History Main / RouteBoss

* ''VideoGame/JediKnightJediAcademy'': In the Light Side ending, you fight the Force ghost of the ancient Sith Lord Marka Ragnos, while in the Dark Side ending, you fight your own Jedi master (and the [[DuelingPlayerCharacters protagonist of the previous games]]) Kyle Katarn instead.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' has a number of bosses who are only fought on certain routes, and even bosses who appear on multiple routes may have differences between their fights on those different routes.
** The Azure Moon and Verdant Wind routes have exclusive final bosses. Azure Moon ends with fighting Hegemon Edelgard, while Verdant Wind has Nemesis, who also brings along The Ten Elites to serve as minibosses on the final map.
** Crimson Flower is the only route where Rhea appears as an enemy while in her human form, being the stage boss of the map directly after the plot branches, and also appearing in the penultimate map as part of a BossBonanza.
** Dedue is fought on both Crimson Flower and Verdant Wind, but in the former route, he has a unique demonic beast form.
** Thales is actually fought on all routes except Crimson Flower, but Azure Moon is the only one where he's fought while he's disguised as Lord Arundel, which is notable as he fights in a completely different manner while in the disguise.
** Crimson Flower and Silver Snow share a final boss, The Immaculate One, but the two fights are very different. Firstly, the minibosses are different, with Crimson Flower having Gilbert, Catherine, and Cyril, themselves exclusive bosses to that route, while Silver Snow has the route exclusive White Beasts. The Immaculate One also has different stats and skill sets in each version of their battle, with the Silver Snow version being generally weaker until she TurnsRed partway through.

** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'', the Neutral alignment has its own representative boss — Commander Gore — who fights you shortly after you lock into either Chaos or Law. And while picking Neutral will get you to fight through the Law and Chaos representatives to get to the FinalBoss, they're not as strong as they are when challenged on the route of the opposing alignment.
*** In addition to the above, Mastema can only be fought on the Chaos route.

* ''VideoGame/NeoGeoBattleColiseum'' has four different {{final boss}}es to fight against, depending on how many special wins you made during the game or how fast you can get there. Depending on your actions, you can fight Mizuchi ([[CloningBlues {{Orochi}}'s clone from ''KOF '97''), [[VideoGame/WorldHeroes Neo Dio]], [[VideoGame/FuunSeries Shin Shishioh]], or [[TrueFinalBoss Goodman]] (the BigBad of the game).

* ''VideoGame/CaveStory'' has several bosses you only encounter if you're en route to getting the GoldenEnding. One prerequisite is completing the optional side quest to restore Curly Brace's memories, which leads to a fight with Ma Pignon. You then have to go through an alternate version of Last Cave, which involves a fight with the Red Ogre. Finally, you must brave the [[BrutalBonusLevel Sacred Grounds]], ending with a fight against the Heavy Press, then the TrueFinalBoss, [[spoiler:Ballos]].

* For the battle to liberate Greenhill in ''VideoGame/SuikodenII'', you are given the choice of which skirmish your Hero will participate in. One map will pit you against Jowy Blight, in the alternate you'll face DualBoss Yuber and
Lucia instead.

** Save Research Station + Fight Back: [[spoiler:The team takes an overseas route to Colonel Bahamut's base, and his defeat in battle causes him to launch a missile containing the Alien Cell he stole. This prompts the team to destroy the missile before it can detonate. The FinalBoss is a mutated Alien Cell.]]
** Save Research Station + Surrender: [[spoiler:The team is detained aboard one of Bahamut's trains, but Deadeye Joe (the boss from Stage 1) busts you out, wanting a proper fight. The team infiltrates the base, prompting Bahamut to inject himself with the Alien Cell as the final boss [[BodyHorror (and it doesn't end well for him)]].]]
** Pursue Deadeye Joe + Fight Back: [[spoiler:The Alien Cell goes out of control and engulfs Bahamut's base, prompting a small EnemyMine between them as they move to kill the Alien Cell. Bahamut manages to escape in the commotion.]]
** Pursue Deadeye Joe + Surrender: [[spoiler:Bahamut uses the Alien Cell to create Big Magnum, a powerful superweapon positioned high above the Earth. The team destroys the weapon, which also [[HeroicSacrifice takes their lives when the weapon detonates.]] The team is awarded post-humous medals of bravery for their deeds.]]

