[2] Players control one such traveler as they attempt to return to Nightingale, a human enclave created in the "Faewilds" before the emergence of the "Pale" that caused the disaster.

As a survival game, players must find food to eat, rest to recover their stamina, and gather resources to craft tools.

Realms can be based on different biomes, such as deserts, woodlands, and swamps, selectable by players using cards to customize the world and what resources can be found.

Unlike role-playing games, Inflexion said they intend to provide an interesting premise and lore rather than a strong narrative, which they said will allow players to create their own stories.

[5] Rock Paper Shotgun compared the unconventional setting to The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and said they enjoyed getting lost in the world and exploring.

[6] GameSpot said it has "the usual survival genre stuff" but felt Nightingale's strength was its potential for exploration, which they hoped to see emphasized during early access development.

[2] Despite positive reception for its unique "Mary Poppins-meets-Stargate" concept, Nightingale struggled with server issues and low player retention, leading developer Inflexion Games to restructure and lay off dozens of employees while closing its UK studio.