Summary
Boss rush games have been around for decades, with each one changing and updating the formula every time. They can be bullet hell, they can be beat-em-up, they can be turn-based, but in the end they have to be focused on the boss fights.
These fights are always going to be the high point of boss rush games, something you’ll remember every time you talk to your friends about it, but which ones are the best? If you’re looking for a new, or even old, boss rush game to sink your teeth in, then these are some of the best in the genre and are worth playing at least once.
10Mega Man 7
An argument can be made about whichMega Mangame is the best, but most fans will agree that Mega Man 7 is one of the contenders. The game features iconic levels and bosses like Cloud Man, Freeze Man, and gives fans the Robot Master Bass’ first appearance.
If you’re looking for a classic run-and-gun boss rush game, this Mega Man is one of the must-play games of the SNES generation. Good luck trying to find a way to play outside of the Legacy Collection.
9Cuphead
Cupheadtook the gaming world by storm with its release in 2017. The hard-as-nails boss rush has a lovely aesthetic, similar to classic Disney and Warner Bros. cartoons, but don’t let the cute hand-drawn animations fool you, this game will have you ripping your hair off your skull with its difficulty.
Inspired by classic run-and-gun games like SNES classics, the game features fun and colorful levels, that end with a difficult boss, whose attack patterns you’ll have to memorize like the back of your hand.
8Monster Hunter: Rise
Monster Hunter, and all of its versions, focus on repeating monster hunts in order to accumulate enough loot to craft better and stronger weapons and armor. Some of the game include huge and sprawling maps for you to explore, but Rise feels more arcadey and closer to a boss rush than most.
The map still plays a huge role, and there are different things to fight in the world, but your main objective will always be the big bad behemoth waiting for you and your trusty companions.
If you don’t have a Switch or PC, Monster Hunter: World is also an excellent choice.
7Sifu
Sifuhas one of the most interesting premises and gameplay loops of most boss rush games. You play as an unnamed martial artist on a quest of revenge for his father’s death. The game is ruthless, but with every death, you earn knowledge that can turn the tides of battle next time you show up.
When you return to the fight, you’ll return older and wiser, unlocking more abilities at the cost of your own health. Just make sure you stretch your hands before playing, as this game’s combos will leave you aching.
6Furi
While a lot of modern boss rush games deviate from the standard formula, Furi follows it to a tee. Part hack-and-slash, part bullet hell, the boss fights are some of the most memorable in gaming.
The game solely revolves around boss fights that take place on different islands as your character, The Stranger escapes from a prison carefully crafted for him.
As you traverse through the ten prison islands, you slowly unravel why you were imprisoned and why the jailers and staff are going to such extremes to keep you locked up.
5Punch-Out!!
One of the earliest and purest examples of a boss rush game is the 1984 classicPunch Out!!. There are no training levels, no off days at the gym, just pure unadulterated boxing. Back-to-back fights with recurring characters like Glass Joe will have you bobbing and weaving in front of the arcade cabinet.
The game became such a success, that Nintendo achieved a partnership with famed boxer Mike Tyson and rereleased Punch Out!! as Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!! on the SNES a couple of years later.
4Shadow Of The Colossus
If you’re looking for a boss rush game with a bit more of a melancholy tone, then Team Ico’sShadow Of The Colossusis the right pick for you. Fighting back to back bosses to revive a dead princess is about as boss rush as it can get.
The game has a huge map that will have you explore to find the next boss, known as a Colossus, to slay. Open world games are not usually considered boss rush, but Shadow Of The Colossus’ barren and minimalistic setting shifts the focus solely on the boss fights.
3Titan Souls
Not all boss rush games are triple-A household nameslike Mega Man. Some indie games, like Titan Souls, have found innovative ways to reinvent the genre and give players amazing and memorable experiences.
Titan Souls biggest focus is its boss battles. Every boss in the game can be defeated by a single hit of your arrow, but its up to you to find out where that specific boss’ weak point will be. The game will have you memorizing patterns all while testing your skill at dodging and deciphering puzzles.
2Dark Souls
A boss rush game that created their own genre, Dark Souls includes plenty of world exploration and enough lore to write multiple novels, but the one thing that will have everyone yapping about these games is its boss encounters.
These games are known for their difficulty. There are a myriad of weapons and build to create in the games, but your survival depends strictly on your skill on the sticks. Their hard, teeth-clenching fights are a huge barrier of entry for newer players, but there is no sweeter feeling than defeating your first Soulslike boss.
Just about any Souls game would be a boss rush, but maybe notElden Ringas it has a huge focus on its open-world exploration.
1Kirby Super Star
There are plenty of games that include a boss rush mode, and while that doesn’t qualify them to be placed in the genre, some of them have incredible boss fights that deserve at least a nod.
KirbySuper Star includes eight different sub-games, one of them being The Arena, where you are tasked with defeating every single boss in the game back-to-back. Boss rush games do not have to be overly difficult, and while some of the bosses in Super Star can be quite a challenge, the game mode is the perfect introduction to boss rush games for beginners.