* The final target in the main story of ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'' is determined by the decision made for an earlier mission on whether or not to work with Dimitri. [[spoiler:If the deal is chosen, Dimitri has Roman killed, and he betrays and kills Pegorino, leaving him as Niko's final target. If Niko chooses to just kill him and not take the deal, Pegorino kills Kate, making him the last big guy Niko guns down.]]
* ''VideoGame/Infamous2'': The "Hero" path ends with a fight against [[GreaterScopeVillain The Beast]] and [[spoiler:Kuo]], while the "Infamous" path has you fight [[spoiler:Nix and Zeke]] instead.

* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters XI'': If you get certain special wins, you can fight [[VideoGame/BurikiOne Gai Tendo, Silber,]] [[VideoGame/FuunSeries Sho Hayate, or Gyazu]]. If you can't do some of the requirements for some of them, you have to fight Abel (Rugal's son and FinalBoss of ''KOF 2003'') as an obligatory sub-boss.
* ''VideoGame/NeoGeoBattleColiseum'' has four different {{final boss}}es to fight against, depending on how many special wins you made during the game or how fast you can get there. Depending on your actions, you can fight [[{{Orochi}} Mizuchi]] ([[CloningBlues Orochi's clone]] from ''KOF '97''), [[VideoGame/WorldHeroes Neo Dio]], [[VideoGame/FuunSeries Shin Shishioh]], or [[TrueFinalBoss Goodman]] (the BigBad of the game).

* ''VideoGame/JediKnightJediAcademy'': In the Light Side ending, you fight the Force ghost of the ancient Sith Lord Marka Ragnos, while in the Dark Side ending, you fight [[spoiler:your own Jedi master (and the [[DuelingPlayerCharacters protagonist of the previous games]]) Kyle Katarn]] instead.

** In ''VideoGame/MegaManX3'', the Doppler stage bosses are different depending on how X deals with Bit, Byte, and Vile. If X kills both Bit and Byte by using their weaknesses against them before reaching Doppler's stages, then X will face Press Disposer instead of their FusionDance Godkarmachine O Inary. If X kills Vile with his weakness before Doppler, then he will face a Mosquitus MiniBoss, and in the same level Volt Kuragiel will be fought instead of Vile.

** ''Grollschwert'', the first game's Grolla route, has [[spoiler:[[DuelingPlayerCharacters Spirita]] herself]] replace Grolla as the boss of her stage.
** ''Weißsilber'', the second game's Pamela route, has [[spoiler:Kahl Palsech]] replace her as the boss of her stage.

** ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'':
*** Super Mecha Sonic is only ever fought by Knuckles. It's the final boss of his campaign and is fought after reaching the Sky Sanctuary.

** ''VideoGame/SonicMania'':
*** The Heavy King, in his base form, is only fought by Knuckles. He's the end boss of Knuckles's version of Lava Reef Zone, after Knuckles takes an alternate path from Sonic and co.

** If you pick the Tide Pool route after Olmec, you'll have the option of fighting Kingu, while if you pick the Temple of Anubis, you'll have the option of fighting Osiris, either of which is required if you choose to go to [[spoiler:the Sunken City to fight [[TrueFinalBoss Hundun]]]].

* Subverted in ''Videogame/{{Deltarune}}''. At one point, Susie and Lancer will have you make a machine for them to use against you, and you are given options on what type of machine it is (you can even make it a duck). However, when you finally confront your creation, Susie and Lancer blow it up and fight you themselves.

** Subverted in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', which was ''supposed'' to have included a version of this trope during the final battle. Regardless of whether Hawke decides to support the mages or the Templars, they will have to fight both [[spoiler:Knight-Commander Meredith and Grand Enchanter Orsino]]. The former was meant to be the FinalBoss regardless of choice, but the latter was supposed to only be a PreFinalBoss if the Templars were supported; however, the producers insisted on adding the fight to both story paths. Given that the cut-scene preceding the battle [[spoiler:consists of Orsino going OneWingedAngel as the mages are killed, it winds up making no sense if you supported the mages, since few if any of them will die in that event. It winds up appearing that Orsino simply goes insane for no reason]].

