Top 10 Best Final Bosses In Video Game History
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VOICE OVER: Adrian Sousa
WRITTEN BY: Caitlin Johnson
You've always got to save the best for last! For this list, we'll be taking a look at the best final bosses in video games like Ganon, Giygas, Sephiroth and Metroid Prime. What's your favorite final boss? Let us know in the comments!
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Top 10 Final Bosses
The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 final bosses.
For this list, we’re looking at the coolest, most infuriating, most iconic and badass final bosses from video games.
“Kingdom Hearts II” (2006)
Nobodies were arguably the main focus in “Kingdom Hearts II”, so it only makes sense that one of them would be the game’s final boss. Organization XIII and their dark intentions were revealed, leading to a showdown with their leader Xemnas, Xehanort’s Nobody. After defeating his comrades, Xemnas finally goes toe-to-toe with Sora and Riku, and in true Kingdom Hearts fashion with more forms than you can shake a stick at. It ultimately takes not one, but two keyblades wielded by Sora to give him the upper hand and allow the two to finally defeat Xemnas.
“Metroid Prime” (2002)
This ghastly, insectoid mutant is infused with Phazon, excreting the stuff from a cave deep underground on Tallon IV, where it lurks. Phazon is an extremely powerful and valuable element useful as an energy source, but can equally be a corrupting influence. This is what happens when Samus finally defeats Metroid Prime’s two forms, as it absorbs her Phazon Suit, which later leads to the creation of her evil doppelganger, Dark Samus. It turns out that Phazon is what those Space Pirates were after all along, the leader of whom, Mother Brain, was almost as horrific as Metroid Prime when she served as the final boss of “Super Metroid.”
“Final Fantasy VII” (1997)
Once the beat of the “One Winged Angel” starts playing, you know things are about to go down in dramatic form. Taking on a much more divine form, Sephiroth is more than a match for Cloud and his gang with his combination of powerful techniques. And to make matters worse, things are taken to a whole new level when he uses Super Nova, which summons a meteor that takes out every planet of the solar system all before crashing into the sun and engulfing our heroes in the aftermath. Does it get any more out of this world than that?
“EarthBound” (1995)
An alien entity who returns from the original “Mother”, Giygas is devoted to filling the world with hatred and darkness. Through his influence, Giygas commands most enemies that Ness and company come across, meaning the entire game builds up exceptionally to this final, epic showdown. He’s so powerful that when he’s released from the Devil’s Machine, he surrounds the party in a mess of impenetrable darkness.
Eventually, Giygas becomes too much for the gang, meaning the only way to defeat this embodiment of evil is to have Paula pray 9 times to defeat him once and for all.
“Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance” (2013)
From a badass old dude with a split personality to exceedingly giant mecha, Metal Gear Solid is no stranger to insane final bosses. However none made quite as much as an impression than this suited up senator. After destroying his “Metal Gear EXCELSUS”, the buffed up Armstrong emerges and surprisingly over powers Raiden. What follows is quite possibly one of the most over the top showdowns you’ll ever witness. This ultra-patriot can take one hell of a beating, but with your help, Raiden ultimately emerges victorious.
“Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island” (1995)
Gaming’s most iconic villain has given us no shortage of memorable forms and boss fights over the decades. But one of his most threatening appearances remains that of Giant Bowser in “Yoshi’s Island”. Bowser’s already a pretty big guy to begin with, but seeing him loom in the background of the final world, eyes glowing and throwing projectiles (including fireballs) at Yoshi and Baby Mario is memorable to say the least. It’s kind of ironic that he’s so huge, since Bowser was actually still a child at the time.
“Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening” (2005)
Twin sons of Sparda and seemingly at each other’s throats from birth, Vergil embraces his demonic half in the same way Dante shuns it. Vergil has been a villain for as long as Dante has been our hero, but in it’s in the prequel “Devil May Cry 3” that these two gaming icons had arguably their best showdown. The fight is made more meaningful considering Dante and Vergil had just worked together to defeat Arkham, an epic alliance that sadly couldn’t last. Vergil is simply too obsessed with gaining ever more power. Chronologically this is his first big defeat at Dante’s hands, but it definitely won’t be his last.
