Elden Ring Nightreign Faces Criticism as Steam Reviews Turn Mixed

Elden Ring: Nightreign Starts With “Mixed” Reviews on Steam

Elden Ring: Nightreign is off to a bumpy start, receiving mixed reviews from players just a day after launch. FromSoftware’s new standalone co-op roguelike arrived on May 29, expanding the Elden Ring universe with high expectations. Despite the hype, Steam users are expressing strong concerns, especially about solo play, balance, and performance issues.

Why Fans Are Disappointed With Nightreign

Elden Ring won Game of the Year and redefined Soulslike games with its open-world experience. Following that, the Shadows of the Erdtree DLC was also a hit, despite early doubts. Naturally, fans hoped Nightreign would continue that success, but feedback is mixed so far. Currently, over 12,000 Steam reviews have been posted—with about 4,000 of them being negative. A large number of complaints revolve around the game’s solo experience and lack of proper voice communication. Many players say it’s extremely difficult to progress without coordinating with friends or using voice chat. One Steam user even called it “impossible to play solo” and not enjoyable without a pre-formed team.

Gameplay and Technical Issues Also Draw Heat

Fans also say the gameplay feels rushed, chaotic, and not well-balanced for the Soulslike formula. Some classes are reported to be underpowered or frustrating to use in solo or group play. In addition, performance problems like screen tearing, framerate drops, and crashes are heavily criticized. FromSoftware is known for post-launch support, so patches are expected in the near future. Still, many believe core design issues—like lack of proper solo features—will be harder to fix. That said, not all feedback is negative. Some praise the bosses, soundtrack, and world design. The key challenge now lies in improving solo accessibility without compromising the game’s core mechanics.

What’s Next for Nightreign?

FromSoftware could address technical issues with updates and performance patches in the coming weeks. However, resolving concerns over solo difficulty may require deeper gameplay adjustments or new features. The community remains hopeful, but the next few updates will be critical for Nightreign’s reputation.

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