GamesRoguelikeWhat the heck is Elden Ring: Nightreign? Our big explainer covering new characters, loot, roguelike mechanics and moreWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

GamesRoguelikeWhat the heck is Elden Ring: Nightreign? Our big explainer covering new characters, loot, roguelike mechanics and moreWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Jump to:Release window and Network TestGameplay basicsCharacter overviewDifferences from Elden RingNot F2P or live serviceNightreign’s mapLeveling and progression

Jump to:Release window and Network TestGameplay basicsCharacter overviewDifferences from Elden RingNot F2P or live serviceNightreign’s mapLeveling and progression

If you watched the trailer forFromSoftware’s new game and reacted the same way I did, the three words running through your mind at this very moment are: “What the heck?” It’s immediately apparent that Elden Ring: Nightreign is not a singleplayer RPG in the vein of Dark Souls, nor is it Elden Ring 2, but what itisis a lot harder to pin down. FromSoftware and publisher Bandai Namco knew the debut trailer for Nightreign was going to prompt more questions than it answered, so they let us spend a whole day with an early build in Tokyo a week before the reveal at The Game Awards.

You can read my thoughts in-depth in myhands-on preview, but there’s alotto say about this game, so here I’ve broken down all the key details I know so far into a digestible form.

When can we play Elden Ring: Nightreign?

When is Elden Ring: Nightreign coming out?

Nightreign will have a Network Test before release

Elden Ring: Nightreign gameplay basics

ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN – REVEAL GAMEPLAY TRAILER - YouTubeWatch On

ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN – REVEAL GAMEPLAY TRAILER - YouTube

ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN – REVEAL GAMEPLAY TRAILER - YouTube

ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN – REVEAL GAMEPLAY TRAILER - YouTube

Elden Ring: Nightreign is a 3-player co-op roguelike

Seriously? Multiplayer passwords in 2025?

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Large eyed dragon creature meditating in a glowing circle in Elden Ring Nightreign

Elden Ring: Nightreign character overview

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Knight cocking crossbow with other character in background in Nightreign

Can I create my own character? Who do I play as?

Wylder

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Knight holding greatsword running alongside eagle in background.

Duchess

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Character charges sword attack while being threatened by Ogre enemy.

Guardian

Recluse

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Characters enter foreboding door with surreal galaxy sky in background.

Archer (name unknown)

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Parryer (name unknown)

??

There’s a seventh character we currently know nothing about.

??

There’s an eighth character we currently know nothing about.

Characters have preset skills, but you can still customize your ‘build’ with relics and loot

How Nightreign differs from Elden Ring

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Archer character takes aim at a dragon in Nightreign.

Is this Elden Ring 2?

Is Nightreign connected to the story of Elden Ring?

It sure looks like Elden Ring, but does it play like it?

Nightreign isn’t F2P or live service

FromSoftware doesn’t consider it a “live service” game

Nightreign will be premium (not F2P) and standalone

Nightreign will be priced comparably to Shadow of the Erdtree

Nightreign is not a battle royale—in fact, there’s no PvP at all

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Caelid-looking bog area in Elden Ring Nightreign

How Nightreign’s map works

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Overview of Nightreign’s map area with chasm and castle visible.

Is the map randomly generated? How much does it change?

Only Limgrave? What about the rest of Elden Ring’s map?

Leveling and progression

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Character approaching black stone city area in Elden Ring Nightreign

How does leveling up work?

There will be meta progression in the form of character stories and permanent loot from each run

So there’s random loot now? How does that work?

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Characters approach boss enemy in scary field area of Elden Ring Nightreign

Get ready to be confused about the night rain and Nightreign

TOPICSFromSoftwareBandai Namco

TOPICS

PRODUCTSElden RingElden Ring: Nightreign

PRODUCTS

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