10 Best Boss Battles of (2025)

At the core of combat-based action games are boss battles, and how intense, captivating, and rewarding they are. Whether it’s the design of the bosses themselves, fascinating in their majestic build, or their attack power, destructive to the environment around them, different bosses have different quirks about them. 

Still, some are valued for their difficulty, requiring several attempts to beat, even for the most hardcore veterans. Today, we’re looking at the best boss battles of 2025 every gamer ought to try. Even if they aren’t beatable in the first go, fighting them at least once will be unforgettable, offering a satisfying playtime in the game. 

10. Nameless Puppet – Lies of P

Lies of P is a cyber-horror adaptation of Pinocchio, featuring the player as the puppet called P. You’re given two choices: to die and be reborn as a boy, or refuse and have to deal with the Nameless Puppet’s wrath. 

The Nameless Puppet is your father’s, Geppetto’s, creation: a corpse turned puppet killing machine. And to beat him will require dipping into every arsenal you’ve got. He comes swinging his long sword at you, casting a wide-range devastating attack. And further, mixes it in with melee attacks. 

Defending yourself against several sword swings and slashes is pretty tough, given the perfect blocks and parries you need to master. And then comes the trick of inflicting damage. You need to be aggressive, but at the same time, remember to block incoming attacks. Also, you cannot let him restore their health or else it’s game over. 

9. Firth – Another Crab’s Treasure

Another Crab’s Treasure is one of the hardest games out there. So, it makes sense that the toughest boss battle makes it to the list of the best boss battles of 2025. And that’s Firth, the Hermit Crab Who Stole the Whorl.

He has a diverse set of moves at his disposal, including ones he can mimic off of you. He can teleport, quickly closing the distance to you, before launching exploding urchins and teleporting away just in time to evade the impact. 

You never know what’s coming with Firth, whether it’s bullets, a claw swing, a sword slash, swirling water, and sprouting tentacles causing considerable damage, among many more tools at his disposal.

8. Vide – Octopath Traveler II

You’d think that since eight travelers are going up against Vide in Octopath Traveler II, that it’ll be a quick and easy fight. “Think again,” say the developers, when they decide to give Vide tentacles that resummon themselves. 

It’s, indeed, a long and grueling fight, trying to wean the beastly creature off his massive health. Only when you slay his left and right arms will his invisibility cloak fall off. And even then, Vide will gain more power, inflicting more potent physical and elemental attacks.

7. Seartooth Vyrantus and Corius the Icetalon – Dragon Age: The Veilguard

As if fighting one dragon wasn’t enough pain, Dragon Age: The Veilguard adds another, and not a moment too soon. You’ll have Seartooth Vyrantus’ fire-based attacks to contend with first. And then followed by Corius, the Icetalon’s ice-based attacks. 

Both dragons are mighty in their own right, with their own health bars and an exceptional cinematic battle design to boot. Be sure to fully exploit the dragons’ individual elemental weaknesses to win.

6. Lady Venomara – Astro Bot

Astro Bot may be PlayStation’s own orientation package. But it sure does put up a worthy stream of boss fights. Particularly Lady Venomara, a most gigantic green serpent. The boss fight takes place in three phases, each more brutal.

More than that, you’re constantly bombarded with surprising attacks. On the one hand, Lady Venomara is laying eggs that hatch enemies after a while. On the other hand, she’s sweeping her tail across the battlefield. Still, she sprays venom on the platform. 

It’s a proper dancefest of constant danger that challenges you to stay alive just long enough to land your stream of aggressive attacks.

5. Scylla and the Sirens – Hades II

When fighting sirens, it’s only fair that a brilliant soundtrack accompanies it. And Hades II nails it during the Scylla and the Sirens boss battle. But the fight itself is also extremely dangerous, with seemingly every place on the battlefield potentially dangerous. 

Get too close and Scylla will launch attacks. Stray too far, and she’ll send projectiles your way. All the while, you’re evading constant AoE attacks and deadly musical notes while you look for a window of opportunity to strike back.

4. Sigrun – God of War

As the Queen leader of the nine Valkyries, Sigrun of God of War is not to be messed with. You will need to defeat eight Valkyries first before you get to her, as beating even one takes its toll. Worse? Sigrun’s abilities are a combination of all the abilities and skills of the previous eight, making her an unstoppable force to properly prepare for.

3. Isshin, the Sword Saint – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

It sounds all too simple to say that all you need is perfect timing. But as Souls-like veterans will tell you, perfect timing doesn’t always come easily. Particularly in the Isshin, the Sword Saint boss fight in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, where even a slight moment of hesitation can cost you. 

Isshin’s attacks are quick and difficult to deflect. Meanwhile, the window of opportunity to strike is slim, and only the most proficient gamers are able to get a single hit, let alone two.

2. Slave Knight Gael – Dark Souls III

Another Souls-like, and featuring one of the best boss battles of 2025, is Dark Souls III’s Slave Knight Gael. He comes in with incredibly powerful hits that cannot be parried. So, the only way to survive is to stagger Gael, which takes three hits using great weapons. And that’s not easy at all, given he adapts to the battle through the three phases it takes to beat him.

When he turns hollow, his damage output is brutal. He gains new moves, throwing out projectiles and casting lightning strikes on the battlefield. If you can predict his attacks, you’ll at least stand a fighting chance.

1. Messmer the Impaler – Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Messmer the Impaler in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree does the best job at merging brutality with an engaging storyline and cinematic. Starting off as a humanoid boss, he rips off one of his eyes mid-way through the fight and crashes it. The battlefield turns red, and the boss battle enters phase two. 

Onward, you’re thrown into a more vicious fight, Messmer’s corrupted body resembling the devastating damage he inflicts on you. And when you’re nearly beaten, he turns into a gargantuan snake, breathing fire down your neck and diving his fangs into you. Thus, this fight tops our list of the best boss battles so far this year.