My Nightreign Adventure: A Roguelike Journey Through Elden Ring's Dark Realm

I still remember the day Elden Ring Nightreign dropped in early 2025. As a long-time FromSoftware devotee who had spent countless hours in the Lands Between, I was skeptical about this three-player co-op roguelike spin-off. How could they possibly translate the methodical, punishing combat of Elden Ring into a roguelike format? Well, after six months of playing, I've developed some strong opinions about this experimental journey.

The Roguelike Revolution

The first time I stepped into Nightreign with my friends, the difference was immediately apparent. This wasn't the solitary, contemplative experience I was used to from FromSoftware. Instead, we were thrown into procedurally generated dungeons that shifted and changed with each run. The familiar Elden Ring combat was there, but everything around it felt refreshingly different.

"This is nothing like the Elden Ring I know," I told my friends over voice chat during our first run. We were all playing different Nightfarers, experimenting with their unique abilities. I chose the Wylder class, drawn to its aggressive playstyle and mobility options. The combat felt fluid and responsive, but something was missing from the experience.

The Relic System: A Mixed Blessing

After dozens of runs, I've come to a conclusion: Nightreign's meta progression system is its Achilles' heel. Unlike other roguelikes that shower you with permanent upgrades and multiple progression paths, Nightreign puts all its eggs in one basket - the Relic system.

When you complete a run, you're awarded Relics based on how far you progressed. Defeat a Night Lord (which I've only managed to do seven times so far), and you'll receive the maximum number. Each Nightfarer can equip three Relics in color-coordinated slots, and that's it - that's your entire meta progression.

Some of these Relics are genuinely game-changing:

• 🔥 My favorite grants a 15% boost to attack speed AND imbues your weapon with frost damage

• 💪 Another increases health by 20% while also providing passive healing

• ⚡ One rare Relic even grants an additional dodge for stamina-intensive builds

But here's the frustrating part - the RNG can be brutally unfair. Last week, I spent nearly two hours on a run, carefully navigating through the Nightrealm, only to be rewarded with three common Relics for classes I never play. I threw my controller across the room (sorry, not my proudest moment).

Remembrance Missions: The Double-Edged Sword

I've completed the Remembrance mission for my Wylder character, which was an exhilarating challenge that tested everything I'd learned. The reward? A unique Relic that allows my Claw Shot ability to be followed up with a fire-imbued strike. It's powerful, game-changing even.

But here's the irony - this Relic is so powerful that it essentially renders most other Relics irrelevant for my build. I always equip it, which means I'm really only hunting for two more Relics instead of three. This further limits the already restricted meta progression system.

What Other Roguelikes Do Better

I've been playing Hades 2 alongside Nightreign, and the difference in progression systems is stark. Hades 2 offers:

1. Weapon Aspects you can upgrade

2. Arcana Cards to collect

3. Keepsakes to enhance your build

4. Prophecy missions with material rewards

5. Incantations that unlock new features

Meanwhile, Nightreign gives us... Relics. That's it. Oh, and leftover Runes that mostly unlock cosmetics and gestures. Don't get me wrong - my Wylder looks fabulous with his new emotes, but I'd trade all my gestures for more meaningful progression.

Finding Joy in the Darkness

Despite my frustrations with the progression system, there's something magnetic about Nightreign. The core combat feels exceptional, especially when you're coordinating with friends. There's nothing quite like the rush of barely surviving an encounter with a Night Lord, all three players down to their last health potion, frantically dodging and striking in perfect harmony.

The environments are hauntingly beautiful too. Last night, we discovered a cathedral bathed in moonlight, with stained glass windows depicting the fall of the Erdtree. I stopped fighting just to take it all in, which promptly got me killed. Worth it.

My Vision for Nightreign's Future

If I could whisper in Miyazaki's ear, I'd beg for a comprehensive overhaul of the progression system. Imagine if we could:

• Upgrade our Nightfarers' base stats permanently

• Unlock new starting weapons and modify existing ones

• Develop a skill tree unique to each character

• Collect lore fragments that provide small but meaningful buffs

• Craft consumables that carry over between runs

The foundation is already there – the world, the combat, the co-op experience. With a more robust progression system, Nightreign could evolve from a curious experiment into something truly revolutionary.

The Verdict (For Now)

As we move into the latter half of 2025, I remain cautiously optimistic about Elden Ring Nightreign. Rumors of an upcoming expansion suggest FromSoftware is listening to feedback, and I hope they address the progression issues. Until then, I'll keep diving into the Nightrealm with my friends, hunting for those perfect Relics, and occasionally throwing my controller when RNG betrays me.

Because despite its flaws, there's nothing quite like the thrill of a perfect run through the darkness. And isn't that what roguelikes are all about? The persistent hope that the next run will be the one where everything falls into place, where the Relics align, and where we finally conquer the night.

See you in the Nightrealm, fellow Nightfarers. May your Relics be rare and your friends reliable. 🌙⚔️