Top 20 Video Games With The BEST Boss Fights
#20: “No More Heroes” (2007)
Top 10 Games With ONLY Boss Fights
When Travis Touchdown decides to become the world’s greatest assassin, he has to make his way through his own Top 10 of deadly encounters. Each of his targets has an army of goons to slice and dice through, but the bosses show they didn’t become the best assassins for nothing. They all come with their own brand of spectacle and grow increasingly zanier as you progress. From Destroyman’s superheroics to Harvey’s flair for theatrics, it’s all a build up of absurdity. And it crescendos wonderfully with the blisteringly fast battle against Sir Henry. Not only do they fight differently, but each one also manages to feel unique as a character.
#19: “Kingdom Hearts II” (2006)
Top 10 Kingdom Hearts Boss Battles
Square Enix improved on many aspects of “Kingdom Hearts” for its sequel, including the boss fights. It hits the ground running with Twilight Thorn, a tutorial boss that actually provides a challenge. From there, it’s a mix of some highly unique original antagonists and some of our favorite big bads from Disney’s catalog. Visiting the worlds of “The Lion King” and “Hercules” was incredible, as was facing off against Scar and Hades. But it just goes to show how pristinely designed this entry is when the likes of Xemnas and Lingering Will aren’t overshadowed by those larger-than-life characters. Many fans decree it the best installment for various reasons, but its boss design is a big one.
#18: “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night” (1997)
Castlevania: Games VS Series - What Changed?
“Castlevania” has pit players against Dracula and his hordes of nightmarish creatures multiple times. But fighting them is never quite as fun as it is in “Symphony of the Night.” As the famous vampire’s half-human son, Alucard, you must explore your father’s ancient castle to save Richter Belmont and stop Dracula’s resurrection. You’ll fight against monsters ripped straight from creature features, like a Mummy and even something that resembles Frankenstein’s monster. True to the series, there are also fabled beasts from Greek myth like Medusa and Cerberus. Then there’s Dracula himself, still bringing new elements despite being fought so many times before. Each boss is a blast, and showcases this entry’s tremendous, quick-paced combat.
#17: “Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening” (2005)
The 10 Hardest Devil May Cry Bosses
Choosing which “Devil May Cry” should be included was a tough call, but “Dante’s Awakening” narrowly won out. As a prequel to the original game, it followed a younger and, apparently, much more combatively capable Dante due to this entry’s heavier focus on combos. The combat mechanics were in full force through each of the game’s boss fights. Many dwarf the hero in size, such as Agni & Rudra, two demon blades that control headless behemoths to wield them. But even those of average size are tremendous forces and tests in endurance, like the Lightning Witch Nevan. Additionally, just how the story benefited by focusing on Dante and Vergil’s troubled relationship, so too did combat since you face him three action-packed times.
#16: “Final Fantasy X” (2001)
The HARDEST Boss In Every Final Fantasy Game
The “Final Fantasy” series is so vast that your favorite story, mechanics, characters, and bosses might be in entirely separate entries. On that last note, though, we believe those in the tenth game have never been surpassed. With a monster named Sin causing destruction everywhere it goes, your merry band of adventurers set out to stop it. This puts you into conflict with some truly formidable creatures and villains. Braska’s Final Aeon and every single fight against Seymour are among the strongest within the story. There are also optional fights that provide a hefty challenge, particularly Omega Weapon and Penance. Not every boss is perfect. But overall, they’re a JRPG fan’s dream.
#15: “Metroid Dread” (2021)
10 Scariest Metroid Bosses
“Dread” breathed new life into “Metroid,” quickly becoming the best-selling in the series. Its smooth-as-silk gameplay was simply addictive, and it was on prime display in each and every one of its boss encounters. On the Planet ZDR, Samus had to track down rogue, killer robots while dealing with its hostile wildlife and the parasitic X species. A rematch against Kraid was a nice throwback, while the similarly-sized Drogyga and Experiment No. Z-57 offered difficult new challenges. In fact, every boss was exceptionally tough, building up to the game’s villain, Raven Beak. Not only was he fought across three distinct phases, but each one was a genuine joy to play. Even if he did keep killing us with ease.
