At the year’s close, there is always a lot of buzz around the games with the best art direction, sound design, and all-around best gameplay. However, I have always felt there should be an additional category available each year—the ‘best boss battle’ category.
Games may be a little more nuanced now, and victory requires more than just pressing buttons rapidly to beat the baddies. But, if you peel back all the layers, we all just want to take on a brute, bad guy, or behemoth, and come out the other side the champ.
So, in honor of those games that still allow players to take on mammoth challenges in the form of boss battles, we want to list the games and the specific bosses that serve as the year’s best and brightest.
Note: For clarity, ‘best’ does not necessarily mean ‘hardest’ here. We are aiming to list the best-designed and most memorable fights of the year. Plus, we will only list one boss per game/Franchise.
10
Blade Phantom
The First Berserker: Khazan
I like to give props to games that immediately throw you in the deep end and force you to get good, or die trying. By far, the best example of this in 2025 was The First Berserker: Khazan, as this game pins you against a monumentally tough boss, in what is only your second boss fight.
The Blade Phantom is a fight that requires the player to master the unique parry and stamina system of Khazan, but above all, it’s a fight that forces you to prove yourself to a demon that would rather take control of your body entirely, Johnny Silverhand style.
It’s a glorious, gory dance that prepares you, at least somewhat, for all that Khazan has in store for you. I’ve tried to forget him, but due to the demanding nature of this fight, I just might have the muscle memory of this battle engrained deep in my psyche forevermore.
9.
Heolstor
Elden Ring: Nightreign
I won’t even begin to pretend that I was half as interested in FromSoft’s co-op outing as I was their single player campaigns. But, credit where it’s due, it’s still a pretty interesting game, and one that houses a bunch of typically enthralling and brutal boss battles.
There may be a few that are harder than your inevitable fight against Heolstor, depending on your playstyle, and if you’ve engaged with DLC content, but I would argue that none are quite as cinematic and epic.
The Shape of Night is a relatively tough encounter, albeit one that most players will probably edge thorough. However, when Heolstor comes to the fore, you’ll get a taste of why this boss fight is so memorable.
They hit like a truck, and you might not live long enough to see it. But, when you witness this boss breaking through the void and literally tearing through the sky to rain down all manner of punishment on you, you’ll get why this boss earns a spot.
8.
Takezo
Ghost of Yotei
Ghost of Yotei, much like its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, is a game with combat that is relatively accessible and easy to get moderately good at, but takes a true samurai to master. Something that Takezo knows all too well.
Takezo is more than happy to humble any player that thinks they can waltz up to the top of Yotei mountain and them on, using Dual Katanas to slice and dice you in the blink of an eye.
You need an insane level of understanding of the core combat mechanics, and acute reaction times to even stand a chance of lasting more than ten seconds against them.
But just to add further insult to injury, you’ll also have an environmental hazard in the form of a blizzard that will cut your health down to next to nothing. Meaning that any wrong move could be your last.
7.
Commander Honglan
Wuchang Fallen Feathers
While I wasn’t the biggest fan of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, as it was a serviceable if ultimately unremarkable Soulslike in my eyes. There certainly were some boss-related highlights, and by far, Commander Honglan is the most memorable.
Mainly because this boss serves as the most aggressive skill check I’ve encountered in quite some time. Forcing players to completely adapt their playstyle and approach to a pinpoint parry-focused style, as Honglan will slaughter anyone with a hack-and-slash mindset.
But, the beauty of this fight is that, even if you understand how to win, it takes a ridiculous amount of skill to actually pull it off. Not all the bosses on this list are featured for their difficulty, but this one certainly bucks that trend.
6.
Hinako’s Parents
Silent Hill F
Silent Hill enemies, and by extension, the bosses that make up each game rely on symbolism to make their mark on the player, and Silent Hill F is no different. As the final boss of the game will see you find Hinako’s own parents. But, as you might expect, not in their human forms.
It’s a duo battle where you take on a hulking, mutated aggressor in the form of her father, and a supporting, blindfolded female figure representing her mother.
