Top 10 Greatest Video Game Boss Entrances Of All Time

It’s all about making an entrance. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 best boss intros.

For this list, we’ll be considering factors such as visuals, editing and sometimes just sheer cleverness.

“Silent Hill: Homecoming” (2008)

For an intro that’s chilling, tragic and surreal in equal measure, Scarlet’s is a tough one to beat. The sequence takes place in Hell Descent, the horrific manifestation of the mind of child-murdering Dr. Fitch, and chills from the start. The haunting music sets the nerves on edge and the self-mutilated body of Fitch instantly draws the eye. However, it’s the subversion of the childhood innocence of a simple doll that’s the kicker here, and the moment when the one-eyed mannequin looks up and says “Daddy” is a real heart-stopper. Its transformation into Scarlet’s twisted, spider-like form is artfully shot, while Fitch’s acceptance of his inevitable fate is heartbreaking. It’s all accompanied by disturbing sound effects, making this a sequence which delivers on all fronts.

“Resident Evil 4” (2005)

A giant mutated salamander was always going to be a great boss, and Del Lago’s intro in Resident Evil 4 is a brilliantly edited sequence that stands with the best. Starting out “innocently” enough with a couple of Ganados tossing a cop’s dead body in a lake, the sequence soon turns terrifying. Del Lago is first seen in glimpses, rising from the depths to snatch up the corpse, before a long overhead shot reveals its massive form. The final eruption from the lake is an awesome display of its power and brings to mind movie classic Jaws as Leon then finds himself dragged around the lake in a deadly game of chase. Throw in some pulse-pounding music and you’ve got a stunning boss intro.

“Dark Souls” (2011)

No boss list would be complete without mention of Dark Souls, and it’s the Gaping Dragon which earns a spot here today. The brilliance of this sequence is the way the player is lulled into a false sense of security. The first glimpse of the dragon suggests it to be a rather cute, unthreatening beast, more suited to Pokémon than Dark Souls. However, this is quickly shown to be merely the tip of the monster’s nose as it drags itself from the water and reveals its full horrific majesty. It’s a superb example of creature design, and the clever trickery would be funny if the dragon wasn’t so darn terrifying.

“Resident Evil 7” (2017)

Jack Baker makes a number of horrific entrances in Resident Evil 7, but it’s his first one that makes the greatest impact. It validates Capcom’s controversial decision to switch to a first-person perspective and ensures Baker’s position in horror gaming’s hall of fame. As players desperately try to escape the nightmare that is the Baker residence, they find themselves in the garage arguing with a cop, while the door closes ominously in the background. Unexpectedly, Baker appears from nowhere and drives a shovel through the cop’s head, partially severing it in a shower of gore. It’s a simple but effective scene that cuts to the core of Baker’s brutality in a heartbeat, which simply wouldn't have been as effective in the series’ traditional third-person view.

“God of War III” (2010)

Games don’t come much more spectacle-filled than God of War, so for any boss to stand out, it has to be pretty impressive. Poseidon clinches it for us, with a suitably god-like entrance that mixes arrogance, visual splendor and cheesy dialogue to superb effect. It’s the sheer scale here that’s staggering, with not one but two gods vying for screen time, as the scene takes place on Gaia’s back. Once Poseidon and Kratos have finished their bombastic exchange, there’s an epic punch-up that’s visceral in the extreme, as both warriors use all the powers at their disposal. What follows is a special-effects laden masterpiece that brings all those Clash of the Titans fantasies to life.

“Batman: Arkham Asylum” (2009)

Scarecrow is perhaps Batman’s most fearsome foe, an insane genius intent on sowing chaos with his dreaded fear toxin. In Arkham Asylum he gets an introduction that mixes his disturbing appearance with his love of mind-bending psychology to create a boss battle that isn’t just visually striking but which reflects his personality in the action. Players take on a series of nightmarish challenges, all while an immense Scarecrow looms over everything, taunting Batman and causing him to doubt his own sanity. It’s an impressive, and rare, blend of character and gameplay that lingers long after the fight is over.

“Super Metroid” (1994)

One for retro fans here, showing that you don’t need fancy cutscenes and flashy special effects to make an entrance. Instead, for the final boss in Nintendo’s classic Super Metroid, we have a masterclass in understatement. As the player drops into Ripley’s hideout, they’re greeted with a single glowing eye appearing out of the darkness, which then reveals itself to be Ripley itself. Battle ensues with Ripley giving out a suitably creepy roar, and while its Alien-like appearance is memorable, it’s that initial subtle reveal that makes this a classic.

“Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” (2019)

Darth Vader is perhaps cinema’s most enduring villain, and in 2019’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order he gets a dramatic entrance deserved by such an icon. All the details are spot on, from the heavy footsteps and labored breathing that herald his arrival, to the horrified expression on Inquisitor Trilla’s face as she realizes her impending fate. The low camera angles emphasize his menace, and his dialogue is lean and efficient. However, it’s the brutal ease with which he dispatches Cere and his casual slaughter of Trilla that remind us he’s not just a pantomime villain but the ultimate force of evil in the galaxy.

“Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time” (1998)

Another brilliant Nintendo entrance here, that once again shows that it’s the simple details that count. In this case, it’s the sound as much as the visuals which carry the day, and the hideous cackling which heralds the appearance of the twin witches Koume and Kotake is a guaranteed spine-chiller. It gets better though, with a wonderfully choreographed sequence that’s wreathed in fire and ice. That final moment where the witches fly over Link and he gazes in wonder at them emphasizes both his naivety and their stature, and makes this a sequence worthy of Walt Disney himself.

“Shadow of the Colossus” (2005)

For a game that’s all about boss battles, you’d expect Shadow of the Colossus to deliver the goods, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Picking the best one is the hard part, however, but we plumped for Malus, the game’s final boss. What’s clever about his introduction is its subtlety, with its slow pan up a vast edifice, while a storm rages in the background, and with two flaming torches providing the minimalist lighting. It’s only as the camera continues upwards that the player realizes that the building is Malus, as two mighty hands uncurl and his eyes burn through the gloom. It’s a classic case of hiding in plain sight and sets the stage for an equally impressive showdown, making Malus a worthy winner today.


So, do you agree with our choices? What would your list look like? For more exciting top 10s published every day, subscribe to WatchMojo.com.