Let me begin by stating a disclaimer – difficulty in gaming can be quite subjective as it varies from person to person. I have excelled at challenging games such as “The Binding of Isaac,” which many find difficult, and struggled with supposedly easy music games like “Rhythm Sprout.
The success we achieve is largely determined by our innate abilities and instincts, and this is particularly true when it comes to the Metroidvania gaming genre.
Since most Metroidvania games empower you as you progress, the final boss is often not the hardest. You’ll face others with fewer tools in your tool belt, or who just seem to be very overpowered for the point in the game you encounter them.
Mainly, I concentrated on the standard game bosses that naturally appear, rather than the optional, extra-tough bosses.
With that all in mind, here’s our list of several iconic Metroidvania Bosses Harder than the Final Boss.
10. Hollow Knight
Mantis Lords
If you have experience with the game “Hollow Knight”, then you are aware of its high level of difficulty and its predominantly black and white style within the Metroidvania genre. While it may not be a direct Souls-like game, it comes very close in terms of challenge.
And as someone that recently beat it again, I truly mean it when I say that I had more trouble with the Mantis Lords than the big battle against the true final boss of the game.
While the fight against the titular Hollow Knight is quite challenging, it’s also one with very clear tells and at which point you should be massively prepared. This was not the case when I accidentally stumbled into the arena of the Mantis Lords a couple of bosses into the game.
This sequence of three events is swiftly repeated, but even though you eventually learn to predict it, their speed makes it challenging to adapt and avoid them effectively. After several hours of practice, I managed to master them and ultimately came out on top.
Maybe they’d be easier if faced much later Hollow Knight, but early in the game, the Mantis Lords are a true nightmare.
9. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Bloodless
I debated a bit whether to include Alfred or Bloodless here, and eventually settled on the latter for a couple of reasons. While Alfred is highly annoying in Bloodstained, he’s not a super-challenging boss battle. He’s just a constant irritant, forcing you to chase after him.
In contrast, Bloodless is an imposing figure in the game “Bloodstained”. Instead of using traditional attacks, she employs her blood magic to fill the arena, trapping you and attempting to deal one-hit kill damage with a flood of blood.
She also likes to distract you with her blood umbrellas, which don’t seem to be a problem until they turn into homing missiles. And if you aren’t fast enough, she’ll even start to heal herself.
As a gamer, I’ve learned that mastering Bloodless is all about understanding her tells and dodging every one of her attacks. If I don’t, my character Miriam ends up as nothing but a bloody puddle on the ground. So, I’m constantly studying and anticipating her moves to stay alive in this game!
8. Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
Dark Witch Eleine
One of my least favorite phenomena is when I encounter a Shmup section unexpectedly in a platformer or other genre. Don’t get me wrong, Shmup is a wonderful genre as well, but it brings with it certain expectations.
And frankly, Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights is hard enough when it just has you focused on platforming.
In the game “Ender Lilies”, the boss character, Dark Witch Eleine, stands out uniquely compared to others. She unleashes a relentless barrage of bullets, creating a situation resembling a genuine Bullet Hell, compelling you to swiftly move and evade as if your survival is at stake.
It’s far less about actual combat than it is careful positioning, and even then you’ll need to make every attack connect to have any chance at winning.
7. Gal Guardians: Demon Purge
Kurona
| Platform | PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Inti Creates |
| Genre | Platformer, Metroidvania |
| Release Date | February 23, 2023 |
Being a fan of “Gal Guardians: Demon Purge”, I must admit that I underestimated how challenging the fight against tiny Kurona would ultimately prove to be.
It’s evident that Inti Creates drew inspiration not just from the layout and mini Kuronas within the castle reminiscent of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, but also from the iconic design elements of Mega Man. This can be seen in the structure of her castle, as well as the way she moves around during battle, firing energy balls akin to electricity.
While Kurona’s first form was inspired by the Legion boss fight, I found this much harder. Despite its size, it can be hard to get a bead on the floating castle. When you do get a good angle, Kurona usually disrupts you by firing a giant laser your way.
As a gamer, let me tell you, battling the final boss was tough, but nothing compared to squaring off against that mischievous little imp in the game.
6. Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
Goliath
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia has some of the most insane and furious boss fights in the entire Metroidvania line of games. But one that still haunts me is the boss battle against Goliath.
Though battles against Frankenstein-inspired bosses in this series aren’t new, this one is undoubtedly the toughest I’ve encountered. Not only is Goliath massive, but he’s surprisingly swift. And let me tell you, getting hit by him feels like a head-on crash with a truck.
