Best NES Boss Fights

As one of the pioneering forces of the industry during the 1980s, the NES was home to a plethora of great games. From Mario to Zelda, all the way to hidden gems like Crystalis and Star Tropics, the NES boasted a variety of games from different genres. One thing that all the greatest NES games have in common is the incredible boss battles, as the console features some of the best of all time.

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These challenging bosses were highlighted by great designs and also featured some characters that would become mainstays in the industry for years. Whether it was a first-party Nintendo game or a third-party classic, these bosses were the ultimate test for any kid in the 80s and even today, as many of these games are available on the Switch via Nintendo's online services.

8 Bowser (Super Mario Bros.)

Iconic Mario Nemesis Is One Of The NES' Best Final Battles

The original Super Mario Bros. Was a pop culture sensation, spawning a franchise of sequels, merchandise, media adaptations, and countless spin-offs. But the first of many encounters between Mario and Bowser is easily one of the NES' greatest boss battles, as the two engage in a climactic showdown inside a molten castle.

The best part about the fight is how players can feel Bowser's presence before he even appears, as his fire projectiles will begin targeting the player as soon as they enter the final room. It's a fight that can end quickly with a skilled player, but one that features a ton of great build-up and dread.

7 Dracula (Castlevania 3)

Infamous Vampire Battles Trevor Belmont

While Castlevania may be in the middle of a much-needed redemption tour thanks to the brilliant anime and a series of collections, there was a time when it was one of the most consistent franchises in the industry. One thing that Castlevania has always been known for is its bosses, while the third NES game features one of the best tilts with Dracula in the entire franchise.

This multi-stage clash with Castlevania's most infamous boss is a true challenge, forcing the player to adapt to all of Dracula's forms and patterns. Among the many battles with Dracula that the Belmont clan has had over the years, this ranks up there as being one of the absolute best.

6 The Technodrome (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Popular Fortress From Cartoon Features As The Penultimate Boss

By the time Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was released for the NES in 1989, this massively popular media franchise was already well on its way to becoming what fans know it as today. And while many TMNT games have come and gone, the original game on the NES is still a blast to play and has one of the best boss fights seen on the platform.

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The Technodrome is one of the most iconic elements of the franchise, having first appeared in the cartoon and features as one of the final bosses of this fantastic game. So it's fair to say that getting the chance to combat this popular mobile fortress of Krang the Conqueror is quite a thrill, as it's one of the most classic encounters that the NES ever produced.

5 Shadow Link (Zelda 2: The Adventure Of Link)

Dark Counterpart Of Link Is A Steep Challenge

If there's one thing that The Legend of Zelda is known for, it's a willingness to reinvent itself. The 1988 sequel to the first title, known as The Adventure of Link, ended up introducing elements like the Magic Meter that would become standard for the franchise. But another thing it introduced was Shadow Link, another element that would return in later entries, in one of the NES' best boss battles.

Presented as a pitch-black sprite, Shadow Link is easily the best boss fight in the game and one of the NES' most challenging as well. The stark contrast in the colors of Shadow Link against a purple background, as well as the phenomenal music, are the key highlights of this classic bout.

4 Demon Sculpture (Ninja Gaiden)

Horrific Creature Is Ryu's Final Challenge

Ninja Gaiden may not be as popular as it once was, but there was a time when this series was one of the absolute best one could find in the action genre. From the 2D games to the 3D iterations in the 2000s, this series has become synonymous with action and, of course, with spectacular bosses. And one of the best appears in the very first Ninja Gaiden game, the Demon Sculpture from Act 6.

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Like many NES games, the use of unique and harsh colors gives the encounter so much life, as the dark purples and deep blacks are a perfect complement to Ryu's blue outfit. The encounter with the Demon Sculpture is classic Ninja Gaiden, forcing the player to think critically to tear down the defenses of the boss to defeat it.

3 Mike Tyson (Punch-Out!!)

Heavyweight Champion Is One Of The NES' Toughest Tests

Punch-Out!! Was one of the most popular arcade games of the 1980s, but the home console version that was released in 1987 is the most well-known due to its recruitment of boxing legend Mike Tyson, who graced the cover. But Tyson wasn't just on the cover. He appears as the final fighter that Little Mac must face on his way to becoming the world champion.

Up to this point, all the boxers that Little Mac has faced have been doing their part to escalate the challenge. Each boxer gets progressively more difficult, but the fight against Tyson is the true challenge and one of the most fun, satisfying fights on the entire platform. Tyson is swift, while also hitting like a truck. It's easily one of the NES' most fabulous boss battles.

2 Ganon (The Legend Of Zelda)

Longstanding Rivalry Between Link And Ganon Began Here

Although it may seem somewhat standard these days, there was a time when Link fighting Ganon was new. And that's exactly what players in 1987 experienced for the first time, as the harrowing trip through Death Mountain all leads to one thing. Link and Ganon have been one of the gaming industry's most storied rivalries, one that began in earnest in 1987.

He's a force to be reckoned with, using invisibility to his advantage as he hurls energy projectiles at the player. While other bosses before this tended to be more straightforward, Ganon is the ultimate test for Link and is one of the NES' most famous battles.

1 Big Boss (Metal Gear)

Father And Son Clash In The NES' Greatest Boss Fight

If there's a franchise that knows anything about boss battles, it's Metal Gear. And while the NES version of Hideo Kojima's first Metal Gear game made some changes to the finale, the climactic showdown between Solid Snake and his father Big Boss remained intact.

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The duplicitous leader of Outer Heaven, though later retconned to be Venom Snake in The Phantom Pain, as well as Snake's former commander, is quite a challenging encounter. Big Boss moves quickly and effortlessly, firing off rounds as he attempts to stop Snake. It is easily the NES' best boss fight and started a franchise that would continue over the next three decades.

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