Elden Ring Nightreign’s first major DLC has sold over 2 million copies in under a week, as it manages to reignite that soul-crushing spark I had the first time I played

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FromSoftware games are known for being incredibly challenging – your first instinct is usually frustration and wanting to quit. That’s been my experience with every game they’ve made, like Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and Demon Souls. I always say I’m done after the initial difficulty, but I always end up playing them for hundreds of hours. It’s a strange habit of mine, but I always go back for more.

Elden Ring’s Nightreign felt just as confusing as other parts of the game. I was suddenly thrown into Limveld with no explanation, right next to a tough boss called a Godskin Duo in an Evergaol. It was a frustrating start, but after playing a bit more, things began to make sense. Fast forward 200 hours, and I’d defeated all the Nightlords and their Everdark versions, only to find the game surprisingly easy.

It seems FromSoftware was listening when I said their game was manageable, because the new ‘Forsaken Hollows’ DLC is seriously challenging! I’m getting defeated over and over by the two new boss characters, the Balancers and Dreglord, no matter which of the new playable characters I choose. I’m even struggling to beat the second boss—that Demon Prince is incredibly tough, and pairing Curseblade with the Divine Beast Warrior feels unfair!

But the difficulty of the latest DLC hasn’t stopped a shedload of dedicated nightfarers from diving in and putting themselves through the wringer. “2 million nightfarers in search of the Forsaken Hollows,” an official blog post says. “For every nightfarer who joined the hunt against the Dreglord, we offer our immense gratitude.”

I can’t speak for all players, as opinions on this new DLC are mixed, but I’ve grown to really appreciate Forsaken Hollows despite a rough start. Like with all FromSoftware games, it took me a while to get into, but I’m now enjoying the challenge. I’m finally figuring out the map – where to go, the best routes, and what’s worth exploring. Restarting from the beginning has been surprisingly satisfying.

I can’t be sure I’ll reach level 15 before becoming a nightlord anymore, and I might even struggle with the early bosses. Battles are much tougher now – you really have to focus and make every attack effective.

It’s hard to say how long the initial challenge will last. Like all FromSoftware games, mastering this one will come down to dedication, perseverance, and practice. Players will probably become incredibly skilled at navigating the new areas and defeating the bosses quickly, but for now, I’m just going to enjoy the unpredictable experience.

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2025-12-09 17:32