Summary
- Players face tough final bosses in open-world games, requiring precise timing and use of weaknesses.
- Bosses like Venom, Sauron, and Elden Beast are challenging and require perseverance to defeat.
- Proper preparation, strategy, and in-game knowledge are essential for success in epic boss battles.
Open-world games usually feature a combat loop to keep fans engaged. Players love the idea of exploring a sandbox and smashing to bits any foe stupid enough to think they stand a chance against them.
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However, some bosses are so challenging that they'll serve as a wake-up call for players, especially the ones that come at the end of the game. Without using every trick in their arsenal, these bosses will wipe the floor with players time and time again.
8 Venom
Players Who Find Parrying To Be Tricky Will Have A Bad Time During This Boss Fight
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
The addition of the iconic Black Suit in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 meant that Venom was bound to be the game's final boss. Players expected a tough fight from this Symbiote, and they weren't disappointed.
Unless players timed their parries to perfection and used Venom's weakness to sound against him, they were in for a tough battle. The wily Symbiote pulls no punches and can be a tough nut to crack, leading players to restart this fight over and over again before they eventually secure victory.
7 Sauron
The Bright Lord DLC Introduces The Hardest Boss Fight In Shadow Of Mordor
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
- Released
- September 30, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is an excellent game that needs no introduction. The Nemesis system and a brutal take on Arkham combat helped this title stand out as one of the best action-adventure open-world games ever made, but the final boss was a massive disappointment. The battle against the Tower just involves a few stealth drains, while the Black Hand of Sauron can be taken out with a simple QTE.
It's clear that Monolith Productions heard the complaints of fans, since the final boss in the Bright Lord DLC learned from these mistakes. As Celebrimbor, players fight against Sauron in an epic fight that is incredibly challenging, especially with orc allies turning against the player during this battle. Players can only use takedowns to inflict damage on Sauron while avoiding the numerous orcs and their captains that try to mob Celebrimbor during this tough battle.
6 Vide, The Wicked
The True Final Boss Makes For A Tough, Cinematic Spectacle
Octopath Traveler 2
- Released
- February 24, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated T for Teen for Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, and Use of Alcohol and Tobacco.
- Genre(s)
- RPG
As great as the first Octopath Traveler was, a common complaint was the lack of a proper conclusion, with many people hating how players had to fight a superboss to enjoy the true ending. This problem was avoided in the sequel, where the heroes must embark on one final adventure after their quests are completed.
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After uncovering Vide's trickery, they must head to a certain spot on the world map to initiate the final boss fight. Vide, the Wicked is an epic and challenging foe that will punish unprepared players, so players must ensure that all eight party members are on top of their game to deal with this challenging foe.
5 Sephiroth
Cloud And His Partner Will Have Their Hands Full With Sephiroth
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Released
- February 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth makes for a fun open-world take on Cloud and Co.'s adventures after they leave Midgar, which was bound to happen given how the original game opens up after players leave the city. The game's combat is as flashy and engaging as ever, ending with a boss gauntlet everyone expected against Sephiroth.
This battle is no joke and will push players to their very limits as Cloud teams up with both Zack and Aerith to take out his rival. As one would expect if they've completed Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Rebirth's final boss fight is just as challenging and will force players to heal over and over again to avoid losing after a protracted battle.
4 Ganondorf
The Demon King's Health Bar Makes It Clear That He's No Joke
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Tears of the Kingdom is a massive technical achievement, with Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend, and Rewind being mechanically complex powers that have been done justice to. The developers also heard the complaints fans had about the final boss of Breath of the Wild being too easy if players followed the intended path and enlisted the help of every Divine Beast.
The battle against the Demon King, Ganondorf, is no joke, and fans will realize the hurt they're in for when they see his health bar shoot up to the stratosphere. His attacks inflict Gloom, punishing players who didn't come into this fight prepared. His moveset is a faster version of the one Phantom Ganon wields, and he can even nail perfect dodges to flex on Link if players get too greedy with their attacks.
3 Dettlaff van der Eretein
Blood & Wine's Final Boss Fight Is A Tough Yet Rewarding Affair
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Dettlaff is a fascinating character that players will both love and hate by the end of The Witcher 3: Blood & Wine. This DLC boasts a greater challenge compared to anything else Geralt has faced, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the final boss fight.
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Dettlaff transforms into his high vampire form and will obliterate players with his attacks over three grueling phases. Managing Geralt's toxicity and taking out this foe is easier said than done, especially since players will have to start the fight from the beginning if Geralt dies.
2 Zoh Shia
The First Truly Open Monster Hunter Game Ends With A Banger Of A Boss Fight
Monster Hunter Wilds
- Released
- February 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence, Blood, Crude Humor
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Monster Hunter games are bound to feature tough final bosses, and the first fully open world game in the series is no exception. After hunting down their fair share of monsters, players must face Zoh Shia, a Construct monster that looks like a cross between an angel and a dragon.
The AoE attacks of this foe are so tricky that players must figure out how to avoid them if they don't want to lose their precious HP. It's far from an easy fight and will back players into a corner over and over again before they eventually manage to defeat this foe.
1 Elden Beast
A Tough Final Boss With AoE Attacks That Can Be Tricky To Deal With
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
As one would expect, the bosses in Elden Ring are especially challenging, and this applies to the final foe of the game too. The Elden Beast is a nightmare to deal with for players who can't figure out how to deal with its sweeping attacks, regeneration, and AoE blasts.
It's easy for the Tarnished to find themselves dying to this boss over and over again, but perseverance will eventually lead to victory. If nothing else, players can head to another corner of the map and get stronger before attempting this foe, which is a simple way to alleviate this boss fight's difficulty.
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