10 Reasons Why Elden Ring Nightreign Get 'Mixed' Review On Steam

Elden Ring: Nightreign was supposed to be a cool co-op twist on the Elden Ring world, but it’s kind of a letdown. FromSoftware dropped the ball with clunky gameplay, a rigid co-op setup, and a game that feels half-baked compared to their usual stuff. Steam reviews, including one from a solo queue player, rip into it for feeling like a sloppy spin-off that leans hard on recycled Elden Ring assets without the polish or depth fans expected.

Here’s the rundown on what’s wrong with Nightreign.

1. Lack of Flexible Cooperation Options

The game’s locked into three-player co-op, with no way to just play with one buddy. A solo queue player says it’s a pain teaming up with randoms because the communication system’s bare-bones—just pings, no voice chat or text. People ping random spots and bolt in different directions, making it a mess. Director Junya Ishizaki admitted they messed up by ignoring duo play, and they might fix it later.

You can play solo, but it’s brutally tough with no difficulty tweaks for one player. Some players say even the first expedition is a slog, needing serious skill, and bosses like Cerberus feel impossible without solid teammates. Revive items are rare and expensive, making things worse.

The high difficulty’s fun for some, but it’s a problem when paired with the game’s co-op reliance and random teammates who tank runs. It makes the game feel unfair and off-putting for anyone not already a Souls pro.

2. Poor Resurrection System

Reviving teammates by hitting them is a drag and super finicky. The hitboxes for downed players are easy to miss, even when you’re locked on, which is a nightmare in boss fights. Just holding a button for a bit would’ve been better. The alternative for this are rare revive items that barely help.

This clunky revive system screws up the flow of fights, especially when every second counts.

3. Clunky Gameplay and Lack of Animation Cancels

Combat’s way clunkier than Elden Ring, mostly because they ditched animation cancels. This is comparable with swinging Elden Ring’s Fume Ultra Greatsword without cancels—half the weapons feel sluggish, and you get stuck in animations, dying to stunlock.

Without smooth moves, fights feel heavy and frustrating, not what you’d expect from FromSoftware.

4. Limited Character Choice and Customization

You’re stuck with eight preset Nightfarer characters and barely any customization beyond relics. Some fans are bummed out, expecting more variety since the game reuses so much from Elden Ring.

The lack of character-building freedom feels like a downgrade from Elden Ring’s deep RPG systems. Players wanting to make their own builds are left disappointed, and it adds to the “asset flip” complaints.

5. Lack of Modern Technical Features

For a 2025 game, Nightreign’s missing basic tech stuff:

• No 120fps Support: Stuck at 60fps, with 30fps cutscenes that look dated.
• No FOV Adjustment: No way to tweak your view, which sucks for comfort.
• No Ultrawide Support: PC players with wide monitors are out of luck.
• No DLSS/FSR/XeSS: No performance boosts for high-end PCs.

These gaps make the game feel like a lazy console port. Stuttering and wasted hardware power annoy players, and while some fans don’t mention it directly, the clunky feel probably gets worse with these technical issues.

6. No Crossplay

No crossplay means PC, PlayStation, and Xbox players can’t team up, though you can play across generations (like PS4 and PS5). It’s a big miss for a multiplayer game.

Without crossplay, finding teammates is harder, especially for solo queue players who rely on randoms. It shrinks the player pool and makes the game feel less connected.

7. Poor Readability and Navigation

There’s no mini-map, so you’re constantly opening the full map to figure out where you or your teammates are, or when the play area’s shrinking. The compass is “pretty bad” and hard to read, and some fans note teammates pinging random spots and running off, making coordination a nightmare.

The lack of clear navigation messes with your awareness in a fast-paced game, especially when playing with randoms who don’t communicate well. It’s a constant frustration that breaks the flow.

8. Repetitive Gameplay and Lack of Variety

The map’s static, enemy variety’s low, and reused Elden Ring stuff makes runs feel samey.

A roguelike needs variety to stay fun, but Nightreign’s repetition makes it boring fast. It feels like a slapped-together project, not a fresh take.

9. High Price for Reused Content

At $40 (Standard) or $55 (Deluxe), Nightreign feels overpriced for what’s basically recycled Elden Ring assets with less depth. Some fans are reluctant to get friends to buy it, doubting they’d beat the first expedition, showing the game doesn’t feel worth it.

The steep price stings when the game feels unpolished and light on new content. Players expect more from FromSoftware, and the cost makes the flaws hit harder.

10. Matchmaking and Connectivity Issues

Matchmaking’s spotty, with lag and connection drops, and the lack of voice or text chat makes it worse. Some fans gripe about teammates pinging different spots and running off, with no way to coordinate beyond hoping they get the hint.

Shoddy matchmaking and weak communication turn co-op into a mess, especially for solo queue players stuck with randoms who don’t sync up. It kills the teamwork the game’s supposed to be about.