Elden Ring: Nightreign has finally been released, and the unusual FromSoftware title seems to be selling well. However, the community is not completely thrilled, as the most important aspect of the game is turning players off.
How well is Elden Ring: Nightreign doing? On May 29, 2025, Elden Ring: Nightreign was released and apparently had a good start. On x.com, the official Elden Ring account celebrated just a day later that they welcomed over 2 million players in Limveld.
Player numbers are also impressive. Currently (as of May 31, 2025, 09:00 AM), there are 230,000 concurrent players online, and at peak, the game reached 313,593 players (via SteamDB). While this does not reach the impressive 953,462 concurrent players (via SteamDB) at the release of Elden Ring, it is not bad for a spin-off.
The usual review euphoria expected with FromSoftware titles seems to be missing. On Metacritic, it only scores a 77. And the community ratings on Steam are mixed.
Some players love Nightreign, others criticize the concept and online features
How is Elden Ring: Nightreign performing on Steam? Currently, Elden Ring: Nightreign has 19,348 Steam reviews, and only 67% of them are positive. Thus, the game is rated Mixed
. While some players praise the new approach and celebrate the difficulty, others are less impressed, particularly with the multiplayer:
- CatGirlLover (via Steam) praises the genre mix but warns against playing the game solo or in duo:
The game principle is great! An Elden Ring/Darksouls game as a Roguelike multiplayer is relatively new for the Soulslike genre and brings fresh air. […] If you don’t have 2 friends who own the game or easily quit and start trolling/inting, this is a total waste of money for you.
- For Moyanka (via Steam), the game principle works, but the most basic online features are missing:
The bosses have been recycled from the main game, and the leveling system is just trash. When you die, you lose your character and the levels you earned. […] The simplest online coop mechanics are practically nonexistent, like voice chat or even crossplay.
- MONOC3ROS (via Steam) is having quite a bit of fun with the game, even though it’s different:
It’s really fun. But you have to be aware that it’s not a classic Souls game, but an “arcade” game. To me, it fits into the same category as Helldivers 2: cool, fast fun with friends.
It’s evident that Elden Ring: Nightreign has indeed gained fans, but even they criticize the missing online features or technical aspects of the game.
How does FromSoftware respond? On x.com, Yasuhiro Kitao, a producer from FromSoftware, spoke and compared the game to Demon’s Souls and Sekiro. He says Nightreign can be a bit confusing at first, but offers its own challenges.
What do you think about Elden Ring: Nightreign? Have you played the game yet, or are you not interested in the game concept? Feel free to let us know in the comments. If you want to dive into the action solo, these tips might help you: Elden Ring: Nightreign – How to play best as a solo player
