Boss fights are usually the pinnacle of 2D action games, especially when they introduce new mechanics. If you’re playing an action platformer, it’s inevitable that if you fight your way through the game, there will most likely be a boss boss, bigger and better than the rest.
If the game wants to leave its mark on you, the final boss is usually where it would happen. Think of a fireworks show finale. Sending you away with a lasting reminder of how epic, emotional, or just plain satisfying a boss fight can be. Whether you’re looking for revenge or want to pit your leveled character against the best, boss battles are the perfect ending to a wonderful game.
10 Hydravok – Valfaris
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Valfaris is a game that is sadly overlooked. Those who have played it praise the game for its dark tones and heavy metal score. It’s a blood-curdling action packed party with ambitious boss battles. The finale of which is one worth mentioning. As all great boss fights should, this one has stages.
As you climb the ladder to your main challenge of the entire game, you are immediately attacked by a demon wielding a large sword. However, if you damage it enough, the demon will turn into a three-headed dragon. This brings the mediocre boss fight into a world of excellence. As expected, you have to take out each of the three heads. A task that is anything but easy, because Valfaris is ruthless.
9 Pedro – My friend Pedro
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The most banana fight on this list — pun intended — is in My Friend Pedro’s conclusion. As you beat your sister and beat the game, a fantastic twist is revealed that your friend, Pedro, has betrayed your trust. Just before he tries to shoot you, you fight back and a ridiculous boss fight ensues.
Your banana friend, once as small as a baby, grows and attacks you. After damaging it, the husk begins to split and Pedro pulls out two pistols out of nowhere. My Friend Pedro has a wild boss fight with multiple times that makes you wonder “What am I playing?”.
8 dr. Eggman – Sonic 2
Sonic is one of the most iconic and well-known games on this list. It is a series that paved the way for so many 2D platformers. Sonic 2 takes what the first game accomplished and builds on it to create an even better experience.
The Blue Haze and Dr. Eggman go together like peanut butter and jelly. And in their climactic battle at the second game’s conclusion, Dr. Eggman and Sonic face each other in an epic duel. While it might be the easiest boss fight on this list, it’s still a great time to battle your arch-rival while controlling a massive mech.
7 The Sorceress – Shovel Knight
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The Enchantress boss fight is one that almost leaves you disappointed at the end. Not in a way that the fight is unsatisfactory, but rather that you want the fight to continue. The Enchantress is fantastically designed and her moveset is cunning. She too has multiple evolutions, each more stunning than the next.
As she floats around your crumbling platform, she takes sweeps in your direction, attacking the ground in succession under your feet. You have to keep going against her or you will crash to your death.
6 Bowser – New Super Mario Bros Wii
It wouldn’t be a list of 2D boss fights without the most infamous of them all, Bowser. It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t have a fond memory of playing a Mario game. Mario is a concept that has been around since the dawn of video games as we know them today.
When comparing each of the bosses in 2D Mario, Bowser combat reigns supreme in New Super Mario Bros Wii. Sure, there are lava and fireballs to dodge, but what makes this particular boss fight so special is Bowser’s size. As you travel through the level, Bowser will chase you down and grow to the size of a Kaiju. The music is perfectly matched, giving an epic and intense tone to the already crucial boss fight.
5 Proteus Ridley – Metroid: Samus Returns
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Playing as one of the toughest action characters in all video games can only mean one thing: epic boss fights. That’s exactly what comes at the end of Metroid: Samus Returns as you fight Proteus Ridley. The dragon shows off an attractive green and purple color scheme, but don’t let that fool you. This beast is ruthless.
As with all Metroid games, there are dazzling animations that pull the camera as Samus packs punches with Ridley. Nintendo’s leading action game has a slew of memorable boss fights, but Proteus Ridley is on top of them all.
4 The Radiance – Hollow Knight
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One of the most stunning designs on this list is Hollow Knight’s The Radiance. This boss fight has several variations that will challenge you significantly. Hollow Knight is a demanding game in its entirety. Most people who pick up the game shelve it before reaching The Radiance because sometimes it’s just so unbearable.
That said, the ending is undeniably worth going through. From the enchanting level design to the boss evolution as you fight, everything about Hollow Knight’s climax is beautiful.
3 The Devil – Cuphead
Cuphead is one of the best-made games on this list, thanks in large part to its irresistible concept. After losing a bet with the devil at his casino, he condemns you to the Inkwell Isles where you must retrieve the souls of other runaway debtors. That premise alone makes Cuphead’s ending so satisfying.
The final boss is in fact the devil himself. Resting on his throne, he sends erratic attacks in all directions. Dodge it and move on to a close-up of his cosmic head.
2 Shriek – Ori and the Will of the Wisps
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Ori and the Will of the Wisps is truly one of the most breathtaking 2D games available today. The movement is smooth and the animations are clear. The final boss fight is an excellent example of putting everything you’ve learned through the game to the test.
Shriek is extremely elusive and forces Ori to keep moving. While you get a few hits on the beast, you must continue to run and climb to your safety. Shriek crushes the land you stand on, forcing you into an awkward position that you hardly find in 2D boss fights.
1 Six – Little Nightmares 2
Without a doubt, the most engaging and dynamic boss fight is in Little Nightmares 2. The boss fight in this game doesn’t just take place in a room where you spam your attack and dodge theirs. In Little Nightmares 2 you are constantly on the move. You move from room to room, attacking strategically when necessary, but above all remain mobile. As you progress through each room, you’ll learn a little more about what’s going on with your friend Six.
As you watch the ending unfold, the final boss fight gives you one of the best twists you’ll experience in a 2D game. Between the colors, sound design, movement and sinister version of a previous companion, Little Nightmares 2 has the best boss fight in all 2D video games.
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