Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test Impressions
We never expected this type of game, but it seems to work for the Soulslike genre.
When FROMSOFTWARE announced they were holding a network test after their reveal trailer, I immediately signed up when it opened up on January 10th. The concept seemed so cool—a co-op experience with exciting gameplay changes like wall climbing and faster movement without worrying about stamina depletion. It reminded me of Sekiro. I waited for a while, though, and started to think I didn’t get accepted once I saw codes being sent out and people playing (despite the server issues). But right before the last day of the Network Test, I checked my junk email and found a PlayStation code for the game (I originally signed up for PC, but it seems like many people got codes for different platforms). Luckily, I had my PS5, so I entered the code and booted it up.
Each day of the test had its own start and end time. For the final day, February 16th, it ran from 10 PM EST to 1 AM EST. I played for about an hour and got the gist of the game, so I’ll share what you can expect when the full game releases and whether it’s worth the $40 price tag. Personally, the only Soulslike games I’ve played are Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Black Myth: Wukong. I own Elden Ring and Nioh 2, but I’ve never made it past the first area. It’s not that they didn’t excite me—it’s just that I feel like I need to mentally prepare myself to get my butt kicked every few steps in a Soulslike game. My brother, on the other hand, has completed almost every Soulslike game he’s played—all the Dark Souls games, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring—so he was definitely excited to see what this game had to offer.
Thankfully, getting the PS5 code meant I could share it with him, and we were able to play together. So, what is Elden Ring Nighreign? It’s a standalone game, separate from the original Elden Ring, and it’ll cost $40 (or more if you opt for the Deluxe, Seekers, or Collector’s Editions). I also noticed that there will be DLCs for this game, so it seems like they’re going all-in and planning to expand it in the future. I’m assuming the DLCs will include new characters, maps, and enemy bosses. Hopefully, content updates will be free, but we’ll see.
Jumping into the game, you’re greeted with a title screen featuring a song that lowkey asks if you’re ready to fight demons. It got a somber feel to it but it hooks you in like their other title openings. They also display the test times to avoid confusion about why you can’t access the game. The game seems to be online-only, even though you can play solo, and you can only team up with two other players (three people total). No two-player or four-player co-op—apparently, they don’t like even numbers. Once you’re in, the game introduces you to the Network Test’s objectives: defeat the Tricephalos in Limveld. Before heading out, you’re in the Roundtable Hold where you can choose from four characters: Wylder, Guardian, Duchess, and Recluse.
Wylder is a balanced soldier-type character with a sword and shield, perfect for beginners.
Guardian is a heavy tank with wings, a massive shield, and the ability to fly.
Duchess is a fast-moving character who uses a dagger for quick attacks and can dodge repeatedly without draining stamina.
Recluse is a mage who focuses on ranged attacks and magic to recover their FP Gauge.
Each character has their own set of Passive Abilities, Character Skills, and Ultimate Arts. Passive Abilities are always active—for example, the Duchess can dodge repeatedly without using much stamina. Character Skills are unique to each character’s moveset, like the Guardian’s ability to create a cyclone to attack enemies. Ultimate Arts are powerful special attacks, similar to fighting game ultimates, that can turn the tide in boss fights. Wylder’s Ultimate Art, for instance, creates a massive explosion from an iron stake.
There’s a training area where you can test all your skills and tweak settings, reminiscent of Smash Bros. training mode. You can adjust things like unlimited health or always having your Ultimate Art ready. It’s a great way to familiarize yourself with the mechanics before diving into the real game. There’s also a Visual Codex for reminders on controls or lore, and a Relic Rites section where you can equip relics that stay with you throughout the game (more on that later).
The Expeditions is where you jump into the world and start exploring the Limveld. If you want to play with strangers, you can click on a mission and start matchmaking. Playing with friends, however, is a bit more convoluted. You need to use a unique password that your friend also inputs. You can specify whether all players need the password or just one other person, allowing a stranger to join (since regular co-op isn’t an option). There are also group passwords that let you see bloodstains, phantoms, and other traces from players using the same password—a neat mechanic. Once everyone’s in, you’re thrown into the game.
At first, the game felt like a battle royale, similar to Fortnite. You drop into the map by flying down while holding onto birds (like parachuting in Fortnite). The map itself is interesting, with waypoints marked by other players, Sites of Grace for healing and leveling up, and more. Speaking of leveling up, characters in the beta cap at level 15 (at least in training mode). If you die and revive in the same game, you lose a level or two. If your whole team dies, you have to start over and lose all your runes (money in the game). When you’re hurt, you enter a downed state (like in Fortnite or Gears of War), and your teammates must revive you before a countdown ends.
The premise is simple: explore the map, defeat enemies, and survive until the end, where you face a boss. Each time you defeat a boss, a new “day” begins. The most days my brother and I made it to was Day 2, but I checked online and found out the Network Test allows up to three days. It’s challenging, though—players can leave mid-game, and you can’t replace them. If you’re not paying attention, you can also get caught by the encroaching flames (similar to Fortnite’s storm), which close in on a specific spot where you’ll face the boss. I like this concept—it keeps things intense and engaging. I hope the full game expands on this with more content and possibly more days for stronger targets.
I’m saying all this like I survived to the final day, but let’s be real—it was tough. Still, the game was incredibly fun. Moving quickly across the map, using skills against enemies, and discovering new strategies to survive each day was thrilling. You can find shops to buy items with runes (the in-game currency), use spectral hawks to fly to different areas, and upgrade weapons at the Smithing Table. I’m sure more features will be added in the full game, like NPCs and recruitable allies, similar to Fortnite. It’s funny how many similarities there are despite the games being completely different genres. Although each character has their own weapons they start out with, it does seem like any one of us would be able to use weapons that we find, even if it’s a big shield or Greatsword, as long as we’re the appropriate level to use it. When you end up going back to the Roundtable Hold after winning or losing, you gain Relics. These relics are permanent and can help you with certain stat boots or abilities. They are color specific, so the relics drop in random, so you have to hope you get something for the character you use a lot.
The enemies were a mixed bag—sometimes easy, sometimes annoyingly overwhelming, especially when they ganged up on you or inflicted status effects like poison or instant death. And don’t get me started on the bosses. Even with three players, they’re brutal. Sometimes, you face three or four bosses at once, each with random attacks that make it insanely difficult to keep up. It’s intense but addicting, and making it to the next day feels incredibly rewarding. My advice? Play with friends or, if you’re with a stranger, stick close and try to add them afterward. It was frustrating that the game didn’t have a way to add teammates after a match, but since my brother and I were on PlayStation, I managed to add our teammate manually.
Playing with the wrong people can ruin your experience, so it’s best to stick with friends. I loved the intensity and the thrill of finding secret bosses. For example, one boss called the “Fell Omen” secretly followed my brother, saying, “You can never get away from me,” before appearing out of nowhere. It took forever to defeat him, and by the time we did, the circle was closing in, and we were in rough shape. All this to say, I’m still on the fence about getting the game at launch. I want to see how much content it includes, especially with DLC planned. I’d love to support it, but with other games on my radar, I’m not sure I can dedicate enough time to it. Still, I’m excited for it and hope everyone gets to try it—maybe in an open beta with a bit more content before release.
The game releases on May 30, 2025, for Steam, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. My only gripe is the lack of crossplay. As someone with friends on different platforms, this is a big downside for multiplayer-focused games. If you’re releasing a multiplayer game, crossplay and cross-progression should be a priority. It’s making it hard for me to decide which platform to get it on, but I hope FROMSOFTWARE considers adding crossplay in future titles.