Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test Review - Flawed Yet Worth It!

The Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test has concluded, and after 15 hours of playtime, it’s time to break down what worked, what didn’t, and what this means for the full release of Elden Ring Nightreign. If this test represented the full game, it would be a disappointment, but as a limited demo, it provides a decent snapshot of what’s to come.

One of the biggest issues in Elden Ring Nightreign Details is the lack of clarity regarding how much of the game we actually got to experience. FromSoftware has not officially stated how much of the final content was included, which makes it difficult to gauge the game’s true scale.

Elden Ring’s network test at least provided an estimate, which helped set expectations. Instead, many players are critiquing Nightreign as if it’s near completion when in reality, it’s still months old and missing key mechanics, such as Shadow of the Erdtree weapons.

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Elden Ring Nightreign Network Performance: Still an Issue in 2025?

The first day of Elden Ring Nightreign testing was horrible, with frequent disconnects and instability. Things improved in the following days, but the fact that these issues occurred at all is concerning—especially since previous FromSoftware network tests didn’t suffer as badly.

Given that the studio has created over 15 games with online features, it’s frustrating that netcode and server stability remain a major problem.

For a game that emphasizes multiplayer interactions, FromSoftware needs to get this right. Whether that means dedicated servers or improved peer-to-peer connections, something has to change.

This is even more critical given the deflection-based combat system, which relies on precise timing—lag makes this significantly harder.

Elden Ring Nightreign Combat: A Faster, More Fluid Souls Experience

Despite network issues, the core combat is a huge highlight. The fast-paced movement, surge sprint, and climbing mechanics bring fresh energy to the Soulsborne formula.

Each class represented in the Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test has unique movesets, reminiscent of Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree weapons, which add an extra layer of depth.

The Wylder class stands out as the most polished, featuring great skill expression and powerful ability synergy. Other classes, however, need more refinement. Some feel too similar, and class-specific movesets should be expanded.

Imagine if The Duchess had exclusive combos for claws and straight swords or if The Guardian had bonuses for greatspears and thrusting swords—this would encourage class identity and unique builds.

Elden Ring Nightreign Boss Selection: A Major Weakness

The biggest flaw in the network test was the boss selection. Souls combat thrives on reacting to enemy movesets, and if the enemies are uninspired, the combat suffers.

Instead of challenging and rewarding encounters, players had to fight repetitive or tedious bosses like Leyndell Knights, generic floating heads, and a flower enemy.

For the full release, there needs to be a wider boss variety, ideally featuring fan-favorite enemies from previous Souls games.

Imagine if we could fight iconic bosses like Artorias, Lady Maria, or Malenia in a roguelike format—this would add massive replayability.

Replayability and the Roguelike Experience of Elden Ring Nightreign

A major concern going into Nightreign was how well it would implement roguelike mechanics. Unfortunately, the network test didn’t showcase procedural generation, which is a core component of most roguelikes.

While there was some randomness in item drops, spawn points, and bosses, enemy placements and maps were static.

However, if FromSoftware expands on the randomized elements, the game could be extremely replayable. More dynamic world events, random boss encounters, and unique map variations would drastically improve the experience.

The Relic System is also promising, as it offers permanent buffs and synergistic build options. However, its effectiveness will depend on whether players can earn, purchase, or modify relics to avoid frustrating RNG mechanics—similar to Bloodborne’s Blood Gems.

Pacing and Game Flow: Hits and Misses

One of the best parts of Nightreign is how smooth the leveling and loot progression feels. Players can quickly upgrade their builds, find powerful items, and develop unique playstyles without excessive grinding.

Opening the map during combat, fast travel options, and generous consumable drops all contribute to a fast-paced gameplay loop.

However, some pacing issues need to be addressed:

• Healing flasks are locked behind fixed locations at the edges of the map, forcing unnecessary backtracking.

• Smithing stones are too rare, limiting weapon variety and progression.

• Large weapons feel weak due to high enemy poise and low stance-breaking potential.

• Time constraints in boss fights can make some encounters feel unfair.

A simple solution would be removing smithing stones altogether, allowing weapons to level up using runes instead.

This would keep the action flowing without forcing players to hunt for materials.

Elden Ring Nightreign Multiplayer Features: Lackluster and Underdeveloped

The core co-op experience is functional but uninspired. Playing Elden Ring with friends is always fun, but Nightreign’s multiplayer lacks basic quality-of-life features:

• No crossplay in Elden Ring Nightreign

• No voice or text chat

• No advanced ping system to communicate with teammates

• No leaderboard or competitive mode

The biggest missed opportunity is team composition mechanics.

Players can stack multiple of the same class, leading to potentially broken metas where everyone spams the same ability.

A better system would limit duplicate classes in co-op, encouraging more balanced and strategic team building.

Solo Playing Elden Ring Nightreign: A Tougher Experience Than Expected

If you’re planning to play Nightreign solo, be warned—it may not be balanced for single-player.

While enemy health scaling might be adjusted, core mechanics like enemy placements, map traversal, and time limits make solo play far more punishing.

If FromSoftware truly wants solo play to be viable, they need to adjust:

• Boss HP and poise scaling for single-player

• Faster movement options for solo players

• More flexible revive mechanics

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Final Verdict to our Elden Ring Nightreign Review: Worth Playing, but Needs Work

Despite its flaws, Elden Ring Nightreign shows a lot of promise. The fast-paced combat, relic system, and roguelike elements create a unique experience, but network issues, balancing problems, and underwhelming bosses need to be addressed.

Should you buy Elden Ring Nightreign? If you’re on the fence, wait for the full release. There’s a great game buried underneath its issues, and if FromSoftware makes the right adjustments, this could be one of the best action roguelikes ever made.

Looking forward to seeing how the final version turns out!