The new standalone co-op game takes the soulslike genre and puts it into a blender with a large pinch of battle royale, a hint of hero shooter and a dash of roguelike to create something accessible enough to attract newcomers, while still retaining just enough of the addictive, punishing elements of the genre to keep soulslike veterans engaged.
Duchess is very different, and in my preview session, they had an incredibly overpowered Character Skill called Restage, which duplicates the damage done to an enemy from the last time they were hit, so lining up the timing with a teammate successfully using their Onslaught Stake ability (if they are Wylder), is a superb combination, especially in boss fights.
Every new session – which you can play solo, in a team of two (with an extra random human player) or as a team of three – will feature a different procedurally generated, small-medium sized map of Limveld, with randomised events, varying enemies, locations and fresh bosses.
But arguably, the biggest gameplay change in Nightreign compared to Elden Ring is the introduction of 'hero' characters, Marvel Rivals-style, with players able to choose from eight Nightfarers to begin each session, all of which have a unique Character Skill and Ultimate Arts power.
It still retains the core soulslike fighting mechanics (while adding some new elements – more on that later), and the map is a procedurally generated area called Limveld, which is based on Limgrave from the base game.
