What is Nightreign?

Nightreign is a three-player co-op game set in a world inspired by Elden Ring. Players enter Limveld and must work together to survive and defeat the Nightlords—powerful bosses that appear at the end of each in-game cycle. Each session is divided into three days, and at the end of each day, a Nightlord emerges. The Nightlords are not fixed, meaning every session presents different encounters, making each run unique.

In this blog, I’ll be sharing my first impressions of the game—what I enjoyed and what I think could be improved. Keep in mind that Nightreign is still in development and is set for release in May, so the final version will likely be more refined and polished.

The Classes

Nightreign’s Network Test featured four distinct classes, each with its own starting weapon, special ability, and ultimate attack.

1. Wylder
   • Starter Weapon: Longsword and parry shield
   • Special Ability: Grappling hook that closes the gap between the player and enemies; also useful for traversal.
   • Ultimate: A devastating punch that explodes on impact, dealing significant damage.
2. Guardian
   • Starter Weapon: Halberd and greatshield
   • Special Ability: Generates a cyclone with the wings on their back.
   • Ultimate: Leaps high into the air and slams down, creating a large AoE attack.
3. Duchess
   • Starter Weapon: Dagger
   • Special Ability: Replays recent combat events, damaging nearby foes.
   • Ultimate: Grants stealth to both the player and nearby allies.
4. Recluse
   • Starter Weapon: Staff with Glintstone Pebble and Arc as starting spells.
   • Special Ability: Absorbs the target’s affinity and fires a magic attack that exploits it.
   • Ultimate– Marks the enemy and increases allies’ hp upon hit.

The Map

The world of Limveld is smaller compared to Elden Ring, but given the limited time in each cycle, there’s still plenty to explore. While players can’t ping locations in the distance, they can place markers on the map, which are easily distinguishable among teammates.

Traversal

Unlike Elden Ring, Nightreign does not feature mounts. Instead, players must traverse the world on foot, but movement speed has been significantly increased. Sprinting is now more fluid—pressing the Left Stick once enables continuous sprinting as long as you keep moving forward.

Climbing and parkour have also been improved with the introduction of a double jump, reminiscent of Sekiro. Additionally, Spirit Springs return, allowing players to cover large distances with powerful leaps.

Gameplay

Combat remains largely faithful to Elden Ring, but Nightreign streamlines progression. Instead of individually upgrading stats like Vigor or Mind, leveling up increases all core attributes—health, FP, stamina, and weapon damage—simultaneously.

Leveling up at a Grace is also simplified—one button press instantly upgrades everything, making the process quick and efficient. This change complements the game’s fast-paced nature, where players have little time to deliberate over builds, inventory management, or exploration. Speed is key—players must swiftly navigate, defeat enemies, loot efficiently, and move forward before nightfall engulfs them.

Communication

A major drawback of the Nightreign Network Test was the lack of built-in voice or text chat. Playing with random teammates can be hit-or-miss, as success heavily depends on how well players can coordinate through limited ping markers. There was no option to play solo in the test, and as things stand, Nightreign seems best enjoyed with friends who can communicate effectively outside the game.

Build Crafting

Build crafting in Nightreign is an interesting, reactive system. Here’s an example: If you find a weapon with a Lightning affinity and later discover a secondary weapon with a passive that boosts Lightning damage, the passive will enhance your main weapon. This means that while you can’t plan for a Bleed or Poison build beforehand, you can adapt based on the gear you find. Every session offers different loot, encouraging players to experiment and improvise—an approach that feels true to the game’s roguelike nature.

Boss Fights

As expected from FromSoftware, Nightreign delivers intense and cinematic boss battles. The Nightlords are formidable, with breathtaking arenas and haunting background music. Even with three players targeting the boss, the fights remain challenging—underestimating the enemy will quickly get you killed.

Closing Thoughts

Overall, Nightreign has immense potential. For players who have always wanted a Soulslike experience fully playable with friends, this game promises to be an exhilarating ride. However, a few aspects could improve the experience:

• Implementing a voice or text chat feature to enhance teamwork with random players.
• Slightly extending the day cycle to allow for more exploration and planning.

That said, the game’s fast pace, unpredictable build system, and intense boss fights create a fresh, exciting take on the Souls formula.

What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments! Also, check out my gameplay and quick impressions in the link below.