Best JRPGs With Intense Boss Fights, Ranked

JRPGs have come a long way since the days when Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest were far from the legendary franchises that everyone is familiar with. The sense of spectacle that has permeated this genre is palpable for everyone to see in the big-budget JRPGs of today. Despite the lull this genre experienced during the seventh generation of gaming, it took no time for Japanese role-playing games to bounce back.

Boss fights form a critical part of every JRPG. Fans love these climactic confrontations that force them to use the toughest techniques and moves in their arsenal to beat these tough foes by any means necessary. Some games in this genre feature nerve-wracking, intense boss fights that will leave fans sweating as the controller slips out of their hands time and time again. The games on this list are just a few examples.

5 Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Every Boss Fight Is A Cinematic Spectacle

Everyone was hyped to the moon and back when Final Fantasy 7 Remake came out. The idea of playing a remade version of everyone’s favorite nostalgic experience was a treat for the ages, and the remake impressed fans with its high production value. While the inclusion of pointless filler could be rather grating for fans, the litany of impressive boss fights made up for it. These fights force players to bring their A-game and use proper tactics to beat these foes.

While some of these bosses could be a bit gratuitous, fans didn’t mind as long as they got to enjoy the combat system at its finest. Players could only hope that their materia allocation was on point before every boss, so that they could exploit elemental weaknesses and use buffs to get an edge on these powerful foes. From the iconic Scorpion Sentinel to the stylish battle against Rufus, every boss fight in Final Fantasy 7 Remake captures a player’s attention and challenges them to master the combat system.

4 Chrono Trigger

Unique Mechanics And A Ton Of Spectacle

It was clear that a game with the Dream Team of Akira Toriyama, Yuji Horii, and Hironobu Sakaguchi would result in a knockout video game, and Chrono Trigger didn’t disappoint. The game’s pacing is off the charts and never lets up, letting players enjoy highlight after highlight. This extends to the boss fights too. It’s genuinely impressive that a title with a relatively simple combat system ended up serving some of the most cinematic bosses during the SNES era.

The intense battles against Magus and Dalton will be remembered fondly, but it would be impossible to talk about the best boss fights in Chrono Trigger without giving due props to Lavos. This planet-eating parasite is a malevolent presence that must be taken out by any means necessary. The fact that players can take on the final boss at any point in the game is impressive and lends to the weight of this encounter. The ending of the game changes depending on when players beat Lavos as well, which is genuinely impressive for a game of Chrono Trigger’s time.

3 Octopath Traveler 2

Tough-As-Nails Fights Made Better With Crescendoing Music

Octopath Traveler 2 is one of the greatest sequels in gaming history. It may not be a perfect game, but the manner in which it addresses a bulk of problems from the first game must be commended. One aspect of the first game that fans loved was the boss fights. Octopath Traveler 2 did a great job of replicating the epic nature of these battles, where players had to use the strongest abilities in their arsenal to come out victorious.

While the difficulty of the boss fights might be lower than in the first game, this should take nothing away from the incredible presentation and challenge of these battles. The music is the crowning jewel of these encounters. Each character’s theme merges seamlessly with the boss tracks to make for a seamless musical experience. As the cherry on top, the battle against Vide is built up spectacularly and makes for arguably one of the greatest final bosses in gaming.

2 Persona 5 Royal

Unique Mechanics, Striking Visual Design, And A Rich Soundtrack

Persona 5 Royal is the definitive edition of a JRPG that set the world ablaze with its launch. The sense of style in this game is unmatched, oozing charm out of every pore. So, it’s easy to see why the boss fights in this game are a cut above the rest. The Royal Edition further augments these encounters to make them more intense and memorable.

Barring the frustrations players experience with the Okumura encounter, every boss fight in Persona 5 Royal is a massive improvement and lends to the cinematic allure of these battles. The one-on-one between Joker and Shido and the emotional battle against Maruki are great examples of how Persona 5 Royal perfects an area of the original game that has already wowed fans. Despite the game being easy in many ways, the boss fights feature well-thought-out gimmicks that bring a much-welcome level of challenge to these climactic battles.

1 Shin Megami Tensei 4

Notorious For Boss Fights That Push Players In Each Encounter

The Shin Megami Tensei series is known for being as difficult as they come, so it’s easy to see why the boss fights in this beloved JRPG franchise will leave fans sweating. Shin Megami Tensei 4 is one of the most beloved games in the series, and the boss fight against Minotaur early on is a make-or-break moment for players who must churn out as many turns for the party as possible while covering all their weaknesses.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Bosses like Medusa, Koga Saburo, and Kuebiko are just as hard, if not more. Players must carefully form a party before every boss fight that is tailor-made to withstand the attacks of these bosses, and a single misstep can lead to a game over. The inherent difficulty of each encounter makes it clear why the intense boss battles of Shin Megami Tensei 4 are in a class of their own.