Soulslike Games With Better Boss Fights Than Dark Souls

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Man, Dark Souls is legendary. It basically started this whole genre of super-tough games, and the combat is seriously unforgiving. But honestly, what really keeps me and so many others hooked, even after all these years, is the bosses. They’re just so iconic and challenging – I keep going back for more punishment, even though the game is over a decade old now!

While games like Dark Souls have some truly amazing boss battles – think Artorias or Ornstein and Smough – several other soulslike games actually offer a more polished boss-fighting experience. Some achieve this by throwing waves of enemies at you, while others prioritize creating epic, visually stunning fights that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

The Best In The Genre

Details:

  • A combination of duel-style samurai battles and larger opponents
  • Each fight offers a unique style, and all are incredibly fast and satisfying

As a huge fan, I think Sekiro is easily one of the greatest soulslike games ever created, and the boss fights are a massive reason why. From the very beginning, with the intense battle against Gyoubu, the game constantly challenges you and never lets up!

The bosses are so impressive because of how skillfully they utilize the game’s various challenges. Each boss requires players to adapt – some attacks can be blocked or turned against them, while others demand quick reflexes and well-timed dodges. This variety creates a unique and engaging fight every time, keeping players on their toes throughout the entire game.

Lies Of P

Mechanical Giants And Master Swordsmen

Details:

  • Combat allows even larger enemies to be parried consistently
  • Good range of fight types, like interesting gank fights and multistage encounters

Lies of P has become popular with fans of challenging action games, largely thanks to its distinctive combat and beautiful visuals. The game is known for its tough boss battles, which start relatively easy with larger enemies before quickly becoming some of the most difficult in the genre.

Many players will find the King of Puppets to be their first big challenge, but the battles only get more difficult and rewarding from there. The game’s parrying system makes combat feel impactful, giving players freedom to fight however they prefer – whether by dodging, parrying attacks, or using ranged weapons – against a diverse range of enemies.

The First Berserker: Khazan

Not A Moment To Breath

Details:

  • Challenging bosses that constantly push players to adapt
  • Huge range of moves, attacks, and counters to be used against each enemy

Khazan unexpectedly became a standout success in the indie soulslike genre, defying typical expectations. Its distinctive art style and difficult but rewarding combat quickly gained it a dedicated following, and many players consider its boss battles to be even better than those in the original Dark Souls.

What I really love about the combat is that there’s no single ‘right’ way to beat each boss. Instead of just memorizing a few attack patterns, the bosses mix things up and throw out different attacks, which keeps you on your toes. It means there’s more to dodge, but also more opportunities to strike back! Plus, the bosses themselves are really diverse – sometimes you’re facing a massive dragon, and other times it’s a fast, powerful opponent who’s a real match for you.

Black Myth: Wukong

Cinematic Doesn’t Even Begin To Describe It

Details:

  • Fights are positioned at meaningful points of progression
  • Larger battles that take the fight into the skies and far across the battlefield

Black Myth: Wukong is a fantastic soulslike game packed with a huge variety of bosses, each requiring a unique strategy to defeat. Throughout its six chapters, players will battle everything from massive bears to skilled samurai, and must learn to overcome different kinds of attacks, status ailments, and unpredictable moves.

The game’s combat is incredibly dynamic, with players using a wide range of moves and abilities. This creates fast-paced, visually stunning battles that feel like a constant exchange of attacks. As the game progresses, the boss fights become truly epic, reaching a scale rarely seen in other games.

Nine Sols

Challenging And Stylish At The Same Time

Details:

  • One boss to represent each area/attack kind
  • Fairness throughout, i.e., player skill takes precedent

Nine Sols draws strong inspiration from Sekiro, but offers a fresh take on combat focused on skillful deflections. Players can move freely during battles, seamlessly countering enemy attacks. The game features a focused number of fights, each with a significant role in the story and serving as a gateway to the next area, making them feel more important than in games with many more encounters.

Even though the battles take place on a 2D plane, they’re surprisingly dynamic, constantly pushing you to move back and forth just to stay alive. The later fights are incredibly challenging, even for experienced players, and don’t forgive even small errors – they demand total focus.

Nioh 2

Brutal Fights From Creatures To Spellcasters

Details:

  • A huge list of bosses of completely different kinds
  • Absurd list of styles to approach each fight with

Nioh 2 stands out for having a huge number of challenging bosses, throwing players into battles against everything from giant monsters to incredibly quick swordsmen. The gameplay is constantly changing pace, and while games like Dark Souls emphasize stamina and positioning, Nioh 2 requires players to learn and use a wider range of skills to overcome its hardest enemies.

The game’s combat system is incredibly versatile, so every player experiences boss fights differently. With a wide range of skills, defensive options, and character builds, you can choose to play aggressively, cautiously, or mix things up. This freedom makes even simple bosses fun and challenging.

Remnant 2

Blending Horror Into A Shooter

Details:

  • Bullet-hell style fights
  • Tactical repositioning demands constant focus

Unlike most soulslike games focused on swords and shields, Remnant 2 emphasizes gunplay and explosives. Players face terrifying challenges where shooting is the key to survival. Boss fights aren’t just about close combat; they’re intricate bullet-hells that mix ranged attacks with quick melee strikes, forcing players to master different dodging techniques.

These bosses aren’t just damage sponges; they require constant movement and skillful play. While their range might seem forgiving initially, players will soon find themselves longing for the simpler challenge of dodging slower enemies.

Hollow Knight

Fighting Your Way To Freedom

Details:

  • Distinctive enemies that require prolonged attention to take down
  • Hidden HP adds a huge amount of tension

The bosses in Hollow Knight are challenging because they require precise timing and keep players guessing. The game doesn’t show health bars, so each encounter is a test of skill where even a few errors can send you back to the beginning of the fight.

Each important enemy has its own way of moving and attacking, challenging players to find the right balance between attacking and defending. While games like Dark Souls emphasize blocking with shields and carefully managing stamina, Hollow Knight focuses on precise movement and skillful control of your character in the air. This makes even the smallest actions feel important, right up until you defeat the enemy.

Elden Ring

A New Foe Around Every Corner

Details:

  • Over 100 unique boss types
  • Main story encounters feel exhilarating and genuinely meaningful in the world

Elden Ring raises the bar for action RPGs, offering players a vast, open world packed with incredibly difficult bosses. You’ll encounter a huge variety of enemies – from dragons and knights to truly monstrous creatures – and some of the most rewarding battles are hidden off the main routes.

Boss battles in this game feel epic due to their placement and how players experience them. Major bosses, such as Godfrey, are located at the peak of a significant climb, creating a sense of anticipation and scale. The difficulty isn’t fixed; it depends on the player’s skills, how they build their character, and their ability to learn and react to the boss’s many attacks.

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2025-12-09 23:08