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As Night Falls, We Rise. |
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Elden Ring Nightreign is a fantasy action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It is a standalone spinoff of Elden Ring with a greater emphasis on cooperative multiplayer, survival mechanics, and roguelike gameplay.[1] Revealed on December 12, 2024,[2] the game was released on May 30, 2025, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows via Steam.
Portal[]
- Main article: Category:Elden Ring Nightreign
Plot[]
The Nightfarers approach the Night Lord
Nightreign takes place in the Lands Between on a timeline parallel to the events of Elden Ring, branching from the Shattering.[3] The Night's Tide, an encroaching wall of violet flames and relentless rain, threatens the land of Limveld and its Roundtable Hold. A Priestess in a hooded white robe and silver mask urges the Nightfarers to unite and prevent an impending catastrophe.[4] Players must survive two nights before facing the Nightlord beyond a door on a petrified tree.[5][6]
Gameplay[]
Elden Ring Nightreign delivers a fast-paced roguelike experience, playable solo or in groups of three. [7] Players select one of eight unique classes and must survive two perilous nights in a procedurally generated world before confronting the Night Lord. The game combines cooperative survival with a shrinking safe zone, blending elements of Elden Ring's iconic design with new features to enhance replayability.[8] The compact game world draws inspiration from Elden Ring's Limgrave and features randomized elements, such as structure layouts, enemy placements, and environmental modifiers.[9] Special map events, including meteoric impacts, ant swarms, and volcanic eruptions, create dynamic scenarios. Sites of Grace and Runes return, allowing players to level up and gain abilities as they progress or fail. Additional mechanics, such as powerful ultimate abilities and new traversal options, expand gameplay possibilities. Players can summon a spectral bird to glide through the sky or scale walls by jumping.
Each of the three nights lasts approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Players begin each run at level 1, simplifying progression and encouraging quick engagement without build optimization. The Night's Tide shrinks the safe zone each night and recedes at dawn. Players caught in the rain take damage, and while daytime deaths allow respawning, nighttime deaths do not.
Key features[]
- Offline solo or online co-op - Join forces with two other players or venture solo with scaled difficulty.
- Playable heroes - Select from one of eight different characters, each with their own story, strengths, and weaknesses. Team composition and coordination will play a key role in determining success.
- Fast-paced roguelike - Inputs for movement and combat are more fluid and agile. Players run faster and may wall-jump, vault ledges, and glide around the game world.
- Dynamic, compact world - The game world is smaller and will reshuffle with each new run, randomizing locations and encounters.
- Survive the night - Each night culminates in a shrinking safe zone and a challenging, randomized boss fight, offering rare loot and selectable rewards.
- Simplified inventory - The inventory screens will be color-coded and streamlined, and most items will not persist between runs.
- Near-Death - Players are downed and can be revived after their HP drops to 0.
Playable characters[]
Wylder prepares his wrist crossbow
Nightreign will offer ten playable Nightfarers with unique abilities and impactful ultimates, each named for their character class.[5] These classes are beginner-friendly and more easily defined, but their facial appearance may not be adjusted with the character slider. However, the armor of these characters may be customized with various cosmetics. Each hero has a custom storyline; characters that were not selected can be interacted with at the Roundtable Hold.[3]
Bosses and enemies[]
Gladius is the first Night Lord
The game will feature eight new bosses. Among the new additions is Gladius, a monstrous hound with three heads. Several enemies and bosses return from the original game, such as the Zamor Knights, Godrick Knights, and Demi-Human Swordsmen. Margit, the Fell Omen pursues players across the map and grants a powerful Favor of the Night buff if defeated.[10] In addition, the Centipede Demon, The Duke's Dear Freja, and Nameless King return from Dark Souls, Dark Souls II, and Dark Souls III, respectively.[11] All encounters are randomized, and defeated enemies are not reset upon resting at a Site of Grace. The Night Lord is selected at the Roundtable Hold before the start of each run.
Inventory changes[]
Items and gear are color-coded based on rarity. New items and weapons are available, including lootable skills, upgrades, and stat buffs. Rather than using a generic ball of light, these items are rendered as generic, glowing objects that indicate their item type.
The inventory screens are simplified, and up to three weapons can be equipped in each hand. Randomized passive bonuses from special weapons persist when the item is in the inventory. Weapon weight penalties and stat requirements are removed, but some items have level requirements. Basic loot is shared between players, but special item drops are not.
Items may be purchased from Nomadic Merchant spirits scattered around Limveld. They sit beside a campfire and a smithing anvil. Armaments may be improved with Smithing Stones at these workbenches.
Most items do not persist between runs. Murk can be used to purchase unlockable items that persist between runs, such as cosmetics, emotes, and build-defining Relics. Relics are also obtained at the end of each run, regardless of victory.
Multiplayer[]
Nightreign is primarily designed for 3-player co-op, but offers a single-player mode with reduced enemy scaling. There are no plans for a 2-player mode at this time. The password system will return to handle private matchmaking. Multiplayer activities are no longer limited by in-game items or confined to a single area or dungeon. Players may communicate through a more robust gesture and ping system. Downed players are revived after taking enough damage from their teammates, but the game ends when all players are downed simultaneously. Unsuccessful runs will spawn Red Phantoms in the worlds of others that may be defeated for valuable loot. Basic loot is shared with teammates, but special boss loot is not. The game will not include player-versus-player (PvP) elements.
