-paced ride that boils down the core Elden Ring experience"". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  19. ^ Beck, Adam (May 28, 2025). "Review: Elden Ring Nightreign". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on May 29, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  20. ^ Saltzman, Mitchell (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign Review". IGN. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  21. ^ Shutler, Ali (May 29, 2025). "'Elden Ring: Nightreign' review: hardcore spin-off for the diehards". NME. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  22. ^ Colp, Tyler (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign review". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  23. ^ Smith, Nat (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign review - I'd rather be playing Elden Ring". PCGamesN. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  24. ^ Bayne, Aaron (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign Review (PS5)". Push Square. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  25. ^ Wilkerson, Zach (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign Review". RPGFan. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  26. ^ Chandler, Sam (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign review: Soulsborne distilled". Shacknews. Archived from the original on May 29, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  27. ^ Gardner, Elliot (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign review – FromSoftware brings multiplayer mayhem to the Lands Between". The Guardian. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  28. ^ Makar, Connor (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign review: FromSoftware's weirdest experiment yet, and its most powerful message to loyal fans". VG247. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  29. ^ Middler, Jordan (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign review: A clumsy multiplayer sideshow to the generation's best RPG". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  30. ^ Bardwell, Tom (May 28, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign review – a giddy and moreish co-op rush". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  31. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (May 30, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign Sells 2 Million Units on the First Day". IGN. Archived from the original on May 31, 2025. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  32. ^ Barker, Sammy (June 3, 2025). "Elden Ring Nightreign's Enormous Success Continues, Now Over 3.5 Million Sales". Push Square.
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