Bosses have been a staple of video games since time immemorial. Fans love the idea of testing their skills against these larger-than-life foes who will waste no time in tearing a character's head from their shoulders if they don't bring their A-game in battle.
The Hardest Boss Fights In Soulslikes, Ranked
FromSoftware's Demon's Souls & Dark Souls spawned a subgenre known for grueling encounters. Which are the most difficult bosses in Soulslikes?
A vast majority of bosses in video games are male, with these imposing figures pushing players to their very limits. The cinematic qualities of these boss fights, coupled with the challenge they pose, make them a force to be reckoned with.
8 Senator Armstrong
An Incredible Final Boss Full Of Memorable Dialogue
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
- Released
- February 19, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action
Fans familiar with video game culture are aware of just how iconic the final battle in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is. Senator Armstrong is a powerful politician who uses the power of nanomachines to beat Raiden into a pulp.
The battle is far from easy and requires that players block at timely intervals and land as much damage as possible. It will feel like they're hitting a brick wall early on, only for Raiden to slowly get the upper hand as he finally emerges victorious against this legendary foe.
7 Hades
Zagreus' Father Is No Slouch, Especially If The Difficulty Is Increased
Hades
- Released
- September 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Roguelite
Hades is one of the greatest action roguelikes ever made. The boss fight against the eponymous God of the Underworld will test a player's effectiveness with their chosen weapon, coupled with the boons they acquired along the way.
Hearing the soundtrack go berserk as he enters his second phase (and his third, if players enable the respective Pact of Punishment) is a cathartic moment as players do everything in their power to ascend to the Overworld. It's a testament to Hades' excellence in execution that players will look forward to fighting this foe no matter how many times they've already initiated this encounter.
6 Baldur
A Resounding Uppercut Makes Him One Of The Best Boss Battles In 2018
God of War
- Released
- April 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
From the moment Baldur sends Kratos flying with one of the most legendary uppercuts in video game history, it's easy to see why players will have a great time when they take on this boss. Every fight against this foe is amazing as Kratos tries to beat down a god who is immortal and can't feel pain.
8 Best Soulslike Games That Have Easy Boss Fights
These exciting soulslikes offer a lot of the complexity and satisfaction of harder soulslikes, but they have comparatively easier boss fights.
The final encounter is elevated by Freya's presence, who reanimates the corpse of the frost giant Thamur in a bid to save her child from Kratos' rage. Unfortunately, Baldur is so consumed by rage that he would stop at nothing to kill Freya, prompting Kratos to break the god's neck in a bid to end this cycle of tragedy and violence.
5 Raphael
An Original Soundtrack Accompanies This Challenging And Entertaining Boss Fight
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Words aren't enough to describe the epic nature of a player's encounter against Raphael. This boss fight is arguably the hardest battle in Baldur's Gate 3 and is accompanied by one of the best OSTs in the game.
Hearing Raphael sing to his heart's content as he beats players to a pulp makes for a stressful battle where they must defeat his allies and tear down the pillars augmenting his strength. Only then will they be able to put down this demon for good.
4 Psycho Mantis
Breaks The Fourth Wall To Shock Players
Metal Gear Solid
- Released
- October 20, 1998
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Stealth
To this day, there's something about Psycho Mantis' fourth wall-breaking antics that is amazing to witness even now. The fact that players had to plug their controller into the second port to prevent him from reading their moves is quite ingenious.
The boss starts on an epic note as he talks about the games that the player has played previously before making their controller move with his mind. All of this combines to make for a memorable boss fight that highlights the strengths of Metal Gear Solid.
3 Mr. Freeze
Players Must Get Creative To Sneak Up On This Boss And Smash Him To Bits
Batman: Arkham City
- Released
- October 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Players who love bosses with a focus on stealth will have a great time hunting Mr. Freeze down in Arkham City. Players must take on the role of a predator and initiate several sneaky takedowns to break Mr. Freeze's suit and incapacitate him.
However, this is easier said than done since Mr. Freeze covers his tracks and prevents Batman from using the same kind of takedown multiple times. Players must analyze the environment and figure out how they can catch the boss by surprise without being caught.
2 Sans
The Genocide Run Pushes Players To Their Very Limits In This Fight
Undertale
- Released
- September 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- RPG
There's a reason why Megalovania has become one of the most iconic pieces of music from Undertale, even though most players didn't go down the Genocide route. Sans' boss fight is no joke and is meant to force players into giving up instead of seeing the Genocide run till the very end.
Players must go through a gauntlet of attacks and try to survive as Sans makes life hard for them. Even after exhausting him, Sans simply stops fighting and traps the player, who must drag their heart to the Fight command to land a mortal blow on everyone's favorite skeleton.
1 Ludwig, The Accursed/The Holy Blade
Arguably The Most Epic Encounter In A Game Full Of Incredible Bosses
Bloodborne
- Released
- March 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
It says something that The Old Hunters managed to surpass everything that FromSoftware had achieved with their Soulsborne games, with many fans feeling that the company is yet to top this masterpiece. The DLC wastes no time with its first boss fight, which is arguably the greatest battle in the history of gaming.
Ludwig is an important figure from the lore who stands in the player's way and must be taken down in a hellacious boss battle spanning two phases. Watching him regain his sanity and turn into an honorable fighter for his last battle is an amazing moment, with Ludwig wielding the Moonlight Sword to tear the Chosen Hunter apart.
FromSoftware: Hardest Beast Soulsborne Bosses, Ranked
FromSoftware's Soulsborne games are known for their difficult boss fights. The following eight animalistic beasts are among their toughest.