There's a special kind of magic during the launch week of a new FromSoftware game, a feeling of communal discovery and shared struggle that I've come to crave. I had that same electric anticipation for Elden Ring Nightreign, even though I knew it was a significant departure from its legendary predecessor. While I was initially skeptical about its session-based, co-op focused structure, fearing it might lose the cryptic storytelling and solitary wonder of the original, my hands-on time with the preview build completely reshaped my perspective. It didn't just meet my expectations; it delivered a brand new, frenetic kind of FromSoftware magic I didn't know I needed, all centered around one terrifyingly familiar foe.
The Return of a Familiar Foe: The Fell Omen Invades
I knew from the pre-release materials that boss invasions were a new mechanic in Nightreign, but no amount of forewarning could have prepared me for the visceral shock of hearing that disembodied voice. It was during Day 2 of a run, a concept where each in-game day pushes you rapidly toward a climactic encounter. My team of three Nightfarers was navigating Limveld, the game's new, ever-changing landscape, which is filled with randomized locations and lesser bosses. We had just stumbled into a large enemy encampment, larger than anything I remembered from the Lands Between, filled with tents and defensive spikes that were useless against our wall-jumping abilities. We were already embroiled in chaos, fighting both the stationed mobs and another minor boss, when the air grew cold and Margit's haunting announcement echoed. His timing was perfectly, horribly unfortunate. The Fell Omen—the name that now floats above his health bar—had returned, and he was targeting one of us specifically.
The initial moments of the invasion were pure pandemonium. The three-on-one advantage we should have had was immediately negated by the pre-existing threats in the camp. Yet, there was a strange thrill to it. This wasn't the Margit patiently waiting at Stormveil's gate, a skill-check to be overcome through repetition. This was a predator, hunting us in our own chaotic moment. If he had appeared in an open field, it might have been a manageable, even nostalgic, duel for veterans. But here, amidst the tents and the existing boss, the fight became a frantic scramble for survival.
A Chase Through the Night's Tide
Just as we were settling into the rhythm of this impromptu dual-boss fight, the environment itself turned against us. A sinister, magical rainfall began, sparking the blue flames of the Night's Tide. Anyone familiar with battle royale games will recognize the mechanic: a gradually closing circle that shrinks the playable area and deals damage to anyone caught outside. I was initially disappointed that our epic showdown was being interrupted, but that disappointment quickly vanished. What followed was perhaps the most memorable and dynamic sequence from my entire preview.
The fight transformed entirely. It was no longer a static battle in a camp; it became a desperate, high-speed chase. We had to flee, using the new Surge Sprint mechanic—which replaces the classic crouch and allows for bursts of speed faster than a traditional dash—to outpace the encroaching blue flames. The Fell Omen, however, was relentless. He pursued us as we ran, his attacks forcing us to dodge while simultaneously navigating Limveld's treacherous environment: castle walls, sheer cliffs, and deep ravines that required a Spiritstream jump to escape.
This turned the encounter into a highly mobile, tactical affair. Our strategy evolved on the fly. We would sprint ahead of the Tide's edge, turn to land a few desperate blows on the pursuing Omen, then immediately flee again. Sometimes, we found ourselves frantically dodging his glowing hammer swings while trapped against the deadly blue wall, searching for any path back to safety. The entire landscape became part of the battle. We eventually lured him onto a more open field, where the presence of a nearby Site of Grace—which refilled our health and flasks when we got close—gave us the sustained edge we needed to finally defeat him.
Loot, Progression, and a New Kind of Narrative
This chaotic encounter also highlighted Nightreign's clever take on co-op progression. Regular loot from chests and barrels must be shared among the three players, creating constant, interesting trade-offs. Bosses, however, operate differently. Upon defeating one, a special "Dormant Power" menu appears, offering each player their own private choice of three powerful buffs or weapons. This meant that even in the madness of the chase, our victory over The Fell Omen yielded a personalized power spike for everyone, a brilliant reward for overcoming such a dynamic challenge.
My initial worries about Nightreign lacking the soul of a FromSoftware game melted away during that chase. I realized I was witnessing a different kind of organic storytelling. It wasn't the handcrafted, lore-heavy revelation of descending the elevator to Siofra River. Instead, it was an emergent narrative born from systemic interaction. The game's core systems—randomized maps, invasion bosses, and the Night's Tide—conspired to create a unique, personal story that my teammates and I were writing together through our actions. The sheer variety promised for the full release suggests that these surprising, unscripted moments will be Nightreign's lifeblood.
First Impressions from the Preview Build
Based on my time with the Closed Network Test, here are the core elements that define the Elden Ring Nightreign experience:
| Feature | Description | My Impression |
|---|---|---|
| Core Loop | Session-based runs through the randomized Limveld, culminating in a boss fight at the end of each in-game day. | Intense, fast-paced, and perfect for repeated co-op play. |
| Boss Encounters | A mix of mandatory run bosses, random lesser bosses, and unpredictable invasion bosses like The Fell Omen. | The invasion system is a fantastic, heart-pounding addition. |
| Night's Tide | A closing circle of blue flames that shrinks the map and forces movement. | Adds incredible pressure and creates dynamic, mobile combat scenarios. |
| Co-op Progression | Shared regular loot, but private "Dormant Power" rewards from bosses. | Smart design that encourages cooperation while ensuring personal growth. |
| Movement | Surge Sprint replaces crouch, enabling high-speed traversal to outrun the Tide. | Feels fantastic and is essential to the new flow of combat. |
The Fell Omen encounter convinced me. Elden Ring Nightreign might not replicate the exact feeling of those first, awe-struck weeks in the Lands Between, with its message-based jokes and shared lore speculation. But it has forged its own identity. It’s a testament to the strength of its design that a single, randomized encounter with a familiar enemy could feel so fresh, so challenging, and so utterly memorable. I may not be deciphering deep lore from item descriptions, but I'll be recounting the tale of the time The Fell Omen chased us through a storm of blue fire for years to come. I survived this time, but with many more invasion bosses and map permutations promised for the full launch, I know Nightreign is ready to organically concoct countless more stories just like it.
