Elden Ring Nightreign duos mode should have been the perfect update, but it’s lacking both the challenge and the chaos that make the base game so good

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For numerous players, the absence of duos support at Elden Ring: Nightreign’s launch was one of its most glaring flaws. This apparent oversight was so significant that FromSoftware quickly reversed their decision to focus solely on solo and trio gameplay, and successfully introduced a new mode in only a few months. However, despite being an ideal choice for teaming up with another player, Nightreign’s duos mode has failed to capture my interest.

It’s possible that I was among the fortunate group during the launch of Nightreign. Out of my gaming circle, only three of us consistently play soulslikes, allowing us to arrange regular three-player sessions without excluding others. We immediately jumped into Nightreign and, although certain bosses forced us into classes we weren’t fond of, we’ve been progressively conquering the lineup ever since.

Despite having a few more bosses left in Nightreign, it could be considered that we’re finding it challenging. Admittedly, there are a couple of bosses that have posed some difficulty for us, but usually, we don’t spend too many attempts on one particular fight. The main issue lies with scheduling; even when three players tackle the bosses in Nightreign, it still feels like a prolonged effort, and thus, consecutive attempts are rare. To add to that, numerous summer holidays have disrupted our progress, making it so that if just one member is absent, Nightreign becomes impossible for us to play.

Two’s a crowd

Over time, I’ve had enough experience with online multiplayer games to realize that I don’t feel the need to invite an additional player anymore. I’ve also played numerous two-player games, and I find it simpler to get a friend to play a game with me than to gather multiple people simultaneously. Considering this, duos seemed like an ideal addition to Nightreign, allowing us to keep a consistent group in voice chat, even if one of our usual trio was absent.

It seems I only gave duos a try once, but it didn’t really appeal to me. Even when we reached the final boss arena, it felt less exciting compared to trios. The trios version had a sense of excitement that was missing in the duos – we moved from one encounter to another without much intensity, which made the three-player run more enjoyable.

In Nightreign, while the challenges may not be particularly demanding, they require a high level of efficiency. Similar to Elden Ring, many bosses struggle under the onslaught of multiple characters attacking simultaneously. Although FromSoft has equipped certain bosses in Nightreign with area-of-effect abilities to handle enemies at a distance, the main challenge is not necessarily about mastering the boss’s mechanics but rather ensuring you possess enough power to confront it effectively.

Three’s company

In a trio setup, the goal is to maximize every moment by strategically separating to tackle smaller groups of enemies, then regrouping to defeat larger foes swiftly. The aim is to gather souls rapidly and travel to various locations for increasingly valuable rewards leading up to the final battle. However, in a duo setup, it seems like you’re doing the same thing, but less effectively. You can’t divide your forces efficiently, you can’t combine abilities against powerful bosses as effectively, and strategic depth isn’t quite as engaging. One of the aspects I enjoyed most about challenging final boss fights was managing aggression across a vast arena, but with only two players, it becomes a less captivating gameplay experience.

It’s evident that when playing Nightreign in solo mode, certain aspects of the game’s strategy become less effective due to the absence of team support. This setup provides a unique challenge, as it places sole responsibility on the player for overcoming obstacles, which aligns with the challenging nature of games like Dark Souls or Elden Ring. Consequently, players must rethink their approach to tackle Nightreign’s most significant hurdles.

Multi-headed bosses such as Tricephalos or intelligent pests present unique challenges when playing alone versus playing with a full team. On the contrary, it can feel like you’re not playing the game correctly if a boss divides into three parts against two players instead of three. Additionally, tools designed to help solo players, which are unavailable in duos, only reinforce this feeling that this isn’t the intended way to play. It seems like a compromise, and it leaves a sense of dissatisfaction.

As one fortunate enough to have two friends who share my passion for FromSoft games, I can’t help but notice the shortcomings of the duos mode in Nightreign. For many players, the lack of proper duo support has been a significant hurdle, especially when solitary play isn’t appealing. I yearn for a time when the duos mode would feel more like a thoughtfully crafted feature, instead of a slightly diminished way to enjoy the intended gameplay. Regrettably, at present, it offers me no enticement, and I can’t say I see myself revisiting it soon.

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2025-08-11 19:20