#14: “Asura’s Wrath” (2012)
Honestly, ‘wrath’ doesn’t even begin to cover it. This action powerhouse from Capcom follows the titular demi-god seeking vengeance against those who betrayed him thousands of years ago. But justice isn’t so easily served. Essentially every character in this game, including Asura, surpasses their limits when victory is on the line. From the bulbous Wyzen to the moon-bound battle against Augus, power emanates as environments crumble with every punch. Everyone is over-the-top in the best way, climaxing with Chakravartin, a fight that sees time and space ripped apart. Not for nothing, but if you have the DLC, you could also duke it out with Akuma and Ryu from “Street Fighter.”
#13: “Mega Man X” (1993)
The 10 HARDEST Mega Man Boss Fights
Squaring up against robot masters is the Blue Bomber’s bread and butter. And there is not a single weak fight to be found in his first 16-bit adventure, “Mega Man X.” In addition to stronger visuals, Capcom based each boss around an animal, making for more unique appearances than ones seen in past games. More importantly, they’re all fun as hell. The likes of Sting Chameleon, Flame Mammoth, and Chill Penguin are all cleverly designed with their own bags of tricks. Figuring out their pattern is as satisfying as it's always been. And true to form, they each give Mega Man a nifty new ability.
#12: “Shovel Knight” (2014)
Not every game can have bosses so good, they get their own spin-offs. But such is the case with “Shovel Knight.” Inspired by the action platformers of yesteryear, players take control of the aptly named knight to save a lost friend. Standing in their way is the Enchantress and her Order of No Quarter, a group of knights that act similar to the robot masters of “Mega Man.” Each is vastly different from the last. Mole Knight’s dashing and digging will keep you moving, as will Plague Knight’s bombs and teleporting. Tinker Knight’s fakeout first phase is comedic genius, while the final boss is a clash for the ages. “Shovel Knight” is retro-inspired glory at its finest.
#11: “Bayonetta 2” (2014)
Top 10 INSANE Boss Battles from Bayonetta!
The hack and slash genre is a great place to look for bosses that aim for the outlandish and extreme. “Bayonetta 2” has more than its fair share and even features a giant, demonic creature clinging to the side of the Empire State Building in its opening moments. Every boss battle has the force and power to match their intimidating designs. Not only that, but they each have insane, jaw-dropping moments sprinkled liberally throughout. However, Bayonetta’s confidence is infectious. No matter how colossal or powerful the foe, her attitude and the game’s fantastic controls only ever made us crave more. It’s one of the strongest action games ever released, and the bosses are partially why.
#10: “Bloodborne” (2015)
FromSoftware has been giving us fantastic boss fights for years and some of the studio’s best work is on display in “Bloodborne.” It carries with it the high difficulty found in their other games, but with a heavier focus on Horror. That means every single one of them will not only be hard, but possibly give you nightmares. Whether it’s the early clash against Father Gascoigne or the arachnophobia-inducing Rom, the Vacuous Spider, the conflicts range from creepy to petrifying. For players who could stomach it, DLC further provided incredibly unnerving monsters, such as Ludwig the Accursed and the Orphan of Kos. “Bloodborne” placed emphasis on the dangers and fears of being a monster hunter.
#9: “Resident Evil 4” (2005)
Every Resident Evil 4 Remake Boss Fight Ranked
“Resident Evil 4” was a major step forward for the series and remains one of the best entries. It doesn’t hurt that it has some of the best Horror bosses in video game history. After easing you in with some standard enemies, Leon’s first boss fight is against a mutated salamander housed in a lake. Things don’t slow down, either; due to the way Las Plagas works, regular-looking characters will become monstrous behemoths when it’s time to fight, making for great surprise entrances. Most of the game’s bosses are exceedingly well-balanced on top of being thrilling. And all of them were more polished, in appearance and gameplay, for the 2023 remake.
#8: “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” (2006)
The Hardest Legend Of Zelda Boss Ever
Link has been battling beasts since the 80s, yet his most stunning victories are found in “Twilight Princess.” With Hyrule overtaken by an invader from an alternate dimension, the Hero must delve into the most treacherous places to bring peace back to the kingdom. Standing in his way are all manner of elemental monsters, from a Goron transformed into a flaming giant to a possessed Yeti encased in ice. Even those that don’t offer much of a challenge, like Morpheel, at least still bring spectacle and wonder. They each make use of their respective dungeon’s item extremely well, with Stallord taking the top spot in the ‘pure fun’ category. It all culminates in one of the best final fights the series has ever seen.