** The Azure Moon and Verdant Wind routes have exclusive final bosses. Azure Moon ends with fighting [[spoiler:Hegemon Edelgard]], while Verdant Wind has [[spoiler:Nemesis]], who also brings along [[spoiler:The Ten Elites]] to serve as minibosses on the final map.
** Crimson Flower is the only route where [[spoiler:Rhea]] appears as an enemy [[spoiler:while in her human form]], being the stage boss of the map directly after the plot branches, and also appearing in the penultimate map as part of a BossBonanza.
** Dedue is fought on both Crimson Flower and Verdant Wind, but in the former route, [[spoiler:he has a unique demonic beast form]].
** [[spoiler:Thales]] is actually fought on all routes except Crimson Flower, but Azure Moon is the only one where [[spoiler:he's fought while he's disguised as Lord Arundel, which is notable as he fights in a completely different manner while in the disguise]].
** Crimson Flower and Silver Snow share a final boss, [[spoiler:The Immaculate One]], but the two fights are very different. Firstly, the minibosses are different, with Crimson Flower having Gilbert, Catherine, and Cyril, themselves exclusive bosses to that route, while Silver Snow has the route exclusive [[spoiler:White Beasts]]. [[spoiler:The Immaculate One]] also has different stats and skill sets in each version of their battle, with the Silver Snow version being generally weaker [[spoiler:until she TurnsRed partway through]].

*** In ''Innocent Sin'', right before Caracol, you can either leave Yukino behind or force her to come with you. If you take her with you, when you reach the observation bridge, you have to fight three Longinus Spear mechs. However, if you leave her behind, you find [[spoiler:Shadow Yukino and Lady Scorpio]] fighting them, and you have to fight ''them'' once they're done.
*** In ''Eternal Punishment'', one third through the game, you are asked to spread a rumor that the person investigating the NewWorldOrder is either a man or a woman. Spreading the rumour it's a woman results in Eriko's route, which takes you through the Sumaru TV station, and results in boss fights against her Stalker ([[spoiler:actually a Shikigami]]), Wang Long Chizuru's puppet, and in the Underwater Ruins, Wang Long Chizuru herself. However, if you spread the rumor it's a man, you go to Nanjo's route, and the game takes you through the sewers and the secret laboratory, where you fight several Red Berret Mini-bosses, and [[spoiler:Demonized Sugimoto]]. The Underwater Ruins boss is also replaced with [[spoiler:Takahisa Kandori and four X-2 mechs]].

*** In the Law Route, the FinalBoss is Asura, while in the Chaos Route, the FinalBoss is ArchangelMichael. If you're going through the Neutral route, you have to fight ''both'' of them in any order you like. Earlier on, with the same criteria, you either fight the Chaos Hero and Lilith, the Law Hero, or all of them. Averted with the other Archangels and Demon Lords, who are {{Skippable Boss}}es that can be ignored simply by not entering their rooms.

*** In the Law Route, you fight [[spoiler:Lucifer]].
*** In the Chaos Route, you have to fight your way through a BossBonanza that consists of [[spoiler:Sabaoth, Saddai, and Elohim]], before fighting [[spoiler:Satan]].
*** In the Neutral route, you have to fight ''all of the above'', plus [[spoiler:Kuzuryuu]].

** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'', the Neutral alignment has its own representative boss — [[spoiler:Commander Gore]] — who fights you shortly after you lock into either Chaos or Law. And while picking Neutral will get you to fight through the Law and Chaos representatives to get to the FinalBoss, they're not as strong as they are when challenged on the route of the opposing alignment.

*** Things get a little complex with the additional content on its 3DS remake ''Strange Journey Redux'', as the final fight with Alex will change depending on whether you chose to finish the extra BonusDungeon and whether you reject or accept her plans for a new world. Finishing the Womb of Grief before reaching the depths of the final sector, and then rejecting her ideas will trigger one final fight [[spoiler:where she invokes the power of her stolen Fruit and calls a couple of exclusive demons to her side]]. Otherwise, she just fights alone.

