Studios that specialize in role-playing games have a penchant for making their games particularly difficult. This is not without reason: they have intricate combat systems, and well-designed character progression makes defeating enemies feel rewarding. What's more, the world in these games is crafted to keep the player on their toes the entire time, with traps, ambushes, and enemies around every corner. There is little to no hand-holding, and the punishing mechanics contribute to an overall atmosphere that creates an intense, high-risk challenge where players must learn to overcome the harsh game world through skill development rather than just leveling up. While most find this system satisfying, some also find it frustrating and tedious.
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For fans who like to lose themselves in the vast, immersive worlds of role-playing games, some of the most unforgettable and challenging moments come in the form of monumental boss battles while roaming and exploring. These colossal foes aren't just powerful enemies, but they are true tests of the player's skills, strategy, perseverance, and mental resilience. The best part is that players can battle these enemies at their own leisure because defeating them is not necessary for the completion of the game, and they usually are not part of the main storyline. From gargantuan dragons to primordial deities, these optional bosses have etched their names into gaming history, leaving an indelible mark on the minds of RPG fans worldwide.
7 Nioh 2
Yokai (And Human) Bosses
Nioh 2 has a lot of boss fights - sixty-three to be precise, including around twenty optional bosses. It is definitely one of the most underrated games in the genre, and not usually considered in discussions that rank the most spectacular boss battles. Team Ninja clearly learned from their experiments in the first game, having changed the 'living weapon' ability that was considered too overpowered by fans, and bosses are better paced.
The massive enemy list means that there are tons of bosses of different shapes and sizes, and the player can get soul cores for each of them to use their special abilities, which are unique. The weapon types are also balanced well, and the player can learn to beat the boss either through their build or by developing their skills. Nioh 2 also has some of the most visually stunning boss battles in the RPG genre, like Azai Nagamasa, who is the main boss the first time the player encounters him. He surprisingly shows up in a side quest as an optional battle, in the sub-misssion "Cherry Blossom Viewing in Daigo." Some bosses appear more than once and in different forms and environments. Another main boss, Ryomen Sukuna, shows up for the second time in an optional mission. However, one of the most memorable bosses, Matsunaga Hisahide, is only encountered in a side mission towards the end of the game, in a quest called "Master of Three Evils." While not particularly challenging, he starts off the battle with a high-speed grapple attack that can deal a lot of damage if not dodged in time.
6 Elden Ring
Aesthetically Great (But Difficult) Boss Battles
Elden Ring
- Platform(s)
- PS5 , Xbox One , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- Developer(s)
- From Software
Much like Nioh, Elden Ring hits the spot when it comes to artistic creativity in character models. While the game is critically acclaimed, and the size of the map and its spectacle have been well-documented since its release, the bosses get most of the limelight because of the spectacular cutscenes in which they are first showcased. However, the boss battles in Elden Ring can be difficult. Enemies are more aggressive than ever, even more than the bosses in previous FromSoftware titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne. The window to punish bosses is quite small, and the damage they deal is high. The rewarding feeling that was so prevalent in previous Soulslike games is notably missing in Elden Ring. For a first-time player, bosses often use unexpected movesets that are impossible to predict and dodge. That is the main difference between Elden Ring and the titles that came before it: the player needs to die before finding out that those moves can be avoided.
That being said, the bosses and their lore are some of the most well-crafted and fleshed-out character designs in the gaming industry today. Even optional bosses, like Malenia and Starscourge Radahn, have a deep history between them. Other bosses, like Astel and the Lichdragon Fortissax, are hauntingly beautiful to look at.
5 Kingdom Hearts 2
Sephiroth's Epic Battle
Facing off against Sephiroth is entirely optional in Kingdom Hearts 2, but evokes a sense of awe and challenge that the original Final Fantasy 7 never could. The game is an iconic background as a crossover of Disney and Final Fantasy, and fighting Sephiroth feels like the ultimate test of the player's skills.
His appearance in the first game was a nod to his legendary status in gaming history, and in Kingdom Hearts 2, his relentless attacks and imposing presence present a formidable challenge. While he is not particularly difficult for seasoned players because his pattern is simple and repetitive, he is memorable for pushing players to their limits, making him a standout optional boss fight in the genre, especially because the rest of the optional bosses in the game are comparatively easy.
