Minecraft's bosses are among some of the most recognizable mobs in the survival-crafting genre. The Ender Dragon and Wither alone have cemented themselves in the game's history just as much as the iconic creeper, but perhaps it's time for a new boss to make its introduction to the game.
With Minecraft moving forward into the future, it becomes apparent that the game is lacking one key aspect in its boss department. There are no major boss enemies found in the game's overworld biomes. With the next update soon to be out of the way, update 1.21 might be just the time for the game to bring a new overworld boss.
The Potential of a Minecraft Overworld Boss
The current bosses of Minecraft all serve a purpose in terms of where they are located. The Ender Dragon's presence in the End, the Wither skulls being found in the Nether, and the Warden's guarding of the Sculk all suggest some kind of story. Not only do they serve as challenges for the player to overcome, but they also teach the player a little bit about the world and its potential history. It also helps add to their aesthetic and make them more threatening. Given that the Warden isn't really designed to be fought, however, the overworld lacks a true boss battle.
If an overworld boss made its way into the game, it could follow suit with this design. Its location in the overworld could change how the player to approaches the exploration of Minecraft's world. It would give players something new to discover on their journeys. Minecraft has always been largely about exploration, hence why biomes are often separated the way they are. It encourages the player to go out and seek new sights in the world. Adding a new boss that spawns under certain conditions would give players something more to keep an eye out for.
One example of this could be Minecraft's fabled red dragon, teased all the way back in 2011. The red dragon concept was the precursor to the Ender Dragon, but would soon evolve into the End boss with its initial design soon forgotten. Notch promised its eventual addition, but this idea was forgotten when he left Mojang in 2014. If the red dragon were to make a comeback, it would make sense as an overworld boss. It could be found roaming the world, or in shallow caves where they hide all of their treasure. It could be something players purposefully avoid, similar to the Warden, or something players seek out through special treasure maps, similar to the woodland mansions.
The greatest potential for a new overworld boss is the ability to expand on Minecraft's deep lore. Using the red dragon example, Mojang could craft an explanation for both their history and any potential links between them and the Ender Dragon. There could also be hints found through other interactions in the world, such as music discs. They have often been used to tell short stories for players to interpret. Virtually any kind of boss could be teased and set up using this strategy. How Mojang might one day approach this concept provides a plethora of potential for the future of the game and its content.
With Minecraft's Trails and Tales update quickly approaching, it won't be long until players have their hands on the new update. But with Minecraft's 1.21 update, hopefully Mojang considers the addition of a new boss into the game to spice up overworld content.
Minecraft is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
