The Best Final Boss Fights
Want to know what the best final bosses are? Boss fights are one of those staple things in Gaming that’s been around from the very beginning. Sometimes, though, the best battles are against someone who has a deep connection to the protagonist. Sometimes a change in game mechanics occurs mid-way through a title where the main antagonist turns into the final boss.
Some of these iconic bosses have appeared more than once on this list, showing just how hard it is to top a well-executed final boss design. From The Master to Kefka, these are the best final boss fights from all corners of the gaming universe.
Mario vs. Bowser
Mario vs. Bowser is nothing short of iconic. Throughout the years, Bowser's obsession with kidnapping Princess Peach has become almost as iconic as Mario himself, with the two going to battle almost every time they meet. Super Mario Bros. starts the pair on a collision course, where Bowser has invaded Princess Peach’s Castle and kicked the Mushroom People from their treasured home. It's not just the battles against Bowser, though; Mario’s quest to save Peach is one of the most storied storylines in video games.
However, there’s always a twist. In Super Mario Odyssey, Bowser has been switched to Princess Peach’s attendant, with the two enjoying a holiday on the moon together. In Super Mario Sunshiny DX, the true final boss is a pair of sunglasses.
Minecraft vs. The Ender Dragon
Minecraft is so good at offering endless possibilities that you never think to question there not being an ultimate villain to beat as a final boss. Well, that was until the Ender Dragon DLC hit and started messing everything up for the intrepid Steve. The Ender Dragon is no sprawling behemoth of a bad guy like some of the other games on this list, but the sheer metaphysical threat it brings with it makes it a real challenge.
Dragon’s Dogma vs. Grigori
An open-world RPG game with a big scale, Dragon’s Dogma offers a unique experience that few other games can provide. When the final battle arrives, players are in for a unique scenario – one that can easily turn sour if the team is not strong enough to handle it. In this epic final battle, against the ancient dragon and world-maker Grigori, the game assumes the form of managing an RPG game, but against something huge and ancient.
Fallout vs. The Master
The original Fallout game set the standard for RPGs in the west, and its Antipodean influences live on in video game design today. Bethesda had a masterful plan in mind that would span the next few decades of games: give the player a choice at the end to talk their way out of a fight. Fallout’s final boss, The Master (aka: Harold, aka: mob boss), is an evil being that transcends the physical and represents the ideals of the wastelanders themselves.
Okami vs. Yami
OK, bear with us – Okami is a licensed game based on the highly popular and successful The Legend of Zelda series of games by Nintendo. What you need to know about this depiction of Zelda in a very Japanese style is that it's the gold standard for how an adventure should unfold.
The final boss fight against the blasphemous, technological incarnation of Yami is the glorious culmination of all that is good in the world. It combines technological and folklore elements in a way that’s far beyond what you’d expect to see in a Zelda game, let alone a licensed game. Yami is a biological computer who wants to reboot the world and it’s up to the mirror goddess Amaterasu to stop him.
Mortal Kombat vs. Shao Kahn
Shao Kahn is the face of the series – which recently received an official reboot known as Mortal Kombat: Elder Follicle Warrior. Shao Kahn is an extremely brutish and powerful final boss who comes with a lethal catch: make your fatality too drawn-out and he will seize the opening to finish you with his infamous neckbreaker. Making a game like this realistic would be ridiculous and goofy, but the timeless artwork of the original games gives it the graphic novel oomph that makes it believable.
Hades vs. The Player
The roguelike games are well known for being unforgiving with their difficulty levels, and Hades is right up there with the toughest games you can play. Along the way, however, players will come across a few bosses that make the rest of the
