Dark Souls and other FromSoftware games have a reputation for difficult bosses, but they’re far from the only games with bosses that players tend to struggle against in a fight. Despite the frustration that these bosses can bring, finally defeating them can be especially gratifying as a result. This can lead players to deliberately seek out games that include particularly challenging enemies.
FromSoftware was clearly not the first studio to create intentionally difficult boss fights in video games, and 12 of the toughest boss fights that have become notorious are included below, in no particular order. The bosses included have mechanics such as instant kills that make it almost impossible to counter or survive an attack. However, raid bosses from MMOs, like C’Thun in World of Warcraft haven’t been included, mostly because they have since been changed from their original fight to no longer pose the same challenge.
12 Tekken 5 – Jinpachi
Jinpachi has a brutal set of moves in Tekken 5. His skill set includes an attack that prevents free movement, one that transfers the player’s energy to him, and a lot of fireballs. Players fighting Jinpachi need to prioritize dodging and timing if they want to defeat him.
11 Elden Ring – Malenia
Malenia is an optional boss, but became something of a mascot for Elden Ring, where she is perhaps the most popular boss. The size of the arena might seem generous, but players will soon find that Malenia will chase them across the space in no time with her speed and combos. And if players make it to her second phase, she gains more abilities and can use the Scarlet Rot at will to unleash an attack with a significant range.
10 Kingdom Hearts 2 – Sephiroth
Popular for his role as the villain of Final Fantasy 7, Sephiroth also makes an appearance in Kingdom Hearts 2 as a particularly difficult boss fight. He might be an optional boss, but defeating Sephiroth gives players the Fenrir for Sora. However, Sephiroth’s ability to parry most attacks and quickly counter them forces players to have a mastery of the combat system to win.
9 Final Fantasy 6 – Zeromus
Zeromus’ two signature moves in Final Fantasy 6 are what make him a frustrating fight. Black Hole nullifies status effects, both positive and negative, which renders buffs useless. Then, he also has Big Bang, an attack that deals thousands of hit points of damage to the party. Those attacks alone are enough to defeat a player quickly if they aren’t prepared.
8 Dark Souls 3 – The Nameless King
The Nameless King fight in Dark Souls 3 starts with a battle against his dragon, which has high mobility and powerful attacks. And the dragon is considered to be the easy part of the fight. After, players face the Nameless King himself, and his attacks are both strong and quick. If that’s not bad enough, when he reaches half his health, he starts adding Lightning attacks to his rotation.
7 Bloodborne – Orphan Of Kos
Orphan of Kos is a boss from Bloodborne‘s The Old Hunters DLC. While it’s not unusual for Soulsborne bosses to have attacks that are both fast and highly damaging, Orphan of Kos adds unpredictability to that mix. Orphan doesn’t follow a specific attack pattern, and the randomness of attacks makes it more difficult for players to prepare since they can’t adapt to a set strategy.
6 Final Fantasy 7 – Emerald Weapon
The Emerald Weapon can be avoided in Final Fantasy 7, but players who encounter it might be fighting under a time limit. Without the Underwater Materia equipped, players have 20 minutes to defeat the Emerald Weapon. This task is especially difficult when the enemy has a million HP and high defense stats. Yet even with the Underwater Materia, the fight isn’t easy. Emerald Weapon has an attack that deals extra damage that scales based on the amount of Materia a player has equipped, and this can lead to inevitable death.
5 Mega Man – Yellow Devil
Yellow Devil is a recurring boss in Mega Man, but its original fight is likely the most difficult of its appearances. Players have limited opportunities to attack Yellow Devil’s weak spot – its eye – before it splits into 19 pieces that have a set pattern of movement. However, this attack pattern is complicated and difficult to master, which makes Yellow Devil a particularly tough boss.
4 Hollow Knight – Absolute Radiance
Absolute Radiance is the final boss of the Godmaster DLC. She’s described as the Radiance’s perfect form, and most of her attacks are identical to those of the Radiance. However, her attacks are thrown at players at a much faster pace.
3 Dark Souls – Ornstein & Smough
At the end of Anor Londo, players face Ornstein and Smough together in Dark Souls. While they would be powerful enough if fought individually, these two bosses are designed in a way that one covers the weaknesses of the other. Together, Ornstein and Smough create an overwhelming and deadly duo that’s sure to test the patience of players who face them.
2 Cuphead – King Dice
Cuphead is already known to be difficult, but King Dice takes that to another level. King Dice can have up to 10 phases in his fight, and players have to go through a board game before even reaching him. Then, during his fight, players need to prioritize staying alive by dodging attacks instead of dealing damage if they want to defeat him.
1 God Of War – Sigrun, The Valkyrie Queen
Another optional boss, Sigrun, the Valkyrie Queen in God of War can be summoned only after players defeat the other Valkyries. Players aren’t able to open the fight this time, as Sigrun starts it by slamming Kratos into the ground, although this doesn’t do damage. Perhaps the hardest part of this fight comes from Sigrun having the abilities of the eight Valkyries that need to be defeated before fighting her, and her versions of these abilities are even stronger.
Video games feature a spectrum of difficulty, and sometimes seeking out games with tougher fights or mechanics is enjoyable despite the frustration it can bring. As such, games that are Soulslike are growing in popularity, but a game doesn’t have to be Soulslike to have a battle or two that are more difficult than others, sometimes to the point of feeling impossible. However, for players who are looking for a challenge could consider starting with a game like Dark Souls, renowned for its tough but fair fights.