The RPG named “dnd” from 1975 was the first video game to feature a boss fight. Following a similar concept to Dungeons and Dragons it was based on, players would explore the Whisenwood Dungeon in search of the grail and the orb, encountering something entirely new for that time – stronger-than-usual enemies. Soon, boss fights expanded outside the RPG genre and proved useful in game design. But in some games, boss fights feel like an unnecessary addition just to fill in the gameplay. We’ve come up with a list of games we wish didn’t have boss fights, so here it goes.
Halo Infinite
We all know Halo Infinite for its engaging, fast-paced gameplay. And while the game itself gained positive reception and reviews, some players got annoyed with boss fights pretty fast. And for a good reason. On top of bosses being bullet sponges, the mechanics of these fights are not well designed. Because of that, boss fights in Halo Infinite feel almost like a chore that doesn’t add much to useful gameplay.
Death Stranding
Kojima’s Death Stranding takes an entirely different approach to boss fights. These battles are more about strategy than all-out shooting. But some fans argued that Kojima shouldn’t have included any boss fights, mostly because the game’s main theme of connecting people and building bridges to a better future felt slightly off-putting when compared to boss fights with subpar shooting mechanics.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Deus EX: HR received positive reactions from fans and journalists, but many were put off by horrendous boss fights. They are designed in a way that breaks away from the game’s stealth and hacking mechanics, forcing players to fight their enemies head-on instead. This goes against everything Deus Ex stands for, so some argued boss fights should have been cut out of Human Revolution altogether.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Yeah, we know that boss fights are an integral part of every RPG, but they simply don’t fit in Breath of the Wild. Unlike other Legend of Zelda titles, Breath of the Wild offers a vast open world with tons of side-quests and activities. Boss fights are the least interesting part here, especially compared to all the exploration that can be done. We would have preferred if bosses got replaced with more minigames like Gambling, found in one of the huts in Lurelin Village. The game looks like something straight from the Spinfever casino and is a ton of fun.
Prince of Persia (2008)
Prince of Persia aged like fine wine. But despite the game getting praised for its unique platforming and puzzles, many players found that not all boss fights were in line with the game’s story or mechanics. Some players argued that, instead of regular-looking bosses, Ubisoft should have implemented more abstract forms of challenges, or even drop some of the fighting altogether.
Overall, boss fights are useful tools for game designers as they add an extra layer of challenge to the gameplay, and don’t get us wrong – we don’t mind them. But when poorly implemented, they can end up ruining the overall experience. Sometimes, part of the problem is when game studios outsource certain game elements. In some cases, boss fights are designed and executed by an entirely different studio, so they end up completely disconnected from the main gameplay. If you don’t like boss fights, there are plenty of games that don’t have them, so be sure to check them out.