Goliath has the ability to quickly defeat Shanoa with just a few powerful strikes. To stay safe, it’s essential to dodge most of the attacks that this massive adversary launches, including colossal punches, destructive kicks, and various other moves.
Gird yourself and equip the right Glyphs, otherwise you’ll stand no chance of making it to the final boss.
5. Blasphemous 2
Great Preceptor Radamés
Generally speaking, skeletons in most games aren’t particularly challenging, with exceptions like the Grim Reaper. Mostly, they serve as basic enemies designed to test your skills and resilience.
And while it’s true that the Great Perceptor Radamés is a relatively early boss fight in Blasphemous 2, he’s also a challenging one.
Besides being a complex multiple-stage adversary, he also possesses an array of potent attacks, including his club and various magical assaults.
In simpler terms, it means you can bring assistance with Yerma, but if you’re obstinate, you likely tackled the situation on your own. This skinny character poses a significant challenge in the game named “Blasphemous 2“.
4. Metroid Dread
Experiment No. Z-57
Metroid Dread is a game that I never thought we were going to get. And to my pleasant surprise, it was completely worth the long wait.
Not only did it fill in some crucial gaps in the Metroid lore, but it also introduced some intense survival horror as you evade some very bad robots.
Keeping everything under consideration, an authentic Metroid adventure wouldn’t feel complete without challenging boss encounters, and Experiment Z-57 certainly delivers on that front.
Your regular attacks won’t dent it, forcing you to use missiles and charge beam attacks.
In the game “Metroid Dread”, you’ll need to wait until something appears on your screen that you can shoot, all while avoiding a barrage of laser beams and waves of harmful energy. You’ll encounter a fierce alien adversary in this game.
3. Astalon: Tears of the Earth
Gemini
| Platform | PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One |
| Publisher | DANGEN Entertainment |
| Genre | Metroidvania |
| Release Date | June 3, 2021 |
I just want it on record that all the bosses in Astalon: Tears of the Earth are huge challenges, but the one that gave me the most trouble was Gemini.
In simpler terms, the initial stage wasn’t particularly challenging as it mainly required dodging the projectiles launched by a large floating face. However, the second stage presents quite a challenge – which is why I added Gemini to the list.
Not only does Gemini get a rotating shield comprised of two giant faces, but he becomes far more aggressive. You’ll also need to position yourself perfectly on constantly moving platforms, aiming just so to hit the monster when the weak spot is briefly exposed.
This particular boss in the game seemed quite challenging after multiple tries; however, I found the final fight against the giant serpent surprisingly manageable compared to him.
2. Venture to the Vile
Kraken
There are all manner of twisted nightmarish monsters to defeat in Venture to the Vile. The titular Vile has infected practically everything in sight, transforming them into monsters that would make Resident Evil proud.
But the boss that nearly made me quit playing the game was the mighty Kraken.
As a gamer, I can tell you that most boss battles take place in static arenas, but not the Kraken. Instead, you engage it on a massive, swaying ship! Navigating its tentacles and dodging its projectiles is just part of the challenge. To defeat this moving target, you’ll need to locate the cannons and fire off some well-aimed cannonballs!
As the Kraken sustains greater amounts of damage, it grows increasingly angry and swift in its movements. To stand a fighting chance against this colossal sea monster, you must be at your best.
1. Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Carmilla
Starting a journey where you’re the second to tread the path illuminated by the legendary “Symphony of the Night” must have been daunting. Indeed, “Castlevania: SOTN” continues to be hailed as one of the most revered games within the franchise.
Even though Circle of the Moon isn’t quite as well regarded, it’s still a noteworthy adventure. And as a bonus, it also features some insane boss battles, especially the one against Carmilla.
Although the subterranean water system where she resided was terrifying on its own, Carmilla posed an even greater danger.
She confronts you from the peak of a massive, grinning cranium, spreading her wings, electrifying anything below her, and attempting to char you with a beam of energy. Multiple strikes from her could also leave you weakened by a harmful toxin.
The main challenge in this fight lies in maneuvering Nathan so he can inflict damage on her, as she moves swiftly without any restrictions. Unlike the battle with Dracula, dodging most of her attacks by jumping isn’t an option here.
Here is a revised version:
The toughest aspect of this combat is getting Nathan in a position to deal harm, because she moves rapidly and freely. Unlike fighting Dracula, you can’t avoid most of her attacks by jumping into the air.
Despite her appearance suggesting a charming woman, she is actually an incredibly frustrating boss character from the Castlevania series.
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2025-03-16 18:33