History Main / FinalBoss

'''To make this reading experience feel as climactic as possible, listen to either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia4VAHpWbYA this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXVNKtmWnc this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaAtnTSbapoor this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAPgPH9hsI this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXefFHRgyE0 this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO54NPnSiYc this,]][[https://youtu.be/HW9XCFHfa5k this,]] [[https://youtu.be/papKT1-bTPA this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExPW6UVkvkE this,]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glzkh5jl31k this.]]'''

'''To make this reading experience feel as climactic as possible, listen to either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia4VAHpWbYA this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXVNKtmWnc this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaAtnTSbapoor this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAPgPH9hsI this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXefFHRgyE0 this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO54NPnSiYc this,]][[https://youtu.be/HW9XCFHfa5k this]], [[https://youtu.be/papKT1-bTPA this]], or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExPW6UVkvkE this.]]'''

'''To make this reading experience feel as climactic as possible, listen to either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia4VAHpWbYA this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXVNKtmWnc this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaAtnTSbapoor this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAPgPH9hsI this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXefFHRgyE0 this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO54NPnSiYc this,]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExPW6UVkvkE this.]]'''

'''To make this reading experience feel as climactic as possible, listen to either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia4VAHpWbYA this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXVNKtmWnc this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaAtnTSbapoor this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAPgPH9hsI this,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO54NPnSiYc this,]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExPW6UVkvkE this.]]'''

'''To make this reading experience feel as climactic as possible, listen to either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia4VAHpWbYA this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXVNKtmWnc this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaAtnTSbapoor this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAPgPH9hsI this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO54NPnSiYc this]], or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExPW6UVkvkE this.]]'''

'''To make this reading experience feel as climactic as possible, listen to either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia4VAHpWbYA this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXVNKtmWnc this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaAtnTSbapoor this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAPgPH9hsI this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO54NPnSiYc this]], or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExPW6UVkvkE this]].'''

[[caption-width-right:350:They're [[LargeAndInCharge big]], they're [[BigBad bad]], and they're ready to throw down. [[DareToBeBadass Are you]]? [[note]]Clockwise from top-left: [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3 Bowser]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]], [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ganon]], [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid Mother Brain]], [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaDraculaX Dracula]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Robotnik]].[[/note]]]]

'''To make this reading experience feel as climactic as possible, listen to either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia4VAHpWbYA this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXVNKtmWnc this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaAtnTSbapoor this]], or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAPgPH9hsI this]].'''

'''To make this reading experience feel as climactic as possible, listen to either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia4VAHpWbYA&t=15s this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXVNKtmWnc this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaAtnTSbapoor this]], or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAPgPH9hsI this]].'''

'''To make this reading experience feel as climactic as possible, listen to either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia4VAHpWbYA&t=15s this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXVNKtmWnc this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaAtnTSbapoor this]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAPgPH9hsI this]].'''

'''To make this reading experience feel as climactic as possible, listen to either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia4VAHpWbYA&t=15s this]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXVNKtmWnc this]], or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAPgPH9hsI this]].'''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/FinalBosses_9185.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:They're [[LargeAndInCharge big]], they're [[BigBad bad]], and they're ready to throw down. [[DareToBeBadass Are you]]? [[note]]Clockwise from top-left: [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 Bowser]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]], [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ganon]], [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid Mother Brain]], [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaDraculaX Dracula]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Robotnik]].[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:They're [[LargeAndInCharge big]], they're [[BigBad bad]], they're ready to throw down. [[DareToBeBadass Are you]]? [[note]]Clockwise from top-left: [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 Bowser]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]], [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ganon]], [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid Mother Brain]], [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaDraculaX Dracula]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Robotnik]].[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:They're [[LargeAndInCharge big]], they're [[BigBad bad]], they're ready to throw down. [[DareToBeBadass Are you]]? [[note]]Clockwise from top-left: [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 Bowser]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]], [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ganon]], [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid Mother Brain]], [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaDraculaX Dracula]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 The Death Egg Robot]].[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:They're [[LargeAndInCharge big]], they're [[BigBad bad]], they're ready to throw down. [[DareToBeBadass Are you]]? [[note]]Clockwise from top-left: [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 Bowser]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]], [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ganon]], [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid Mother Brain]], [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaDraculaX Dracula]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Robotnik]].[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:They're [[LargeAndInCharge big]], they're [[BigBad bad]], they're ready to throw down. Are you? [[note]]Clockwise from top-left: [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 Bowser]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]], [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ganon]], [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid Mother Brain]], [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaDraculaX Dracula]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Robotnik]].[[/note]]]]

Usually resides within TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon, and with rare exception is the BigBad or GreaterScopeVillain of the game's general storyline (in games with a NonActionBigBad, the final boss tends to be TheDragon) -- in the cases where this is averted, you may find yourself facing a final challenge against someone for the sake of the challenge rather than because they Must Be Stopped. When they're evil, they usually have [[OneWingedAngel multiple forms]] that [[SequentialBoss must all be defeated back-to-back]] to complete the game. If the game uses the same boss music throughout the game (a lot more common in earlier games), expect this boss to get its own theme. It is sometimes a LoadBearingBoss, so even after defeating it, there will be one final challenge to escape its CollapsingLair (or part of the ending cutscene will depict the heroes escaping the lair, if you don't get to play that part yourself).

