Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows – Tougher Than Ever But Not Enough Of It?

The new DLC for Elden Ring Nightreign was released just under a week ago, and once again, it’s brutally difficult. Unlike with Shadow of the Erdtree, however, it isn’t the difficulty that’s responsible for the mixed reviews, but rather the DLC’s overall scope.

Nightreign Was Tough — But The Forsaken Hollows Takes It Even Further.

Anyone who already found Nightreign’s base game challenging will get the full FromSoftware experience with The Forsaken Hollows. The DLC pushes the already high difficulty even further and brings many players to their limits. The new areas are noticeably more treacherous than the challenges players have come to expect from the main game.

One particularly nasty example is a castle that constantly drains half of the player’s health while they’re inside it. Anyone familiar with Nightreign knows how quickly something like that can end in a frustrating one-shot. The new Shifting Earth event also brings additional challenges and essentially works like a whole new map. Most striking is the massive chasm in its center. Because of the winding level design, you often don’t even realize you’re falling until there’s no solid ground beneath your feet anymore.

Once you have overcome these hurdles, the real tests begin: the new bosses. At this point I have to bring up my most hated mechanic in all FromSoftware games, which is fighting multiple enemies at the same time. The lock-on feature exists for a reason, and as soon as attacks start coming from behind, fights often feel unfair. Even though you are usually not traveling alone in Nightreign and you do get indicators when an enemy is targeting you, that does not change the fact that these situations remain frustrating. In the end there is nothing else to do except "get good."

The DLC also introduces two new classes: the Undertaker and the Scholar. The Undertaker combines Strength and Faith and is already considered one of the strongest classes. It is also relatively easy to master. The Scholar, on the other hand, is aimed at more experienced players. As a support class it deals less direct damage and focuses on strengthening the team. The unusual playstyle offers a lot of depth, so the community will certainly have plenty to discover with this class.

When you then hear that the DLC launched with mixed reviews, it is easy to be reminded of the discussions surrounding Shadow of the Erdtree. This time, however, it is not the high difficulty levels that draw criticism, but the overall scope of the DLC, which many players consider too small.

How Much Is Really In The DLC?

Many players are complaining that the DLC does not offer enough content. Some even joke that the previous free updates delivered more content than the paid DLC. The Forsaken Hollows does include a new Shifting Earth event, two new final bosses, and the two new classes, but for many players that is not enough. There are additional mid-bosses as well, but they feel more like a small bonus rather than a central part of the DLC.

The lack of new weapons and Ashes of War is especially disappointing for many players who were specifically hoping for them. On top of that, a game designed for three players only adds two new classes. If you are playing with friends and first have to figure out who gets to try the new classes, it is understandable that this does not exactly generate enthusiasm.

In the end everyone has to decide for themselves whether they are willing to spend $15 on the DLC. It certainly offers a good amount of new content for the first few hours. Playing through the new classes and their Remembrance also provides some extra entertainment, and mastering a class like the Scholar will naturally take quite a bit of time. However, anyone who hoped to create completely new builds for the existing classes will be disappointed.

What do you think? Do you feel that The Forsaken Hollows offers too little new content? Let us know in the comments!