10 Best Open World Games With Terrible Boss Fights

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Playing a game for hours can be frustrating when the final showdown with the main boss is underwhelming, even if you’ve learned about the world, visited every accessible place, and completed all tasks. Despite your thorough understanding of the game, the climactic battle often falls short, feeling dull, contrived, or lacking in tension.

It can be really disheartening when certain boss battles in a game are underwhelming, even to the point where they tarnish the overall gaming experience. Having too much power going into such a fight is one issue, but it pales in comparison to the disappointment caused by poorly designed boss encounters.

You might prefer to steer clear of an unfulfilling encounter, and I completely understand why. Here are some highly-rated open-world video games that unfortunately have poorly designed boss battles, so you can make informed choices to avoid potential disappointment.

In other words, when determining if a boss battle is poor, it’s important to consider if the boss is crucial to the storyline. If the boss is significant but the fight itself feels unimpressive (due to being predictable, dull, or lacking the usual grandeur associated with boss battles), then we would classify that as a subpar boss fight.

10.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Tons Of Player Customization Didn’t Make It To The Boss

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning boasts numerous appealing aspects. Its open-world setting is engaging and visually striking, even compared to other games from its era.

In this game, the customization goes quite deep, enabling players to construct intriguing builds. However, unfortunately, the level of creative freedom that players have been able to exercise elsewhere in the game seems not to have been carried over to the final boss, Tirnoch.

Instead of revealing spoilers, let’s simply note that Tirnoch holds quite an impressive reputation. However, upon encountering them in gameplay, players find out that Tirnoch is not as extraordinary as their image might suggest.

As a dedicated admirer, I can’t help but admit that their moves aren’t exceptionally captivating beyond the typical hack-and-slash style. Given the significant importance of this contest, the intensity seems to fall short compared to what one might expect from such high stakes.

The crowd expressed disappointment as they felt this matchup was lackluster, even going so far as to label it as the least impressive fight within the sport. Sadly, this specific bout failed to live up to expectations and could be likened to a limp, ineffectual weapon such as a soggy spaghetti noodle.

9.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War

They Did The Witch-King Dirty

As an avid fan of The Lord of the Rings, I eagerly seized any gaming chance within the LOTR universe, such as Middle-Earth: Shadow of War. Though I delighted in wandering through Middle-Earth and coaxing orcs and goblins to battle for me instead of following the main plot, I’m still haunted by my encounter with the Witch-King.

If you’re unfamiliar, the Witch-King of Angmar serves as the leader of the Nazgul, or Ringwraiths. In The Return of the King movie, he’s the character who famously says, “No living man can hinder me,” a quote that rings true to his powerful presence.

Contrary to expectations, Talion effortlessly overpowers the Witch-King in Middle-earth: Shadow of War. While the Witch-King does possess some intriguing abilities, they seem significantly less potent than one might anticipate.

Engaging him presents a formidable battle within the game, but surprisingly, fighting him seems comparable to regular encounters with Ringwraiths, and these battles are not particularly difficult individually.

For someone as iconic as the Witch-King, the game really did him dirty by nerfing him.

8.
Batman: Arkham Knight

Deathstroke, But In A Tank

If you’re not familiar with Deathstroke or curious as to why Batman: Arkham Knight made the list, let me clarify. While the tank battles can indeed be enjoyable, there’s a hitch: Deathstroke is inside the tank.

If you’re familiar with Deathstroke, you might understand why this boss battle made the cut. Throughout most of his existence, Deathstroke has been dedicated to outsmarting and overpowering Batman.

When it comes time for a showdown with Batman, Deathstroke chooses an unconventional approach: opting to abandon his extensive combat training and take refuge in a tank as a means of engagement instead.

It’s utterly inconsistent with his character and significantly disrupts the narrative flow, making it feel unrealistic or illogical. One could even say it’s a dramatic choice that undermines his character development.

For Batman fans, this boss fight is a disservice.

