Let me tell you something, fellow Tarnished and Shinobi alike—FromSoftware is absolutely unstoppable. I mean, just look at their track record! They've been dropping masterpieces like they're going out of style for almost twenty years now. From the gritty, groundbreaking halls of Boletaria in Demon's Souls to the sprawling, breathtaking Lands Between in Elden Ring, they just don't miss. And now? Now they're cooking up something wild with Elden Ring: Nightreign, a co-op roguelike spinoff that's shaking up the formula. It's got me hyped, but you know what's really got my mind racing? The thought of what they could do if they gave the same outrageous treatment to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Oh, man... just thinking about it gives me chills. It's the perfect candidate, and I'm here to scream it from the rooftops!

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Let's break this down, shall we? Sekiro was already the black sheep of the Souls family—in the best way possible. It threw out stamina management, ditched the traditional RPG builds, and said, "Here's a sword, now get good at deflecting." It was pure, unadulterated action. And guess what? Nightreign is already flirting with that vibe. The default character, the Wylder, is basically Wolf's spiritual successor, zipping around with a grappling hook and a need for speed. The movement in Nightreign feels faster, more fluid—more Sekiro-like—than even the base Elden Ring. Both games put the focus on the character's innate skills, not just the weapon they're holding. It's like they were meant to be together!

But here's the juicy part, the real kicker... Sekiro's world is begging for the Nightreign makeover. Picture this:

  • The Setting: War-torn Ashina during the height of the Interior Ministry's invasion. Not as Wolf alone, but as a cell of Shinobi operating in the shadows.

  • The Cast: Instead of Elden Ring's varied Nightfarers, you'd have different Shinobi archetypes—maybe a Mist Raven specialist, a Sabimaru poison master, or a Shuriken-using scout.

  • The Gameplay Loop: You and your squad (more on that later) get dropped into a randomized chunk of Ashina Castle, the Sunken Valley, or the Fountainhead Palace. Your mission? Survive, complete an objective, and get out before the environment itself tries to kill you.

Can you imagine grappling across rooftops as a closing ring of red mortal blade fire or lightning from the Divine Dragonchases you? Finding new Shinobi Prosthetic tools or combat arts in hidden caches, each run building your character differently? It writes itself!

Now, I hear you. "But what about the parrying? The posture system? That's Sekiro's soul!" And you're 100% right. That's the magic trick FromSoft would have to pull off. Nightreign's co-op formula would need a serious tweak for Sekiro's precise, intimate combat. Maybe... just maybe... the answer is to go smaller. While Nightreign plays with trios, a Sekiro version might sing with duos. Think about it:

Aspect Sekiro's Core Potential Nightreign Adaptation
Combat Focus 1v1 Duel, Parry/Posture Coordinated 2v1 Takedowns, Stagger Chaining
Progression Linear Story, Set Tools Roguelike Perk & Tool Acquisition
Environment Static, Curated World Randomized Zones with Hazards (e.g., spreading Dragonrot mist)
Objective Defeat Specific Boss Complete Dynamic Shinobi Contracts

Duo play could allow for incredible synergy. One shinobi distracts and pressures an enemy's posture, while the other lands the devastating Deathblow. Special combo arts unlocked only when fighting together. It would turn the dance of deflection into a deadly, synchronized ballet for two. It's a different kind of challenge, but isn't that what we love about FromSoftware? They make us learn new rules.

And the build variety! This is where a Sekiro: Nightreign could truly explode. The original game was famously focused—you were Wolf, you had your tools, you mastered them. A roguelike version could turn that limitation into a playground of possibilities. Each run, you might find a different core prosthetic:

  • Run 1: Start with the Flame Vent, find a rarity upgrade to the Living Force skill, allowing you to set your katana ablaze for a time.

  • Run 2: Begin with the Sabimaru, and later discover the Fang and Blade combat art, letting you chain poison slashes with a partner.

  • Run 3: Luck into the Divine Abduction fan early and pair it with a perk that causes confused enemies to explode on death.

The potential for wild, game-breaking, hilariously overpowered synergies is endless. It would take the foundational brilliance of Sekiro's combat and inject it with chaotic, replayable energy.

Look, at the end of the day, both Sekiro and Elden Ring: Nightreign represent bold, experimental spirit from a studio at the peak of its powers. Sekiro deserves a sequel, a new way to experience its unparalleled combat. Nightreign is proving a new formula can work. Merging them? It's not just a good idea—it feels inevitable. It's the ultimate ninja fantasy, waiting to be realized. FromSoftware, if you're listening... we're ready for the next great shinobi showdown. Make it happen. Please? 🙏