Boss fights are FromSoftware’s bread and butter. While the moment-to-moment combat of a FromSoft game usually feels great, it’s the boss fights that truly elevate the game’s mechanics and harmonize its interweaving systems. Boss fights have remained an integral part ofFromSoftware’s action-RPG formulafor over a decade now, andElden Ring Nightreignis no exception.
Elden Ring Nightreignputs boss fights front and center of the experience, arguably even more so than any of FromSoft’s previous titles. The entire gameplay loop ofNightreignrevolves around players essentially speedrunning their way through a series of boss encounters to level up and gain powerful upgrades so that they’re ready to face an even bigger boss. There are over 100 bosses inElden Ring Nightreign, six of which come from theDark Soulstrilogy. There’s more than enough there to keep fans invested for a little while, but there’s also plenty of room for more to join the ranks inNightreign’s upcoming DLC.
FromSoftware Bosses That Should Come to Elden Ring Nightreign After Launch
Demon’s Souls' Flamelurker
The originator of the FromSoftware formula,Demon’s Soulsis often overshadowed by its younger siblings, even despite having its own shiny remake on PS5. ThoughDemon’s Souls' boss rosterpales in comparison to those that came after it, it still has a few standout monsters that deserve a second shot. The terrifying Flamelurker is one such boss. A Balrog-like foe, Flamelurker uses his fists of fire to pummel players, and can leap great distances to avoid oncoming strikes. His agility makes him a great choice for one ofElden Ring Nightreign’s DLC bosses.
Dark Souls' Gravelord Nito
An oft-overlooked boss from the originalDark Souls, Gravelord Nito resides in what’s arguablythe worst area inDark Souls, but the boss fight itself is pretty engaging. During the course of the battle, Nito will slowly drag himself towards the player, summoning hordes of skeletons during the trek. Though this can lead to a lot of frustration inDark Souls– especially if players don’t have a Faith weapon equipped to stop the skeletons from resurrecting – it would suitNightreign’s three-player structure well.
Dark Souls 2’s Looking Glass Knight
Another underrated FromSoft boss,Dark Souls 2’s Looking Glass Knightcould be a great addition toElden Ring Nightreign’s boss roster. Along with some hard-hitting moves of his own, Looking Glass Knight is able to summon other players to fight alongside him. This could be adapted intoNightreign, with the boss summoning NPC versions of the Nightfarers during the fight, similar to how they’re used in Remembrance missions.
Dark Souls 3’s Lothric and Lorian
A boss already perfectly suited to co-op play,Dark Souls 3’s Lothric and Lorianare a natural fit forElden Ring Nightreign. Players need to split their attention between Lorian, a knight with a flaming greatsword, and Lothric, a sorcerer who heals his more capable brother.
Given Sony’s ownership of theBloodborneIP, it seems extremely unlikely any of its bosses will return inElden Ring Nightreign. Though, if they did, Ludwig would be a great choice.
Sekiro’s Demon of Hatred
Along withDemon’s Souls,Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicehasn’t received any proper representation inElden Ring Nightreignyet. Though theExecutor NightfarerborrowsSekiro’s deflection mechanic, it’d be great to see moreSekiro-inspired content inNightreign, and the Demon of Hatred could be the game’s best bet.
