Boss fights can be what makes a game special, what make a game memorable. Often times boss-fights are the culmination of a character arc or a certain segment of a story. They can act as exposition tools whilst also being rewarding and challenging.
Videogames have, over the years, developed boss fights from being simplistic versions of beat the big evil one into a more nuanced and complex part of the game. This is also where dual boss fights come in. As these challenge gamers, they’re often difficult, can act as a sort of puzzle and force gamers to weigh their options. Dual boss fights are usually very fun, but they’re also very tough. This list ranks some of the toughest ones a player can find; expect to see a lot of From Software games.
8 Vulture And Electro (Spider-Man PS4)
Spider-Man PS4 is one of the best superhero games to come out, period. The game is really fun and players can easily sink hours into it. That said, it's not that hard at all, the games' strength lies in the web-swinging, story and combat sequences. However, the Vulture and Electro fight is definitely no pushover.
The fight starts with a skirmish with Electro, once he gets weak enough, the Vulture swoops in. The Vulture has two different attack patterns, and he needs to be stunned before he takes damage. Electro, also has easily telegraphed pattern-like moves the player should already be familiar with. The fight is tough but fair, and very cinematic. It's overall an extremely enjoyable experience.
7 Magni & Modi (God of War 2018)
The twin battle with the Demi-Gods Magni and Modi is one of the highlights of an already incredible game. The fight’s challenge varies depending on the difficulty a player is playing at. Again, the attack patterns should after a couple of minutes be familiar to the player. And the game does a great job of telegraphing which health bars the player should whittle down first. This fight is long and fun. It’s intense and highly satisfying, but it's definitely not as hard as the rest of this list.
Watching Kratos pummel the two brothers with God of War’s slick gameplay and cinematics can be very satisfying, and the fight has some massive implications for the rest of the franchise which is always an added bonus.
6 Lothric & Lorian (Dark Souls 3)
This climactic battle comes near the end of Dark Souls 3. This fight is hard and the game knows it, which is there’s a shortcut to a bonfire right next to the arena. Players are expected to take a few tries. Moreover, multiple NPC summons for aid are available too, hinting at the grandiosity of this fight.
The fight starts with a duel with Lorian, the elder prince. Players might think they’ve finally got the hang of Dark Souls when they beat him but that’s when Lorian’s brother Lothric revives him to full hp and joins the fight. Now the player must deal with both the duel and the magic artillery Lothric barrages the ashen one with. To win, players must target Lothric, who’s on his brother’s back. Should they kill the elder brother first, they’ll find Lothric revives him yet again. So, it’s important to focus on the real target while avoiding everything coming the ashen one’s way. Defeating them is like the end of a long and arduous quest, after toiling through Lothric Castle for hours, the reluctant rulers are finally laid to rest.
5 The Mantis Lords (Hollow Knight)
Hollow Knight is a brilliant platformer. This game’s beautifully designed and everything from the soundtrack to the visuals to the game design just fits. Hollow Knight is not an easy game. The Mantis Lords are the perfect example of that. They come up after one of the hardest regions of the game is cleared, and where the game reaches its first difficulty spike.
The first Mantis Lord is a one-on-one fight where the player can learn the boss’ weakness, timing windows etc. Then, when a player defeats the first Lord, the other two show up, the orchestra ramps up and an intense fight ensues. Mantis Lords are the first big challenge in Hollow Knight, especially for players that are new to the genre they can be quite a difficult encounter.
4 Crucible Knight & Crucible Knight Ordovis (Elden Ring)
This is a very difficult fight, and players are often recommended to come back to it after leveling up a bit and getting good gear. The single Crucible Knight players would have already beaten at this time was already a tough ask, but two of them, with Ordovis being even stronger is a momentous challenge.
The two knights work off each other extremely well, both have extremely aggressive AI and don’t give players a chance to breathe, and both have long ranged, damaging weapons. Their health bars aren’t tiny either, so this is definitely one of the hardest fights in the game but its very enjoyable, and the pretense of a medieval duel excites many. They do have some openings and attack windows however, and players should be able to recognize these after a few tries to make it slightly easier.
3 Theseus & Asterius (Hades)
Hades is one of the best games in its genre. So, it’s no surprise that it has one of the best dual boss fights ever. In an ironic twist on the tale of Theseus and the Minotaur, Hades finds that the two of them are now best buds and want to work together to kill Hades! The fight is long and tough. But it never feels unfair, Hades’ amazing combat system is at its best here, and the developers do everything they can to make this fight memorable, from the soundtrack to the dialogue to the massive health bars that just won’t deplete…
2 Sister Friede And Father Ariandel (Dark Souls 3)
This is regarded as one of the best boss fights in all of Fromsoft games history. Many argue the Ashes of Ariandel DLC is worth it just for this boss fight alone. To be honest, this is true. This fight is absolutely fantastic. The music is on point, and the fight is incredible. The combat has ebbs and flows, there are three stages, but each brings something new to the table. The boss arena is gigantic making it quite easy to split Father Ariendel from Sister Friede and focusing on one over the other. The voice acting is superb, and the tiny bits of dialogue keep the player hooked into the DLC’s lore as well. All in all, a very well-made boss fight.
1 Ornstein & Smough (Dark Souls)
This is the quintessential dual boss fight. Not only is it arguably the fight in the series, it’s the cherry on top of one of the most memorable regions in the game, Anor Londo. Ornstein and Smough are the perfect combination of a giant, lumbering brute, and a swift agile knight. The pair compliment each other very well and this draws the player in. Having to learn to deal with both of their playstyles, which are the antithesis of each other, is quite the engaging experience. The orchestra running in the background adds to the nerves, especially when they’re finally getting weaker.
This fight has many different layers, and interactions depending on which boss the focuses on first. Not to mention the lore implications, as the chosen undead is essentially in a duel with the last two faithful custodians of Anor Londo. It’s a sign that the struggle is almost over. All in all, there’s a reason this boss fight is still memorable a decade later; it's very good.