Elden Ring Nightreign launches May 30, new hands-on report

Elden Ring Nightreign, a new co-op adventure set within the Elden Ring universe, comes to PS5 and PS4 on May 30. Elden Ring Nightreign is an all-new standalone adventure by FromSoftware that thrusts players into co-op multiplayer PvE combat to take on the creeping night and the dangers within.

We recently got the chance to participate in the upcoming network test* ahead of its public release on February 14, so read on for our first impressions of our journey into the perilous realm of Limveld.

*The network test is based on a build still under development. Various elements of the game, such as specs, names, and parameters, may differ from the final product.

Experience fast-paced gameplay that encapsulates the best elements of RPGs

Elden Ring was mainly a single player experience, allowing you to explore at your own pace. Take your time, and, provided you’ve tucked yourself away in a safe location, you’re able to put the controller down to leave your room.

By contrast, Elden Ring Nightreign’s focus on three-player co-op survival action means you must always be alert and aware of your squad’s movements, regardless of whether you’re working together or strike out to explore separately.

This is because of Nightreign’s Night’s Tide mechanic, which steadily contracts your explorable play area over time, with every session concluding with you coming face to face with a powerful boss. It is crucial then to strengthen and upgrade your characters and party by nightfall to prepare for the boss fight, so you’ll need to get used to the fast-paced gameplay and split-second decision-making.

Upgraded movesets to match intense co-op gameplay

While the basic move sets of Elden Ring Nightreign are akin to Elden Ring, Nightreign introduces new actions and movements. Examples include wall jumping and traversing the air by holding onto Spectral Hawks. You also won’t take any fall damage no matter how far you fall or jump.

Furthermore, you can sprint by holding down L3, in addition to the regular dash. The sprint is comparable in speed to Torrent, the spectral steed from Elden Ring. It almost felt like I was speed-running the game when I was wall-jumping and lunging off cliffs without worrying about fall damage. Overall, the game delivers a fresh new experience reminiscent of the original Elden Ring, while feeling unique.

Attack your fellow Nightfarers to revive them

If you are near death during battle, your teammates can rescue you by attacking you. You can also lock-on to a downed player, so you can rescue them from a safe distance with a long-range attack. A rescue is complete when the dying player’s meter is reduced. If a player goes down repeatedly, the meter will get longer, making it harder to complete the rescue. During the day, if players aren’t rescued in time, they die and respawn afterward. At night, players do not die. Instead, they remain incapacitated/”near death” until they are rescued.The meter resets when you visit a Site of Grace. The sting of death hits differently in Elden Ring Nightreign compared to the original game, as it means you’ll be putting your co-op partners at risk.

Challenging foes make for satisfying battles and triumphs

While there are a number of differences between Elden Ring and Elden Ring Nightreign, the palpable sense of accomplishment that comes from overcoming a boss is still potent. The game is undeniably challenging, like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, but learning from trial and error will help you progress through each challenge.

We failed the first four of our five attempted runs. After each loss, we ventured out further to explore more of the map, and spent time strategizing and studying the bosses’ moves until we finally managed to take it down in the final session. One run (a three day-and-night cycle) takes about 35-40 minutes to complete, and we were able to complete five runs during our four-hour hands-on, and we defeated the Nightlord on the third day of our final session. I couldn’t help myself from doing a small fist pump when it was over.

The thrill of joining forces to overcome challenges

It took some time to get the hang of co-op, but rescuing a near-death teammate is an easy way to contribute to the team, and you can help strengthen other players by offering them a weapon you acquired if it is better suited for them. Though each Nightfarer can venture out on their own, exploring and facing challenges is best as a team.

My team found success when we dropped pins on the map to make sure we were all headed towards the same direction, tackled major overworld enemies together, and made sure to upgrade our flasks at the churches. This strategy set us up for a better Nightlord fight on the third day. As we progressed, my squad mates got a better hang of their characters so they could leverage their unique abilities and Ultimates more effectively. I enjoyed the sense of solidarity that came from working as a team, and that feeling is one of the best parts about playing a co-op game.

Elden Ring Nightreign launches May 30 on PS5 and PS4.