Item: Elden Ring NightReign Review: Brilliant Combat, Shallow Progression
Rating: 7.5
Author: ConsolePulse

PlayStation Switch Xbox PC All

Elden Ring NightReign Review: Brilliant Combat, Shallow Progression

Mar 02, 2026

I have 150 hours in Elden Ring NightReign.

That alone should tell you something.
This is not a bad game. But it is not a simple recommendation either.

Let’s get this out immediately.
I do not think I could confidently recommend NightReign unless you have at least one other person to play it with.

150 hours later, and NightReign still had me queueing up for another run.

Solo players can still have fun. But this game clearly wants a squad.

A Different Kind of Souls Experience

NightReign does not feel like a traditional Souls game.

It feels like someone took Elden Ring combat, compressed it into 40-minute runs, added fixed characters, sprinkled in rogue-like structure, and then said, “Good luck.”
The average run is around 40 minutes.

Elden Ring NightReign official key art featuring main character in dark fantasy setting — Official key art for Elden Ring NightReign, FromSoftware’s multiplayer-focused spin-off.

It is fast.
It is intense.
It feels like bite-sized Souls.

And once you understand routing and pacing, it actually flows beautifully.
When everything clicks, it is a genuine flow state game.

##The Combat Is the Star

Let’s be clear. The combat feels fantastic.

In some ways, it feels even tighter than Elden Ring.

Fast-paced melee combat in Elden Ring NightReign featuring special character ability — Combat feels tighter and faster than expected for a Souls spin-off.

Character abilities fit the core gameplay surprisingly well. Movement feels smooth. Boss encounters are often excellent.
Some of the bosses are genuinely stellar. They carry that classic FromSoftware design philosophy of punishing but learnable.

When you are in a good run with friends, NightReign absolutely sings.

But It Is Still Very Much FromSoftware

Which means.

Obtuse mechanics are back.

Only now they are attached to a multiplayer rogue-like structure.

There are eight characters, but you are not really crafting builds. You are selecting templates. Each character has defined strengths. Over a run, you refine them down one of three directions. That is it.

There is very little experimentation compared to mainline Elden Ring.
You are not building from scratch. You are optimising a preset.

The Relic System Problem

This is where things get frustrating. Relics are meant to customise your character between runs.

In theory, they allow creative builds.

In practice, weapons during runs are random.

Relic customisation menu in Elden Ring NightReign — Relics offer customisation, but often feel inconsistent due to random weapon drops.

So if you lean heavily into a specific relic synergy and never get the weapon type that supports it, your entire plan collapses. This pushes most players toward safe, generically strong relics.

Which means you end up playing similar builds repeatedly. Relics feel mediocre at best. At worst, they feel actively bad. The game desperately needs stronger meta progression.

Multiplayer Makes or Breaks It

With friends, NightReign is genuinely a great time. Coordinating routes. Optimising boss timings. Learning tricks. Sharing knowledge.

It becomes a competitive PvE rhythm game where efficiency matters.

Three-player cooperative combat in Elden Ring NightReign boss encounter — With friends, NightReign transforms into a chaotic but satisfying co-op experience.

Without friends, it feels closer to traditional Souls co-op but with far more urgency. You have to move constantly. If you do not, you risk being underleveled at bosses.

There is pressure in every minute of a run.

Rogue-Lite… But Not Really

You would expect huge variation between runs. There is some, but not as much as you might think. And strangely, that works in its favour.

NPC interaction scene in Elden Ring NightReign hub area — As expected from FromSoftware, not everything is clearly explained.

NightReign is about route optimisation.

Learning where to go.
What to skip.
When to fight.

It is less about chaos and more about refinement. Still, failed runs can feel punishing. When you lose after 30 minutes, it does not always feel rewarding. It feels like time lost.

That hurts.

Classic Souls Communication Issues

In true FromSoftware fashion, many abilities and interactions are not explained clearly. You will absolutely find yourself checking community discussions or a wiki to understand:

“Oh. That is actually broken with this character.”

Player exploring dark dungeon area in Elden Ring NightReign — Every run is about routing efficiently through dangerous territory.

Discovery is fun.
Confusion for 20 hours is less fun.

The Biggest Frustration

Waiting 30 minutes between meaningful boss attempts. That is rough.

Especially when the bosses are some of the best content in the game.

Boss fight encounter in Elden Ring NightReign with large armoured enemy — Some bosses are genuinely stellar and worth the grind.

You want more reps. The structure limits that.

Final Thoughts

Elden Ring NightReign is a bold experiment.

It delivers:

Excellent combat

Strong character abilities

Memorable bosses

Tight 40-minute runs

But it also struggles with:

Weak relic customisation

Limited build diversity

Punishing failed runs

Heavy reliance on multiplayer

Character overlooking vast fantasy landscape in Elden Ring NightReign — Even in shorter runs, NightReign still delivers classic FromSoftware atmosphere.

If you have friends and love Elden Ring combat, you will likely get your money’s worth. I did.
If you are playing solo, it is still good, but much harder to recommend without hesitation.