The 25 Best Boss Battles Of All Time

Game: Resident Evil (1996)

Tyrant is huge, fast and no genitals. No wonder why this beast has anger management issues. When you first meet the mutated super soldier, he's asleep in a tube. Just the traitorous Wesker wraps up his speech, the goliath breaks free and runs his talons through the STARS Judas. Tyrant is hard to stop; even shooting his exposed heart weak spot doesn't mean a quick kill. With his bursts of unmatched speed, this boss gave Resident Evil fans the best reason to hold their breath.

Game: Altered Beast (1988)

He had cheesy threats, ("Welcome to your doom,") a weight problem and no hair. But this demon god brought an army, lightning powers and shape-shifting madness to the fight. When you leveled up to your enhanced form, Neff would meet your metamorphosis with his own. He would transform into a head-tossing giant, a plant beast and a large snail/lizard creature. Neff's sheer presence and ability made this battle one of the most challenging and exciting, especially for 1988.

Game: The Metal Gear Solid (1998)

After kicking soldier ass and sneaking around in boxes, super-agent Snake comes face-to-face with a bipedal, hulking mech. Just to emphasize its power, the Gear starts off with a dinosaur like roar and the fight begins. In all of its incarnations, Metal Gear Rex unleashes rockets, shock waves and a hail of machine gun fire. Yes, there is a lot of dodging and shooting involved with beating it but the win is worth it.

Game: Shadow of the Colossus (2005)

Shadow of the Colossus set the standard for boss battles way above the norm. The entire game is a series of gigantic, larger than life fights against lumbering and massive beings rattling the land. Any of the bosses could be anywhere but the first boss represents the moment that the game asserts its uniqueness. On this boss, you'll scale the giant while trying to find its weak points to bring it down. The timing is just as important as if you screw it up, you'll go for a long tumble to the ground and will have to start all over again.

Game: Gears of War (2006)

In order to lead the brutal jack-booted Locust Army, you need one true badass. This is when the Queen of the subterranean invaders calls on General Raam. The hulking, hissing leather-clad officer puts fear in any Coalition of Ordered Governments soldiers who see him on the battlefield. He's durable, brutal and smart. In his own DLC, you can see how skilled the general is at cutting off the enemy and commanding his troops. On top of it all, Raam has learned command of the deadly flying Kryll. They'll attack on his command or shield him from harm.

Game: Donkey Kong (1981)

This ape has been a hero, a worrisome dad and a race car driver. However, his roots began as a boss. After absconding with a helpless princess, the giant monkey fends off her heroic plumber with barrels, vines and level after level of increasing platform difficulty. Being one of the original baddies in video games, Donkey Kong will always swing his way onto a great boss list.

Game: Dead Space 2 (2011)

The Marker of Dead Space 2 takes this survival horror from nightmare to full-blown head-trip. After Isaac has fought his way through the Necromorph infested colony, he must enter his own mind and start a battle with the focus of his enemies' belief and leadership – the Marker. The Marker attacks with waves of shadowy creatures and the twisted shade of Isaac's dead love, Nicole. It's a great way to give players a shot at experiencing true horror.

Game: The Castlevania series (1986-2013)

Immortal. Prince of Darkness. Need for blood. These characteristics alone should make Stoker's nosferatu an entry on this list. However, it is staying power that makes the Count so formidable. He's battled untold generations of vampire-hunters including the entire Belmont family. Most amazing are his multiple levels of battle during fights (he can hurl fireballs, change into a giant bat or demon.) Dracula rarely ever ends in just one form. Grab all the stakes you can.

Game: God of War 3 (2010)

When the God of the Seas goes against the God of War prepare for one of the best boss fights ever. Poseidon attacks with in a watery construct of horses, tendrils and crab claws while wielding lightning strikes. Once you beat his aquatic avatar, the real fun begins as you go hand-to-hand with Zeus' brother. In a series of quick-time events, gamers cull the Olympic royal family. It's a larger than life battle with beautiful graphics, solid gameplay and brutality that truly sets this fight as well as God of War apart from other games.

Game: Mike Tyson's Punch Out!! (1987)

Heavyweight champion of the world? Of course he would be a worthwhile boss. Players made it through a wide gallery of fights to get to big Mike. He comes in with a fury and strength that decimates most gamers in under the first two minutes. If you survive that, then Tyson's power drops but this boss is far from out. He delivers combos, jabs and more "Dynamite Punches." Boxing games continued to follow but none have the nostalgic existence like Punch Out!!

Game: Contra (1987)

At first glance, the muscle-bound soldiers of Contra thought they were only dealing with rebels, militia troops and mercenaries. But, after digging deeper in this classic series, the two commandos discover that it is something from a much farther land than just overseas. Red Falcon waits, burrowed deep into its command center. The alien overlord hurls alien warriors, electric fields and more as you dare to reach the lone nerve center which make Red what he (or it) is. Thirty men, anyone?

Game: Marvel vs. Capcom: Fate of Two Worlds (2011)

Comic book readers know that Galan, the sole survivor of a previous universe is the poor soul that is now Galactus, the Eater of Worlds. Gamers know that Galactus just kicks a lot of ass. After wading through Capcom and Marvel's cream of the crop, you meet the intergalactic giant who consumes everything in his wake. With just one attack, he can drop your team by one. With one attack, he can force your roster to shift and with one blow, it's game over.

