Unique Bosses In PlayStation Games, Ranked

The PlayStation brand has made a name for itself with some solid video games that fans can’t stop raving about to this day. The focus on mature gaming experiences in combat-heavy titles means that the best PlayStation games were loaded with stellar boss fights.

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Some of these boss encounters were as unique as they come, either letting players interact with unique mechanics or figure out clever solutions to defeat these foes. Either way, fans will remember these climactic encounters long after defeating these powerful bosses.

8

Bahamut

A Fight Where The Player Flies In The Skies To Deal With This Winged Eikon

Systems

Released

June 22, 2023

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Bahamut is one of the most legendary recurring creatures in the Final Fantasy series, and fans couldn’t help but wonder how the boss fight against this Eikon would play out in Final Fantasy 16. The game boasted a major focus on spectacle, and Bahamut’s boss fight was no exception.

By combining the powers of Ifrit and Phoenix, the brotherly duo of Clive and Joshua were able to transform into Ifrit Risen and take the fight to the skies. It’s the first Eikon fight where players can fly freely, allowing them to engage with Bahamut in an amazing aerial battle that somehow managed to up the ante even after fans felt like they’d seen everything these Eikon battles could bring to the table.

7

Palmer

Ends With The Boss Being Run Over By A Truck

Released

January 31, 1997

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Final Fantasy 7 was the first game in the series to appear as a PlayStation exclusive after the franchise ended their lucrative partnership with Nintendo. The enhanced hardware allowed Squaresoft to go all out and develop a great JRPG that is still talked about fondly to this day.

The game is full of challenging boss fights, but Palmer is an exception in this regard. This bumbling Shinra executive faces off against the party in an easy battle where he tries to escape midway through, only to be run over by a trick in a hilarious and unexpected conclusion to this boss.

6

Thor

Psychs Players Out With A Fake Game-Over Screen

Systems

Released

November 9, 2022

ESRB

M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Given how 2018’s God of War started with an epic encounter against Baldur, fans wondered how the sequel would top things. A battle against Thor was a great way to kickstart the game’s story, especially given how easily he managed to manhandle Kratos.

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One of the most unique moments in this battle comes when players assume that Thor killed them off, only for the God of Thunder to literally shock Kratos back into the realm of the living to continue their battle. It was an ingenious way to shatter the fourth wall and show just how battle-hungry Thor was.

5

Yu Yevon

The Final Boss Fight Is A Cinematic Battle Where The Main Party Can’t Die

Systems

Released

December 17, 2001

ESRB

T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

After defeating Braska’s Final Aeon, players gear up for the final battle against Yu Yevon. This malicious entity was responsible for trapping Spira in a cycle of destruction, and the Fayth aided the heroes in this battle by giving them Auto-Life.

This meant that losing was impossible in this battle, making it more of a cinematic conclusion than an actual challenge. If anything, the battle felt more like a puzzle boss where players had to summon aeons to coax Yu Yevon into expending his energy before barraging him with high-damage attacks.

4

Micolash, Host Of The Nightmare

Players Engage In A Game Of Cat & Mouse With This Mad Hunter

Systems

Released

March 24, 2015

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The Soulsborne series is no stranger to its fair share of unique boss fights, and Micolash from Bloodborne is no exception. The Host of the Nightmare has clearly gone mad by the time players engage him in battle, but the battle isn’t as straightforward as players think.

Players engage in a game of cat & mouse where they chase Micolash at regular intervals before finally taking him on in battle. It adds a unique flavor to the boss, even if his moveset is similar to that of most Hunter NPCs.

3

Magus

Players Are Surprised By The Game’s Final Boss Fight That’s Extremely Unique

Guardians of the Galaxy

Systems

Released

October 26, 2021

ESRB

t

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the most creative and underappreciated video games of all time. The game’s impeccable writing and stellar environmental design elevate the adventure considerably, and this stretches to the ending as well.

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Just as the credits start rolling, Adam Warlock’s dark side manifests in the form of Magus, trapping the heroes in a different plane where they must insult and berate this colossal figure while dealing with wave after wave of enemies. It’s a challenging and hilarious boss fight that personifies why Guardians of the Galaxy is hailed by many as one of the greatest superhero video games ever made.

2

Every Colossus Fight

The Game Only Has Sixteen Enemies, With Each Boss Fight Boasting Unique Mechanics

Systems

Released

February 6, 2018

ESRB

T For Teen due to Blood, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Shadow of the Colossus is one of the most unique video games players can get their hands on. The game features a total of sixteen enemies that must be defeated to revive Wander’s love, with the true nature of his actions being revealed as the protagonist slowly gets corrupted.

It helps that each of these sixteen boss fights structure themselves as puzzles where players must figure out how to climb up and reach their weak spots before stabbing it for major damage. This gameplay loop never gets old, and the unique feel of every encounter ensures that each of the Colossi in Shadow of the Colossus will leave a lasting impression on players.

1

The End

Players Can Leave The Game For Eight Days To Kill This Boss Of Natural Causes

Systems

Released

November 17, 2004

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes

The Metal Gear Solid series is full of unique boss fights that will push players to their very limits. This is especially true in Snake Eater, a game known for featuring its fair share of tough bosses that will obliterate Snake.

The sole exception to this is The End, who snipes Snake from a distance with tranquilizer darts and imprisons him over and over again. Players must either kill him early on, engage in a sniping battle with him, or shut down the game and come back after a week to see that he died of natural causes. It’s easily the most unique boss encounter in Snake Eater, which is saying something given the quality of the boss fights in this game.

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