“FromSoftware continues to deliver AMAZING games in an age where other studios are struggling.”
PC | PS5 | XBOX SERIES
PROLOGUE
If you don’t know by now, I am a HUGE FromSoftware fanboy. And I’m not gonna lie… when we first saw the reveal of Elden Ring Nightreign at The Game Awards, I was confused and a little nervous.
In every FromSoftware game, I immediately change my settings to Offline Play. I NEVER participate in PvP or invasions, and I do very little co-op. So when I saw that Elden Ring Nightreign was going to be a co-op-focused PvE boss rush game, I was definitely skeptical.
At this point, I have full and complete faith in any new FromSoftware release. They have EARNED my trust. But I genuinely thought Nightreign would be a game I’d put maybe 20–30 hours into, beat its campaign, and move on.
I WAS WRONG!
400+ hours later, and I’ve platinumed the game on every platform it’s available on. Nightreign was my personal GOTY for 2025, and I’ve had some of the best gaming experiences of my life playing with my buddies over Discord, running all the Everdark bosses, and getting INSANELY good at the game.
What I initially thought would be a small side project turned into one of my favorite FromSoftware experiences EVER.
So when FromSoftware announced a fully fledged DLC called The Forsaken Hollows…
I WAS AMPED!
HOW I PLAYED:
I primarily played The Forsaken Hollows on my gaming PC equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, NVIDIA RTX 5080, and 32GB of DDR5 RAM.
I played with maxed-out graphics settings and resolution on my 32-inch LG UltraGear 165Hz display. Unfortunately, just like Elden Ring, Nightreign is still capped at 60 FPS on PC.
I also purchased the DLC on PlayStation and Xbox, so I own it across all three platforms and was able to experience it on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
The DLC was already included in the Deluxe Edition I originally purchased on PC.
TOTAL PLAYTIME:
My total additional playtime with The Forsaken Hollows was approximately 80–100 HOURS. And that’s on top of the 400+ hours I’ve already spent with the base game!
According to HowLongToBeat.com, most players completed the DLC content in approximately 15 HOURS, meaning I’ve spent roughly 65–85 HOURS LONGER with this expansion than the reported average.
And the craziest part?
I’M STILL NOT DONE PLAYING!
DLC/ EXPANSION STORY — 5/5
I LOVED IT!
The Forsaken Hollows introduces a new main boss known as The Dreglord, complete with a brand-new cinematic introducing the character. We’re also introduced to two new playable Nightfarers, Scholar and Undertaker, each with their own lore and character quests.
I really enjoyed the new Remembrance quests, which give these characters additional personality and backstory. And I ESPECIALLY loved Undertaker’s bizarre little “wall-licking” scene.
I genuinely laughed out loud!
It’s these strange, unexpected moments that make FromSoftware’s storytelling so memorable. They have this incredible ability to create fascinating characters and lore without needing hours of traditional exposition.
FromSoftware’s lore creation and atmosphere are UNMATCHED, and The Forsaken Hollows is no exception.
Even for what is essentially a smaller experimental side project, the amount of care put into the storytelling is impressive.
NEW GAMEPLAY MECHANICS — 5/5
The Forsaken Hollows introduces a surprising amount of new gameplay mechanics, including new Vessels that can be purchased for each character, two completely different Nightfarer playstyles, and an entirely new Shifting Earth event.
And in typical FromSoftware fashion, they completely UNDERSELL what they’ve created.
When I initially heard we were getting a new Shifting Earth event, I assumed it would be another environmental variation on the original Limveld map.
NOPE!
Instead, we essentially got an ENTIRELY NEW MAP with insane verticality reminiscent of the Land of Shadow from Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
The new area introduces mechanics such as the Crystal Curse, which changes how you navigate certain locations, along with a new boss challenge tower that adds another layer of difficulty and progression.
And then we have Scholar and Undertaker.
Undertaker is a Strength/Faith-focused character who excels at aggressive close-range combat, while Scholar is this weird Intelligence/Item-focused character who approaches combat completely differently from the rest of the roster.
Both characters introduce entirely new ways to approach expeditions, and learning their abilities adds even more depth to Nightreign’s already addictive gameplay loop.