*** On Law and Chaos, you have to fight [[spoiler:Isabeau, who wants to stop the genocide you're planning on committing. The fights are different depending on the route, as she summons Chaos demons on Law and vice versa]].
*** If you're on Chaos, the final dungeon features a bunch of miniboss fights headlined by Seraph before the final battle with [[spoiler:Merkabah]], while on Law you get two fully fledged boss fights with Belial and Lucifuge before fighting [[spoiler:Lucifer]]. On Neutral, you fight all of them.
** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' is far lighter on this compared to its predecessors, but still has a big one. After the final alignment lock, you either fight [[spoiler:Dagda]] on Bonds or [[spoiler:the partners, except for the already dead Asahi]], on Massacre. The latter case also has a unique fight a little bit later against [[spoiler:a massive horde of the last humans able to fight against you, led by Fujiwara and Skins]].

** After defeating Sera, if you choose to take her Essence instead of leaving it behind, you will have to face two extra bosses. The first is [[spoiler:Skid and Whiskers]], who attack you to avenge Sera [[spoiler:and as a result, you are unable to recruit them into your party]]. The second is [[spoiler:the Chimera, a horrific [[TwoBeingsOneBody fusion]] of Skid, Whiskers, and Sera]]. To make things worse, the latter comes immediately after the second fight with Staya, which is mandatory either way.
** Clint is an optional party member. If you don't recruit him, the FinalBoss is simply a third battle with Staya. If you do recruit Clint, [[spoiler:he ends up betraying the party, crippling Staya, and becoming the TrueFinalBoss]].

** In any Neutral route (any playthrough where you don't go to [[spoiler:the True Lab]]), the last two bosses are [[spoiler:Asgore]], followed by [[spoiler:Omega Flowey]]. It should be noted that you cannot fight the second one indefinitely; if you beat him in two playthroughs, he won't fight you again because he knows he'll lose, thus locking you out of the fight.
** If you ''do'' go through [[spoiler:the True Lab]], the fights against [[spoiler:Asgore and Omega Flowey]] are skipped and instead you fight [[spoiler:the God of Hyperdeath]]. This is also the route that unlocks the GoldenEnding.
** If you're going for endings such as [[spoiler:the "no ruler" neutral ending]] or [[spoiler:Genocide / No-Mercy run]], you cannot [[SkippableBoss skip Muffet]].
** The [[spoiler:Genocide / No-Mercy]] route has by far the biggest changes, even if most of the individuals that fight you are the same.
*** [[spoiler:Papyrus]] ''doesn't'' fight you, he just stands there. This is in sharp contrast to his WakeUpCallBoss status in all other routes.

*** [[spoiler:Undyne is killed in one hit and [[CameBackStrong turns into Undyne the Undying]], who is much, ''much'' more difficult.]]
*** [[spoiler:Mettaton ditches the show-ratings thing and the EX form, and instead shows up in the NEO form. He goes down in one hit, which is far different from his ThatOneBoss EX fight.]]
*** This is the only route where you can fight [[spoiler:Sans]]. He serves as the FinalBoss. [[spoiler:Asgore and Flowey]] are dealt with in cutscenes instead.

* The final boss of ''VideoGame/SilentHill1'' depends on whether or not you [[spoiler:save Kaufmann]]. If you don't, [[spoiler:Alessa transforms into an angelic figure called "The Incubator" and Harry is forced to kill her, which leads to the Bad and Bad+ endings]]. If you ''did'', then after [[spoiler:Alessa transforms, Kaufmann will show up and expel the demon named "Incubus" from Alessa using a vial of [[AntiMagic Aglaophotis]], and Harry must defeat that instead, which leads to the Good and Good+ endings]].

* ''VideoGame/AHatInTime'': The boss of chapter 2 Battle of the Birds is determined by who Hat Kid helps win the movie contest, [[StaticRoleExchangableCharacter with the winner serving as the boss]]. Downplayed as both the Conductor and DJ Grooves are mechanically the same.

** If you're going for endings such as [[spoiler:Annoying Dog as king]] or [[spoiler:Genocide / No-Mercy run]], you cannot [[SkippableBoss skip Muffet]].