#7: “Monster Hunter World” (2018)
Top 10 Best Weapons In Monster Hunter Games
Clearly, Capcom knows its stuff when it comes to crafting great bosses. The “Monster Hunter” series is unique as most of its boss fights are found by venturing into the wider world and actively looking for them. That doesn’t stop them from being any less awesome. While 2021’s “Rise” was another great entry, the fights in “World” just can’t be topped. Whether you want to play as a lone wanderer or with friends, you’ll find your monster slaying work cut out for you. Although, some of them, like Nergigante and Lunastra, will be challenging no matter the team size.“World” epitomizes living in a deadly fantasy world and struggling not to be the next gigantic monster’s lunch.
#6: “Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater” (2004)
The 10 WEIRDEST Moments in Metal Gear Solid Games
Many bosses are faced head-on, with players throwing everything they can think of at them to deal damage. Those found in “Metal Gear Solid,” on the other hand, require a little more outside-the-box thinking. In “Snake Eater,” players track their former mentor after they’re betrayed. But there’s a whole host of operatives blocking their way. The Pain controls a swarm of hornets, The End provides a tense sniper match in a dense jungle, and The Fury naturally spreads his hate like fire. Meanwhile, the climactic clash against The Boss is cinematic in both its setting and storytelling. Each fight forces the player to approach it in different ways, perfecting the franchise’s legacy of being unlike anything else in gaming.
#5: “Cuphead” (2017)
WTF is Cuphead? Top 5 Things You Need To Know
With only a handful of “regular” levels, “Cuphead” primarily consists of bosses. Thankfully, they’re all spectacular. After making a deal with the Devil, Cuphead is forced to collect all the souls owed to him. For some reason, every soul belongs to something that will easily destroy you. The game’s high difficulty is well-known by now; most bosses are gauntlets with multiple phases that easily got players raging. Dr. Kahl’s Robot, Cala Maria, King Dice, Grim Matchstick…try as you might, they’ll all congest your screen with varied attacks. But it only makes it that more satisfying when you finally win. Even if “Cuphead” didn’t have the charming art style and music, these bosses would still be ridiculously fun.
#4: “Undertale” (2015)
After falling into the Underground, you learn the King of the monsters needs your soul for he and his citizens to escape. With his most loyal supporters hunting you, you can either fight back or find peace. While the presentation is simple, navigating your little heart through each barrage of attacks can actually be pretty tough. The bosses of “Undertale” adapt to how you play; if you want to fight, you’ll reach a level of challenge not found otherwise. However, going the peaceful route will give you more insight into their character until you can resolve each conflict. Their patterns, personalities, and humor are showcased perfectly alongside unique combat styles. Plus, the music for each one is legitimately incredible.
#3: “God of War III” (2010)
The 10 BEST Boss Fights in South Park Video Games
To be fair, every “God of War” game has some truly remarkable boss battles. But none quite reach the same level of epic brutality that “God of War III” does. In the opening moments, before you even step foot on solid ground, Kratos clashes with Poseidon in one of the best opening fights of all time. He travels to the underworld to rip Hades’ own soul from his body, has an all-out brawl with Hercules, and has the earth-shaking clash against Zeus he always dreamed of. Every one of them brings marvelous abilities and plenty of spectacle. You even get to fight the Titan, Cronos, whose whole body acts as an arena, something we don’t often see. Well, almost…
#2: “Shadow of the Colossus” (2005)
Shadow of the Tomb Raider - Review
In order to resurrect a lost loved one, players must find and defeat sixteen majestic and imposing Colossi, which is definitely easier said than done. “Shadow of the Colossus” is mostly a boss rush with some spectacular art direction. Each of the sixteen requires a bit of thinking so you can figure out how best to approach them. While you’ll have to climb them to reach their weak spots, hitching a ride (and keeping it) is part of the challenge. The Colossi all feel and look different from one another, meaning there isn’t a weak link in the chain. The satisfaction that comes from felling one is unmatched, though that turns to confliction as you continue your executions.
#1: “Elden Ring” (2022)
Hardest Elden Ring Bosses
We’ve already praised FromSoftware for its bosses, but “Elden Ring” is beyond the level of compare. The Lands Between are overflowing with dangerous beasts and demigods alike, many of which will make your life as a Tarnished troublesome. The Godskin Duo team up to beat you down, Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy has a chilling design, and let’s not forget the fame and notoriety Malenia earned herself. Thankfully, you can call your friends for aid if they get to be too much. With more than 100 different bosses to be found, “Elden Ring” has both a higher quantity and quality than anything else FromSoftware has released. No matter what the studio works on in the future, it will have some mighty shoes to fill.
