Known for its grueling boss fights and enemy-packed locations, Soulsborne games make for some of the most arduous gameplay. With each boss battle comes the accompaniment of a theme or soundtrack, making the fight even more enthralling.
Some of the best boss fights in all of Soulsborne have incredibly intense themes, which can amplify even the easiest of bosses and make them extremely memorable. With Soulsborne being renowned for its masterful music production, there are dozens of boss themes worthy of high praise.
10 Gyoubu Oniwa (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
Proclaiming his name as he charges toward Sekiro, Gyoubu sets a perfect atmosphere for the first major boss fights in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, proving even the starting boss can be difficult. During the pursuit, players tackle a boss who can cover distances quickly with lengthy range, ensuring little opportunity for Sekiro to recuperate.
The theme itself sets high expectations for a starting boss, suggesting that bosses thereafter will be faster and deadlier. Players get the notion through his brilliant theme that they are fighting someone with duty, honor, and passion, who will protect the castle gates until his dying breath.
9 Ludwig The Accursed & Holy Blade (Bloodborne)
Ludwig’s theme in Bloodborne is the perfect amalgamation of disarray and terror. Formerly of the Healing Church Hunters, Ludwig was transformed into a beast of pure nightmare, and his theme portrays a being consumed by madness and bloodlust.
In Ludwig's first phase, the ebbs and flows of the string instruments are reminiscent of a deadly dance between the player and Ludwig himself. The primal nature of the formidable foe can be easily understood, and players must deal with him quickly. In his second phase, Ludwig fights with a human-like cunning, concealing his beast form as he stands on two legs to fight with the Holy Moonlight Sword. As he fights with a new sense of precision, his theme intensifies greatly, symbolic of Ludwig fighting with every fiber of his being.
8 Ornstein and Smough (Dark Souls)
The duo of Ornstein and Smough can be considered the most iconic fight in Dark Souls. Not only are there two tough enemies for one fight, but there is a second phase where players must fight an enraged version of whichever boss was not killed first.
As the duo’s theme kicks in, the player is thrown into one of the most intense battles in Soulsborne. With an incredibly powerful orchestral arrangement and the duo in hot pursuit of the player from the battle's conception, the theme complements a frantic and chaotic battle where the player must react quickly to take them down. This theme is far more intense than any of the preceding boss battles, and players can understand that the epic, orchestral soundtrack signifies the beginnings of a spike in difficulty.
7 Godskin Duo - Elden Ring
In true Soulsborne fashion, the iconic duo boss fight returns once more in FromSoftware’s latest installment, Elden Ring. Much like other soul iterations of the duo fight, the Godskin Duo varies greatly in form. When players lock eyes with the Godskin duo, they are in for a battle that is sure to deliver.
The first half of the Godskin battle starts immediately with a heavily instrumental theme, accompanied by an intense choir during a battle that can frustrate even the most experienced players. The choir sings continuously throughout the entirety of the battle, and in the second phase, the theme becomes even more commanding, mirroring the Godskin Duo as they gain a new set of abilities. Players will feel the heightened stakes in the theme of the second phase, urging them to end the chaotic battle quickly or be killed by the Godskins and their high health pool.
6 Gwyn, Lord Of Cinder - Dark Souls
Plin, plin, plon. Three words that will resonate deeply with any fan of Dark Souls facing Gwyn, Lord of Cinder. As players enter through the fog gate after managing to make it past the Black Knights, the Lord of Cinder awaits, and his theme is pure melancholy.
As a singular piano plays for the entire duration of the fight, the theme evokes a somber feeling as players fight a Hollow Gwyn at his weakest point. Once a mighty king and the Lord of Sunlight, there is a real sense of tragedy when he is eventually bested by the Chosen Undead.
5 Mohg, Lord of Blood (Elden Ring)
Seated in the depths of Mohgwyn Palace lies the Lord of Blood, and it is here where he holds the Empyrean demigod Miquella hostage in his cocoon form. Mohg’s theme begins with a dramatic build during the battle’s opening moments, throwing the player straight into a fight with an ambitious monster.
Mohg’s theme is lined with feelings of death and despair, and players can immediately feel that they have stumbled into hell itself as Mohg continuously abuses his blood magic. In his second phase, there is an added sense of weight to the theme as it shifts to a more serious tone. It is as though Mohg no longer wishes to entertain and instead becomes willing to pull out all necessary stops to end the player. The overwhelming presence of blood and the colors of red play into the theme seamlessly, with a likeness to that of the devil, fitting for the proclaimed Lord of Blood.
4 Great Grey Wolf Sif (Dark Souls)
Grey Wolf Sif has one of the saddest stories in Dark Souls, and their theme makes for a tear-jerking battle. With the fight taking place in the grave of long-time comrade, Artorias, Sif stands guard, protecting his grave site, and seeking to prevent anyone else from becoming consumed by the Abyss.
With an iconic, high-pitched opening melody, the theme highlights an initial sense of mourning. The theme further captures Sif’s sense of duty and loyalty, standing guard over their master despite the tragic circumstances. Adding emotional impact, as Sif reaches critical health, they begin to hop on one paw and whimper, a sad moment for players who know they must kill Sif to progress.
3 Pontiff Sulyvahn - Dark Souls 3
Beginning the battle, Dark Souls 3 players are met with a quiet orchestral choir, and at the opposite end of the cathedral stands Pontiff Sulyvahn. As the choir intensifies, Sulyvahn begins a slow, menacing walk toward the player, where he then lunges forward with a brutal slash.
Sulyvahn continues his relentless onslaught, in perfect harmony with a theme that complements his erratic and deadly attack pattern. The theme emanates unease, urging players to take down Sulyvahn by any means necessary to end his evil reign. In his second phase, players will find the theme quickens exponentially, and he summons a shade of himself that replicates his unrelenting attacks. As Sulyvahn was initially planned to be the final boss of Dark Souls 3, it is fitting that he would have a theme of such magnificence.
2 Dancer Of The Boreal Valley - Dark Souls 3
Few bosses capture hopelessness like the Dancer of The Boreal Valley. Forced to become an outsider knight by the evil Pontiff Sulyvahn, the dancer's story is one of tragedy and despair. As she appears as an apparition that climbs down from the ceiling, her feet land on the ground, and the battle begins. Players can either be forced into this boss fight by progressing through Dark Souls 3's story, or force start it by killing Emma. The scale and movements of this boss are captured in the theme well.
The theme for this battle evokes nothing but eeriness, demonstrating an elegance that perfectly matches the Dancer as she moves with a moveset akin to her namesake. The echoing thump of each of her steps will send shivers down the player's spine, and they will become all too familiar with the theme as the Dancer utilizes her skillset with devastating precision.
1 Slave Knight Gael - Dark Souls 3
As the player meets the corrupted Slave Knight at the end of the world, in Dark Souls 3, the battle for the Dark Soul pits two of the strongest beings in the universe against one another, and the battle is one for the ages, a perfect end to the Dark Souls saga.
Gael’s theme portrays the intensity of the battle in great detail, a heavily instrumental composition that perfectly captures the feelings of both Gael and the player, as each seeks to absorb the other’s Dark Soul. As the theme progresses into Gael’s later phases, the theme parallels Gael's descent into madness. This culminates into a theme of unadulterated chaos, where the last two beings on earth fight at the end of time.