7.
Ghost of Tsushima

Just Another Heavy Brute

Ghost of Tsushima showcases an exemplary blend of excellent gameplay elements, but disappoints with a challenging boss fight. The game’s stunning visuals, gripping narrative, and enjoyable combat make for an immersive experience, only to be marred by this tough encounter.

Indeed, the duels can be quite captivating on their own. However, when confronting Khotun Khan, the ensuing battle tends to fall flat and lack excitement.

As we encountered, the tale seemed heavy upon me, preparing myself for a highly charged clash – a significant battle in the game’s context. However, Khan turned out to be merely another tough adversary with slightly higher vitality.

In the battle, there were neither exciting developments nor increasing tension. When he was defeated, it ended abruptly. The whole thing felt disappointingly anticlimactic.

In the context of a samurai tale, Khan might have served his purpose, but given the more engaging battle with Eagle that followed, it seems Khan’s design lacked the finesse required to create an impactful boss fight experience.

6.
Dying Light

Death By QTE

Just as many games build anticipation, so does Rais, the final boss in Dying Light. As the narrative unfolds, you learn about his villainous nature and observe his harsh actions firsthand. If you’re like me, you can hardly wait to confront him.

During your playthrough of the game, you’re tasked with reclaiming territory from him, gathering essential supplies for those at the Tower, and neutralizing menacing zombies. However, as all these tasks culminate, they invariably lead to Rais. Unfortunately, the climactic boss battle is disappointingly underwhelming once you finally reach it.

As you approach the battle with Rais, the journey leading up to it can indeed be entertaining, challenging your agility and parkour abilities. But once you’re face to face with him, the fun quickly turns into a literal quick-time event (QTE) knife fight.

Here, the abilities you honed throughout the game are essentially irrelevant. What truly counts is your quick reaction time. It’s quite frustrating, given that you could invest numerous hours in Dying Light, perfecting your character for this particular scenario.

In a more engaging zombie fight than this last boss encounter in the game, there typically wouldn’t be any comparison. However, it seems that this isn’t the norm.

5.
Elden Ring

Clunky Hit Boxes Do Not A Great Boss Fight Make

In the realm of games such as Elden Ring, the main attraction often lies in the challenging boss battles. Despite Elden Ring being widely cherished, there might be some epic battles that fall short of players’ expectations. One such encounter is with Maliketh.

As a gamer venturing through this fantastical realm, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation when I hear whispers about encountering the enigmatic figure known as Maliketh. This boss is not just an optional challenge; he stands in my path towards unlocking Leyndell, the next pivotal chapter in this epic tale. And since the story doesn’t skip a beat for anyone, it’s only a matter of time before I cross swords with him.

From a design standpoint, Maliketh is nothing short of breathtaking. The meticulous attention to detail and sheer creativity that went into crafting his form leaves me in awe, making our inevitable confrontation all the more intriguing.

He appears to be the kind who offers a challenging boss battle, but upon engaging him, it becomes evident rather swiftly. His hit detection zones are quite awkward. You can attempt to land blows repeatedly when you’re facing him, and yet very few of your strikes seem to make contact.

In another words, Maliketh isn’t just avoiding attacks or countering them with skill. It’s okay if he does that. But the truth is, this fight is made excessively frustrating due to a design oversight.

Elden Ring is an engaging game with over 100 hours of playtime, but it can become challenging to continue enjoying and having faith in the game when a design issue causes battles to feel unfairly easy or manipulated.

4.
Horizon: Zero Dawn

Just A Program In The Same Suit We Fought Before

Among numerous aspects that captivate me about Horizon Zero Dawn, scaling a Tallneck to gaze upon a city overtaken by nature ranks high. Engaging in combat with Hades, the last adversary in the game, however, isn’t something I relish.

Next, your journey culminates in a series of encounters involving other bosses and mechanical adversaries, with an intense and thrilling sense of urgency. This odyssey concludes at Hades, a formidable fortress that demands your prowess by challenging you to battle the Deathbringer, one of its most fearsome machines.

