Elden Ring Nightreign was a complete surprise when it was revealed in December. The Elden Ring spin-off is totally different for developer FromSoftware as it combines the action gameplay from the original and sprinkles in some battle royale mechanics.
Since Elden Ring Nightreign is so different from the original game, there is some confusion about how the spin-off actually plays. Fortunately, FromSoftware conducted a network test for the game back in February that revealed what gamers should expect when they jump into a match.
When is the Elden Ring Nightreign release date?
Elden Ring Nightreign comes out on May 30, 2025, for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles for $40.
Do I need to own Elden Ring to play Nightreign?
No. Nightreign is a standalone adventure. However, it is recommended that you spend some time on Elden Ring to get the feel of the game before it comes out.
Do I need to play Elden Ring Nightreign online?
No. Elden Ring Nightreign can be played offline and as a single player.
How does Elden Ring Nightreign work?
Players form a team of three and pick one of eight characters. So far, only four characters have been revealed during the network test in February: Duchess is an assassin whose abilities keep her stealthy, allowing her to get close and do heavy damage to enemies; Guardian is a tank with heavy armor and a spear for long-distance attacks; Recluse is a magic wielder that can do lots of damage; and Wylder is a versatile warrior with good defense.
A fifth character was revealed on Tuesday. Ironeye is an archer character who has various bow attacks and can do wall jumps.
It appears Bandai Namco will slowly reveal the rest of the lineup as the release date approaches.
As a team, players will be dropped into a randomly generated map with enemies and treasure scattered all over. Each match is on a three-day cycle. They will have to defeat enemies to level up and find treasure to improve their equipment. As the team explores the map, a storm circle will close in at different intervals over the course of one day, which is about 15 minutes. Players caught in the storm circle will see their health slowly deplete, similar to battle royale games like Fortnite.
As the storm circle closes in, the team will be guided to the boss of the night. Once defeated, the second day will begin with a similar objective as the first day. On the third day, players will face off against the final boss of the match. During the network test, it was Gladius, a three-headed wolf-like monster. Once the boss is defeated, the team can run another match with their unlocked abilities.
Does Elden Ring Nightreign play differently than Elden Ring?
A bit. The core action gameplay remains the same, although it’s much faster. Players move quicker and can double jump to climb up to different areas. There’s also a difference in leveling up. Instead of increasing certain stats, players just increase their level and that will increase various stats. Leveling up is done at sites of grace found around the map.
How does Elden Ring Nightreign’s story fit into the main game?
As of now, there isn’t a clear link to the Elden Ring lore. In fact, enemies from Dark Souls, another FromSoftware series, can be found in the game. The game’s director, Junya Ishizaki, confirmed in December that the game is a spin-off and doesn’t tie in with the Elden Ring story. Still, it’s likely that Elden Ring lore researchers will find an interesting connection or two.
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