** In ''VideoGame/MegaManX3'', the Doppler stage bosses are different depending on how X deals with Bit, Byte, and Vile. If X kills both Bit and Byte by using their weaknesses against them before reaching Doppler's stages, then X will face Press Disposer instead of the duo's [[FusionDance Fused form]] Godkarmachine O Inary. If X kills Vile with his weakness before Doppler, then Volt Kuragiel will be fought in place of another fight with Vile.
** ''VideoGame/MegaManX4'': On X's story route, X must fight Colonel twice, first after defeating four Mavericks and then again after all eight are defeated, then X must fight Double in the final stage. On Zero's route, the first battle with Colonel [[CutsceneBoss happens in a cutscene]], and then Zero must fight Iris instead of Double.

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'': Long story short: If you're Law-aligned, you kill all the Chaotic leaders. If you're Chaos-aligned, you kill all the lawful leaders. If you're Neutral, you kill ''everyone''.

*** The final alignment lock forces you to choose whether to support the angel Aniel or the demon mother Echidna. The choice works much like the Gotou/Thorman choice, where you fight Echidna on Law, Aniel on Chaos, and both on Neutral.

*** In the Law Route, the FinalBoss is Asura, while in the Chaos Route the FinalBoss is ArchangelMichael. If you're going through the Neutral route, you have to fight ''both'' of them in any order you like. Earlier on, with the same criteria, you either fight the Chaos Hero and Lilith, the Law Hero, or all of them. Averted with the other Archangels and Demon Lords, who are {{Skippable Boss}}es that can be ignored simply by not entering their rooms.

*** In the Chaos Route, you have to fight your way through a BossBonanza that consists of [[spoiler:Sabaoth, Saddai and Elohim]], before fighting [[spoiler:Satan]].

** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'', has two examples on the three main routes:
*** The first boss of the game is completely different depending on how much grinding you've done. If you're under a certain level you fight Faunus, while above that point you fight Melusine.
*** the fourth dungeon is completely different depending on your partner's gender, including the boss fight. If you chose Yumi or Reiko, you get the Domain of Envy and fight Lilith. If you chose Charlie, you get the Domain of Wrath and fight Amdusias.

*** Of the six bosses in the final dungeon, only Thor and Baal Avatar are required on all route. Siding with Shijima or Musubi lets you skip Ahriman or Noah, respectively, and if you side with Demon, you end up with a case of NoFinalBossForYou instead. The sixth boss only doesn't count due to being a TrueFinalBoss.
** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'', the Neutral alignment has its own representative boss -- [[spoiler:Commander Gore]] -- who fights you shortly after you lock into either Chaos or Law. And while picking Neutral will get you to fight through the Law and Chaos representatives to get to the FinalBoss, they're not as strong as they are when challenged on the route of the opposing alignment.

*** Things get a little complex with the additional content on its 3DS remake ''Strange Journey Redux'', as the final fight with Alex will change depending on whether you chose to finish the extra BonusDungeon and whether you reject or accept her plans for a new world. Finishing the Womb of Grief before reaching the depths of the final sector, and then rejecting her ideas will trigger one final fight [[spoiler:where she invokes the power of her stolen Fruit and calls a couple of exclusive demons to her side.]] Otherwise, she just fights alone.

*** On Law and Chaos, you have to fight [[spoiler:Isabeau, who wants to stop the genocide you're planning on committing. The fights are different depending on the route, as she summons Chaos demons on Law and vice versa.]]

** ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' is far lighter on this compared to its predecessors, but still has a big one. After the final alignment lock, you either fight [[spoiler:Dagda]] on Bonds or [[spoiler:the partners, except for the already dead Asahi,]] on Massacre. The latter case also has a unique fight a little bit later against [[spoiler:a massive horde of the last humans able to fight against you, led by Fujiwara and Skins.]]

** Clint is an optional party member. If you don't recruit him, the FinalBoss is simply a third battle with Staya. If you do recruit Clint, [[spoiler:he ends up betraying the party, crippling Staya, and becoming the TrueFinalBoss.]]

*** Mettaton [[spoiler:ditches the show-ratings thing and the EX form, and instead shows up in the NEO form. He goes down in one hit, which is far different from his ThatOneBoss EX fight.]]
*** This is the only route where you can fight [[spoiler: Sans]]. He serves as the FinalBoss. [[spoiler:Asgore and Flowey]] are dealt with in cutscenes instead.

