New Soulslike Game On Steam Takes The Best Of Elden Ring Nightreign And Gives It An Egyptian Setting Twist

Fire Ring Nightreigns unique spin on the soul-like genre may have broken FromSoftware's streak of major awards 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 pushed players to move through the Lands Between as fast as they can were all experimental ideas for the studio. And while the approach may have discouraged some FromSoftware fans from trying The Fire Ring Nighteignthere are many players who love the game, and of course they will be looking for something similar. That's where the Steam game is The gaze of the serpent plays into.

While there's no shortage of soulslikes on the market, with memorable attempts to recapture FromSoftware's magic ranging from Lords of the Fallen to Lies by Pplayers looking for a more cooperative experience will have a harder time tracking down a game that fits the bill. Sure, there are summons in classic FromSoftware games, but using them constantly can be boring, and players can have a larger group of friends they want to play with. And with FromSoftware's PvPvE game Duskbloods still in development, while exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, there will naturally be a large portion of gamers who need to look elsewhere. Fortunately, Steam's The gaze of the serpent seems poised to tick many of the same boxes as Night rule did, and it's going into Early Access next year.

The snake's gaze functions at a glance

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• FIGHT difficult enemies and bosses, either solo or in 4-player co-op.

• UPGRADE your character through a selection of different boons, adding a rogue-like element to the game.

• SURVIVE the curse system, which introduces random 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 doctrine of The gaze of the serpentas the reason the playable character was resurrected by the “Withering Tree God Magnolia”.

The Serpent's Eye is not shy about its inspirations from software

Image via Feeble Minds

Although its Egyptian setting differs greatly from the world shaped by FromSoftware and George RR Martin, the rest of the The gaze of the serpent should be very familiar to fans of Fire Ring Nightreign. On the Steam page for The gaze of the serpenta few brief clips of combat can be seen, one of which sees the player character squirming from a giant severed hand. This design is essentially an exact copy of the Fingercreeper enemies from the world of the world Fire Ringand there are a few other enemies that feel equally FromSoftware-inspired, like a hulking knight charging at the player and delivering 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 presence of the hand bears an undeniable resemblance to an enemy from Fire Ring.

However, the similarities go beyond dodge rolls and giant enemy appendages. Take for example the health bars, both above enemy heads and the ones at the top of the screen for bosses. This is another replica of the iconic red bars from FromSoftware's creations and should make soulful fans feel right at home in The gaze of the serpent. The same can be said for the “You died” text that appears on failure. In addition to these details, there are Night rule-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. Although it's unclear which upgrades will be permanent, something like that Night rule's Relics will likely be included so that players can have an easier time after completing each run. Add in a seemingly mysterious story where players control an unnamed warrior called a scion to battle “gods and invaders,” and it's clear that this Steam game has all the genre's punch.

Serpent's Gaze Abandoning Nightreign's most divisive feature may be a blessing

But even if a lot is borrowed from games like Fire Ring Nightreignit is also worth highlighting what The gaze of the serpent omits. Another counterpart Night rules exploration time limit is not mentioned on the Steam page, meaning players should be free to clear areas at their own pace. While the battle royale-like storm was an integral part of Night rules gameplay loop, some players disliked how restrictive it was, so The gaze of the serpent taking only what really worked from the unique FromSoftware project is a wise choice. It's worth noting that the game also has a traditional 'level' structure, which can see players move through connected zones as in Dark souls as opposed to an open world-like Fire Ring which can be explored freely. However, this is purely speculation, as the size and structure of the levels have not been fully detailed.

Launching in Early Access, the Serpent's Gaze may be its secret weapon

In retrospect, Night rule is a game that could have benefited from using Early Access. The various Night Lords and Nightfarers it added over time could have all been there when it launched, any balancing issues players had would have been found and fixed before the full release, and FromSoftware could have heard how important features like two-player co-op were earlier, to have them prepared for a proper launch. However, that did not happen Night rule slowly becoming a deeper game after release instead. Although reception of the game was still mostly positive, Night rule lacked the usual critical acclaim expected of FromSoftware releases when it came out, and perhaps it could have made a bigger splash if it had taken the same approach used by titles like Game of the Year Nominee Hades 2. Fortunately, The gaze of the serpent takes full advantage of early access to “use the community as a compass.”

Leaning on soul-like players to provide feedback via the Steam forums and The gaze of the serpent Discord will preferably let Feeble Minds know if it's on track, ensuring the game is released in the best possible condition. 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 The gaze of the serpent striving to “punish”, ensuring that its boss battles are challenging (but still fair) even with a full party of four will be no easy task. AI tweaks, health changes and so on will certainly be a necessity, so the fact that the studio is 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 The gaze of the serpent may launch into Early Access sometime in 2026, that doesn't mean the content will be missing. The following features will all be in the first version of Early Access The gaze of the serpent:

• 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 with each run, as random curses and upgrades should provide a healthy variety. Feeble Minds has promised that, in addition to general polishing, a third faction will be added The gaze of the serpent 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 fight. 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 The gaze of the serpentalso. Everyone who has had their fill of Night rules day and night phases — or looking for a more traditional co-op soul-like with only the best bits of Night rule sprinkled in — should be adding Feeble Mind's upcoming games to their Steam wishlists soon.