FromSoftware is testing a lot of new waters with Elden Ring Nightreign. Nightreign will mark the first time FromSoft has made multiplayer the focal point of the experience, and the first time the studio has dabbled in roguelike mechanics. But long-time fans of FromSoftware don't need to worry, as there will be plenty of familiar locations, weapons, and bosses on display as well.
Along with Elden Ring base game bosses like Godskin Nobles, Ancient Dragons, and Morgott, Elden Ring Nightreign is bringing back some classic foes from the Dark Souls Trilogy. The Nameless King, the Centipede Demon, and The Duke's Dear Freja are all confirmed to be returning, and a recent leaked gameplay clip from Reddit user Speedwagon1987 seemed to suggest that Dark Souls 1's Gaping Dragon is joining the roster. The Gaping Dragon isn't the most obvious choice for a returning Dark Souls boss, but its potential appearance in Nightreign should pave the way for a few more like it.
Dark Souls and Elden Ring's Modding Communities Reveal One Path as the Way Forward for FromSoftware
A growing family of mods across FromSoftware’s Soulslike catalog indicates that their common feature needs to be officially added to future games.
Elden Ring Nightreign Could Give Some Forgotten Bosses a Second Chance
Dark Souls' Gaping Dragon Is Often Overlooked
2011's Dark Souls is home to some of the best bosses in FromSoftware history, so many, in fact, that there are plenty of otherwise good boss fights that tend to fall by the wayside when fans discuss the series all these years later. The Gaping Dragon is one such boss.
A climactic encounter sandwiched between two of Dark Souls' worst areas, the Gaping Dragon has a grotesquely wonderful visual design, which is enhanced by the boss' foreboding introductory cinematic. But in terms of actual gameplay, the Gaping Dragon's moveset leaves a lot to be desired.
Much of Dark Souls' Gaping Dragon fight boils down to players waiting for the boss to charge across the arena, hacking at its heels while it stands still, and running away from its absurdly powerful AoE attacks. This process repeats for a surprisingly long duration, which quickly dampens any tension that might have been felt at the start of the encounter. That being said, the Gaping Dragon is still a solid boss fight, though it does pale in comparison to even some of Dark Souls' more middling bosses.
Dark Souls Bosses That Deserve Another Shot in Elden Ring Nightreign
If recent leaks turn out to be true, then the Gaping Dragon might be about to get another shot in the spotlight. And if FromSoftware makes some significant changes to the boss' original moveset, Elden Ring Nightreign could give the Gaping Dragon the fame and renown it never had.
There are plenty of other long-forgotten Dark Souls bosses that could use a similar glow-up in Elden Ring Nightreign. Dark Souls 1's Iron Golem has the potential to be a real threat when he's not being pushed off of ramparts. Dark Souls 3's Yhorm the Giant could also be a formidable foe if his gimmick mechanics were removed.
Dark Souls 2 has no shortage of overlooked bosses to pick from. Gank fights like the Throne Watcher and Defender, the Dragonrider duo, and the Ruin Sentinels would all work much better with Elden Ring Nightreign's 3-player co-op. It might also be fun to see Dark Souls 2's Pursuer return, this time living up to its name properly by chasing the player across the map, much like Morgott will be doing in Nightreign.
Elden Ring Nightreign
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
- Released
- May 30, 2025
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike, Roguelite