* The final boss of ''VideoGame/SilentHill1'' depends on whether or not you [[spoiler:save Kaufmann.]] If you don't, [[spoiler:Alessa transforms into an angelic figure called "The Incubator" and Harry is forced to kill her, which leads to the Bad and Bad+ endings.]] If you ''did'', then after [[spoiler:Alessa transforms, Kaufmann will show up and expel the demon named "Incubus" from Alessa using a vial of [[AntiMagic Aglaophotis]], and Harry must defeat that instead, which leads to the Good and Good+ endings.]]

** Save Research Station + Fight Back: [[spoiler: The team takes an overseas route to Colonel Bahamut's base, and his defeat in battle causes him to launch a missile containing the Alien Cell he stole. This prompts the team to destroy the missile before it can detonate. The FinalBoss is a mutated Alien Cell.]]
** Save Research Station + Surrender: [[spoiler: The team is detained aboard one of Bahamut's trains, but Deadeye Joe (the boss from Stage 1) busts you out, wanting a proper fight. The team infiltrates the base, prompting Bahamut to inject himself with the Alien Cell as the final boss [[BodyHorror (and it doesn't end well for him)]].]]
** Pursue Deadeye Joe + Fight Back: [[spoiler: The Alien Cell goes out of control and engulfs Bahamut's base, prompting a small EnemyMine between them as they move to kill the Alien Cell. Bahamut manages to escape in the commotion.]]
** Pursue Deadeye Joe + Surrender: [[spoiler: Bahamut uses the Alien Cell to create Big Magnum, a powerful superweapon positioned high above the Earth. The team destroys the weapon, which also [[HeroicSacrifice takes their lives when the weapon detonates.]] The team is awarded post-humous medals of bravery for their deeds.]]

** The player character Jubei is assisted by four supporting characters, ([[ActionGirl Oyu]], [[TheGunslinger Magoichi]], [[BoisterousBruiser Ekei]], and [[KidHero Kotaru]]) and if your RelationshipValues with the supporting characters are high enough, there will be a segment where you play as those characters, in a side quest or sequence that isn't otherwise available, facing different mini-bosses and challenges along the way that you wouldn't encounter without a high relationship with those characters.
** If Magoichi is your best friend of the four supporting characters, he'll allow you to skip [[RecurringBoss the last of the boss fights with Ginghamphatts]], who you otherwise have to fight on all story routes. Shortly after the boss fight begins and you've done a little damage to Ginghamphatts, Magoichi will show up, casually blow Ginghamphatts away and let you proceed on your way to face [[DemonKingNobunaga Nobunaga]].

* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters XI'': If you get certain special wins you can fight [[VideoGame/BurikiOne Gai Tendo, Silber,]] [[VideoGame/FuunSeries Sho Hayate or Gyazu]]. If you can't do some of the requirements for some of them, you have to fight Abel (Rugal's son and FinalBoss of ''KOF 2003'') as an obligatory sub-boss.
* ''VideoGame/NeoGeoBattleColiseum'' has four different {{final boss}}es to fight against, depending of how many special wins you made during the game or how fast you can get there. Depending of your actions, you can fight [[{{Orochi}} Mizuchi]] ([[CloningBlues Orochi's clone]] from ''KOF '97''), [[VideoGame/WorldHeroes Neo Dio]], [[VideoGame/FuunSeries Shin Shishioh]] or [[TrueFinalBoss Goodman]] (the BigBad of the game).

* In ''Literature/DeathtrapDungeon'', in order to bypass the Dwarf Trialmaster's test, you must enter an arena and, depending on the choices you make, fight either a [[ScaryScorpions giant scorpion]] or a [[ALoadOfBull Minotaur]], as one of two optional bosses, before completing the challenge.

* ''VideoGame/AHatInTime'': The boss of chapter 2 Battle of the Birds is determined by who Hat Kid helps win the movie contest with the winner serving as the boss. Downplayed as both the Conductor and DJ Grooves are mechanically the same.

