Summary
Boss fights in video games are usually the most challenging portion of the experience, with the final boss fight trumping every other enemy before it in difficulty and setting up your biggest battle yet. But sometimes games go in a different direction.
Sometimes, optional boss fights that you may access through side quests end up being more difficult than the actual final baddies. Not only that, but those battles and the depth they add make the exploration beyond the main quest line worth it. For example, a lot ofFromSoftwaregames take this approach, but it’s not exclusive to them. We will explore some titles that do this below.
Manus, Father of the Abyss is technically the final boss of the DLC for the first Dark Souls, it’s but not the true final boss, a spot reserved for Gwyn, Lord of Cinder. This started a trend in Soulsborne titles to present more challenging optional bosses than the main ones.
After going through the DLC,you’ll eventually encounter Manus, standing between you and the ending, and boy, is he a difficult fight. Manus is completely ridiculous and his attack patterns and timings are difficult to get consistently good at, becoming tougher than Gwyn.
Scattered throughout the Norse realm in God of War are nine Valkyries, optional bosses trapped in physical forms by Odin. You can free them, but only after besting them in some of the most intense combat encounters in the entire story.
Their unpredictable moves and attacks far outclass those of the final boss, Baldur, making them a true test of skill and a rewarding challenge for those seeking to beat every aspect of the game. The Valkyrie that will give you the most trouble is Sigrun, and she holds the title of the strongest boss in the God of War reboot — and perhaps even the series as a whole.
While the Wild Hunt’s Eredin serves as Geralt’s primary antagonist in The Witcher 3, and we spend most of the game running and fighting them, it’s the higher vampire Detlaff who steals the show in terms of difficulty.
Encountered in the Blood and Wine expansion, Detlaff’s fast attack speed and multiple phases demand quick reflexes and a well-thought-out strategy. Many players find him to be a much greater challenge than Eredin, cementing his place as one of the toughest bosses in the Witcher universe.
Deep within the frozen caverns of the Dragonborn DLC for Skyrim is Karstaag, an ancient and powerful frost giant. Summoning him for battle is an optional challenge, but one that proves far more difficult than the main quest’s final confrontation with Miraak, Alduin, or Lord Harkon.
The challenge with Karstaag lies in the blizzard that starts soon after spawning him, which deals a lot of continuous damage. His brutal melee attacks make him even more challenging at higher difficulties,forcing you to bring out your absurdly overpowered gear.
Although technically a boss within the main storylineof Dark Souls 3, the Nameless King is an optional encounter that many consider to be the true final challenge of the game. His two-phase battle, complete with a dragon mount and lightning attacks, is significantly more difficult than the final battle with the Soul of Cinder.
The difficulty of the Nameless King increases in his second phase, with his weirdly timed attacks that betray your muscle memory. Beating him definitely gives you a badge of honor.
Hidden beneath Emil’s friendly exterior lies a secret boss battle that pushes the limits of Nier: Automata’s combat.Triggered through a side quest, this encounter features multiple phasesand a heartbreaking backstory.
Beyond the sheer difficulty, the battle against Emil is a poignant and emotional experience. As players fight him, they uncover fragments of his memories, revealing his deep sorrow and the sacrifices he has made. To even attempt Emil, you’ll have to grind to Level 50 and upgrade your weapons to the max.
While the final battle against Isshin, the Sword Saint, is no walk in the park, it’s the Demon of Hatred who truly tests your skills by abandoning everything unique about Sekiro’s combat it has taught you so far and becoming a different boss type entirely.
This Demon of Hatred is an extremely aggressive boss with powerful attacks and multiple phases. His high damaging attacks make him only slightly more challenging than Isshin, demanding perfect parries and patience to find the best attack windows.
One of the most iconic bosses and characters in gaming history that found its way into pop culture, you fight against Sans in Undertale’s genocide route. What seemed to be a lazy skeleton actuallyhas a hidden power allowing him to break the fourth walland address the player directly.
His boss battle is notorious for its difficulty, featuring attacks that require precise timing to avoid. Sans’s fight is far more challenging than the final encounter with Asgore or Flowey, making him a punishing hurdle for those who choose the path of destruction — and it’s accompanied by a killer soundtrack!
For players who have conquered every dragon, delved into every dungeon, and mastered every skill in Skyrim,the Ebony Warrior stands as the ultimate challengethat you face after reaching Level 80.
The Ebony Warrior is more than just a boss, he is a representation of the player himself, also looking for a final challenge after seeing everything the world of the Elder Scrolls has to offer. His existence provides a final test for those who crave it, a chance to prove their worth against the best Skyrim has to offer.
In Elden Ring, Malenia, Blade of Miquella, is an optional boss whose difficulty has become a huge selling point of the game,with countless memes and pop culture referencesto how tough she is. Her Waterfowl Dance and unique healing ability make her an incredibly tough opponent, often considered more challenging than the final boss of the main story.
Overcoming Malenia requires mastery of the game’s mechanics and a healthy dose of perseverance. You’ll hear her say that she has never known defeat more times than you can count before your triumph, and you’ll need a combination of skill and luck to eventually beat her.
