Shadow of the Erdtree has everyone’s attention for all the right reasons. Elden Ring‘s first significant expansion has been terrific in the eyes of critics and fans. Like the base game, one of the expansion’s strengths lies in its boss fights.
While the expansion and the base game are the only two experiences people are talking about at the moment, there are many more games readers can explore which boast phenomenal boss designs. These are the top seven games readers might be tempted by, especially if they like Elden Ring.
#7 Kena: Bridge Of Spirits
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a title appreciated for many elements. It has fantastic gameplay and a world that feels alive. However, the game doesn’t get enough praise for its boss design and incredible boss fights. It is a former Playstation exclusive, now available on Xbox.
When one looks at the gameplay, it isn’t expected that the game would have bosses that would make the player consider lowering the difficulty, especially Wood Knight. Featuring 16 bosses, the game’s bosses might not be at the level of Shadow of the Erdtree, but they are good enough to pose a challenge.
#6 Blasphemous
Blasphemous is a Metroidvania title and is guaranteed to be one of the most intense experiences the player will ever go through; everything from its pixellated art design to its unnerving score makes the game heartwrenching.
While it is subjective how difficult players find all 12 bosses, they are all very well-designed and will keep you engaged. There are also plenty of semi-bosses to watch out for who can be unpredictable to go against.
#5 Cuphead
While the games featured in the list above this entry weren’t incredibly mainstream, Cuphead will be a title that most readers would know of. The game is famous for its art style, the classic rubber hose style animation associated with the earliest works of Walt Disney.
On the other hand, the game is infamous for how excruciatingly difficult its bosses are. It has every trick up its sleeve that would make it feel rewarding when the player finally beats a boss, which makes them rage when they die.
#4 Remnant 2
Remnant 2 was a title that received positive reviews from critics and was thought to be mediocre by gamers. Released in 2023, the game builds on Remnant: From the Ashes. The title is also a much more polished game than its predecessor.
The boss design is attractive because the game allows players to wield guns instead of melee weapons associated with typical Soulslike titles. The game also uses procedural generation, usually seen in Roguelike games.
#3 Sifu
If someone is a fan of Bruce Lee’s classic martial arts movies, they should try Sifu. A revenge tale at its core, the game is now even better due to updates. It begins with a short introduction of basic mechanics and throws the player to survive. Its unique mechanic also causes the protagonist to age every time they die.
The older the player is, the more lethal their attacks are, but their health bar also decreases, and one has to ensure that they don’t die so many times that they succumb to senile decay. This might be the perfect fit if one wants an additional challenge.
#2 Lords of The Fallen (2023)
Regarded as one of the most divisive Soulslike games of 2023, Lords of the Fallen is a sequel to the 2014 title of the same name. Made in Unreal Engine 5, the game is gorgeous, but sadly, it is also incredibly demanding and had a tumultuous launch.
With its latest update, however, the game has an added Roguelite mode, which makes it a straightforward recommendation for gamers who want a hardened experience with endless replayability.
#1 Lies of P
Perhaps one of the titles with the most challenging and well-designed bosses among all the entries, Lies of P is a unique take on the story of Pinocchio, the puppet who turned into a boy. But the game is far more intense than the Disney adaptations.
The visuals are breathtaking, the voice-acting is phenomenal, and the game is a love letter to all Soulslike fans. As per some, the game is even a little more complicated than Soulsborne in some aspects.
These were our picks for the seven games with some of the best boss designs. If you think we missed anything, please let us know in the comments below!