Game: Street Fighter 2 (1991)

He's not as treacherous as M. Bison. He's not nearly as suave as Vega. But Balrog's got a punch that drains health with a quickness. What made this fighter so lethal was the combination of speed and power. Once his rushing cross connected, the pugilist would unleash uppercuts, hooks and jabs in a blinding fury. Balrog didn't give even the most skilled of fighters a chance to counter with a Sonic Boom or Yoga Fire. Plus he had showgirls cheering him on.

Game: Doom (1993)

Gamers enlisted into the army of the future but no one signed up to stop Hell itself. Even more so, no one joined up to face Hell's doorman, the Cyberdemon. In all of his incarnations, this demonic warrior is big and delivers a hellish barrage of rockets along with a knowledge that you are not going to survive. The Cyberdemon roars a mean game and has the firepower to back it up, even if you enter the fight with the BFG.

Game: Phoenix (1980)

This arcade baddie was not super-hard. It was not graphically beautiful and it didn't deliver amazing dialogue. But what the Mothership did do was set the tone for digital generations to come. Over twenty years ago, Phoenix put gamers against a massive ship whose shields had to be blasted through as waves of space birds swooped in to attack. Once the difficulty of eroding the shield was over, it was a one-shot to kill the main alien. While not great in design, the Mothership belongs as a celebrated elder to bosses everywhere.

Game: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989)

While not being the hardest or smartest bad guys in history, Bebop and Rocksteady were fan-favorite bosses from the beginning. Why? Because they were a two-boss battle and fighting them called on the best teamwork arcade gamers could muster. The two mutated gang-bangers would drill their way up to meet the four ninjas. Then chaos ensued with rockets launchers and machine guns. While one would charge, the other would shoot. Turtles had to be at their best to get these two glowing with reckless rage.

Game: Metal Gear Solid (1998)

There is no boss list complete without this entry. Resident psychic, sadist and creeper Psycho Mantis tripped the minds of players with some sly gaming tricks even by today's standards. Mantis broke the fourth wall (more like kicked it in) by switching control layouts on controllers, blacking out the screen and making comments about data on your PS2 memory card. While fighting the metal giants later in the game was difficult, this psychic encounter is far more memorable. No other boss has hit that level of awe in gaming history.

Game: Serious Sam (2001)

First person shooter fans have cried out for this boss' rightful place in gaming history. He tears through pyramids. He launches rockets and balls of lava and towers over you at 300 feet. Ugh Zan III can regenerate health and send minions towards you to whittle down your defenses. Besides being a Great Admiral in the alien horde, Zan takes three stages to fight. The goliath is considered by many gamers as one of the greatest bosses of all time.

Game: Dark Souls (2011)

One is a bulky giant with a hammer forged to kill. The other is a lanky knight with blinding speed and merciless skill of the blade. Together, this duo has sent more players to RPG graves than most bosses. Smough wields massive crushing attacks. Ornstein releases long-range arcs of slicing fury. What makes these two even more lethal is the fact that as one dies, the other gains from the loss. This symbiotic relationship along with their lone skill is enough to put them on a top boss list for certain.

Game: The Diablo series (1996-2012)

He's the Devil, what more needs to be said? Well, actually, he's a devil but as the most feared evil in Blizzard's series, Diablo takes the cake and sets it on fire. As PC games go, this boss stands above all others. He has the ability to control hellfire, call monsters to do his bidding and hurl gamers into dark dimensions mid-battle. Battling this boss cost a ton of red potions in order to survive. This evil creature has become iconic despite changing design in each game.

Game: The Super Mario Brothers series (1985-2012)

How intimidating can a boss be when a diminutive plumber keeps beating him? But, nonetheless, Bowser (aka King Koopa) still finds a way. Reappearing throughout the series, Bowser grows in difficulty and power. He starts out throwing fireballs and bringing the ceiling down on you. Eventually, the mutant turtle upgrades to larger than life proportions and abilities including flight, using helicopters and staring in that really bad Mario Brothers movie. Bowser is one of the few bosses that upgrade as consoles and games evolve

Game: Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)

When the Scarecrow's level-long boss battle begins, you don't even know you're fighting him. It even seems like there's a glitch in the game until the beginning starts with a devious twist. Fighting Scarecrow scrambles your perspective as if you were battling the fear-obsessed lunatic himself. Game controls act up. You don't know which way is which. Then, as the caped crusader, you must navigate a treacherous landscape of a poisoned perception. Dodge your fears and the Scarecrow's notice in your deranged mind's eye.

Game: Crysis (2007)

While the Nanosuit has made you a badass against enemy soldiers, armored vehicles and even Ceraph alien shock troops, your precious exoskeleton doesn't mean squat against this boss. Rising from the ocean, the alien warship has turrets, shields and the ability to release attack drones on command. Your weapons barely scratch its hull and you have to rely on timing, assistance from a nearby chopper and your trusty TAC gun.

Game: Mass Effect 2 (2010)

Shepard fought Saren the emissary of the first game's Reaper but this time, this dark space entity must be dealt with face-to-face. Although you're assisted by orbiting particle weaponry, gamers felt their pulse quicken as the mechanized beast powered up its one-hit, one-kill death ray. Before meeting this monstrosity, the true face of the galaxy's killers was unknown. What makes this Reaper even more special is the statement (or warning) it delivers to Shepard with its last breath – "the universe is doomed."

Game: Gears of War 2 (2008)

Delta Squad just didn't step into the crap this time. With this boss, they actually stepped into the monster itself. After ruining whole cities and devastating COGs with ease, the Riftworm makes for a formidable foe. This boss is actually a level itself with crushing organs, grinding guts and antibodies which will rip you apart. Add to it a heart that will drown you as you try to stop its beating and the Riftworm has earned its place on this list.