-->-- '''End Boss''', ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' [[note]]Actually, he's a BonusBoss, but he cannot be fought before the game's actual final boss.[[/note]]

We may also use this to refer to the final hostile faced by the protagonist(s) in other pieces of fiction.

-> ''And so you arrive at last. It is this place you seek, the 100th gate. I am End Boss, the greatest of all the Sammer Guys. It is my duty as End Boss to laugh at your feeble party and proclaim your doom. Shall we begin, challenger?'' '''''HAH! YOU ARE PATHETIC! PREPARE TO BE CRUSHED AS THE UNIVERSE WITHERS!'''''''''

As the name states, the Final Boss is the last major challenge in many video games, though we'll also use this to refer to the last opponent the heroes faced in a StoryArc. They will usually be much harder to defeat than all of the enemies the player has faced thus far (as always, [[AnticlimaxBoss there are exceptions]]), and will be prone to making a suitably grand entrance for their stature. These may also be known as "the Boss of the Game".

As the name states, the Final Boss is the last major challenge in many video games. They will usually be much harder to defeat than all of the enemies the player has faced thus far (as always, [[AnticlimaxBoss there are exceptions]]), and will be prone to making a suitably grand entrance for their stature. These may also be known as "the Boss of the Game".

Usually resides within TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon, and with rare exception is the BigBad or GreaterScopeVillain of the game's general storyline -- in the cases where this is averted, you may find yourself facing a final challenge against someone for the sake of the challenge rather than because they Must Be Stopped. When they're evil, they usually have [[OneWingedAngel multiple forms]] that [[SequentialBoss must all be defeated back-to-back]] to complete the game. If the game uses the same boss music throughout the game (a lot more common in earlier games), expect this boss to get its own theme. It is sometimes a LoadBearingBoss, so even after defeating it, there will be one final challenge to escape its CollapsingLair (or part of the ending cutscene will depict the heroes escaping the lair, if you don't get to play that part yourself).

Usually resides within TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon, and with rare exception is the BigBad or BiggerBad of the game's general storyline -- in the cases where this is averted, you may find yourself facing a final challenge against someone for the sake of the challenge rather than because they Must Be Stopped. When they're evil, they usually have [[OneWingedAngel multiple forms]] that [[SequentialBoss must all be defeated back-to-back]] to complete the game. If the game uses the same boss music throughout the game (a lot more common in earlier games), expect this boss to get its own theme. It is sometimes a LoadBearingBoss, so even after defeating it, there will be one final challenge to escape its CollapsingLair (or part of the ending cutscene will depict the heroes escaping the lair, if you don't get to play that part yourself).

[[caption-width-right:350:They're [[LargeAndInCharge big]], they're [[BigBad bad]], they're ready to throw down. Are you? [[note]]Clockwise from top-left: [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 Bowser]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]], [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ganon]], [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid Mother Brain]], [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood Dracula]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Robotnik]].[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:They're [[LargeAndInCharge big]], they're [[BigBad bad]], they're ready to throw down. Are you? [[note]]Clockwise from top-left: [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1 Bowser]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]], [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ganon]], [[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Mother Brain]], [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood Dracula]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Robotnik]].[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:They're [[LargeAndInCharge big]], they're [[BigBad bad]], they're ready to throw down. Are you? [[note]]Clockwise from top-left: [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros Bowser]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]], [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ganon]], [[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Mother Brain]], [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood Dracula]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Robotnik]].[[/note]]]]

Being a near-ubiquitous trope in video games, a list of specific examples is unnecessary - almost every game with {{Boss Battle}}s has one that takes place just before the ending of the game, and that's the Final Boss. Note that the Final Boss isn't necessarily the hardest; even if it's not a [[AnticlimaxBoss pushover]], there may be a [[ThatOneBoss really hard boss]] earlier on, and {{Bonus Boss}}es are usually around to give {{Challenge Gamer}}s a tougher fight than is needed to finish the game. More interesting forms of this trope are under different pages. Also, the final boss need not be the very last thing you fight. Sometimes, a post-climax finisher fight occurs; less difficult, or smaller stakes than before, meant to tie up loose ends; we like to call that a PostFinalBoss.