Not only is this a compelling fight due to the horror-coded Ornstien and Smough setup, but also because of the power of the scene, where you take on your abusive father, with your mother lobbing knives at you, blind to his abusive ways.
I will concede that mechanically there are perhaps some stronger bosses in the excellent horror epic, Silent Hill F. But for sheer impact, you can’t deny that this one hits hard.
5.
K Rool King of Rot
Donkey Kong Bananza
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t feel like DK Bananza should have been in the Game of the Year conversation. But, even still, it’s a phenomenal game with a lot of cool, unique ideas. Something that is clear as day in the K Rool fight.
This serves as the final fight of the game and forces you to make the most of all your various forms to avoid succumbing to the rot.
It’s essentially like a reverse Splatoon sort of situation where you have to use gold to clear the rot, and your various destructive powers to smash clear pathways to the boss, allowing you to give them a big ol’ wallop.
That said, it’s one hell of a difficulty spike compared to all other challenges in this game. So, unless you have true DK mastery, you won’t be making it out alive. You have witnessed true power. Now, Rot!
4.
Arlecchino
Lies of P Overture
Considering how difficult the Lies of P base game was, it was always going to take something pretty special to one-up the likes of Romeo or The Nameless Puppet. But, credit where it’s due, Arlecchino manages to do it, and then some.
Granted, the first phase would have you fooled, as aside from some slice and dice melee combos, it doesn’t seem like this finale boss has much to offer. But, as any Souls fan will know, that’s what multiple phases are for.
The Blood Artist springs to life, with a flurry of projectiles, AOE bursts, and airborne combos that demand pinpoint parries and reactions to deal with. The biggest compliment I can offer is that FromSoft would be proud of this one, and quite frankly, we are too.
3.
Scylla & The Sirens
Hades 2
Now that Hades 2 is now the finished article we can talk about it, and give this roguelike sequel it’s props. Which means waxing lyrical about the various bosses in the game, and my pick of the bunch since way back in early access has been Scylla.
From a gameplay standpoint, you have three unique enemies to contend with in this fight, all with unique instrumental attacks ranging from incredibly wide AOE coverage, to rapid-fire projectiles that’ll keep you moving to the beat. All leading up to an encore that forces you to wrap things up as fast as possible.
However, what makes this boss battle so fun, even after multiple runs is the trio’s catchy tune that plays each time around. Which changes in context with who is active within the battle.
It’s a bop, and the fight is also one that never gets old due to it’s fast and frenetic nature. It would be very easy to give in to the Siren’s song, but keep mashing those buttons.
2.
Sirene
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
I was really spoiled for choice when it came to Clair Obscur’s selection of bosses, and trust me, the fights against Simon, The Paintress, and various fights against Renoir were all very much considered. However, I don’t think anything matches the epic nature of your clash with Sirene.
Not only is this a battle steeped in meaning due to Verso’s immunity to Sirene’s trance. It’s a battle that is loaded with incredible set pieces and animations that add to the spectacle and intensity of each turn.
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Plus, you also have one of many of Lorien Testard’s glorious tracks setting the scene, and again, one of many unique battle mechanics to circumvent as you need to stop your entire team from being locked in Sirene’s trance.
It’s a boss battle that is more than a challenge. It’s Cinematic genius where you’re at the heart of the action. A perfect example of why gaming is such a special medium unlike any other.
1.
Cogwork Dancers
Hollow Knight: Silksong
There’s only one boss battle that deserves the top spot on this list, and I’ll be honest, it wasn’t even close.
Truthfully, Team Cherry’s masterful DLC-turned-sequel has more than it’s fair share of masterfully designed bosses, and could arguably make up an entire list of ten on its own. But, sitting atop the pile as the best of the bunch is undoubtedly the Cogwork Dancers.
Mechanically, the boss is incredibly clever, with two graceful mechanical dancers moving in tandem, forcing the player to move with equal elegance and precision to survive. Gradually increasing in speed and altering their rhythm to keep you on your toes.
However, it’s the evocative and profound nature of the final phase where you fight the remaining dancer forced to perform a final dance without their partner that steals the show. A truly artistically and mechanically perfect boss, and the best of 2025 in our eyes.
