Here’s a bold statement for you: Elden Ring: Nightreign’s latest DLC, The Forsaken Hollows, has players up in arms—and it’s not because of the new bosses or enemies. But here’s where it gets controversial... The real culprit? A baffling new map that’s driving gamers to frustration, sparking a wave of negative Steam reviews, and leaving many wondering if the DLC was worth the wait. Let’s dive into why this map has become the unexpected villain of the expansion.
First, let’s set the stage. The Forsaken Hollows has been out for over a month, giving players ample time to explore its two new Nightfarers, two end bosses, and a slew of night bosses. Yet, despite this wealth of new content, one element stands out as the universal pain point: the Great Hollow map. It’s not just difficult—it’s confusing. And while difficulty is a hallmark of FromSoftware’s design philosophy, this map feels less like a challenge and more like a chore. And this is the part most people miss... It’s not just the complexity; it’s the way it disrupts the flow of gameplay, turning what should be an immersive experience into a frustrating maze of bottomless pits and unclear paths.
Technically, the Great Hollow isn’t even a completely new map—it’s a Shifting Earth event, one of several that can alter the landscape during DLC boss fights. But unlike other Shifting Earths, which tweak parts of the existing map, the Great Hollow is a total overhaul. Gone are the familiar landmarks—the central castle, the ravine, the southern lake, and the northern cliffs. Instead, players are dropped into a fractured landscape centered around a massive crystal that appears to have crash-landed, splitting the terrain into multi-level cliffs and canyons. It’s visually stunning, no doubt, but it’s also a navigational nightmare.
Here’s where things get tricky: the Great Hollow is a multi-level map, requiring players to use spirit springs to navigate between tiers. This verticality adds a layer of complexity that’s hard to grasp at a glance. Normally, players can quickly scan a map, plot a route, and focus on the game’s core mechanics—collecting flasks, gathering resources, and tackling bosses in a logical progression. In the Great Hollow, however, the sheer number of levels and points of interest makes route planning a headache. Add to that the need to locate and destroy colored crystals—whose positions change with each attempt—to unlock a powerful buff, and you’ve got a recipe for frustration.
But the real kicker? The bottomless pits. Unlike Elden Ring, Nightreign doesn’t have fall damage, encouraging a fast-paced, agile playstyle. Players have grown accustomed to sprinting, leaping, and climbing without fear of consequences. The Great Hollow, however, introduces a massive chasm that runs through the center of the map—a chasm that’s deceptively hard to spot. One wrong jump, and you’re plummeting to your death. Worse yet, the game’s respawn system for falls is inconsistent. Instead of reappearing at the last Grace point, you’re dropped somewhere near your death point, often with your Runes stranded on the other side of the pit. It’s a small detail, but it compounds the frustration, turning a minor mistake into a major setback.
Steam reviews reflect this discontent. While Elden Ring: Nightreign itself enjoys mostly positive feedback, The Forsaken Hollows has seen a surge of negative reviews, with only 30% of the 1,347 reviews in the past month being positive. Players describe the map as “poorly designed,” “overly difficult,” and “boring,” with one reviewer calling it a “freaking chore.” Another laments, “I avoided it completely until I was forced to play it to complete certain storylines.” Even a positive review couldn’t resist noting, “The new map is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ terrible but everything’s so good.”
Here’s the controversial question: Is this map a masterpiece of design or a misstep? Some players argue it’s a skill issue, praising its uniqueness and the way it forces better team coordination. A Reddit thread even suggests, “The more I play, the more I feel like it was fantastically designed.” But for many, the learning curve is too steep, the frustration too great. After sinking over 100 hours into Nightreign, tackling new bosses, characters, and a map all at once feels overwhelming—even for seasoned players.
Could a few tweaks fix this? Possibly. Adjusting the respawn system for falls and improving minimap clarity might alleviate some issues. But for now, players are left to either adapt or avoid the Great Hollow altogether. What do you think? Is the Great Hollow a brilliant challenge or a design flaw? Let us know in the comments—and don’t be afraid to take a side. After all, controversy is what makes gaming discussions so lively.
This isn’t the first time Nightreign players have taken to Steam to voice their frustrations. Last November, a wave of negative reviews criticized the lack of DLC content, only for The Forsaken Hollows to be announced shortly after. A recent patch buffed underperforming Nightfarers, but it seems the Great Hollow map will remain a point of contention for the foreseeable future. As we wait for potential updates, one thing’s clear: The Forsaken Hollows has given players plenty to talk about—whether they love it or hate it.
