Handheld gaming PC enthusiasts have long wondered whether Elden Ring Nightreign would follow in the footsteps of its predecessor on devices like the Asus ROG Ally X. The original Elden Ring ran extremely well on the Ally X, and its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion proved more demanding. Because Nightreign is a standalone title, many expected it to push hardware even harder. Recent testing, however, reveals the opposite: Nightreign runs even better than Elden Ring on the Ally X.
🎮 Why Limveld Makes a Difference
At first glance, the improved performance seems surprising. The explanation lies in Nightreign's design. The game is limited to a small map called Limveld, which means far less is rendered on screen at any given time. Its environment is based on Limgrave from the base game rather than the more visually complex Shadow of the Erdtree, which arrived two years later and introduced demanding visual effects. That design choice gives the Ally X more headroom.
⚙️ Testing Conditions
The test was conducted on an Asus ROG Ally X set to Turbo mode at 30W and plugged into an outlet. The device allocated 16GB of RAM to the GPU, a unique advantage because the Ally X ships with 24GB of RAM. Most competing handhelds have 16GB total and can only assign 8GB to the GPU. These settings allowed the machine to run at its best.
The tester used the castle at the center of Limveld as a baseline because it is the largest set piece on the unaltered base map. There, giants throw enormous pots of magic at the player, causing the framerate to dip to its lowest points. A new match was started between each graphics preset, as recommended by the game.
📊 1080p Performance
At 1080p, the Ally X delivered playable results across all presets, though not without caveats. The Maximum preset averaged 30 fps, with occasional drops to 27 fps, usually after being bombarded by magic pots. High averaged 35 fps but fell to 28 fps a few times during battles atop the castle. Medium averaged 39 fps. Low averaged 43 fps, with a low of 39 fps.
| Preset | Average FPS | Lowest FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum | 30 | 27 |
| High | 35 | 28 |
| Medium | 39 | — |
| Low | 43 | 39 |
🚀 720p Performance
Lowering resolution to 720p dramatically improved performance. Maximum at 720p averaged 41 fps, with a 1% low of 38 fps. High averaged 44 fps, with a worst-case of 40 fps. Medium and Low produced excellent performance, though the image quality looked crunchy. The game even reached 60 fps occasionally at 720p, but the Ally X could not maintain an average of 60 fps. That peak only occurred during less demanding encounters, such as enclosed spaces.
| Preset | Average FPS | 1% Low / Worst |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum | 41 | 38 |
| High | 44 | 40 |
| Medium | Excellent | — |
| Low | Excellent | — |
🖥️ Visuals and Playability
Nightreign looks great at 1080p on Maximum settings and plays decently enough. Sessions can be enjoyed from start to finish on this preset, and while occasional stutters are bothersome, the experience is otherwise smooth and often hovers above 30 fps. However, 30 fps is not enough for every player. Those willing to accept a hit to resolution will likely find a better balance at Maximum graphics and 720p, which hovers around 41 fps and hits a midpoint between smoothness and quality.
Players clamoring for 60 fps on the Asus ROG Ally X will have the best luck at 720p, but they must reduce graphics presets to Medium or Low. Even then, the machine cannot maintain an average of 60 fps. It only reaches that high during less demanding encounters. The visuals also suffer, as Limveld appears flat on Low especially. The island loses its complex shadows, and each structure becomes low-poly.
⚠️ Caveats and Recommendations
The game runs well on the handheld, but Nightreign can struggle when many enemies and visual effects appear at once, especially in more open areas. If the player is being ganked by several blood-infused enemies set to self-destruct on their position while overlooking Limveld from the top of ruins, the frame rate will take a massive hit. In enclosed spaces, like a dense forest, the game fares much better, particularly if the camera is strategically pointed toward the ground.
For handheld gamers in 2026, the takeaway is clear. The Asus ROG Ally X remains a strong option for Elden Ring Nightreign. Maximum settings at 1080p are viable for those who prioritize visual fidelity and can tolerate around 30 fps. Maximum settings at 720p offer the best balance. Competitive players who demand 60 fps must accept Medium or Low presets at 720p and the accompanying visual downgrade. Overall, Nightreign is a better-performing title than Elden Ring on the Ally X, and that is good news for the handheld gaming PC community.