“Shadow of the Colossus” (2005)
In this game dedicated to killing big, bad monsters, pretty much every confrontation was just practice for the biggest and baddest of them all: Malus. He towers over the player like, well, a tower, and is one of the only immobile Colossi to boot. Just reaching his feet to begin the ascent is complicated, especially with him taking every opportunity to hit you with his energy blasts. It’s also no easy feat trying to stay attached to his arms while he tries to shake you off, and you’re definitely going to fall more than once. But… just like every other Colossus, hit his weak points enough times and he’ll come crashing to the ground.
“Bayonetta” (2009)
Considering “Bayonetta” is all about killing angels in their various forms, it only seems natural that you wind up squaring off against a god at the end of it. And you don’t have to feel bad about it because this god wants to erase the entire universe and start afresh. All that being said, Jubileus did come as a surprise to lots of players, since the penultimate boss fight is initially set-up to be the game’s climax. But, in true “Bayonetta” style, nothing is as it initially seems, and the final boss is actually fought in outer space on the edge of a black hole with seemingly all of creation hanging in the balance.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:
Ares
“God of War” (2005)
King K. Rool
“Donkey Kong Country” (1994)
Gruntilda Winkybunion
“Banjo-Kazooie” (1998)
Soul of Cinder
“Dark Souls III” (2016)
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)
He’s been Link’s arch-enemy from the very beginning, the Demon King obsessed with conquering Hyrule for himself and killing the “Chosen Hero.” In some form or another, Ganondorf is the final boss in almost every single “Zelda” game, but the encounter with him in “Ocarina of Time” is certainly the most memorable. Using the Triforce of Power, Ganondorf becomes Ganon, an inhuman beast who’s even more ruthless than ever in his attempts to vanquish Link. With the arena enveloped in fire, lightning flashing in the background, and Zelda supporting you, Ganon offers up a final boss fight of epic proportions.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 final bosses.
For this list, we’re looking at the coolest, most infuriating, most iconic and badass final bosses from video games.
#10: Xemnas
“Kingdom Hearts II” (2006)
Nobodies were arguably the main focus in “Kingdom Hearts II”, so it only makes sense that one of them would be the game’s final boss. Organization XIII and their dark intentions were revealed, leading to a showdown with their leader Xemnas, Xehanort’s Nobody. After defeating his comrades, Xemnas finally goes toe-to-toe with Sora and Riku, and in true Kingdom Hearts fashion with more forms than you can shake a stick at. It ultimately takes not one, but two keyblades wielded by Sora to give him the upper hand and allow the two to finally defeat Xemnas.
#9: Metroid Prime
“Metroid Prime” (2002)
This ghastly, insectoid mutant is infused with Phazon, excreting the stuff from a cave deep underground on Tallon IV, where it lurks. Phazon is an extremely powerful and valuable element useful as an energy source, but can equally be a corrupting influence. This is what happens when Samus finally defeats Metroid Prime’s two forms, as it absorbs her Phazon Suit, which later leads to the creation of her evil doppelganger, Dark Samus. It turns out that Phazon is what those Space Pirates were after all along, the leader of whom, Mother Brain, was almost as horrific as Metroid Prime when she served as the final boss of “Super Metroid.”
#8: Safer Sephiroth
“Final Fantasy VII” (1997)
Once the beat of the “One Winged Angel” starts playing, you know things are about to go down in dramatic form. Taking on a much more divine form, Sephiroth is more than a match for Cloud and his gang with his combination of powerful techniques. And to make matters worse, things are taken to a whole new level when he uses Super Nova, which summons a meteor that takes out every planet of the solar system all before crashing into the sun and engulfing our heroes in the aftermath. Does it get any more out of this world than that?
