Elden Ring Nightreign Channels the Spirit of a Forgotten God of War Game

Elden Ring Nightreign's Network Test Reveals an Unexpected Ancestor: God of War: Ascension

The recent network tests for Elden Ring Nightreign, FromSoftware's upcoming multiplayer spin-off, revealed a surprising influence: 2013's often-overlooked God of War: Ascension. While Nightreign shares a surface-level resemblance to battle royale games like Fortnite – featuring shrinking maps, team-based combat, and a sky-drop mechanic – its core gameplay loop echoes Ascension's surprisingly well-regarded multiplayer mode, Trial of the Gods.

Ascension, a prequel to the God of War series, was initially criticized for failing to match the epic scale of its predecessors. However, its multiplayer mode offered a unique cooperative PvE experience, pitting teams against increasingly difficult enemies within time-limited arenas. This is remarkably similar to Nightreign's structure.

Both Trial of the Gods and Nightreign share key characteristics:

• Cooperative PvE: Teams face progressively challenging foes.
• Boss encounters: Featuring bosses from previous games (Hercules in Ascension, potentially others in Nightreign).
• Time constraints: A countdown timer adds urgency to gameplay.
• Shrinking or limited maps: Encouraging fast-paced action.
• Enhanced player movement: Increased speed and jump height, mirroring Ascension's adjustments to single-player mechanics for a more dynamic multiplayer experience.

The similarities extend to the development context. Both games were created by studios renowned for their single-player titles, without direct involvement from the original series creators. This resulted in a departure from established formulas, leading to both critical acclaim (Trial of the Gods) and anticipation (Nightreign).

Early feedback on Nightreign's network tests highlights the frantic, exhilarating gameplay, forcing players to rely on instinct and resource management, a stark contrast to the more deliberate pacing of the main Elden Ring game. This echoes the experience of Ascension's Trial of the Gods, where players found themselves in a relentless, high-octane battle for survival.

The unexpected connection between these two games, one a forgotten multiplayer mode, the other a highly anticipated new release, underscores the cyclical nature of game design. Nightreign's design choices, while seemingly inspired by modern battle royales, ultimately find their roots in a less celebrated but innovative predecessor.

What game had the best now-forgotten multiplayer mode?

God of War: AscensionAssassin's Creed BrotherhoodMass Effect 3Batman: Arkham OriginsBioShock 2Other (let us know in the comments)AnswerSee Results