I was VERY impressed with how much new stuff FromSoftware managed to squeeze into this expansion.
NEW ENVIRONMENTS / LOCATIONS — 5/5
The new Shifting Earth event, The Great Hollow, is absolutely INSANE!
This place is MASSIVE, with incredible verticality, intricate pathways, and an entirely new layout that takes a serious amount of time to understand.
And that’s something I think people underestimate about Nightreign.
I’ve seen plenty of players asking FromSoftware to introduce more maps, but I genuinely think having too many could become overwhelming, especially for newer players.
It probably took me 30 hours just to become efficient at navigating the original Limveld map, learning the best locations to loot, which field bosses to prioritize, and how to optimize my routes before the Night’s Tide closed in.
Now imagine having to learn several completely different maps!
The Great Hollow alone STILL throws me off with how enormous and complicated its layout is. Even after dozens of additional hours, I’m constantly discovering new pathways, locations, and more efficient ways to approach expeditions.
And the actual level design?
PEAK FROMSOFTWARE!
This isn’t some lazily assembled map thrown together to appease players demanding more content. You can clearly see FromSoftware’s industry-leading level design philosophy at work here.
The environments are creative, interconnected, and visually striking, with a level of complexity that reminds me why I love this studio so much.
I’m STILL learning this place, and that’s a huge compliment considering how much time I’ve already invested.
NEW CHARACTERS — 5/5
Let’s just say Undertaker has already become a fan favorite, and I can DEFINITELY see people cosplaying this character for… certain reasons. ;) ;)
But jokes aside, both Undertaker and Scholar have fantastic character designs.
Neither looks like some generic NPC thrown into the game to pad out the roster. They have distinct appearances, personalities, and combat styles that make them immediately recognizable.
And right from the start, both characters have additional skins that look SUPER cool.
For a $15 DLC, I’m genuinely impressed with the quality of these two new playable characters. They don’t simply add more character slots. They introduce new playstyles and fresh opportunities to experiment with builds.
Even the new major bosses, Balancers and The Dreglord, have incredibly unique designs and encounters, complete with enhanced versions that add further challenges.
I’ve seen people criticize FromSoftware for supposedly “phoning it in” with Nightreign, but I couldn’t disagree more.
Considering this was essentially an experimental project exploring a new multiplayer-focused direction, the amount of creativity and care put into both the base game and The Forsaken Hollows is impressive.
QoL IMPROVEMENTS — 3/5
One of the more noticeable quality of life improvements is the ability to change Shifting Earth events using in-game currency.
This is a welcome addition because it gives players more control over the environments they want to experience instead of relying entirely on the game’s event rotation.
Other than that, I didn’t notice any major quality of life improvements introduced specifically with The Forsaken Hollows.
But honestly?
I think FromSoftware had already ironed out most of my major complaints through updates to the base game.
They previously introduced Duos, improved matchmaking, and added the Deep of Night challenge mode, where players can progress through increasingly difficult Depth levels, up to Depth 5.
Think of it almost like New Game Plus from previous FromSoftware releases, where enemies become more dangerous and the difficulty continues to escalate.
These improvements have made Nightreign a much more complete experience over time, even if most of them aren’t exclusive to this DLC.
NEW ENEMIES / BOSSES — 5/5
The Forsaken Hollows introduces two major new boss encounters, Balancers and The Dreglord, both of which feature unique designs and mechanics. And of course, there are enhanced versions for players who want an even greater challenge.
But that’s not all!
We also get new field bosses such as the Dragon Princes, along with returning FromSoftware favorites like Artorias from the original Dark Souls.
YES! ARTORIAS!
One of the most iconic bosses in FromSoftware history makes a return, and I personally LOVE seeing these legendary characters brought back with modern combat mechanics.
The DLC also adds Mohg as a Night 2 boss, additional encounters inspired by Shadow of the Erdtree, and more enemies brought over from Elden Ring.
Now, I know some people criticize Nightreign for reusing bosses and assets from previous FromSoftware games.
But I genuinely don’t understand why that’s automatically considered a bad thing.
For me, getting to fight these iconic bosses again within Nightreign’s faster-paced combat system is a HUGE part of the appeal.
