I’ll be honest: I did not expect Elden Ring Nightreign to drag one of FromSoftware’s most tragic legends into its co-op roguelike loop. But here we are. The Forsaken Hollows released on December 4, 2025, after a trailer at the November State of Play. Since then, I’ve been running the new content constantly, and it has reshaped my nightly co-op sessions.

The DLC is not a new map. It is another Shifting Earth variant of Limveld, but this one leans hard into the Eternal Cities aesthetic from Elden Ring. Think Nokstella, Nokron, underground starry skies, and lots of cosmic horror energy.

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What The Forsaken Hollows Adds

If you want a quick snapshot, here’s the important stuff:

Addition Details
Release date December 4, 2025
Headline boss Knight Artorias
Other bosses Astel, Divine Beast Dancing Lion, two new Nightlords
New Nightfarers Scholar, Undertaker
Setting Shifting Earth variant of Limveld inspired by Nokstella and Nokron
Price $15 for standard owners; included in Deluxe and Seekers editions

Artorias Is Here, And He’s Still Terrifying

The biggest reveal is Knight Artorias, the Abysswalker. I still remember the original Artorias of the Abyss fight from Dark Souls. That fight broke me. Seeing him in Nightreign gave me an immediate mix of excitement and fear.

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Yes, I looked for Sif. No, I have not found him yet. I’m not okay.

Artorias joins the punishment roster with two new Nightlords. The trailer also confirmed Astel, which makes perfect sense for the underground Eternal Cities theme. Astel was already a nightmare in Elden Ring, so fighting it in a roguelike run with mutated modifiers is exactly as bad as it sounds.

The Shadow of the Erdtree content also starts showing up here. The Divine Beast Dancing Lion from the expansion is present. I was hoping for more Shadow of the Erdtree DNA, and this feels like a good first wave.

Two New Nightfarers

The DLC expands the playable cast with two new Nightfarers: Scholar and Undertaker.

  • Scholar: An academic who walks the Lands Between. His arcane stat is high, and he gains advantages through battlefield observation. In the trailer, he flips through a magic tome and applies some kind of status effect to himself and nearby enemies. I love the idea of a character who gets stronger by reading the fight.

  • Undertaker: An abbess mandated to slay the Nightlord. She has impressive strength and faith, and sends enemies to the afterlife with ruthless efficiency. Her special includes a flying smash that can stagger Astel. She feels like a hammer wrapped in a holy robe.

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I haven’t fully mastered either, but Scholar is rapidly becoming my go-to for coordinated squads. His observation-based playstyle rewards communication. Undertaker is simpler and hugely satisfying for aggressive players.

Is It Worth It?

The price question matters. The Forsaken Hollows is included in the Deluxe and Seekers editions. For standard edition owners, it costs $15. Considering the new bosses, two Nightfarers, and a fresh map variant, that feels reasonable. It isn’t a full expansion, but it doesn’t pretend to be. The focus is more replayability, more pain, and more reasons to queue up with friends.

Elden Ring Nightreign has received steady updates since its release earlier in 2025. The Forsaken Hollows doesn’t break the core loop; it deepens it. Artorias alone is worth the price of admission for my group. Add Astel, the Dancing Lion, and two new playstyles, and I’m already looking forward to the next run. Just please, FromSoftware, let Sif be okay.

Expert commentary is drawn from Game Informer, whose long-running coverage of major releases and DLC trends helps contextualize what Elden Ring Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows is aiming for: not a full-scale expansion, but a replay-focused content drop that meaningfully refreshes co-op runs through a new Shifting Earth variant, additional boss pressure (including legacy-style challenges like Artorias), and distinct Nightfarer roles that encourage tighter team coordination and build variety.