Top 10 GIANT Video Game Bosses

“Shadow of the Colossus” (2005)

In a game centered around traversing a vast, empty world ruled by towering giants, it’s fitting that one of them ranks among the largest bosses in video game history. Nothing quite compares to that moment in Shadow of the Colossus when you know you’re going to face the final colossus, who you expect to be quite large. As you climb the mountain, and ascend the pillars, you see the glowing eyes of Malus, and the true size of this behemoth settles in. It’s spine chilling. Malus stands as the tallest foe, towering more than twice the height of any other upright colossus in the game. Despite being low in this particular list of large bosses, Malus's immense size (estimated at about 65 metres) completely dwarfs players, making the battle feel overwhelmingly daunting. I’ll never forget the words of my brother when we first saw this boss way back in 2005. He laughed like a maniac and said “oooh, here we go.”

“Final Fantasy XV” (2016)

Titan, the Archaean of Earth in Final Fantasy XV, is a colossal and ancient Astral entity revered for his immense strength and connection to the land... Technically I stole that description from Wiki. If I described him, it would sound like this: Titan, the big fella from Final Fantasy XV, is f***ing huge… Run. He appears as a towering colossus that from a distance looks absolutely MASSIVE, but it’s when you get close that you truly understand his size. Titan plays a pivotal role in the game’s story, particularly during the Trial of Titan. He does become a useful ally after this, but even then you can’t help but think “Good lord, I hope he doesn’t turn on me.” His size is staggering. Estimates suggest he stands several hundred meters tall, making him one of the largest beings in the game’s universe.

“Lost Planet 2” (2010)

Lost Planet 2 is packed with massive boss encounters, but Red Eye takes the crown as the largest. Admittedly when you stand Red Eye side by side with the past 2 entries, it’s gonna look shorter, but its girth as well as its length (STOP LAUGHING IF YOU ARE) is what makes it far larger than either. This colossal, worm-like creature spans over 300 metres and burrows through the ground with unnerving speed. Its grotesque body is covered in hundreds of spikes that aid its rapid underground movement, and its jaw is lined with unsettling red eyes - creepy looking for it, perfect targets for us. During your second encounter, Red Eye matches the pace of a speeding train, creating an intense chase. Fortunately, a rail gun is conveniently nearby, giving players the firepower needed to take down this monstrous behemoth. It’s worth noting, the design of this creature is pretty damn cool. Great work, Red Eye.

“Gears of War 2” (2008)

The Riftworm’s first appearance in Gears of War 2 is among gaming’s most unforgettable and terrifying moments. Revered as gods by the Locust Horde, these immense creatures shaped the Hollow by burrowing through Sera’s crust, creating an underground world teeming with life. Imagine that? It sounds like the tales of an ancient tribe, except in this world, it’s true! While as many as three Riftworms are believed to have existed, only one has been encountered during the Locust War. This colossal worm, estimated at 8–10 miles in length, ranks among the longest creatures in gaming history. Instead of a traditional boss fight, players navigate inside the beast in a gripping sequence to locate and destroy its heart. This guy is a real turning point for us, because it’s getting difficult to measure sizes now, so grain of salt and all that.

“Monster Hunter Frontier” (2007)

In a franchise teeming with massive creatures, it takes something truly extraordinary to stand out, and Laviente does just that: stand out. In Monster Hunter, where even towering dragons are routine foes, hunters earn their victories by methodically breaking down colossal beasts. I for one have been playing this series since the first entry on the PS2, and I was still blown away by Laviente. Laviente is on another level. Classified as a Wyvern, this serpent-like monster inhabits an isolated island. Despite its wings, it’s more inclined to burrow underground than take to the skies. Measuring over 400 metres, its height stands high above even the riftworm. Even with its limited length, Laviente ranks as one of the largest creatures ever fought in a video game, which is why it’s on this list.

“God of War III” (2010)

When you’re fighting a giant monster, you either want to be a matching size, or have some MASSIVE weaponry. Outside of those options, you’re gonna feel pretty overwhelmed - OH WAIT, you can also be Kratos, the god of war. The God of War franchise, especially its earlier entries, is renowned for pitting Kratos against gargantuan foes. God of War 3, often hailed as one of the best hack-and-slash games of all time, features one of the largest boss battles in gaming history. Cronos, the Titan leader and father of the Olympians, towers at an estimated 487 metres tall. Cursed by Zeus to carry a temple on his back, Cronos once took Kratos three days to scale. The sheer scale of this battle is staggering, forcing the developers to slightly reduce Cronos’s size to make the encounter feasible.

“Final Fantasy XV” (2016)

Congratulations, Final Fantasy XV, you have two entries on this list. And yes, I was originally sticking to one entry per game and didn’t realise till we hit this entry that I’d doubled up... But I can’t be buggered changing it, so let’s talk Adamantoise. Adamantoise is a superboss in Final Fantasy XV, encountered during the "Lonely Rumblings in Longwythe" hunt. Defeating this massive creature earns the Tortoise Toppler achievement or trophy, and let me tell you this, it is NOT easy. Cid reveals that Regis once attempted to take down the Adamantoise but failed to finish the job. Occasionally, the Adamantoise drops Adamantoise Meat, which can be used to prepare Longwythe's Peak, a potent recipe accessible in the post-game. It also drops my blood pressure. Or raises it? Whatever is funnier for this joke.

“Mass Effect” (2007)

Thresher Maws are among the most terrifying creatures in the Mass Effect universe. These subterranean predators spend their lives relentlessly hunting for their next meal, which could easily be any of us. Fortunately for Commander Shepard, only about 30 metres of these beasts are visible during encounters, as the rest remains buried underground, like the world’s scariest iceberg. Kalros, revered by the krogan as the "mother of all thresher maws," is a legendary figure, allegedly larger, faster, and deadlier than her kin, coming in at a whopping 3000 metres.

“StarCraft” (1998)

What I learnt when researching this list, is that the name Leviathan might be the most used name in all of video game boss history, but THIS leviathan makes our previous entries look like sidecars to our mammoth motorbike. Technically, these are organic spaceships, but they are still alive, so it still counts. Leviathans serve as the Zerg's equivalent of a capital ship. Classified as class-10 Zerg flyers, they are the largest Zerg units recorded by the Terran Dominion. Often described as "moon-sized," these colossal creatures measure approximately 11 kilometers in length according to Dominion records. Other online records put this bad boy at 6 kilometres. Regardless: goddamn massive.

“Asura’s Wrath” (2012)

Asura’s Wrath pushed the boundaries of scale in video games, featuring a battle of unprecedented proportions. In this iconic encounter, Asura faces Wyzen, whose size escalates throughout the fight. Initially comparable to Asura, Wyzen’s frustration fuels his transformation into his ultimate god-like form, Gongen Wyzen, a being so massive he rivals the size of a planet. If my frustration could fuel transformation, I’d be the size of the goddamn Milky Way. Floating in space, Wyzen attempts to crush Asura, and potentially the entire world, with a single finger. However, in a testament to Asura’s unmatched strength and determination, he manages to stop this colossal attack, creating one of the most unforgettable moments in gaming history. Epic, massive, and the top of our list. Great work, Asura!