Super Mario Odyssey: Ranking Every Boss Encounter From Worst To Best

Ruined Dragon tops this list not because it’s necessarily the most fun of Odyssey’s levels, but simply because it is like nothing the Mario series has ever seen before.

The mechanics of this fight are actually quite simple (dodge electric attacks and then use Cappy to pull the sword-like pins from the dragon’s head) and, in fact, this is one of few bosses which doesn’t require Mario to utilise the powers of other enemies. So what makes it so special? Quite simply, this is the most audacious boss the Mario series has ever seen. The plumber may have battled dragons in his RPG spinoffs but never has a draconian enemy like this ever been seen in a main series entry.

Each of Odyssey’s kingdoms has a different aesthetic, and the Ruined Kingdom has a high-fantasy Lord of the Rings-like fantasy setting. Seeing Mario battle a boss which wouldn’t look out of place on Game of Thrones is just as ridiculous and amazing as it sounds, and that’s without mentioning the boss’ enormous size; this must surely be the biggest baddy our hero has ever come across.

Ruined Dragon is far more intimidating than Bowser could ever dream of being. Its gigantic size and bold design ensure that this is undoubtedly the boss battle which Odyssey will be most remembered for.