It’s almost like a celebration of FromSoftware’s history, bringing memorable encounters together in a completely different gameplay experience.
I do understand some of the complaints about the amount of reused content, particularly when it comes to weapons, but I’ve been extremely happy with what FromSoftware delivered.
Nightreign was never meant to be an endlessly supported live-service game, and I think that’s an important distinction.
NEW ITEMS / WEAPONS — 3/5
This is probably one of the few areas where I was genuinely a little disappointed.
The Forsaken Hollows doesn’t introduce any major new weapons beyond the starting equipment for Scholar and Undertaker.
And considering how many AWESOME weapons were introduced in Shadow of the Erdtree, I was really hoping we’d see some of those make their way into Nightreign.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
BUT!
The new Relics you can obtain from defeating the DLC bosses are completely BROKEN.
And I LOVE THEM!
Some of these Relics allow you to dramatically increase your character’s damage output right from the beginning of an expedition, opening up some ridiculously powerful build combinations.
I also really enjoyed the addition of the weapon upgrade mechanic found at the new forges, which are inspired by the forge locations from Shadow of the Erdtree.
These additions provide more opportunities to strengthen your character and experiment with different builds.
So while I absolutely agree with the criticism surrounding the lack of new weapons, I still think the new Relics, Vessels, and upgrade mechanics provide some meaningful additions to the gameplay.
I just wish FromSoftware had thrown in a few more of those incredible Shadow of the Erdtree weapons.
REPLAYABILITY — 5/5
The replayability of Elden Ring Nightreign is INSANE.
But here’s the thing…
You either LOVE this game or you HATE it.
If you’re a traditional FromSoftware fan who enjoys slowly exploring every corner of a massive world, reading item descriptions, and taking your time with each encounter, Nightreign probably isn’t going to be your cup of tea.
And that’s completely understandable.
But if you’ve ever wanted a fast-paced way to experience Elden Ring’s incredible combat without having to replay an entire 100-hour campaign, Nightreign scratches that itch PERFECTLY.
And The Forsaken Hollows makes that experience even better.
The Great Hollow is enormous, the new characters offer completely different playstyles, and every expedition feels different depending on your teammates, equipment, enemies, and available routes.
Even after putting another 80–100 hours into the game, I’m STILL learning the new map and discovering ways to improve my runs.
And if you’re fortunate enough to have a good group of friends to play with?
OH MAN.
Some of the best gaming experiences I’ve ever had have come from jumping into Discord with my buddies and running expeditions for hours.
However, I completely understand that not everyone has a dedicated group of friends to play with.
If you’re relying entirely on random matchmaking, your experience with Nightreign could be VERY different from mine.
But for players who enjoy this style of game and have a good group to play with, the replayability is absolutely incredible.
100% RECOMMEND!
INTEGRATION W/ BASE GAME — 5/5
I think The Forsaken Hollows integrates PERFECTLY with the base game.
One of my favorite things about FromSoftware games is the freedom they give players to approach challenges however they want.
And this DLC continues that philosophy.
Don’t like the new Great Hollow map?
THEN DON’T PLAY IT!
You can continue enjoying the tried-and-true original Limveld map while still experiencing the new bosses and additional content.
The new Nightfarers, Relics, Vessels, and other additions fit naturally into the existing gameplay systems without fundamentally changing what makes Nightreign enjoyable.
Nothing feels forced or disconnected.
And that’s something I really appreciate about FromSoftware’s game design.
They don’t force you to engage with every single mechanic or activity they’ve created. Instead, they give you the tools and let YOU decide how you want to approach the experience.
For a $15 expansion, I think The Forsaken Hollows delivers exceptional value while respecting what players already love about the base game.
PERFORMANCE / STABILITY — 4/5
Performance was GREAT across every platform I tested.
On my Ryzen 7 9800X3D and RTX 5080 gaming PC, I experienced no noticeable performance issues, major bugs, or glitches throughout my time with The Forsaken Hollows.
The same was true on PS5 and Xbox Series X, where the DLC ran smoothly without any major technical problems that stood out to me.