** In ''VideoGame/MegaManX3'', the Doppler stage bosses are different depending on how X deals with Bit, Byte, and Vile. If X kills both Bit and Byte by using their weaknesses against them before reaching Doppler's stages then X will face Press Disposer instead of the duo's [[FusionDance Fused form]] Godkarmachine O Inary. If X kills Vile with his weakness before Doppler, then Volt Kuragiel will be fought in place of another fight with Vile.
** ''VideoGame/MegaManX4'': On X's story route, X must fight Colonel twice, first after defeating four Mavericks and then again after all eight are defeated, then X must fight Double in the final stage. On Zero's route, the first battle with Colonel happens in a {{cutscene}}, and then Zero must fight Iris instead of Double.

*** The five[[note]]E-101 Beta is [[RecurringBoss fought twice.]][[/note]] E-Series robots are only ever fought by Gamma, three of them waiting at the end of Gamma's later stages, the other two being separate boss fights.

*** The fourth stage has different bosses depending on the route Shadow takes. In The Doom, Neutral / Dark route stage, Shadow faces Heavy Dog, a ground-based G.U.N. mech. In Neutral / Hero route, Shadow faces Egg Breaker in the Mad Matrix. And in Pure Hero path, Shadow faces Black Bull again in the Death Ruins.
*** In the fifth stage, the True Neutral path pits Shadow against Egg Breaker in Iron Jungle, while Pure Dark path has Shadow face Blue Falcon, an aerial G.U.N. mech, on the ARK.

** If you pick the Tide Pool route after Olmec, you'll have the option of fighting Kingu, while if you pick the Temple of Anubis, you'll have the option of fighting Osiris, either of which is required if you choose to go to [[spoiler:the Sunken City to fight Hundun]].

** Subverted in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', which was ''supposed'' to have included a version of this trope during the final battle. Regardless of whether Hawke decides to support the mages or the Templars, they will have to fight both [[spoiler:Knight-Commander Meredith and Grand Enchanter Orsino]]. The former was meant to be the FinalBoss regardless of choice, but the latter was supposed to only be a BonusBoss if the Templars were supported; however, the producers insisted on adding the fight to both story paths. Given that the cut-scene preceding the battle [[spoiler: consists of Orsino going OneWingedAngel as the mages are killed, it winds up making no sense if you supported the mages, since few if any of them will die in that event. It winds up appearing that Orsino simply goes insane for no reason]].

* ''VideoGame/JimmyAndThePulsatingMass'': The Whispering Valley area Edit is being blockaded by Turnbuckle and his toy army, and there are two ways to dispel the blockade- defeat the blockade yourself, which consist of a six-wave enemy rush, or go into the mansion and defeat Turnbuckle himself.

*** In ''Innocent Sin'', right before Caracol you can either leave Yukino behind or force her to come with you. If you take her with you, when you reach the observation bridge you have to fight three Longinus Spear mechs. However, if you leave her behind, you find [[spoiler:Shadow Yukino and Lady Scorpio]] fighting them, and you have to fight ''them'' once they're done.
*** In ''Eternal Punishment'', one third through the game you are asked to spread a rumor that the person investigating the NewWorldOrder is either a man or a woman. Spreading the rumour it's a woman results in Eriko's route, which takes you through the Sumaru TV station, and results in boss fights against her Stalker ([[spoiler:actually a Shikigami]]), Wang Long Chizuru's puppet, and in the Underwater Ruins, Wang Long Chizuru herself. However, if you spread the rumor it's a man, you go to Nanjo's route, and the game takes you through the sewers and the secret laboratory, where you fight several Red Berret Mini-bosses, and [[spoiler:Demonized Sugimoto]]. The Underwater Ruins boss is also replaced with [[spoiler:Takahisa Kandori and four X-2 mechs]].

*** In the Law Route, the FinalBoss is Asura, while in the Chaos Route the FinalBoss is ArchangelMichael. If you're going through the Neutral route, you have to fight ''both'' of them in any order you like. Earlier on, with the same criteria, you either fight the Chaos Hero, the Law Hero, or both.

** ''VideoGame/MegaManX4'': On X's story route, X must fight Colonel twice, first after defeating four Mavericks and then again after all eight are defeated, then X must fight Double in the final stage. on Zero's route, the first battle with Colonel happens in a {{cutscene}}, and then Zero must fight Iris instead of Double.

