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The obsession with challenging video game bosses has intensified somewhat over the last few years. More recently, the difficulty level has escalated even beyond what’s considered reasonable, but that’s not necessarily a drawback.
We gamers welcome a challenge.
There’s no better feeling in the world than beating a boss like Malenia after getting pistol-whipped by her for the 99th time.
But, this trend seems to suggest that there’s a growing masochistic streak among players, shown by some of the toughest video game bosses ever encountered.
These bosses aren’t just tough—they’re the stuff of nightmares for gamers everywhere. Each battle is a test of skill, endurance, and determination. Still, what’s a great video game without a few epic boss battles to test your skills?
Mike Tyson – Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
Stepping into the ring with Iron Mike himself is a test of both skill and endurance (and sanity). His rapid punches and uncanny ability to predict your every move make Tyson the epitome of a relentless opponent. He’s as dangerous here as he is in real life.
Each round feels like a high-stakes game of violent chess, requiring split-second decision-making and flawless execution. Winning against Tyson is not just about landing punches but also knowing how to endure all the frustration of facing a much tougher (and potentially unfair) opponent.
Orphan of Kos – Bloodborne
Bloodborne is known for its brutal Lovecraftian bosses, but none are quite as relentless as the Orphan of Kos. Born from the twisted nightmares of the Fishing Hamlet, this grotesque creature possesses an erratic and frenzied fighting style that leaves little room for error.
The boss cheats a bit since it’s both tanky and hits hard; thus the Orphan keeps even the most seasoned hunters on their toes. Victory against this formidable foe demands not only impeccable timing and reflexes but also a deep understanding of its unpredictable movements and attack patterns.
Isshin, The Sword Saint – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is renowned for its punishing difficulty, and Isshin, The Sword Saint, is the ultimate embodiment of that ordeal. As the final boss of the game, Isshin tests every skill you’ve honed throughout your journey.
There’s no shortage of blindingly fast strikes, unblockable attacks, and devastating special moves, Isshin requires nothing less than perfection. You’ll practically have to become a parry god in Sekiro if you want to overcome Isshin, but it’s a skill that a lot of Souls game players will find handy.
Absolute Radiance – Hollow Knight
Within the depths of Hollow Knight lies Absolute Radiance, a boss that represents the essence of grandeur and frustration. This ethereal entity assaults you with a relentless barrage of projectiles and deadly swoops, testing your reflexes and patience to their limits.
Fighting the Radiance feels like a symphony of chaos, with every move often requiring precise timing and intimate knowledge of your in-game tools. The Absolute Radiance will need not only mastery of the game’s mechanics but all the preparation and techniques you’ve learned thus far in Hollow Knight.
Sephiroth – Kingdom Hearts
Sephiroth, the iconic antagonist from the Final Fantasy series, makes a fearsome appearance in Kingdom Hearts as one of its toughest bosses. His devastating attacks and otherworldly powers turn Sephiroth into the ultimate test of your combat skills.
There’s no shortage of spectacle here as the encounter feels like a battle of cosmic proportions (as expected). After all, Sephiroth is a godly being in the Final Fantasy mythos. He spent a lot of shampoo on that hair, you see, and he won’t just let you ruin that expensive ‘do.
Fatalis – Monster Hunter: World
Monster Hunter: World introduced hunters to its final monster late in the game’s update cycle, Fatalis. It’s a legendary dragon of unparalleled ferocity. Its massive size and devastating breath attacks pose an almost insurmountable challenge, requiring utmost caution and level-headedness in every hunt.
Triumph against Fatalis can only come from a mastery of your chosen weapons and knowledge of their behavior and weaknesses. Of course, joining with other hunters is also the preferred approach as solo hunts with Fatalis are a death sentence most of the time.
King Dice – Cuphead
Cuphead’s journey through challenging 2D boss battles eventually leads to King Dice, a devilish adversary cloaked in dice-themed attacks. He has reflex-testing moves and pattern recognition challenges, with each roll of the dice presenting a gamble.
As if Cuphead’s other bosses aren’t hard enough, now you also have to contend with this one. Timing, perfect hand-eye coordination, and the perseverance to keep trying again after numerous accidental deaths are what you need here. Even then, you might end up dying early in the fight.
Nameless King – Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls 3’s punishing difficulty culminates in a showdown with the Nameless King, an optional boss but no doubt the most formidable opponent in the game. This epic boss fight is a duel to the death between two respected warriors. But it’s quite unfair since he has a giant mount that might wear you down before the actual, serious fight.
And while we love to use the word “lightning” to describe fast attacks here, the Nameless King is most deserving of that simile since he literally wields lightning to cook your butt and hand it to you on a platter. Still, it’s one of those heroic battles where the scale of the fight will have you gasping in awe long after you’ve defeated him.
Manus, Father of the Abyss – Dark Souls
Dark Souls introduces players to Manus, Father of the Abyss just as they thought that things couldn’t get any worse while traversing a dark tomb. Manus is a monstrous entity of relentless darkness and his attacks will let you know just how serious he is about this emo phase.
You get almost no window to retaliate, especially if you’re using slow and heavy weapons. And while you do get a trinket to help you win by blocking his most devastating combos, that won’t do much against Manus. In true Dark Souls fashion, you have to ‘git gud’ against this boss.
Malenia – Elden Ring
After this fight, you will know her name– it will haunt your dreams, and you’ll be carrying that dopamine rush from victory for about a week. Because Malenia in Elden Ring is not just the hardest boss that Souls game developers have conceived. She’s also quite possibly the hardest boss in gaming right now.
She can steal your health, she has too much health, she strikes fast, and she also strikes hard. If that’s not hard enough for you, she has a second phase that will poison you with space rabies and oh, she’ll also be able to fly after that point. But even without that kind of over-tuning, Malenia’s deadly Waterfowl Dance slash move will dice away what little skill you have left.
