Hollow Knight: Silksong is a title that, despite the absence of any news of its release, people anticipate with excitement due to the fun and challenge it's expected to bring. Much can be said the same about Elden Ring: Nightreign's reveal, as it looks to be a similar title but on a much grander 3D plane. While the two clearly have very unique identities that help separate them from one another, they are the same in that they possess certain qualities mostly enjoyed by those looking for games that are more difficult than most. However, there is one thing that the two may not see eye-to-eye with, and it has something to do with one aspect that makes titles such as them so hard to begin with.
In a game like Silksong, it can be easier to accept that the 2D space the game is set in would allow for engaging and exciting boss fights consisting of multiple enemies. However, it might not be the same in Elden Ring: Nightreign's case, especially when considering the factors that would make the experience more of an annoyance than anything. Multi-enemy boss battles can elevate one game while dragging down the other, and there is a measure of truth to that due to certain aspects that fans of either game are likely very aware of.
Elden Ring Nightreign Would Feel Incomplete Without One Large Chunk of the Lands Between
Given the split of maps in the base game, another side to Elden Ring Nightreign's promised new region still isn't out of the question.
Why Silksong Should Have More Multi-Enemy Boss Fights and Why Elden Ring: Nightreign Shouldn’t
If there's one thing that the bosses of Hollow Knight and Elden Ring showed with their multi-enemy boss battles, it's that they can be great experiences depending on the game they're in. The quality of Silksong and Nightreign would be heavily affected if there were more such fights in either title, but as for why Team Cherry's creation should have them and FromSoftware's shouldn't, there are a few reasons:
- The 2D plane of Silksong will make areas that consist of multi-enemy bosses more controlled and emphasize the challenge, while the open 3D battlegrounds of Elden Ring: Nightreign could make for more unruly situations that could sour combat.
- The bosses of Elden Rin g that consisted of multiple enemies were more of a chore to deal with rather than a tough but fair experience, which could likely be the case for Nightreign if it had just as much or more.
- Silksong being a singleplayer game makes the threat of a multi-enemy boss battle more intimidating but also exciting to go up against, while Nightreign allowing three could make them easier than they're supposed to be.
How Multi-Enemy Bosses Could Work in Elden Ring: Nightreign
Silksong shouldn't have a problem if it has multi-enemy boss fights, as the Mantis Lords from the previous game showed why, but the same cannot be said for Elden Ring: Nightreign. FromSoftware can do something similar to what it did with a patch in Elden Ring which nerfed group bosses to an extent, but this time, going even harder. Instead of fixing them while they're already in the game, the developer can work on them even before putting them in. Considering that Nightreign is still under development, there should be enough time to think of things like the number of players taking on a boss at a time, the stage they will be on, and scenarios that could make the fight harder. If FromSoftware does so, its upcoming title may just have some of the best boss battles in gaming.
While the game set in the kingdom of Pharloom has a better shot at having amazing multi-enemy boss battles compared to the one in The Lands Between, that doesn't necessarily mean the latter can't have ones that are just as good or better. Elden Ring: Nightreign could still pull it off well, but that's assuming FromSoftware considers making the right adjustments to ensure it happens.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 91 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- September 4, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Publisher(s)
- Team Cherry
WHERE TO PLAY
Become the Princess Knight
As the lethal hunter Hornet, adventure through a kingdom ruled by silk and song! Captured and taken to this unfamiliar world, prepare to battle mighty foes and solve ancient mysteries as you ascend on a deadly pilgrimage to the kingdom’s peak.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to Hollow Knight, the award winning action-adventure. Journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover secrets tied to your nature and your past.
- Engine
- Unity
- Franchise
- Hollow Knight
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
