Nodusfall by HoYoverse: Called an Elden Ring Rip-Off, But It Might Be Something Entirely Different

When the first Nodusfall trailer was released, the atmosphere in gaming forums heated up instantly. The image of a winged character flying through dark ruins immediately reminded players of Malenia, one of Elden Ring's hardest bosses. The white-haired woman who appeared a few seconds later was placed next to Melina, a key character in Elden Ring's story. Within hours, side-by-side videos flooded YouTube, accompanied by the word rip-off. Strangely, not a single gameplay frame had been released, but the verdict already seemed passed.

HoYoverse is the name behind global sensations such as Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail and a series of anime-style RPGs. Nodusfall breaks that identity completely: dark fantasy, realistic graphics, heavy atmosphere, no more chibi or pastel colors. This is a rare strategic shift for a company with billions in revenue. But that shift collides with a highly sensitive milestone: FromSoftware's Elden Ring.

Elden Ring launched in February 2026, won Game of the Year at The Game Awards, and sold more than 20 million copies in less than two years. Its influence is so massive that a whole generation of new action RPGs is trying to follow the formula: grim open worlds, tactical combat, and environmental storytelling instead of cutscenes. When Nodusfall debuted a trailer with similar visual material, the community's reaction was almost instinctive: another Elden Ring clone.

Looking closely at what has been revealed, though, Nodusfall may not match that initial judgment. The game focuses on co-op boss hunting, with up to four players fighting together. That is a fundamental difference from Elden Ring, where players mostly face bosses alone and online co-op remains a secondary feature. Four players entering an arena to take down a giant monster is closer to Monster Hunter than to Elden Ring.

Visual similarity is not proof of mechanical copying; the only thing that can save or condemn Nodusfall is gameplay. That is the blind spot most social media debates are missing. People compare characters with two still images and rush to a verdict. But a game is a complete system: combat, pacing, resource management, team coordination. Two games can share the same camera angle and weapon style yet play completely differently. Conversely, two games can look different on the surface while their internal systems overlap in suspicious ways.

Let's apply the actual rules: in the gaming industry, lawmakers and courts generally do not protect genres, mechanics, or the feel of a game. They protect specific expressions: character designs, 3D models, names, artistic assets. Malenia has rights over her outfit, weapon, and name. But a winged character in metal armor does not violate copyright simply because it reminds people of Malenia. Dragons, knights, mages, and dark ruins are common stock of the fantasy genre, existing long before Dark Souls.

However, communities do not operate by law. They operate by gut feeling. If it looks similar, it is similar, and the word rip-off spreads faster than any legal defense. This controversy is actually asking a bigger question: can a Chinese developer, after massive success in anime gacha games, enter the premium dark fantasy arena dominated by Japan? Is it capable of receiving fair assessment? Looking further, the Elden Ring rip-off label may be amplified by existing prejudice against a Chinese company and its gacha business model.

One crucial detail is being missed: HoYoverse is not stupid. They know Elden Ring is the benchmark, they know the community will compare, and they still chose to release the trailer that way. From a marketing perspective, today's controversy is search volume, views, and recognition that many studios would pay millions to acquire. The only remaining question is whether Nodusfall can maintain quality when players actually hold the controller.

Of course, I could be wrong. If HoYoverse uses four-player co-op only as a gimmick while the actual experience is still a miniature Elden Ring with magic buffs, the backlash at launch will be far worse than the current storm. Players will say: I told you so. History is full of games branded as copycats because of impressive trailers, only to have that label become a curse after launch failures. HoYoverse holds two cards: either prove the difference through real gameplay, or bury its reputation under the weight of misplaced expectations.

This analysis is not about who is right or wrong. It is about a community judging a game without gameplay, a team that has not yet played, a match that has not yet happened. Football fans once laughed when I said Iran would beat Morocco because of their attacking stagnation; they only looked back after an own goal in the 90+5 minute decided the match. Nodusfall is the same: no one can declare this game a win or loss based on a two-minute trailer.

HoYoverse's next step will decide everything. If, within the next six months, they release a long gameplay segment focused on four-player coordination and skill combos, Nodusfall's image will shift from copycat to Elden Ring meets Monster Hunter. Today's controversy could become free publicity that many studios would pay tens of millions to get. If they stay silent, the prejudice will freeze into truth in the public mind. Silence is never victory, only overtime before collapse. Nodusfall has not lost yet, but the clock has started ticking.