Final bosses in video games have gone a long way since their inception. Final bosses have gotten increasingly complicated and diversified in their designs as gaming technology has improved and game design has changed. These epic conflicts have also grown more cinematic in nature, with elaborate cutscenes, dramatic music, and aesthetically spectacular animations used to increase the emotional impact and feeling of epicness.

Final bosses integrate narrative themes as well as emotional stakes, making the conclusion of certain video games bittersweet. While it’s fairly easy to botch these encounters, the following boss fights, thankfully, do an excellent job of capping off some of the best video games drift hunters ever made.

Flowey (Undertale)

Flowey is a seemingly cute creature in Undertale who actually sports a sinister demeanor and constantly hounds the player every step of the way. Fittingly enough, the final boss fight against this foe is as chaotic as one would expect from such a villainous figure.

The battle against Flowey is a multi-phase encounter that involves dodging various attacks and manipulating the game’s mechanics to survive. Flowey breaks the fourth wall, engaging with the player directly and challenging their expectations, making for a memorable and meta experience that is unlike any other battle in the series.

Saren (Mass Effect)

Saren is the primary antagonist of the first Mass Effect game, being manipulated by the Reapers to do their bidding. As a rogue Spectre, Saren possesses immense power and is a formidable opponent… but he can actually be talked down in the final battle if players have high enough Paragon or Renegade points.

This effectively allows players to skip the first phase of the battle, although the second phase is still active and pretty challenging. Players will need to employ all their skills while also staying alert for the important decision that they’ll have to take soon after.

Hades (Hades)

Hades, the god of the Underworld, is the final boss of the eponymous roguelike game. The battle against Hades is a dynamic and challenging encounter that requires the player to adapt to his various attack patterns and phases, especially if players are employing the highest level of Extreme Measures while fighting this boss.

Zagreus needs to duke it out against his father and win a total of ten times to unlock the game’s true ending. It’s a fun battle every single time, with players slowly learning Hades’ movesets and figuring out the best counters for the same.

Gerhman, The First Hunter (Bloodborne)

Gerhman is a skilled hunter with a tragic backstory, who is possibly the final boss of Bloodborne depending on the path players take. The battle against this foe is a fast-paced and intense duel that tests the player’s reflexes and combat skills.

Gerhman wields the Burial Blade and has a variety of devastating attacks, making for a challenging and memorable encounter. Both phases are pretty challenging, with both Hunters putting everything on the line to come out victorious in one of the most beautiful boss arenas in Soulsborne history.

Ultimecia (Final Fantasy 8)

Ultimecia is a powerful sorceress with control over time and space, making her a formidable opponent. Many people argue that this antagonist comes out of nowhere in Final Fantasy 8, but there’s no denying that the final battle against this sorceress is an intense and memorable encounter in every way.

There are four phases in this boss fight, with all of them being quite epic to behold. After a long and grueling battle, Ultimecia is finally defeated and the party members return to their normal lives… although the game takes its sweet time to reveal whether the main characters even enjoyed a good ending in the first place!