Elden Ring Nightreign Can Up the Ante With One Obvious FromSoft Feature

Elden Ring Nightreign is a pretty intense game, no doubt about it; it retains the signature challenge of the soulslike genre, with enemies that can wipe players out with a single hit and squads of viscous monsters pulling off baffling, enraging maneuvers. But much like FromSoftware’s other action-RPGs, Elden Ring Nightreign can be made a lot easier with some help from fellow strugglers.

Indeed, Elden Ring Nightreign is easily FromSoftware’s most co-op-focused game to date, designed specifically around three-player gameplay, much to the chagrin of some. While solo play is technically possible, it’s far from recommended: enemies are too tough, progression is too slow, and there’s a far greater chance that the player will get wiped out by larger, more dangerous bosses without teammates to pull aggro. Beyond mere necessity, playing Nightreign with two other players is simply more fun, especially from a combat perspective, since the unique mechanics of each Nightfarer open the doors to multifaceted synergy. Yes, co-op play is the backbone of Elden Ring Nightreign, but that doesn’t mean that it needs to be the end-all, be-all.

Why Fans of God of War Ragnarok’s Valhalla DLC Should Check Out Elden Ring Nightreign

Elden Ring Nightreign is an easy purchase for Elden Ring fans, but it might be suited to God of War Ragnarok Valhalla players as well.

Elden Ring Nightreign Could Shine Even Brighter With a Dedicated PvP Mode

Unique Nightfarer Builds Could Facilitate Hard-Hitting Competitive Gameplay

One of the best parts of PvP in other FromSoftware games, especially Elden Ring, is how it acts as a stage for new and creative character builds. A player might think that their current build, which has carried them through the entire game and maybe even a few NG+ cycles, is ideal, only to be immediately crushed by an invading player leveraging a never-before-seen tactic. Similarly, a player might think that one element of their build is somewhat limited, like an off-hand weapon used for status infliction, only to find that it’s far more versatile in fights against specific archetypes.

The pinnacle of FromSoftware’s PvP system came in the form of Elden Ring‘s arenas, which added some much-needed structure and quality of life features to the basic competitive formula.

Put plainly, PvP allows players to put their custom characters through the ringer, measuring them against others who are doing the same thing. In the process, they can learn more about build-crafting and combat fundamentals, as this gameplay framework is decidedly distinct from the single-player content. And, most importantly, PvP encounters are just plain fun, and would be a great addition to Elden Ring Nightreign.

What PvP Could Look Like in Elden Ring Nightreign

Nightreign is remarkably different from previous FromSoftware games, and it wouldn’t make sense to change that for a theoretical PvP mode. Maybe Nightreign could continue to channel its unique roguelike elements within a competitive context, setting players loose in separate sections of Limveld, allowing them to upgrade and level up as usual. But then, instead of facing a Night Lord, the players would face each other. Alternatively, perhaps the game could position its PvP and roguelike elements inside a tournament, where players level up and choose an upgrade after each round. This would allow Nightreign to offer a distinct blend of roguelike and fighting game systems, which would be fascinating.

Elden Ring Nightreign‘s playable characters aren’t usually in contest with one another; Recluse is never pitted against Executioner, outside very rare cases, and even then, it’s an enemy NPC in the form of a Nightfarer, not another player. With some form of PvP gameplay in its broader sandbox, Elden Ring Nightreign could let players discover what it’s like to square off against another dedicated player in the shoes of their favorite character, opening up an entirely new gameplay meta and offering endless opportunities for community building