Summary
FromSoftware’s just-releasedElden Ring Nightreignis having a rocky start on Steam, with player reviews currently sitting at “Mixed” at the time of writing. The highly awaited co-op RPG roguelike experience seems to be struggling to satisfy fans, who are now criticizing several aspects ofElden Ring Nightreign.
Elden Ringis one of FromSoftware’s most successful games, introducing for the first time a fully open world in an official Souls title. The game was widely praised by both players and critics, winning Game of the Year at The Game Awards. Riding the wave ofElden Ring’s popularity, FromSoftware releasedShadows of the Erdtree, a DLC that expanded the experience and brought new challenges to the game. While it faced some controversies, the DLC turned out to be successful as well—which is why many fans had similar expectations forNightreign. A lot of anticipation was built around this new standalone adventure in theElden Ringuniverse, though it seems that players are unhappy with how some of the game’s core ideas ended up playing out.
Elden Ring Nightreignwas released on May 29, and in just one day, it already holds “Mixed” reviews on Steam. Out of the 12,000 reviews it has at the time of writing, 4,000 are negative, showing clear dissatisfaction among players with FromSoftware’s new game. Complaints vary significantly, though a recurring one relates to the solo play aspect ofNightreign. Many feel that—considering how difficult the game’s challenges are—it’s very complicated to coordinate with random players without voice chat. “Impossible to make progress without voice chat,” says one Steam user, stating that the game only works if a player has two friends to play with; otherwise, “it’s not fun.”
Elden Ring Nightreign Players Say Solo Play Is “Not Fun”
Other players complain about the game feeling “rushed,” saying the pace is too fast and chaotic for a Soulslike game. There are also criticisms of the character classes feeling unbalanced, along with comments about the game being too “punishing.” Performance seems to be an issue too, with players citingElden Ring Nightreign’s framerate problems, screen tearing, and crashes.
While some ofElden Ring Nightreign’s performance issues can be fixed—and FromSoftware can roll out patches to improve the experience—it looks like the main challenge will be finding a way to enhance the solo play experience. It’s worth noting that some positive comments highlight great new bosses, music, characters, and captivating scenarios, though it remains to be seen how FromSoftware will attempt to reverse the situation and improve the game’s rating on Steam.
