Elden Ring Nightreign vs Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Both expand Elden Ring, but one is a co-op roguelike sprint while the other is a solo DLC marathon.
Updated 11d ago
Solo and duos both work now — the launch reviews calling solo a death sentence are a year stale. Still worth $39.99 if you can live with six months of silence.
Best-in-class single-player DLC if you finished base Elden Ring — Land of Shadow rivals a full game, and patch 1.14 tamed Consort Radahn's combos.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 7.
| Measure | Elden Ring Nightreign | Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree |
|---|---|---|
| Value Elden Ring Nightreign wins on value | ||
| Price now | $34.99 −13% · GameBillet | $35.17 −12% · GameBillet |
| All-time low | $26.37 | $31.49 |
| Cost / hour | $1.25/hr $34.99 · 28 h main story | $1.37/hr $35.17 · 26 h main story |
| Off its low | +33% low was Dec 2025 | +12% vs $31.49 low |
| Main story | 28 h | 26 h |
| Health Elden Ring Nightreign wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 82% 189k reviews | 70% 104k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 78% 1k votes · vs 82% lifetime | 58% 186 votes · vs 70% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 40,755 Jul 2026 · ↓ 2% MoM | — Not yet charted |
| All-time peak | 240,640 Jun 2025 · now at 17% | — |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 7 months ago | — |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | — |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | — |
Elden Ring Nightreign
Jun 2025 – Jul 2026
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Steam Charts hasn't recorded a calendar month yet.
Key differences
Game structure
Nightreign resets every run with forty-minute loops and randomized loot.
Shadow of the Erdtree is a fixed, handcrafted zone with traditional Souls progression.
Multiplayer focus
Nightreign is built for three-player co-op; solo is survivable but not optimal.
Shadow of the Erdtree is strictly single-player with optional summon signs.
Progression system
Nightreign auto-levels your character and hands you gear mid-run.
Shadow of the Erdtree uses Scadutree Fragments tied to exploration for upgrades.
Which one is for you?
Pick Elden Ring Nightreign if
- Three-player co-op with friends on a voice call is your ideal session.
- Forty-minute roguelike runs suit you better than a hundred-hour campaign.
- Auto-leveling and random gear appeal over meticulous build planning.
Pick Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree if
- You finished base Elden Ring and want 35-40 more hours of content.
- You enjoy obscure progression via Scadutree Fragments found through exploration.
- You're comfortable with FromSoft's opaque difficulty and tough boss fights.
Bottom line
Pick Nightreign for co-op roguelike bursts; pick Shadow of the Erdtree for a polished solo expansion after beating the base game.
More comparisons
- Elden Ring Nightreign vs The Alters
- Crimson Desert vs Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
- Elden Ring Nightreign vs Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree vs Path of Exile 2
- Cronos: The New Dawn vs Elden Ring Nightreign
- Black Myth: Wukong vs Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree