I had some very specific questions about Elden Ring Nightreign before committing to it. First, I wanted to know if I could play The Forsaken Hollows DLC solo – because if I’m buying DLC, I want to experience it on my own terms. Second, if solo wasn’t viable and I had to play co-op, I needed to know whether verbal communication was mandatory. I’m not comfortable with voice chat with strangers, so this was a dealbreaker question for me.
Here’s what I learned.
You Can Play Solo (Including The Forsaken Hollows)
You can play Elden Ring Nightreign solo, and this includes content from The Forsaken Hollows DLC. While the game is designed as a 3-player co-op roguelike experience, you have the option to set your expeditions to single-player mode.
To switch to solo play, go to the Roundtable Hold hub in the game and interact with the expedition interface at the central table. Navigate to the “Matchmaking Setting” tab and change the “Expedition Type” setting from Multiplayer to Single player. The game saves this setting for future expeditions until you change it back. You can also choose to play completely offline through the System settings menu under the “Network” tab.
The Solo Experience Is More Challenging (But Patches Have Helped)
The game was originally designed around 3-player cooperation, and many Nightfarer abilities synergize with teammates. You won’t have allies to distract foes, heal, or revive you when playing solo.
A patch (version 1.01.1) made significant improvements specifically for solo players:
- Reduced enemy health: Enemy health pools were adjusted downward so they feel closer to base Elden Ring difficulty rather than bloated raid boss levels meant for three players
- Automatic Revival Upon Defeat: One free revive per Night Boss battle
- Increased rune gains: You level up faster when playing solo
- Better relic rewards: Increased number of high-rarity Relics when reaching Day 3
These patches addressed the balance issues that made solo play initially frustrating.
Community reception is split. PC Gamer describes solo as “60% as good as the co-op experience.” Steam community opinions range widely – some players find solo “wonderful for doing Remembrance’s” and “still viable to complete every lord solo,” while others call it “brutal but not insurmountable” or say they’ve “found it to be much easier solo, depending on who you play.” Hardcore Souls players generally say it’s fine; casual players tend to find it too frustrating.
The consensus seems to be: solo works now after the patches, but it’s definitely the harder option and your experience will depend heavily on your skill level and which Nightfarer you choose.
These patches addressed the worst balance issues. Solo is now viable, though still harder than co-op since you’re handling everything alone without the teamwork mechanics the game was designed around.
Player reception is mixed. Some find solo rewarding as a hardcore challenge. Others still prefer co-op for the full experience. The consensus seems to be that solo works now but remains the more difficult option.
Some players find solo play rewarding as a hardcore challenge and a different experience from co-op. Others find it more difficult and less fun than playing with a coordinated team. It really depends on what you’re looking for.
What About The Forsaken Hollows DLC Solo?
This is where things get significantly harder. While the base game received patches that improved solo balance, The Forsaken Hollows DLC is a different story.
The director confirmed the DLC is “definitely a little more difficult” than the base game. It’s designed as endgame content for experienced players who have already mastered the core mechanics.
Reviews of the DLC’s solo experience are harsh:
- “The solo experience is brutal in the new zone”
- “As a solo player, it’s nearly impossible to kill some of the spread-out bosses in time”
- One player comment: “I refuse to believe they tested this for solo play”
The new map (The Great Hollow) adds verticality and confusing layouts that make solo play even more challenging. Some DLC bosses are spread out across the map in ways that make timing extremely tight when you’re alone.
So yes, you CAN play The Forsaken Hollows solo – the content isn’t locked behind co-op requirements. But the difficulty spike is real, and the DLC appears designed with the expectation that you’ll have teammates.
No In-Game Voice Chat Exists
This was my relief: Elden Ring Nightreign does not have any in-game verbal communication (voice chat) or text chat options. Communication is limited to non-verbal cues within the game itself.
While verbal communication isn’t a requirement, the nature of the game makes coordination important, and many players use external communication methods to achieve this.
In-Game Communication Methods
The only built-in ways to communicate with random players are:
Pings/Markers: You can bring up your map and place a marker on a location, item, or objective to guide teammates. You can also “agree” with another player’s ping. This is the primary way to coordinate objectives with strangers.
Emotes/Gestures: You can use character emotes, but these are primarily for fun and not practical for complex strategic instruction.
Jumping: Repeatedly jumping in one spot can be an effective, time-tested method to grab a teammate’s attention.
External Communication Methods
For those playing with friends, you can use external platforms to coordinate strategies, discuss gear trading, or call for help during a boss fight.
Console Party Chat: Both PlayStation and Xbox have built-in party chat systems that work well for communicating with players on your friends list or from recent players lists.
Third-Party Apps: On PC, the most popular option is Discord, but you can also use Steam’s built-in voice chat, or other apps like Slack or Microsoft Teams.
While it’s possible to complete runs without verbal communication, the lack of in-game voice chat can make it more challenging to coordinate complex strategies with random players.
Using the Ping System Effectively
The ping system is crucial for achieving common goals like managing resource collection, engaging bosses, and setting extraction points. Here’s how to use it:
To use the ping system, open your map (usually the Touchpad on console or the ‘M’ key on PC), move your cursor to the desired location, enemy, item, or objective marker, and press the “Ping” button (R3 on PlayStation, Right Stick on Xbox, or Mouse Click on PC).
When a teammate pings something, you’ll see a temporary icon both on your minimap and in the game world. If you agree with their proposed action, you can move your cursor over their ping on the map and press the ping button again to “Agree,” adding a visual checkmark.
Effective Ping Strategies for Common Scenarios
I need help/revive: Ping your own location or the location of a downed teammate repeatedly. This means “Come here immediately!”
Let’s go here next: Ping the next objective marker or a specific unexplored building/area. This means “This is our next priority area.”
I found a specific item: Ping a visible item on the ground (like a key or a valuable resource). This means “Found something important, come trade or grab it.”
Focus on this enemy/boss: Ping the boss icon or a specific elite enemy during combat. This means “Attack this target first; ignore others for now.”
Stop exploring, let’s extract: Ping the large extraction icon once it appears on the map. This means “We have enough resources; let’s finish the level.”
Agreeing with a teammate: Ping your teammate’s existing ping (adds a checkmark). This means “Good idea, I’m with you.”
General “Ping Etiquette”
Ping Sparingly: Pinging constantly can become visual noise and frustrate teammates. Use pings for essential information only.
Trust the Pings: When a teammate pings an objective, try to follow it unless you have a very good reason not to. The team that works together succeeds together.
The “Jumping” Shortcut: If you’re standing directly in front of an important item (like a chest or a unique crafting material) and want your team to notice it quickly without opening the map, just jump up and down a few times. It’s universally understood.
The Verdict
The base game is playable solo after the patches that improved balance. The Forsaken Hollows DLC is technically accessible solo, but reviews make it clear the experience is brutal – with some bosses being nearly impossible to defeat in time without teammates.
If I decide to play co-op with randoms, I don’t need a microphone. There’s no in-game voice chat, so nobody expects it. The ping system provides enough coordination for successful runs as long as everyone pays attention to the markers.
For me, this means I can tackle the base game solo when I want that challenge, but The Forsaken Hollows will likely require co-op. The good news is I can team up with random players without the social pressure of voice chat – the ping system handles coordination well enough.