This past weekend marked the inaugural network tests for Elden Ring Nightreign, the highly anticipated standalone multiplayer game derived from FromSoftware’s acclaimed Elden Ring. Unlike the expansive open-world experience of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC released last year, Nightreign diverges significantly, embracing a streamlined survival format. In this new game, three-player teams must navigate progressively shrinking maps, battling hordes of enemies and increasingly formidable bosses. This format echoes the wildly successful Fortnite, which has captivated an astonishing 200 million players this month alone.

However, Nightreign draws even more compelling parallels with a less celebrated and often maligned title: God of War: Ascension from 2013. This comparison, surprisingly, is to Nightreign's advantage.

God of War: Ascension, released between God of War 3 and the Norse saga reboot of 2018, serves as a prequel to the original Greek mythology trilogy. It follows Kratos as he attempts to sever his bond with Aries, his predecessor. Though it didn’t match the grandeur of its predecessors, particularly the climactic battle with Zeus, Ascension still boasts remarkable set-pieces, such as the Prison of the Damned—a dungeon embedded within the flesh and bones of a giant. Moreover, it broke new ground with its multiplayer mode, a feature unique in the franchise's history.

The multiplayer component in Ascension, dubbed "Trial of the Gods," introduces cooperative PvE gameplay that bears a striking resemblance to Nightreign. In the single-player campaign, players encounter an NPC who prematurely celebrates being saved, only to be crushed by a boss. In multiplayer, this NPC becomes the player's avatar, transported to Olympus and pledging allegiance to one of four gods—Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, or Aries—each granting unique weapons, armor, and magical abilities. These are used across five multiplayer modes, with the cooperative "Trial of the Gods" mode echoing Nightreign's core concept.

Previews of Nightreign by notable "Soulsborne" content creators like VaatiVidya and Iron Pineapple, along with coverage from IGN, highlight its similarities to live service games like Fortnite. Nightreign introduces randomized loot, resource management, and environmental hazards that challenge players by limiting their movement and increasing difficulty. A homage to Fortnite is evident in the game's opening sequence, where players drop into the map from the sky, guided by spirit birds.

While Ascension lacks Nightreign's battle royale aesthetic, both games share deeper connections. Both Nightreign and Ascension's "Trial of the Gods" mode are cooperative experiences where teams face increasingly difficult foes. They also offer players the chance to confront iconic bosses from previous titles, like Hercules from God of War 3 or the Nameless King from Dark Souls 3. Both modes feature countdown timers and take place on maps that either shrink or are inherently small. Moreover, they are multiplayer games developed by studios renowned for single-player excellence, crafted without direct oversight from their series' creators.

Participants in Nightreign's network tests describe their experiences as a thrilling race against time, contrasting sharply with the leisurely pace of the base Elden Ring game. Nightreign forces players to act quickly, limiting resources and accelerating the pace, a strategy that Ascension's multiplayer also employed to enhance gameplay. Techniques such as increased run speed, extended jumps, and automated parkour in Ascension mirror Nightreign's design choices, including the Wylder character's grapple attack.

The resemblance between Nightreign and Ascension is unexpected, given the latter's obscurity and the fundamental differences between the Soulslike genre and the God of War series. While God of War empowers players to feel like invincible warriors, Soulslike games challenge them with relentless difficulty. Yet, as the Soulslike community has honed their skills and Elden Ring introduced powerful builds, Nightreign aims to reintroduce that initial challenge. At the same time, it offers seasoned players the thrill of racing against the clock, reminiscent of Ascension's intense multiplayer experience.