Summary
Boss fights are a vital part of any game, and this is especially true for action games. These intense moments, where all of the tension in the story builds to a dramatic climax, are easily the most memorable parts of the game. They’re action-packed, adrenaline-inducing, and soincredibly rewarding.
Related:Best Dual Boss Fights In Games, Ranked
In fact, many players find these fights to be the best part of the game. Yet some games go above and beyond in the sea of boss fights, excelling in what they do, and are often the most enjoyable overall. So much goes into a boss fight, from the visuals to the story and the enemies themselves. From the games that have ticked most if not all boxes, these boss fights have become engrained in the player’s memories.
10The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
The Legend of Zeldais a true and tried classic in the gaming community. The series has made an incredible name for itself, and rightfully so. It is the cornerstone for many games which have tried to replicate its success. It really has it all: great storytelling, beautiful visuals, and incredible characters. Of course, the boss fights are some of the most memorable parts of the series as well.
Majora’s Maskis just one incredibly famous example. Fights likeGanondorfand Demise are some of the most intense yet incredible moments of the series.
9God Of War 3
God of Waris a game that mixes mythology with the thrilling genre of action games. The story follows Kratos, who becomes the god of war after killing Ares. This alone is a great start to a series with so many memorable boss fights. And yet, the fight with Zeus inGod of War 3may just be the best of them all.
The boss fights in the series usually revolve around facing many gods from both Greek and Norse mythology. This alone makes for some intensely difficult battles, featuringprominent figureslike Hercules, Gaia, or Odin and Thor, who are as powerful in the game as their counterparts are in mythology.
8Genshin Impact
Since its initial release in 2020,Genshin Impacthas been everywhere. Its popularity as the story progresses has been nothing short of incredible, but much of the hype around the game has been deserved. It is a beautiful game, with a fantastic story and a plethora of interesting characters.
Related:Hardest Bosses In Genshin Impact: And How To Beat Them
The boss fights are a very big part of the game, from weekly bosses to the intense story boss fights. Each time a new one is released the community gets excited, andGenshindoes not disappoint. Fights such as the incredibly difficult Raiden Shogun, and the exciting fights with the Fatui are a big part of what makes the game so great.
7Elden Ring
Elden Ringis notorious for being a difficult game. It is certainly one that many players turn to when looking for a challenge. This also means that the bosses inElden Ringare nothing short of tough.
In fact, the infamous Malenia, Goddess of Rot is one of themost difficult bossesever. Alongside bosses like Starscourge Radahn and the Godskin Duo, it is clear to see where the game’s reputation comes from. The sheer complexity of these bosses may actually be what makes them so memorable, and why they feel all the more rewarding to beat.
6Dark Souls 3
Dark Soulsis a franchise well-known for its bosses, and when the bosses popularize the game to such an extent it is a true testament to their memorability. Given the unforgiving difficulty of this game, similar toElden Ring, the bosses are some of the most difficult action game bosses ever.
The Nameless King fromDark Souls 3is widely known to be one of the mostdifficult bosses in the franchise. This boss has attack patterns that are impossible to escape, and he has incredible damage. Regardless, the sense of achievement from beating this extremely tough boss is massive.
5Borderlands 2
While theBorderlandsfranchise has many incredible bosses, none are quite as memorable as Handsome Jack inBorderlands 2.For as infuriating as Handsome Jack is throughout the game, the moment the players finally get to face him has a uniquely difficult sense of gravity.
Related:Bosses With The Best Banter During Fights
Even ignoring Handsome Jack, there are so many great boss battles throughout the franchise, such as the Calypso Twins fromBorderlands 3and Boom and his brother Bewm. What really makes these bosses so unique is their introductions, which are humorous as is typical for theBorderlandfranchise.
4Resident Evil Village
With the massive amount of games in theResident Evilfranchise, there are many great boss fights. That said, some stand out more than others in the franchise.
It’s hard to talk aboutResident Evilwithout mentioningLady Dimitrescu. This character amassed massive amounts of popularity whenResident Evil Villagefirst came out, but despite her appearance, she turns into one of the most horrific of bosses in the game’s first arc.
3Marvel’s Spider-Man
Marvel’s Spider-Man, unsurprisingly, is packed with great boss fights, Such as Mr. Negative and Dr. Octopus. Part of what makes these fights so good is the game’sspectacular voice actingand dialogue, which is especially the case for Dr. Octopus' battle.
Playing as the hero really does pay off in this game, as there is a deep sense of achievement after each fight. Good triumphs and the day is saved.
2Shadow Of The Colossus
The importance of the bosses withinShadow of the Colossusis made apparent straight away in the game’s title. Throughout the story, the protagonist Wander must face off against the sixteen Colossi in the hopes of resurrecting Mono.
Each of the Colossi has unique andbeautiful designs, making for visually impressive battle sequences. One such example is Avion, who is both the boss and the combat arena all at once, and who the player has to fight as he soars through the sky. There’s also Gaius, who appears gigantic against the minuscule Wander.
Dead Risingis a series of games where players are tossed into the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Many strange bosses pop up, some with extremely interesting names. And although there are comedic undertones to each game, there is an overall sense of seriousness as well.
The bosses are often referred to as “psychopaths”—people who have gone insane due to the severity of the apocalypse. What makes it difficult is that it could happen to anyone, and this unique sense of seriousness makes the boss fights all the more memorable. The character of Chuck Greene is just one great example, given that he was previously a protagonist.