*** The Cathedral route, where the final boss is Isaac. Defeating him with the Polaroid brings you to the Chest, where you'll fight ???.
*** The Sheol route is the counterpart of the Cathedral route, with Satan as its boss. In ''Rebirth'' and on, if you defeat Satan while holding the Negative, you can access the Dark Room and its final boss, The Lamb. In both this and the Cathedral/Chest route, bringing both Key Pieces to the final floor will let you fight an alternate final boss, Mega Satan.
*** Starting with the ''Afterbirth+'' DLC, if you've defeated one of several bosses and have already beaten Hush, a purple portal can appear that leads to an alternate final area, The Void. The boss here is Delirium.
*** In ''Repentance'', defeat Hush three times and you'll unlock an entire alternate route through the main game. Technically every boss here counts as a Route Boss, but the ultimate goal at the end is Mother.
*** Also in ''Repentance'' is the Ascent route, unlocked after defeating Mother once, where you'll encounter the {{True Final Boss}}es: Dogma, the Ultra Harbingers, and the Beast.

* ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'': Depending on which [[StoryBranching story path]] Shadow takes, the player may end up facing one kind of boss or another:
** In Lethal Highway, the second stage of the Hero path, Shadow faces Black Bull, a Black Arms-aligned beast.
** In Cryptic Castle, the third stage of the Dark path, Shadow faces Egg Breaker, one of Eggman's mechs.
** The fourth stage has different bosses depending on the route Shadow takes. In The Doom, Neutral / Dark route stage, Shadow faces Heavy Dog, a ground-based G.U.N. mech. In Neutral / Hero route, Shadow faces Egg Breaker in the Mad Matrix. And in Pure Hero path, Shadow faces Black Bull again in the Death Ruins.
** In the fifth stage, the True Neutral path pits Shadow against Egg Breaker in Iron Jungle, while Pure Dark path has Shadow face Blue Falcon, an aerial G.U.N. mech, on the ARK.
** The final boss of each ending is determined by the mission Shadow completes on the sixth stage. Dark path pits Shadow against Sonic and Diablon, Neutral path pits Shadow against Eggman in Egg Dealer mech, while the Hero path has Shadow fight Black Doom.

** The final boss of each ending is determined by the mission Shadow completes on the sixth stage. Dark path pits Shadow against Sonic and Diablon, Neutral path pits Shadow against Eggman in Egg Dealer mech, while the Hero path has Shadow fight the Black Doom.

** The player character Jubei is assisted by four supporting characters, ([[ActionGirl Oyu]], [[TheGunslinger Magoichi]], [[BoisterousBruiser Ekei]], and [[KidHero Kotaru]]) and if your RelationshipValues with the supporting characters are high enough, there will be a segment where you play as those characters, in a side quest or sequence that isn't otherwise available, facing different mini-bosses and challenges along the way.

** If Magoichi is your best friend of the four supporting characters, he'll allow you to skip a boss that you otherwise have to fight on all story routes. Shortly after the boss fight begins and you've done just a little damage to the boss, Magoichi will show up, casually blow the boss away and let you proceed on your way to face [[DemonKingNobunaga Nobunaga]].

** Subverted in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', which was ''supposed'' to have included a version of this trope during the final battle. Regardless of whether Hawke decides to support the mages or the Templars, they will have to fight both [[spoiler:Knight-Commander Meredith and Grand Enchanter Orsino]]. The former was meant to be the FinalBoss regardless of choice, but the latter was supposed to only be a BonusBoss if the Templars were supported; however, the producers insisted on adding the fight to both story paths.

** [[spoiler:Thales]] is actually fought on all routes except Crimson Flower, but Azure Moon is the only one where [[spoiler:he?s fought while he?s disguised as Lord Arundel, which is notable as he fights in a completely different manner while in the disguise]].

* In ''Literature/DeathtrapDungeon'', in order to bypass the Dwarf Trialmaster's test, you must enter an arena and, depending on the choices you make, fight either a [[ScaryScorpions giant scorpion]] or a [[ALoadOfBull Minotaur]], as one of two optional bosses, before completing the challenge. The scorpion is the harder fight by the way, having greater SKILL stats than the Minotaur and the ability to inflict a OneHitKill on you if it rolls double six in Attack Strength.

** Inverted in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiNocturne'', where siding with a Reason will affect who you ''don't'' fight. All routes converge to the same FinalBoss.