4 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Timeline-dependent Bosses
There are seventeen bosses and around thirty-seven minibosses in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a FromSoftware game that emphasizes parry timing. Essentially a ninja action game, the gameplay is very different from other Soulslike games, with a deflection mechanic being central, and the combat focused on enemy posture rather than on health. The combat system can be hard for new players, and things can get disheartening even several hours into the game, as is tradition in FromSoftware games. However, the boss and miniboss battles can teach players a thing or two about parry timing and can help them learn to be aggressive and relentless when fighting.
Sekiro's bosses feel incredibly good to fight, mainly because the movement and close interaction are very distinct from other games in the genre. It feels constrictive and suffocating but is also fluid and exhilarating in a way that is only possible because the game has fewer build options, unlike Dark Souls. There is a choice for the player to make about two-thirds of the way into the game which leads to the Shura ending, which cuts off a whole third of all the bosses but includes two exclusive bosses. Bosses like Lady Butterfly and the Owl keep fans coming back for more, purely because of how much fun and rewarding it is to beat them. Like in Nioh 2, fighting some of the main bosses again becomes optional, and they also feature in some of the game's endings.
3 NieR: Automata
An Emotional, Terrifying, and Challenging Battle
Emil is a character that counts as both the optional boss fights in NieR: Automata and is known for his hauntingly eerie appearance and tragic backstory. Everything about the character is utterly heartbreaking, and the fights with him are probably the most difficult battles in the entire game.
Players have to complete a side quest and steal his combat bracers before they can fight him the first time. But before they face him a second time, players must upgrade every weapon to max level, after which they'll get a quest marker leading to the desert, leading to a superboss fight with Emil in which countless Emil heads spawn to kill the protagonist. The trick is to finish him off quickly, but Emil is commonly regarded by fans as the toughest boss in the game, even including the bosses in the main missions.
2 Monster Hunter World
Boss Fight: The Game
Monster Hunter is a series in which the player character takes on the role of a hunter who is tasked with trapping or killing monsters that roam in huge environments. The core gameplay loop consists of fighting monsters that the player can beat to obtain loot, with which they can then craft improved weapons and armor to allow them to face more powerful monsters and then create even better equipment. This simple but effective strategy has ensured that the game is highly engaging and replayable since there are only boss fights in this game.
A big reason why the monster battles in Monster Hunter World are so popular is because the ecology and environments in the game are immersive and realistic. The plot of the game requires the protagonist to study the monsters for research purposes. It's a lot easier for the player to immerse themselves in the game before a battle when they can see the monster living its life in its habitat, engaging in turf wars with other monsters. The main quests take the player through most of the thirty-one large monsters in the game, but some optional ones, like the Kirin and the Bazelgeuse, require a lot of strategy. Dragons like the Nergigante have spikes growing randomly all over their bodies, and they also feature in optional quests as "tempered" versions of themselves. The lore and sound design make the monsters even more interesting and creative. Additionally, the inclusion of a multiplayer element makes taking down monsters even more fun, with the option to hunt alone or in a group.
1 Dark Souls 3
Powerful Foes With Souls
Some of the most challenging experiences in all of gaming can be found in the nineteen boss battles of Dark Souls 3 (this excludes mini-bosses and DLC bosses). While the common consensus is that enemies in FromSoftware games are unrelenting and difficult, the reality is that the developers truly want the player to win. Bosses in Dark Souls 3 usually control access to other areas in the game. Many of them are compulsory for the completion of the story, and six of them are optional. Upon defeat, they drop souls that can be consumed or sold for weapons and other loot.
Some of the optional bosses are huge, and they tower over the Ashen One, like the Ancient Wyvern, a fire-breathing creature. But the most difficult battles are the ones the player wouldn't expect, such as Champion Gundyr and the Nameless King. Overcoming the challenge of defeating a boss in Dark Souls 3 grants the player a feeling unlike any other. While some may find the overall atmosphere of the game depressing, killing enemies in this environment feels twice as good as it would have in a brightly lit, optimistic setting. The essence of the Dark Souls franchise is about pulling out of hopeless situations, and the conclusion to the trilogy nails this feeling perfectly.
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