New Soulslike Game on Steam Takes the Best of Elden Ring Nightreign and Gives It an Egyptian Setting Twist

Elden Ring Nightreign’s unique spin on the soulslike genre may have broke FromSoftware’s streak of major award wins, but it also gave the game a distinct identity that set it apart from the rest of the genre. Its complete focus on co-op, Nightfarer classes instead of fully buildable characters, and a 3-day structure that pressured players to move through the Lands Between as fast as they can were all experimental ideas for the studio. And though the approach may have dissuaded some FromSoftware fans from trying Elden Ring Nighteign, there are plenty of players who love the game, and naturally, they’ll be looking for something similar. That’s where the Steam game Serpent’s Gaze comes into play.

Though there is no shortage of soulslikes on the market, with memorable attempts at recapturing FromSoftware’s magic ranging from The Lords of the Fallen to Lies of P, players looking for a more co-operative experience will have a harder time tracking down a game that fits the bill. Sure, there are summon signs in classic FromSoftware games, but using them constantly can be tedious, and players may have a larger friend group they want to play with. And with FromSoftware’s PvPvE game Duskbloods still in development, while also being exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2, there will naturally be a good portion of players that need to look elsewhere. Fortunately, Steam’s Serpent’s Gaze seems poised to tick a lot of the same boxes as Nightreign did, and it enters Early Access next year.

Serpent’s Gaze Features At a Glance

​​​

• FIGHT difficult enemies and bosses, either solo or in 4-player co-op.
• UPGRADE your character through a choice of various blessings, adding a roguelike element to the game.
• SURVIVE the curse system, which introduces randomized variables on each run, ranging from environmental hazards to bosses that stalk the player as they move through the world.
• EXPLORE an Egyptian world full of enemy factions and mysteries. Locations include cathedrals, deserts, and ruins.
• LEARN the lore of Serpent’s Gaze, such as the reason the playable character was resurrected by the “withering tree god Magnolia.”

Serpent’s Gaze Isn’t Shy About Its FromSoftware Inspirations

Image via Feeble Minds

Despite its Egyptian setting differing heavily from the world shaped by FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin, the rest of Serpent’s Gaze should be very familiar to fans of Elden Ring Nightreign. On the Steam page for Serpent’s Gaze, some short clips of combat can be viewed, one of which sees the player character dodge-rolling from a giant severed hand. This design is essentially an exact copy of the Fingercreeper enemies from the world of Elden Ring, and there are some other foes that feel equally FromSoftware-inspired, like a bulky knight that dashes toward the player and delivers a slam attack. While there are some designs more clearly inspired by the Egyptian setting, such as a snake-like humanoid creature with four arms, the hand’s presence has an undeniable resemblance to an enemy from Elden Ring.

The similarities go beyond dodge rolls and giant hostile apendages, though. Take the health bars, for instance, both above enemy heads and the ones at the top of the screen for bosses. These are another replica of the iconic red bars from FromSoftware’s creations, and should have soulslike fans feeling right at home in Serpent’s Gaze. The same can be said about the “You Died” text that appears upon failing. Beyond these details, there’s the Nightreign-like co-op and roguelike features, with players restarting after failing a run and having different choices to make with their upgrades as they progress. While it’s unclear what upgrades will be permanent, something like Nightreign’s Relics will likely be included so that players can have an easier time after completing each run. Add on a seemingly mysterious story where players control an unnamed warrior called a scion to do battle against “gods and usurpers,” and it’s clear that this Steam game has all the genre staples.

Serpent’s Gaze Abandoning Nightreign’s Most Divisive Feature May Be a Boon

However, though plenty is borrowed from games like Elden Ring Nightreign, it’s also worth highlighting what Serpent’s Gaze leaves out. An equivalent of Nightreign’s time limit on exploration is not mentioned on the Steam Page, meaning that players should be free to clear areas at their heart’s own speed. While the battle royale-like storm was integral to Nightreign‘s gameplay loop, some players disliked how restrictive it was, so Serpent’s Gaze only taking what really worked from that unique FromSoftware project is a wise choice. It’s worth noting that the game has a traditional “level” structure, too, which could see players moving through connected zones like in Dark Souls as opposed to an open-world like Elden Ring that can be freely explored. This is purely speculation, though, as the size and structure of the levels hasn’t been fully detailed.

Serpent’s Gaze Launching in Early Access Could Be Its Secret Weapon

In hindsight, Nightreign is a game that could have benefited from utilizing Early Access. The different Night Lords and Nightfarers it added over time could have all been present by the time it launched, any balancing issues players had would have been found and addressed before the full release, and FromSoftware could have heard how important features like two-player co-op were sooner, having them prepped for the proper launch. That didn’t happen, though, with Nightreign slowly becoming a deeper game post-release instead. Though the reception to the game was still mostly positive, Nightreign lacked the usual critical acclaim that’s expected for FromSoftware releases when it came out, and perhaps it could have made a bigger bang had it taken the same approach used by titles like Game of the Year nominee Hades 2. Fortunately, Serpent’s Gaze is taking full advantage of early access to “use the community as a compass.”

Leaning on soulslike players to provide feedback via Steam forums and the Serpent’s Gaze Discord will ideally let Feeble Minds know if it’s on the right track, ensuring that the game releases in the best state it possibly can. Whether players want more weapon variety, character skins, or difficulty adjustments, they can make their voices heard and lead the push for such changes. With Serpent’s Gaze striving to be “punishing,” making sure that its boss battles are challenging (but still fair) even with a full group of four will be no easy task. AI tweaks, health alterations, and so on will surely be a necessity, so the studio being so open to feedback is a good sign.

Even in Early Access, Serpent’s Gaze Will Have Tons of Content

Image via Feeble Minds

While Serpent’s Gaze may be launching in Early Access at some point in 2026, that doesn’t mean that the content will be lacking. The following features will all be present in the initial Early Access release of Serpent’s Gaze:

• 2 enemy factions
• 8 levels
• 100 character upgrades
• “A bunch” of weapons and classes

Given the roguelike nature of the game, the eight levels should feel different each run, as randomized curses and upgrades should provide some healthy variety. Feeble Minds has promised that, in addition to general polish, a third faction will be added to Serpent’s Gaze over time. This will bring new levels (potentially four more, assuming there are four for each of the existing factions), extra basic enemies, and additional bosses to battle. More weapons, upgrades, and class options have also been mentioned. While the initial early access launch should provide “many hours of fun with friends,” it’s clear that there’s a bright future ahead for Serpent’s Gaze, too. Anyone that has had their fill of Nightreign’s day and night phases — or is looking for a more traditional co-op soulslike with only the best bits of Nightreign sprinkled in — should add Feeble Minds’ upcoming game to their Steam wishlists soon.