The first round of network tests for Elden Ring Nightreign, the upcoming standalone multiplayer game inspired by FromSoftware's acclaimed title, took place over the past weekend. Unlike the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC released last year, Nightreign diverges significantly from its parent game's open-world structure, opting instead for a survival-based format. In this game, teams of three players parachute into progressively smaller maps to battle waves of enemies and increasingly formidable bosses. The design echoes the popular Fortnite, a battle royale game that has captivated over 200 million players this month alone.
However, Nightreign draws even more inspiration from a less celebrated but intriguing title: God of War: Ascension, released in 2013. This prequel to the iconic Greek mythology trilogy, set between God of War 3 and the 2018 Norse reboot, follows Kratos as he seeks to break his oath to Aries. Despite not reaching the narrative heights of its predecessors, Ascension is remembered for its ambitious set-pieces, such as the Prison of the Damned, and its pioneering foray into multiplayer.
Image credit: Sony Santa Monica / Sony
Ascension's multiplayer mode, Trial of the Gods, offers a cooperative PvE experience that mirrors Nightreign in several ways. In the single-player campaign, players encounter an NPC who prematurely celebrates their rescue before being crushed by a boss. This same NPC becomes the player character in multiplayer, transported to Olympus to pledge allegiance to one of four gods—Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, or Aries. Each god provides unique weapons, armor, and magical abilities, setting the stage for five distinct multiplayer modes, one of which is the cooperative Trial of the Gods.
Gameplay previews of Nightreign, shared by notable "Soulsborne" YouTubers like VaatiyVidya and Iron Pineapple, alongside coverage from IGN, highlight the game's similarities to live service titles like Fortnite. Nightreign incorporates elements such as randomized loot, resource management, and environmental hazards that challenge players' health and mobility. The game even pays homage to Fortnite's iconic skydiving mechanic, allowing players to be carried by spirit birds to their chosen drop points.
Image credit: FromSoftware / Bandai Namco
While Ascension lacks Nightreign's battle royale flair, both games share a core concept in their cooperative modes. Both Nightreign and Trial of the Gods feature teams tackling increasingly difficult enemies and bosses, such as Hercules from God of War 3 or the Nameless King from Dark Souls 3. Both games operate on countdowns and shrinking or small maps, and both were developed by studios renowned for their single-player experiences, without direct involvement from their respective series' creators. Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director of Elden Ring, is currently working on a new project, while the original God of War trilogy directors had left Sony Santa Monica before Ascension's development.
Players who participated in the Nightreign network tests describe their experiences as thrilling races against time, a stark contrast to the leisurely exploration of the base Elden Ring game. Nightreign forces players to rely on instinct, increasing the pace and limiting resources. Without the aid of Torrent, the spectral steed from Elden Ring, players channel their inner spirit horse to run faster and jump higher.
Ascension's multiplayer mode similarly adjusted its single-player mechanics for faster pacing, employing techniques such as increased run speed, extended jumps, automated parkour, and a grapple attack, which Nightreign also utilizes with its Wylder character. These enhancements are crucial in Trial of the Gods, where players face a relentless onslaught of enemies, necessitating swift, decisive action.
The unexpected similarities between Nightreign and Ascension are particularly striking given the contrasting origins of their genres. While God of War empowers players as god-slaying warriors, the Soulslike genre, to which Elden Ring belongs, challenges players as nameless, cursed undead. The difficulty that once defined FromSoftware's games has softened over time as players mastered the mechanics and developers introduced more powerful tools. Nightreign aims to reintroduce this challenge, offering a fresh yet familiar experience akin to Ascension's time-pressured battles.