Editions[]
Standard Edition[]
The Standard Edition includes:
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Base Game
Deluxe Edition[]
Deluxe Edition includes:
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Base Game
- Additional DLC
- Digital Artbook & Mini Soundtrack
Collector's Edition[]
The Collector's Edition includes:
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Base Game
- Additional DLC
- Statue of Wylder - "A perfect replica of the nomadic warrior, Wylder, a lone swordman in pursuit of the Night Lord. Crafted by Pure Arts. Size: 25cm"
- SteelBook - "Premium metal case with a full-color illustration of Wylder. The perfect protection and display for your game disc"
- Nightfarer Cards - "A set of eight high-quality tarot cards featuring detailed illustrations of the Nightfarers. These glossy, full color cards are the perfect way to predict your future in Limveld"
- Exclusive Hardcover Artbook - "An exclusive 40-page artbook tracing the development of ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN through previously unseen concept art, sketches, and full color illustrations. Size: 24 x 21 cm Language: English"
- Digital Soundtrack Download Code - "The unforgettable original soundtrack is included in this Collector’s Edition. Return to Limveld again and again with fully orchestrated tracks from ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN."
- Collector’s Box - "A beautiful case to store or display your statue and artbook."
Downloadable Content[]
The Forsaken Hollows[]
Elden Ring Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows is a paid DLC expansion for Nightreign that launches on December 4, 2025. First revealed on November 11, 2025, it includes new Nightfarers, Nightlords, Expeditions, Enemies, and minor Bosses.
New Features[]
- Two New Nightfarers
- Two New Nightlords
- One New Shifting Earth: the Great Hollow
- Additional Story Content: A new threat emerges
- New Landmark POIs (Locations)
- New and Returning Foes
Development[]
Nightreign is directed by Junya Ishizaki, a veteran of FromSoftware since Dark Souls. The game retains the franchise's hallmark epic battles while introducing a faster-paced combat system. The project was green-lit by Hidetaka Miyazaki, who gave creative control to Ishizaki. George R.R. Martin, who was heavily involved in the development of Elden Ring, did not provide additional contributions for Nightreign.[3] The game was conceptualized while Elden Ring was still in development.[5]
Network test[]
- Main article: Nightreign Network Test
A network test for Nightreign was announced on December 13, 2024, with registration opening on January 10, 2025, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S users. Five three-hour sessions took place between February 14-17, during which many server issues arose.[12][13][14]
System Requirements[]
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i5-10600 / AMD RYZEN 5 5500
- Memory: 12 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 4GB
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 30 GB available space
- Sound Card: Windows compatible audio device
Notes[]
- Nightreign will be a standalone, premium-priced game; it will not be free-to-play. It does not require Elden Ring or Shadow of the Erdtree to be owned or installed. It is not a live service and will not feature a battlepass or microtransactions.
- All planned DLC expansions are included with the Digital Deluxe edition.
- Cross-platform multiplayer will not be available.
- The game will not offer difficulty options.
- The Roundtable Hold is the pre-game lobby. It includes a training room, loadout customization, non-player characters, and a lore codex of characters and enemies.
- Change heroes by interacting with the altar.
- Start exploration by interacting with the Table of Lost Grace and selecting a target Night Lord.
- Up to six Relics may be equipped at once, and each grants a powerful bonus to attributes or damage from specific sources. Relics are placed on pedestals at the Roundtable.
- Players initially drop into the world at a location of their choosing on a Spectral Hawk. They can resummon their hawk gliders at special spirit trees.
- At the end of the second night, the players travel to the Spirit Shelter to confront the Night Lord.
- Leveling up is much faster and less restricted. Players need only be within proximity of a Site of Grace to access its menus and benefits. Leveling up is a guided and beginner-friendly process.
- Players can respawn freely during the day but receive debuffs.
- It can be expected that Sites of Grace outside the Ring of Reign are deactivated.[verification needed]
- Spiritsprings are replaced with Spiritstreams. Players may jump to great heights by jumping near vertical purple fissures.
Trivia[]
- Bandai Namco Entertainment registered the trademark for "Nightreign" in Japan on October 24, 2024.[15]
- The game was formally revealed at the Game Awards on December 12, 2024.
- "Nightreign" refers to both the dominion of the Night Lord and the deadly rain beyond the Night's Tide.[5]
Gallery[]
- Gameplay information
Videos[]
Transcripts[]
| Gameplay Reveal Trailer |
| Seekers of redemption. |
| You were chosen. |
| Thrown together by forces... |
| Beyond our control. |
| And for that... I need your help. |
| Band together, and prepare to claim. |
| The life of the Night Lord. |
| The night is far from over. |
| Little pillager, |
| Bent on sacking the lands of Gold! |
| I will swat away... |
| Any and all who dare approach. |
See also[]
External links[]
- Official website
- Network test
- FromSoftware discusses background layout techniques for "ELDEN RING." Unraveling how the world is created through examples [CEDEC 2025]
References[]
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