Summary
While multiplayer games are far from being dead, the demand for more quality single-player experiences has increased over the last five years or so, especially after the global lockdowns and social distancing measures brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Since then, many gamers have expressed fatigue with games that are always online, live-service, or exclusively multiplayer, which has led to stellar single-playergames likeElden RingandGod of War Ragnarok. Ironically,Elden Ring Nightreignhas now entered the scene with a cooperative take on the Soulslike formula, and while it does offer a solo mode, it’s not currently up to snuff.
It would be understandable ifElden Ring Nightreign’s solo experience was simply more difficult than playing without a team, but the challenge it offers is much more nuanced than that. Rather, in its current state, it’s severely unbalanced, to the point that it isn’t at all a viable way to play — even for Soulslike veterans. In turn, the challenge solo players may face inElden Ring Nightreignhas little to do with their skill level and more to do with the way the game seems to alienate solo players entirely by not shifting its mechanics to accommodate them.
Elden Ring Nightreign’s Solo Experience Feels Like an Afterthought
Solo Mode Is Available, But It’s Barely Playable at the Moment
What’s so strange is thatElden Ring Nightreignlets players run solo expeditionsif they choose to, and yet there is really no point in doing it at the moment. Changing the settings to play solo rather than with friends or matchmade partners is far from a headache, as it only requires a couple of clicks or button presses. This, as well as the fact that a solo option even exists, suggestsElden Ring Nightreignactually wants its players to eventually attempt solo runs.
Unfortunately, solo expeditions inElden Ring Nightreignessentially function the same way that multiplayer runs do, in that there are hardly any noticeable changes implemented to ensure balance. More or less, solo players are faced with overcoming obstacles designed for a full squad, instead ofElden Ring Nightreigndumbing things downa bit to ensure those going it alone have a fair experience.
Of course, there’s always the argument thatElden Ring Nightreignwas actuallydesigned for cooperative play, but that argument is largely moot in light of the fact that the game still offers a solo mode. The “git gud” argument can’t really be applied here either, because it’s not about the difficulty of enemies and boss fights but about the encroaching ring that doesn’t even give players time to enjoy those encounters.
Even Souls Veterans Will Likely Hit a Wall
The imbalance ofElden Ring Nightreign’s solo mode is even more noticeable when considering the fact that Souls veterans might even hit a wall when playing it. Those with enough experience can certainly take downtough bosseswith enough patience, but patience isn’t really a worthwhile virtue when there isn’t enough time to use it. That’s really what this all boils down to: time.
More or less, solo players are faced with overcoming obstacles designed for a full squad, instead ofElden Ring Nightreigndumbing things down a bit to ensure those going it alone have a fair experience.
The rate at which the ring currently closes in on players during a run makes sense when playing multiplayer, as a full team can take down enemy mobs and bosses much more efficiently than someone on their own. However, forElden Ring Nightreign’s solo experience to be more balanced, it might need to consider lengthening that time. Otherwise, solo players will spend their entire session simply trying to outrun the ring. If not that, thenElden Ring Nightreign’s bossesneed to at least have even less health to make up for the fact that they’re only being confronted by a single player.
Despite its current issues,Elden Ring Nightreign’s solo mode isn’t dead, and it’s likely FromSoft will put out a patch for it in the near future. At the moment, it’s one of the more contentious aspects of the game, and it’s likely the developer has heard those complaints and will respond. Until then, however, players should just stick withmultiplayer inElden Ring Nightreign.
