ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN — What Players Are Saying

05/30/2025

Elden Ring: Nightreign, the latest standalone game from FromSoftware, has sparked mixed reactions among players. Set in the same dark fantasy universe as the original Elden Ring, it introduces new characters, unfamiliar lands, and a heavier tone. After analyzing 500 user reviews, it’s clear the community is divided.

First Impressions

Nightreign didn’t launch to universal acclaim. While some players were excited to return to the world they love, many ran into issues ranging from technical problems to difficulty spikes. Among the 500 reviews analyzed, around 9% highlight major complaints, while 22% speak positively about the experience.

What Players Like

Despite the criticism, many players found a lot to enjoy:

Visual Style and Atmosphere: The game’s environments are praised for being haunting, detailed, and immersive.
Boss Fights: The bosses stand out for their creativity and intensity. Many fans call them some of FromSoftware’s best.
Music and Sound: The soundtrack has been described as epic and emotionally charged, especially during boss battles.
Lore and Combat: Longtime fans appreciate the continuation of the deep lore and the familiar yet refined combat system.

Common Complaints

Not everyone was impressed. The most frequent issues include:

Performance Problems: Many players report FPS drops, crashes, and stuttering—even on powerful PCs.
Bugs and Controls: Technical glitches and awkward keyboard controls are mentioned in several reviews.
Balance and Difficulty: Some bosses feel unfair or overly punishing, especially for players with casual builds.
Price-to-Content Ratio: A few users questioned whether the content justifies the game’s price, especially at launch.

Refunds

Approximately 1.6% of the reviews came from players who refunded the game. Most of them cited poor performance, technical issues, or unmet expectations as their reasons.

Conclusion

Elden Ring: Nightreign brings back the signature FromSoftware style: deep lore, tough fights, and unforgettable environments. But for many, the game’s launch has been rough. If technical issues are addressed and the balance refined, it could still reach the heights of its predecessor. As of now, approximately 65% of all user reviews are positive, showing that despite the criticism, a majority of players find value in the experience. For now, though, player opinion remains deeply split.