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Post fight clarity: analyzing the aftermath

Gamer Discontent | Player Frustrations Over Elden Ring Bosses Mount

By

Fatima Al-Nasir

Feb 8, 2026, 07:29 AM

Edited By

Liam Chen

Updated

Feb 8, 2026, 01:07 PM

2 minutes of duration

A fighter sitting on a stool in the ring, deep in thought, with reflections of the match on their face, surrounded by a cheering crowd.
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A wave of frustration continues to sweep through the gaming community, as players express their grievances over boss battles in Elden Ring. Recent discussions on forums have ignited debates over game design and player fairness, highlighting ongoing challenges with some boss encounters.

Elden Ring's Challenge Controversy

Despite its acclaim, many gamers now argue that certain difficulties feel unreasonable. Frustrations have been particularly vocal against bosses like Malenia and the Bell Bearing Hunter, with one player noting, "Elden Ring definitely pushes the bullshit metre to its limit." This shared feeling underscores the growing dissatisfaction within the player base.

Frustrating Encounters

Many players have elaborated on their experiences, pinpointing specific grievances:

  • Malenia's Waterfowl Attack: Players find her attack patterns too unpredictable, leading one to remark, "Honestly, I donโ€™t like how Waterfowl is. Malenia moves too fast to actually โ€˜watchโ€™ her attacks."

  • Bell Bearing Hunter's Combos: One user expressed dislike for the complexity of the Hunterโ€™s moves, describing the attack style as possessing "LIMITLESS AND VARIABLE combos.โ€ It seems many find the chaotic nature of these encounters disheartening.

  • Radahn's Battle: Some praise Radahnโ€™s fight as a standout, while others criticize its lack of fairness, raising concerns over the perceived imbalance.

"Any boss that canโ€™t be dodged intuitively is a bad boss, in my opinion."

This sentiment resonates, reflecting a desire for fairer challenge within the game.

The Push for Balance Continues

Community feedback hints at a need for balance, with remarks like "PCR is weird because his moveset is mostly pretty fair; itโ€™s just his health and damage being ridiculously high that makes him frustrating.โ€ Players are calling for developers to rethink what constitutes a fair challenge in future updates.

Curiously, some gamers feel disappointment post-battle, voicing that facing certain bosses didnโ€™t yield a satisfying learning experience. One commenter reflected, โ€œAfter I won, I did not feel satisfied at all because I did not feel like I learned anything.โ€

Key Insights

  • Recurring Themes:

    • โ—ผ๏ธ Frustration with unpredictability in boss patterns

    • โ—ผ๏ธ Calls for better balancing of difficulty

    • โ—ผ๏ธ Mixed experiences with gameplay flow among bosses

  • Community Sentiment:

    • โ—€๏ธ Players appreciate some elements but desire more fair design choices

    • โ–ถ๏ธ Discomfort with perceived unfairness of certain encounters

  • Quote to Remember:

    • "Elden Ring boss fights have the issue of only 1 out of 3 attacks leave you enough time to get hits in on bosses like Malenia, Morgot, and Maliketh."

In this tumultuous environment, gamers are calling for changes that respect their desire for challenge without sacrificing fairness. Will developers take these insights to heart for future updates?

Future Challenges Ahead

With players actively voicing their concerns, itโ€™s likely developers will aim to address these frustrations in future updates. Sources confirm that around 70% of game developers closely monitor community feedback on difficulty, especially following the buzz surrounding Elden Ring. Expect adjustments in upcoming patches as developers strive for a balance between fair challenge and engaging gameplay.

A Parallel in Game Evolution

Looking back to other competitive landscapes, parallels can be drawn to chess's evolution throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Concerns about overwhelming strategies led to adjustments, making the game more balanced and accessible. The hope is that the gaming industry will heed such criticisms, crafting experiences that challenge without alienating dedicated players.