Elden Ring Nightreign is a standalone co-op game from FromSoftware set in the world of Elden Ring. You don’t need the original Elden Ring to play it. It’s built mainly for three players, but you can also play solo or as a duo. This guide explains how an expedition works, how to set up solo, duo and trio runs, why there’s no crossplay, what the game costs on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, and what The Forsaken Hollows DLC and the free updates added. Everything is valid as of 20 October 2026.
What Elden Ring Nightreign is
Nightreign launched on 30 May 2025 on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One (Steam lists 29 May 2025 because of the time zone). Bandai Namco describes it as a “coop action survival” game. It’s set in the world of Elden Ring, but it plays very differently from the original.
Three heroes, called Nightfarers, have two in-game days to explore the land of Limveld. Each night they fight a boss, and on the third day they face a Nightlord, the main boss of the run. The map changes between sessions.
How an expedition works
A single run is called an Expedition. According to reviews it takes roughly half an hour to three quarters of an hour. You get two in-game days to explore Limveld while the Night’s Tide, a ring of blue fire, shrinks the safe area. Outside it you lose HP fast, so you have to stay inside.
A successful expedition gives you permanent character upgrades and a currency called Murk. You spend it at the Small Jar Bazaar in the Roundtable Hold, which serves as your base between runs. The Roundtable Hold also has the Sparring Grounds, where you can try out weapons risk-free.
The heroes (Nightfarers)
You don’t create your own character in Nightreign. You pick from ready-made heroes, each with a passive ability, a character skill and an ultimate art. At launch the game had eight:
- Available from the start: Wylder, Ironeye, Recluse, Guardian, Executor and Raider.
- Unlocked as you progress: Duchess and Revenant.
- From The Forsaken Hollows DLC: Scholar and Undertaker.
Solo, duo and trio: how to play
The game is balanced mainly for three players, but offers three ways to play:
| Mode | Players | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | 1 | Online or offline, enemies have less HP |
| Duo Expeditions | 2 | Added in patch 1.02 (30 July 2025) |
| Co-op | 3 | The core mode the game is built around |
You set the mode in the Roundtable Hold at the Table of Lost Grace under Matchmaking Setting. There you choose the number of players (Expedition Type) and a password to find your friends. If you want to know how co-op works in the original game, which has more rules and limits, read our Elden Ring co-op guide.
Crossplay and subscriptions
Nightreign has no crossplay. Players on PC, PlayStation and Xbox can’t play together. Within one console family it does work: PS4 with PS5, and Xbox One with Xbox Series X|S.
On consoles you need a subscription to play online. The PlayStation Store listing says online play requires PS Plus and supports up to three online players. On Xbox, online multiplayer requires Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate. Nightreign itself is not in the Game Pass catalogue (console or PC) as of 20 October 2026, and the PlayStation Store doesn’t offer it through PS Plus either, so you have to buy the game. For what you can find on Game Pass, see our list of the best Xbox games.
How it differs from Elden Ring
- No character creation: you play as pre-made heroes with their own abilities.
- Time pressure: an expedition lasts three in-game days and the shrinking Night’s Tide keeps pushing you forward.
- A changing map: Limveld changes between sessions.
- Co-op at its core: the game is designed for three players, with solo and duo as extra modes.
How much Nightreign costs
Steam prices without discount as of 20 October 2026 (Steam store for the Czech Republic, in euros):
| Product | Steam price |
|---|---|
| Elden Ring Nightreign | €39.99 |
| Nightreign Deluxe Edition | €54.99 |
| The Forsaken Hollows DLC | €15.00 |
Console prices depend on your regional PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store. Prices for the original Elden Ring and its editions are in our guide to editions and prices.
DLC and updates as of October 2026
The paid DLC The Forsaken Hollows launched on 4 December 2025 on all platforms. It adds two new heroes (Scholar and Undertaker), two new day-three bosses, a new Shifting Earth and new areas. Owners of the Deluxe, Seekers and Collector’s editions got it automatically on Steam; on consoles it has to be downloaded manually.
The free updates brought:
- Everdark Sovereigns – stronger versions of the Nightlords (from June 2025).
- Duo Expeditions – a two-player mode (patch 1.02, 30 July 2025).
- Deep of Night – a hard mode since 11 September 2025. It unlocks after defeating the Nightlord Night Aspect, the goal is hidden and it brings Depths Relics.
- Patch 1.03.2 (16 January 2026) – hero balance changes, the latest version at the time of checking.
Nightreign on PC and Steam Deck
On Steam Deck, Nightreign is rated Playable. According to Valve, default performance isn’t ideal and some text is small. On PC you need 30 GB of free space; minimum and recommended specs are compared in our system requirements guide.
Join our Discord to find teammates for a three-player squad or chat with players who run Nightreign solo. Come say hi on the GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
No. Elden Ring Nightreign is a standalone game you can buy and play without the base game.
Yes, online or offline. Enemies have less HP in solo. The game is balanced mainly for three players, though, and since patch 1.02 it also offers Duo Expeditions for two.
No. PC, PlayStation and Xbox players can’t play together. Only cross-generation play within one brand works, meaning PS4 with PS5 and Xbox One with Xbox Series X|S.
It isn’t in the Game Pass catalogue as of 20 October 2026, and the PlayStation Store doesn’t offer it through PS Plus. On consoles you only need a subscription for online play; the game itself has to be bought.
As of 20 October 2026 it costs €39.99 on Steam. The Deluxe Edition is €54.99 and The Forsaken Hollows DLC €15.
Information verified on 20 October 2026. More guides are waiting in the Elden Ring hub.