8 Best Video Game Boss Battles Of 2022

That first Thor fight though.

god of war ragnarok thor
Sony Santa Monica

When it comes to boss battles in video games, it's something akin to the world of winemaking. If a dev takes their time, refines the process, and executes the delivery well it's going to be a heady brew sure to warm the soul. But if it's implemented with apathy over passion, you're basically drinking Vimto with ten shots of vodka dropped in from a great height.

Boss battles are that skill check moment, that test of your everything you've currently learned, and usually applies these teachings in ways that are unique and oftentimes exhilaratingly different to the main gameplay loop, and as such the player often walks away from such encounters battered and bruised but shining full of self-worth of a trial well and truly bested.

And because this is a "best of" list, we're not dealing with the damage sponges, the fromagerie cheap cheesers, nor the absolute stinkers that actively sap the fun out of the experience.

No, today we're celebrating the top of the trope over the tripe and looking at examples of boss battles that challenged the player in new ways, offered up the most memorable experiences, or just downright left us with such a dumb smile on our faces that it's impossible to deny their impact.

So buckle up, grab your heroic war gear and let's get stuck into the best boss battles of 2022.

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Spoiler alert!

8. Starscourge Radahn - Elden Ring

god of war ragnarok thor
FromSoftware

When it comes to picking a favorite boss from Elden Ring, there's bound to be push-back from the community. Some will die on the hill that "hardest is best", others will vouch for less challenging but more thematically unique encounters, and then there are those that have love pillows printed with The Dung-Eaters face on them aka the choice of the true beings of culture.

We are an eclectic bunch, to say the least.

However, one boss most definitely stands out from the pack because it seems to tick so many boxes that there are few that would ever argue against the quality of it's craft, even if it might not be their personal favorite, and that mountain of muscle is the one and only Starscourge Radahn.

Not only is Radahns design beyond the pale what with his massive frame sitting astride his tiny steed, but his "I'll be back in comet form" attack is one that left many players' jaws on the floor in both surprise and because he'd blown their avatar to pieces.

Add to this the ability to summon in a tonne of NPCs to help with this festival of fighting, and you have a boss that's as challenging or as most pit crazy as you want it to be, although you need to go full support at least once in my opinion just to see all the bodies charging up the hill as one because this and the overall fight are some of the most memorable moments in the entirety of Elden Ring.

Contributor
Contributor

Jules Gill hasn't written a bio just yet, but if they had... it would appear here.