Summary
Known for its difficulty and unparalleled sense of accomplishment, the soulslike genre has become hugely popular, drawing millions of players to confront challenging combat and relentless bosses. Often, the hardest encounters are optional, giving players the choice to face them or avoid the immense struggle. These bosses demand the best gear and unmatched skill, and while the process can be punishing, the sense of victory is often worth the suffering.
This trend, first popularized by FromSoftware, includes grand, difficult, and often secret bosses that are not required to complete the game. Many other developers have adopted this formula, offering optional challenges in titles likeBlack Myth: WukongandLies of P. FromSekirotoElden Ring, these are some of the hardest bosses in soulslike games. Fans of the genre can share these victories with pride.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis a demanding game,where combat leaves no room for hesitation or error. Even after players start to grasp the game’s rhythm, main bosses like Genichiro Ashina, Guardian Ape, and Isshin, the Sword Saint, remain challenging, punishing every small mistake. However, two of the game’s hardest bosses — Owl (Father) and the Demon of Hatred — are optional, only encountered through specific endings or tied to certain achievements.
Owl (Father) is a tougher, more cunning version of the already formidable Great Shinobi Owl, with new devastating moves up his sleeve. Battling him in a confined arena while enduring his relentless attack combos tests even the most patient and skilled players. On the other hand, the Demon of Hatred is a completely different beast, requiring an approach unlike most other bosses inSekiro. His fight is intense, long, and demands valuable consumables for effective victory. Defeating either of these bosses offers a gratifying sense of achievement, even in a game as notoriously difficult asSekiro.
“I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella, and I have never known defeat.” This is a phrase that everyElden Ringveteran has etched into their memory. The infamously difficult optional boss fight against Malenia remains one of the most demanding challenges in the game, even after the release ofShadow of the Erdtree— where tough foes like Promised Consort Radahn are mandatory.Malenia is tough for anyElden Ringbuild, with two phases, devastating hard-to-dodge attacks, and her ability to heal with each successful strike.
Malenia’s difficulty has reached such legendary status that players like Let Me Solo Her have become famous just for helping others take her down. Defeating Miquella’s twin sister is considered one of the most significant achievements in the game, with many players opting to save this encounter for the end of their journey.
WhileBlack Myth: Wukongis considered more approachable than the average soulslike, it has several difficulty spikes that can catch players off guard, even early in the game. Thankfully, aside from the final bosses (including a secret true final boss that is tough as nails), many of the most challenging encounters are optional. Among these are two of the toughest adversaries: the Scorponlord and Yellow Loong.
These bosses are fast, relentless, and capable of executing long chains of devastating attacks, while having few weaknesses to exploit. Both represent the ultimate skill check inBlack Myth: Wukong, demanding precise timing, sharp reflexes, and a thorough understanding of the game’s mechanics to come out on top. If someone claims thatBlack Mythis easy, ask if they’ve managed to defeat the Scorponlord and Yellow Loong without relying on tricks or exploits. Chances are, they haven’t.
BeforeSekiroandElden Ring,Dark Souls 3was home to some of FromSoftware’s most punishing boss encounters, featuring legendary standoffs against the Soul of Cinder and Sister Friede. True to the developer’s style, two of the hardest bosses in the game (and its expansions) are optional, leaving it up to players whether to take on these formidable foes. In fact, manyDark Souls 3players who don’t pursue the goal of defeating every boss may never even encounter the well-hidden Nameless King or the fearsome Darkeater Midir (fromThe Ringed CityDLC).
The Nameless King often comes up in discussions about FromSoftware’s toughest bosses, though players can use certain tricks, like ranged weapons during the second phase, to make the fight more manageable. However, no such shortcuts exist when battling Darkeater Midir,arguably the studio’s best dragon fight. Facing Midir head-on and withstanding the onslaught of powerful attacks makes this encounter the pinnacle ofDark Souls 3’s brutal yet rewarding combat.
Lies of Pis regarded as one of the better non-FromSoftware soulslike games, delivering a similar level of challenge that forces players to face each obstacle head-on. While many of the toughest encounters come toward the end of the game, one optional boss, the Mad Clown Puppet, has gained a notorious reputation, being so difficult that it has derailed the playthroughs of less experienced players.
The Mad Clown Puppet appears in an almost casual encounter, but don’t be fooled. Thisboss is relentless and extremely hard to beat. There are several strategies players can use to deal with him, including simply running past him to activate the next Stargazer (checkpoint) nearby and then deciding whether to return for the fight later or skip it. However, if players choose to engage, they should brace themselves for hours of learning the boss’s long-reaching, hard-hitting attacks, while waiting for the rare opportunities to turn the tide of battle.
All the memes about the deadly Jedi-eating frog inStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderweren’t exaggerating. And to make things worse, Respawn Entertainment decided tobring back Oggdo Bogdo’s stronger versionin the sequel. Thankfully, this fight is optional, as players aren’t required to defeat the Spawn of Oggdo in Fort Kah’lin on Koboh. Still, many will likely take on this challenge for bragging rights.
Though the arena is spacious, once the fight begins, there’s no time to rest. The Spawn of Oggdo is incredibly fast and aggressive, with a huge HP pool. And, of course, it still has that infamous long-reaching tongue attack that can instantly kill any Jedi who thought they were ready to take on even Darth Vader himself. Rumors also persist about facing two Oggdo’s simultaneously inStar Wars Jedi: Survivor, but let’s hope that’s a myth — no player deserves that.