Let me clarify. Battling the Deathbringer is challenging, but once I vanquished him, I presumed I would encounter Hades. To my surprise, however, it seems it’s only a software program that can be easily defeated by reprogramming it.

As a seasoned gamer, I’ve taken down countless Deathbringers, and this time wasn’t any different. What made it challenging, though, was that the Deathbringer had only one move in its arsenal – a fact that was familiar to me due to my previous encounters with these foes. It seemed like old hat, if I may say so myself.

In the epic showdown against the final boss, I couldn’t help but wish for an encounter with the enigmatic figure of Hades himself, rather than yet another battle with a machine we’ve previously encountered and defeated multiple times.

3.
Cyberpunk 2077

All Talk And No Power

In the initial encounter of Cyberpunk 2077, Adam Smasher leaves no doubt about his formidable nature. He has invested significantly in cybernetic and robotic augmentations, making him someone best not to cross paths with. His menacing character appearance further underscores this impression.

In the late stages of the game, if players find themselves needing to defeat Adam, it’s natural for them to feel a bit tense. However, there’s a catch: Adam is surprisingly simple to overcome in combat.

It’s plausible that his design is challenging due to balance issues. By the time players encounter him, they are usually at their maximum level. However, considering he’s one of the final bosses before the game concludes, you’d expect the developers to have adjusted his power level accordingly.

The excessive praise surrounding him makes it somewhat underwhelming when his primary tactic involves swarming you with additional defenders. He does pack a punch, there’s no denying that, but he merely comes across as an enhanced solider rather than anything extraordinary.

Regarding his background, one might anticipate a formidable opponent with captivating abilities. However, sadly, Adam falls short of expectations.

2.
Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla

Narratively Lots Of Fun But Dash Attacks Are Just Cheesy

In many aspects, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla appears to be less like a traditional Assassin’s Creed title and more like a Viking role-playing game. One factor contributing to this is its boss battles, which are significantly different from those in previous Assassin’s Creed games. Among these battles, one in particular truly sets itself apart.

In this scenario, there’s an unexpected plot turn that I won’t reveal, but encountering Loki will take you by surprise, narrative-wise. However, when the battle truly begins, it transforms into a rather aggravating boss battle.

Loki frequently launches multiple swift assaults that appear continuous, which might not cause trouble for a character skilled in dual-wielding spears. However, if your character’s combat style differs, encountering Loki could swiftly turn into an exasperating experience of pulling out handfuls of hair.

Loki repeatedly darts towards you, striking multiple times as he disappears and reappears, making it challenging for you to retaliate. In fact, if you’re not prepared, he could instantly defeat you with this maneuver.

The action seems overly dramatic and implausible, and Valhalla, in comparison to the realism of the earlier Assassin’s Creed games (omitting Origins and Odyssey), appears somewhat ungrounded.

Engaging in combat with Loki serves to broaden the series from historical to fantastical storytelling, which was part of what made the game so popular initially.

1.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

All That Trouble For An Easy Fight

Among the standout games of its era, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim certainly holds a place, yet it wasn’t without its imperfections. One notable shortcoming was the climactic battle against Alduin, the main antagonist of the game.

By the time players encounter Alduin, they might have reached their peak strength, which creates an issue because they are exceptionally potent at that point.

As a fervent enthusiast, I’ve found myself embarking on an array of missions within this captivating game, each one designed to bolster my strength for the impending confrontation with Alduin. However, when the battle finally commences, it becomes evident that I could have skipped quite a few of those quests, as my initial power seemed more than enough to face him.

You’re already strong enough.

Alduin is essentially a larger, beefed-up version of regular dragons, lacking the complexity or special abilities that make some dragons more difficult to defeat. Unlike other dragons, he doesn’t have different stages or unique maneuvers that set him apart.

As the final, apocalyptic adversary in this game, I was anticipating a more impressive showdown. Yet, Alduin continues to be one of the most formidable boss encounters in an open-world gaming experience.

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2025-05-25 20:40