I previously played the base game on an Xbox One S, where performance was pretty rough, hovering around 22 FPS in my experience.
IT RAN LIKE TRASH!
Unfortunately, I no longer own that console, so I wasn’t able to test how The Forsaken Hollows performs on the older hardware.
My biggest remaining complaint is the 60 FPS cap on PC.
I still don’t understand why Nightreign can’t offer an official high-frame-rate mode similar to Armored Core VI, which supports up to 120 FPS on PC.
With how fast-paced Nightreign’s combat is, I would LOVE to experience it at higher frame rates.
But outside of that limitation, I had an excellent technical experience with the DLC.
.gif "Elden Ring Nightreign The Forsaken Hollows DLC Overall Score")
ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN: THE FORSAKEN HOLLOWS is an INSANE DLC that delivers top-tier FromSoftware bosses, incredible atmosphere, and some of the most creative level design I’ve experienced in a multiplayer-focused game.
And for only $15?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
I know there are plenty of people who call Nightreign “copy pasta” or “slop” because FromSoftware reuses assets and brings back bosses from previous games.
But personally?
I LOVE IT!
Getting to fight legendary characters like Artorias of the Abyss again, this time with modern FromSoftware combat mechanics, is an absolute delight.
To me, it feels like a celebration of the studio’s history. A chance to revisit some of the most memorable bosses they’ve ever created without having to replay their original games.
And The Forsaken Hollows builds upon that concept beautifully.
The Great Hollow is an enormous, intricately designed environment that I’m STILL learning after dozens of hours. Scholar and Undertaker are fantastic additions to the roster, the new bosses are memorable, and the additional Relics and gameplay mechanics provide even more reasons to keep playing.
Sure, I would have loved to see more new weapons, particularly some of the incredible equipment introduced in Shadow of the Erdtree.
And yes, the game could absolutely benefit from an official 120 FPS mode on PC.
But those complaints are relatively minor compared to how much enjoyment I’ve gotten out of this expansion.
I’ve already spent another 80–100 hours playing content that cost me $15 and was included with the Deluxe Edition I originally purchased.
MY EXPECTATIONS WERE MORE THAN MET!
I also know many players wanted FromSoftware to support Nightreign indefinitely and treat it like a traditional live-service game.
But that was never my expectation.
I knew Nightreign was a smaller, experimental side project that Hidetaka Miyazaki entrusted to director Junya Ishizaki.
And personally, I think that decision paid off tremendously.
Nightreign was my GOTY for 2025, and The Forsaken Hollows only reinforces how much I love this game.
In an industry where studios are constantly facing closures, layoffs, and increasingly uncertain futures, FromSoftware continues to deliver incredible gaming experiences while making what I believe are smart decisions about its projects.
And that’s something I have a tremendous amount of respect for.
FromSoftware continues to deliver AMAZING games in an age where other studios are struggling. Hats off to you, FromSoftware. You did it again! Glaze over.
PROS
✅ The Great Hollow features incredible level design, verticality, and exploration.
✅ Scholar and Undertaker introduce unique, enjoyable new playstyles.
✅ Fantastic new bosses, returning FromSoftware favorites, and powerful Relics.
✅ Exceptional replayability and value for the $15 asking price.
CONS
❌ Very few new weapons, especially from Shadow of the Erdtree.
❌ Limited DLC-specific quality of life improvements.
❌ Still capped at 60 FPS on PC with no official high-frame-rate mode.
❌ Players relying on random matchmaking may not enjoy the experience as much as those with dedicated groups.
TLDR: 45/50 (INCREDIBLE)
Elden Ring Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows is an incredible $15 expansion that delivers a massive new Shifting Earth map, two unique playable Nightfarers, fantastic boss encounters, and even more reasons to keep playing FromSoftware’s addictive co-op boss rush. The Great Hollow features exceptional level design, while Scholar and Undertaker introduce fresh combat styles and new build possibilities. Although the lack of new weapons and continued 60 FPS cap are disappointing, the DLC offers outstanding replayability and integrates seamlessly with the base game. With another 80–100 hours invested, I can confidently say this expansion exceeded my expectations. For anyone who already loves Nightreign, The Forsaken Hollows is an easy recommendation!
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