#7: Giygas
“EarthBound” (1995)
An alien entity who returns from the original “Mother”, Giygas is devoted to filling the world with hatred and darkness. Through his influence, Giygas commands most enemies that Ness and company come across, meaning the entire game builds up exceptionally to this final, epic showdown. He’s so powerful that when he’s released from the Devil’s Machine, he surrounds the party in a mess of impenetrable darkness.
Eventually, Giygas becomes too much for the gang, meaning the only way to defeat this embodiment of evil is to have Paula pray 9 times to defeat him once and for all.
#6: Senator Armstrong
“Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance” (2013)
From a badass old dude with a split personality to exceedingly giant mecha, Metal Gear Solid is no stranger to insane final bosses. However none made quite as much as an impression than this suited up senator. After destroying his “Metal Gear EXCELSUS”, the buffed up Armstrong emerges and surprisingly over powers Raiden. What follows is quite possibly one of the most over the top showdowns you’ll ever witness. This ultra-patriot can take one hell of a beating, but with your help, Raiden ultimately emerges victorious.
#5: Baby Bowser
“Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island” (1995)
Gaming’s most iconic villain has given us no shortage of memorable forms and boss fights over the decades. But one of his most threatening appearances remains that of Giant Bowser in “Yoshi’s Island”. Bowser’s already a pretty big guy to begin with, but seeing him loom in the background of the final world, eyes glowing and throwing projectiles (including fireballs) at Yoshi and Baby Mario is memorable to say the least. It’s kind of ironic that he’s so huge, since Bowser was actually still a child at the time.
#4: Vergil
“Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening” (2005)
Twin sons of Sparda and seemingly at each other’s throats from birth, Vergil embraces his demonic half in the same way Dante shuns it. Vergil has been a villain for as long as Dante has been our hero, but in it’s in the prequel “Devil May Cry 3” that these two gaming icons had arguably their best showdown. The fight is made more meaningful considering Dante and Vergil had just worked together to defeat Arkham, an epic alliance that sadly couldn’t last. Vergil is simply too obsessed with gaining ever more power. Chronologically this is his first big defeat at Dante’s hands, but it definitely won’t be his last.
#3: Malus
“Shadow of the Colossus” (2005)
In this game dedicated to killing big, bad monsters, pretty much every confrontation was just practice for the biggest and baddest of them all: Malus. He towers over the player like, well, a tower, and is one of the only immobile Colossi to boot. Just reaching his feet to begin the ascent is complicated, especially with him taking every opportunity to hit you with his energy blasts. It’s also no easy feat trying to stay attached to his arms while he tries to shake you off, and you’re definitely going to fall more than once. But… just like every other Colossus, hit his weak points enough times and he’ll come crashing to the ground.
#2: Jubileus, The Creator
“Bayonetta” (2009)
Considering “Bayonetta” is all about killing angels in their various forms, it only seems natural that you wind up squaring off against a god at the end of it. And you don’t have to feel bad about it because this god wants to erase the entire universe and start afresh. All that being said, Jubileus did come as a surprise to lots of players, since the penultimate boss fight is initially set-up to be the game’s climax. But, in true “Bayonetta” style, nothing is as it initially seems, and the final boss is actually fought in outer space on the edge of a black hole with seemingly all of creation hanging in the balance.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:
Ares
“God of War” (2005)
King K. Rool
“Donkey Kong Country” (1994)
Gruntilda Winkybunion
“Banjo-Kazooie” (1998)
Soul of Cinder
“Dark Souls III” (2016)
#1: Ganon
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)
He’s been Link’s arch-enemy from the very beginning, the Demon King obsessed with conquering Hyrule for himself and killing the “Chosen Hero.” In some form or another, Ganondorf is the final boss in almost every single “Zelda” game, but the encounter with him in “Ocarina of Time” is certainly the most memorable. Using the Triforce of Power, Ganondorf becomes Ganon, an inhuman beast who’s even more ruthless than ever in his attempts to vanquish Link. With the arena enveloped in fire, lightning flashing in the background, and Zelda supporting you, Ganon offers up a final boss fight of epic proportions.
Dana-Ann Caporicci
“I definitely agreed with this list.”
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