Most Legendary Final Boss Fights In RPGs

Reaching the final boss in a role-playing game is a huge accomplishment for any player, and defeating it feels even better. These games are already quite long to finish, and they can take even longer – sometimes twice as long – if they also let you explore an open world.

After spending sixty to a hundred hours mastering a game, players usually face a challenging boss – or a series of them – to prove their skills. However, not all final bosses live up to the hype. We’re going to focus on those RPG final bosses that remain truly memorable, even years and decades later.

There will be spoilers.

Sephiroth (Final Fantasy 7)

Behold, The One-Winged Angel

Sephiroth is the primary villain in *Final Fantasy 7*, and he repeatedly messes with Cloud’s head throughout the story. Players don’t get to fight him until the very end, and the battle itself is multi-stage, beginning with a form called Bizarro-Sephiroth.

The battle against Sephiroth is unique because players fight him in three separate turns, a new style for the game. Most players remember his next form, Safer-Sephiroth, because that’s when the famous song “One-Winged Angel” begins to play. It’s hard to forget a boss fight with such incredible music, especially when Sephiroth sprouts tentacle legs!

Ansem (Kingdom Hearts)

Tall, Dark, And Battleship

Ansem, the final boss of the original *Kingdom Hearts*, is another character with silver hair. The first part of the fight is a standard battle against Ansem and his shadowy protector. But the second phase is truly wild! Players suddenly find themselves flying around a massive, ship-shaped creature, tasked with destroying its internal organs before they can continue the fight with Ansem at the very top. It was so dramatic and over-the-top that it felt like a playful exaggeration of typical final boss battles when the game first came out.

Human Reaper (Mass Effect 2)

Is That A Terminator Baby?

The *Mass Effect* series centers around Commander Shepard’s efforts to warn the galaxy about the Reapers, a terrifying threat long dismissed as myth. This conflict comes to a head in *Mass Effect 2*, where players confront a Reaper for the first time in a climactic boss battle.

The Reaper is a truly frightening enemy – it looks like a massive, terrifying baby robot. In the entire *Mass Effect* trilogy, it’s memorable mostly for how creepy it is, and it’s a definite highlight of the games.

Flowey (Undertale)

Breaking The Fourth Wall

Undertale is a unique indie role-playing game where battles are turn-based. Unlike many games, you can finish it by choosing not to fight – instead, you can spare your enemies and use conversation to progress. This leads to a surprising final boss encounter with Flowey, who appears harmless at first.

Right after you first meet Flowey, he unexpectedly ends your game and deletes your progress. He then returns as a strangely designed, digitally altered version of himself. This is a remarkably direct way for a boss to acknowledge it’s in a game.

Big Bad Government Guy/Nazi Zombie Princess Kenny (South Park: The Stick Of Truth)

Seeing Is Believing

South Park: The Stick of Truth is a fantastic game for any South Park fan. It’s packed with inside jokes and unexpected moments, particularly during the final boss battle. You’ll be surprised to see Princess Kenny transformed into a Nazi Zombie, fighting alongside a completely naked villain known as Big Bad Government Guy. It’s a hilarious and unpredictable twist, perfectly capturing the signature humor of the South Park creators.

Red (Pokemon Gold/Silver)

He Truly Did Become A Pokemon Master

You’ll likely never experience games quite like *Pokemon Gold*, *Silver*, and *Crystal* again, because Game Freak seemed to realize they could only deliver that unique surprise once. After becoming the champion of the Johto region by defeating the Elite Four, players aren’t finished – they’re then given the opportunity to travel back to the original Kanto region and challenge all eight Gym Leaders again.

The game culminates in a battle against Red, the previous game’s champion, and his exceptionally strong Pokémon team, led by his powerful Pikachu. It’s rare for a final boss to be the hero of an earlier game, and that’s why this encounter remains memorable even years later.

Yaldabaoth (Persona 5)

Say Hello To My Little Friend

The *Persona* games are famous for their epic final battles, typically against a powerful, god-like foe. In *Persona 5*, players confront Yaldabaoth, a challenging enemy with strong defenses. Once weakened, players can summon the Persona Satanael, who wields an enormous gun to defeat Yaldabaoth. This fight is particularly memorable due to Satanael’s striking appearance, and it will be difficult for *Persona 6* to surpass it.

The Ultimate Being (Parasite Eve)

Baby Got Back

Man, I loved *Parasite Eve* on the PlayStation! It was such a cool mix of scary horror and classic turn-based RPGs. The ending was insane – you’re on a boat fighting this crazy boss, the Ultimate Being, and it’s a four-phase battle that really tests your skills. It was a tough fight, but so rewarding when you finally beat it!

This enemy starts as a small, demonic infant and grows into a much more dangerous creature. Even after overcoming its fourth form, the threat isn’t over. Players must then flee through the ship while it relentlessly pursues them – a single mistake means instant failure. To win, you need to escape while eerie, *Jawslike music builds, ignite the ship’s boiler, and then get clear before the resulting explosion destroys both the ship and the creature.

2025-10-20 07:41