Critics' Verdict on Elden Ring Nightreign: Aggregated Metacritic Evaluations for FromSoftware's Cooperative Venture
Experience the Uncharted Expansion of Elden Ring Nightreign
The rhythm of the year continues with the arrival of FromSoftware's fascinating, unconventional spin on their popular gameplay formula - Elden Ring Nightreign. Reviews for this new title are flooding in, offering thoughts and insights from various gaming platforms.
Nightreign is a cooperative game, placing players into teams of three, with matches lasting over a half-hour. The goal is to defeat enemies and bosses from both Elden Ring and the Dark Souls franchise. As of now, it has a 78 on Metacritic from 64 reviews and a 79 on Opencritic from 81 reviews, suggesting a positive although not universally praised reception. Here are some highlights from multiple reviews:
- GamingTrend (85/100): "For those who are unfamiliar with roguelikes but are fans of Elden Ring, Nightreign is certainly worth a try. The more I played, the more invested I became, and my initial worries took a backseat to the incredible experience FromSoftware has crafted. Give it an open mind, a few friends, and be prepared to die, often."
- Game Informer (80/100): "Nightreign shines when I'm playing at my best, and I find that the game needs to meet me halfway. When the matchmaking works, when the map randomness provides us with a fighting chance, and when the storm doesn't throw an unfair wrench into the expedition, I'm excited to rise to the challenge. The reward for my efforts is the mastery, knowledge, and adrenaline I spent dozens of hours building in Elden Ring, condensed into a single run. Each success is as visceral and glorious as the last."
- IGN (70/100): "Let's first address the elephant in the room: if you're expecting to conquer Nightreign solo, and aren't an accomplished Elden Ring player looking for even greater challenges, Nightreign isn't for you. Yes, there's a single-player option, but it's so abysmally unbalanced that I'd be amazed if it isn't fixed within the first month of release. This comes from someone who adores these types of games."
- RPG Site (70/100): "While playing Elden Ring Nightreign, I was waiting for a moment to blow me away like the original game and the Erdtree did, but that didn't happen. Nightreign delivers glimpses of what I love about the previous games, but the jump to this new format just didn't land as well as I'd hoped. When I teamed up with friends or finally conquered that Nightlord I kept getting stuck on, it sparked the same exhilarating sense of accomplishment I crave, but so much else left me yearning for more."
- The Guardian (60/100): "FromSoftware's experiment in altering its established gameplay style is applaudable, and taking down titanic foes alongside friends really adds to the joy you feel upon finally vanquishing what initially felt insurmountable. It's just a shame that the game's uneven pacing and reliance on Elden Ring assets so greatly mar the overall experience."
A Different Chariot in the Dark Souls Universe
Generally, critics seem to appreciate the way Elden Ring's gameplay formula suits a cooperative game. Common complaints are the absence of variety and crossplay, as well as the difficulty of solo play.
My colleague Brendan Lowry offers a 4-star review of Elden Ring Nightreign, commenting that "Indeed, it's a creative new way to experience the Elden Ring combat and sandbox that fans cherish - though there's one significant flaw holding it back from reaching its full potential."
Elden Ring Nightreign is slated to release on May 30, 2025 for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4.
Elden Ring Nightreign is priced at $33.99 at Newegg with promo code XVSAVE (Xbox, PC)
Elden Ring Nightreign is a daring cooperative roguelike spinoff from FromSoftware, brilliantly intertwining Soulsborne gameplay with a new genre of RPG - though issues with map and enemy variety restrict its potential greatness.
Deluxe Edition: $50.29 at CDKeys (Steam, PC)
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- The release of Elden Ring Nightreign on May 30, 2025, will make it available for gaming enthusiasts on multiple platforms, including Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4.
- For those seeking an engaging cooperative gaming experience, the Deluxe Edition of Elden Ring Nightreign can be purchased for $50.29 at CDKeys, exclusively for PC users on Steam.
- Xbox and PC gamers can pre-order Elden Ring Nightreign at Newegg for $33.99 with the promo code XVSAVE, securing access to this cooperative roguelike spinoff of the beloved Elden Ring game.
- Critics, like Brendan Lowry, acknowledge the creativity of Elden Ring Nightreign for merging Soulsborne gameplay with a new RPG genre, but express concern about limitations in map and enemy variety.
- Reviews for Elden Ring Nightreign, such as the ones from GamingTrend, Game Informer, IGN, RPG Site, and The Guardian, suggest a positive overall reception despite some issues with the game's potential greatness.
