Elden Ring Nightreign’s bosses are a mix of current and previous FromSoft bosses, and its director explained why that is the case. Read on to learn more about why previous bosses are returning to the game!
Elden Ring Nightreign Explains Why FromSoft Bosses Are Included in the Game
Nightrein Bosses are There for Gameplay Perspective
Elden Ring Nightreign features classic Elden Ring and previous FromSoft bosses, and fans are thinking about its lore implications. However, Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki explained that these bosses are there for gameplay reasons during an interview with Gamespot on February 12, 2025.
It appears that FromSoft lore nerds do not have to worry about the lore implication of Nightreign’s bosses. "The primary reason for these existing bosses in Nightrein is from a gameplay perspective," Ishizaki explained. "Of course, with this new structure and with this new style of game, we needed a lot of different bosses. We needed a lot to add to this mix, so we wanted to leverage what we deemed appropriate from our previous titles."
"We obviously understand that our players have a lot of affection for these characters and they have a lot of fond memories of battling them in these games, so we didn't want to encroach too much on that lore aspect. We wanted them to make sense within the atmosphere and vibe of Elden Ring Nightreign."
Ishizaki also believes adding previous FromSoft bosses is "kind of fun." The existence of these previous bosses might not have a strong lore implication tying Elden Ring and other FromSoft games into the same universe. However, fans might focus on the primary antagonist, the Night Lord, and its potential connection to the overarching Elden Ring lore.
Nightreign Bosses from Previous FromSoft Titles
So far, two previous bosses are confirmed in Elden Ring Nightreign. These are the Nameless King from Dark Souls 3 (DS3) and the Centipede Demon from Dark Souls (DS). Meanwhile, it is speculated that The Duke’s Dear Freja, a humongous, two-headed spider, might also appear in the game.
The Nameless King, the firstborn child of Gwyn, is an optional boss in DS3 and puts players' mettle to the test with bursts of winds and lightning bolts. He is one of the most difficult bosses in DS3 but can be easily missed due to the associated sidequests to unlock his location, the Archdragon Peak.
Meanwhile, the Centipede Demon came from the very first Dark Souls game. This monstrosity has six centipede heads, spitting out fireballs in their mouth. It was speculated to have existed after the Witch of Izalith created the Flame of Chaos.
Lastly, Nightreign’s trailer also teases The Duke’s Dear Freja’s appearance in the game due to a single spider roaming a forested swamp. According to speculations, this spider is eerily similar to the ones appearing during The Duke’s Dear Freja boss battle in Dark Souls 2. It is speculated to be the pet of Duke Tseldora, who is obsessed with spiders.
Considering these bosses’ in-game lore, it would be difficult to tie them to Elden Ring’s narrative. However, thinking about their lore connection might not be the best way to enjoy these bosses as they are in Nightreign purely for gameplay reasons.
Source:
GameSpot Interview with Junya Ishizaki
