Explore the content of the Hallowed Concepts expansion for Risk of Rain 2, including new survivors, the N'tormat curio system, and gameplay changes.
Hallowed Concepts is the fourth major expansion for Risk of Rain 2, introducing a dark, cult-inspired theme centered around N'kuhana and the Lynx tribe. Unlike some previous expansions that relied heavily on side paths, Hallowed Concepts focuses on integrating new content directly into the standard progression of a run. Players can purchase this expansion on Steam for $14.99 USD.
The expansion adds two distinct survivors to your roster:
Additionally, players can explore three new environments: Damp Caverns (returning from the original game), Tenebrous Quagmire, and the Lurid Basilica. These stages feature new interactables and a fresh set of challenges.
A major structural change in Hallowed Concepts is the introduction of the N'tormat, a new "Curio" slot. Unlike traditional equipment, this item functions through pages found throughout the run, allowing players to activate varied spells.
Complementing this are "Hexes," items that function as permanent, purely negative modifiers. While they initially seem detrimental, players can cleanse these Hexes to potentially obtain powerful "Hallowed" items. Community reports suggest this system creates a high-stakes trade-off, forcing players to weigh the difficulty of a run against the reward of powerful, rare gear.
Hallowed Concepts introduces timed challenges called "Winnowings," which take place in special hidden realms. These trials are categorized by type:
Players who successfully complete these trials may keep a temporary "Ethereal" item for the remainder of their run.
According to community discussions, reception to the expansion has been generally positive, though individual experiences vary regarding the "Karma" system introduced in the accompanying free update. Some players have expressed conflict over the difficulty spikes in later phases of the new boss encounters, noting that certain builds may struggle more than others.
As with previous releases, the expansion encourages a collaborative approach—if only one person in your party owns the DLC, the new enemies, items, and levels will still appear for the entire lobby, though players without the expansion cannot select the new survivors or permanently unlock specific items.
