Highlights
- Boss fights are the most memorable and rewarding parts of action games, and some games excel in creating unforgettable boss encounters.
- Some games have notoriously challenging boss fights, which have made them infamous among fans.
- Other games excel at making bosses visually appealing or add a hefty dose of great storytelling to further spice up these epic encounters.
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 so incredibly rewarding.
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.
10 The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Legend of Zelda is 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 Mask is just one incredibly famous example. Fights like Ganondorf and Demise are some of the most intense yet incredible moments of the series.
9 God Of War 3
God of War is 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 in God of War 3 may 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, featuring prominent figures like Hercules, Gaia, or Odin and Thor, who are as powerful in the game as their counterparts are in mythology.
8 Genshin Impact
Since its initial release in 2020, Genshin Impact has 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.
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, and Genshin does 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.
7 Elden Ring
Elden Ring is 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 in Elden Ring are nothing short of tough.
In fact, the infamous Malenia, Goddess of Rot is one of the most difficult bosses ever. 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.
6 Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls is 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 to Elden Ring, the bosses are some of the most difficult action game bosses ever.
The Nameless King from Dark Souls 3 is widely known to be one of the most difficult 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.
5 Borderlands 2
While the Borderlands franchise has many incredible bosses, none are quite as memorable as Handsome Jack in Borderlands 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.
Even ignoring Handsome Jack, there are so many great boss battles throughout the franchise, such as the Calypso Twins from Borderlands 3 and Boom and his brother Bewm. What really makes these bosses so unique is their introductions, which are humorous as is typical for the Borderland franchise.
4 Resident Evil Village
With the massive amount of games in the Resident Evil franchise, there are many great boss fights. That said, some stand out more than others in the franchise.
It's hard to talk about Resident Evil without mentioning Lady Dimitrescu. This character amassed massive amounts of popularity when Resident Evil Village first came out, but despite her appearance, she turns into one of the most horrific of bosses in the game's first arc.
3 Marvel'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's spectacular voice acting and 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.
2 Shadow Of The Colossus
The importance of the bosses within Shadow of the Colossus is 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 and beautiful 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.
1 Dead Rising 2
Dead Rising is 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.