Summary
Elden Ring Nightreignmay be set inElden Ring’s Lands Between, but it’s really in an alternate version of the setting. More specifically, ifNightreigntook place in the same version of the Lands Between thatElden Ringdoes, it would be restricted to the Limgrave area, as it is actually set in Limveld, a reimagined and parallel version of Limgrave. While Limveld shares foundational lore withElden Ring, particularly events like the Shattering War, it still tells its own story, and in a unique environment no less. In light of that,Elden Ring Nightreignhas a chance to overhaul one ofElden Ring’s most prominent features that just so happens to be due for an overhaul: its dungeons.
Dungeons are very common throughoutElden Ring’s open world, as they are in almost anyFromSoftware game. Unfortunately, they fall very short of the mark in one undeniable way, despite being rewarding enough to invest in. Now,Elden Ring Nightreignhas a chance to make up for these shortcomings on account of its somewhat-shared setting withElden Ring, and it’s a chance it arguably can’t afford to miss.
Elden Ring Nightreign Should Overhaul Elden Ring’s Dungeons
Elden Ring Nightreign’s Setting of Limveld Should Feature Brand-New Dungeons
Firstly, consideringElden Ring Nightreigntakes placein an alternate version of Limgrave, there’s potential there for its Limveld region to feature the same dungeons as its alternate-dimension counterpart. If not the same dungeons, then at least little more than an “upside-down” version of the same dungeons, similarly to howThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Questdid with the original game’s dungeons. However, rather than simply featuring a reorganized version of Limgrave’s dungeons,Elden Ring Nightreign’s Limveld might be better off giving players entirely new dungeons to explore instead.
IfElden Ring Nightreignwere to simply feature “the same but different” dungeons in its alternate version of Limgrave, there’s too much of an opportunity there for them to be perceived as nothing more than filler content, which the thirdElden Ringgaming experience in three years really can’t afford to fall victim to. Brand-new dungeons, on the other hand, would not only be a delight for newcomers but also giveElden Ringveteransfresh gameplay opportunities they aren’t already familiar with.
It’s also important thatElden Ring Nightreignfeatures brand-new dungeons for the sake of the game’s challenge, asElden Ringveterans might find a rehash of Limgrave’s dungeons to be too simple a feat.
Elden Ring Nightreign Needs to Avoid the Repetitive Nature of Elden Ring’s Dungeons
Apart from the fact thatElden Ring Nightreignshould feature new dungeons to counter familiarity, there’s also the repetitive nature ofElden Ring’s dungeons to consider, which new dungeons could potentially alleviate.Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC showed that FromSoftware is indeed capable of featuring distinct dungeons in the base game’s world, but the difference between it andElden Ring Nightreignis that it takes place in theRealm of Shadow, whereasNightreignis merely set in an alternate version of the Lands Between.
As such,Elden Ring Nightreign’s dungeons, new or simply rearranged, need to do everything in their power to avoid the repetitive nature ofElden Ring’s dungeons, which essentially all look and function the same way, despite offering different encounters and rewards. Ultimately, it would be better forElden Ring Nightreignto take a Shadow of the Erdtree approach with its dungeons and design them to each have unique characteristics and mechanics, but that may be challenging ifNightreignis hoping to reflectElden Ring’s Limgrave to some extent.
