8 Best Video Game Boss Battles Of 2022

Now don't feel too bad if the Dark-Souls-esque indie title Thymesia passed you by this year, but trust me deep within this little gem is a boss battle that is diamond hard and shines brilliantly as a result.

This is because it rewards the player for using the core principles established within Thymesia's combat, that being that Corvus can use attacks to chip away at opponents' health, but must use more powerful attacks to delete these depleted sections from the opponent's health bar. Leaving the foe for too long will see their health refill, creating a tense atmosphere as you have to balance dipping in to chip away and evading attacks that will wipe you in one or two hits.

And it's through the Mutated Odur battle that players will find this beautiful rhythm or die over and over trying to master it. Mutated Odur attacks relentlessly and is deadly at any range, meaning that even while you're trying to catch your breath you'll be under constant pressure. Therefore it becomes clear that the only way to truly get the better of Odur is to stand toe-to-tentacle and deflect his incoming attacks, which will again chip away at his health whilst also protecting you.

It's a feeling not too dissimilar to the epic razor-wire clashes you'd find in Sekiro and as such creates a pulse-pounding battle that will leave you reeling for hours after. In many ways, it's a shame that this is Thymesia's best boss by a long margin, as other encounters fail to evoke this same level of threat and the same level of satisfaction upon completion.