Summary
When looking past its complex storyline and whimsical Disney elements,Kingdom Heartsis trulyone of the best Action RPG franchises in the entire industry. This is not only evident in its deep mechanics and its flashy combat, but also in itsamazing boss battles.
Every singleKingdom Heartsgame is home to some ofthe best boss battles in the franchise,whether it’s because of their engaging gameplay, the emotional context behind them or a balanced combination of both. However, highlighting the best ones is a difficult task, since there’s a lot to choose from, across the series' 12 different games.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memoriesand its remake can be confusing games, because of their strange combat system and complex plot. However, every struggle is worth it just so players can face the final boss of this game:Marluxia,the evil mastermind behind everything that happened in Castle Oblivion.
This battle is made up of three different phases, and each one of them gets crazier and crazier, as Marluxia summons a gigantic Nobody to fight alongside him. The atmosphere is intense, the soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, and the gameplay is extremely satisfying, since it makes perfect use of the card-based mechanics of this game.
WhenKingdom Hearts 3originally came out, many fans were disappointed by the fact thatSoraseemed to be the only relevant Guardian of Light during the climactic final encounter againstMaster Xehanort, while the rest of them were relegated to the background. Fortunately, this was fixed in theRe:MindDLCwith just one amazing boss fight.
Seeing beloved characters likeKing Mickey, Riku, Roxas, Xion, Lea, Aqua, Terra, & Ventus not only fighting together against Xehanort’s manyReplicas,but also interacting with each other through clever bits of dialogue, is a treat for longtime fans. The gameplay mechanics may not be too deep, but they’re entertaining enough to make this a fulfilling experience.
InKingdom Hearts 1, seeing belovedFinal Fantasyicons like Cloud Strife or Squall Leonhart assisting Sora during his adventure was quite fun, but players could find a mind-blowing surprise when they enter the Platinum Match of Olympus Coliseum, only to discover thatFinal Fantasy 7’sSephirothis a secret boss.
This is the most challenging boss in the entire game, as he can only be defeated by players who have mastered every single aspect of the combat system. It may feel frustrating at first, but it ends up being incredibly rewarding. As if he wasn’t already an intimidating boss, Sephiroth’s iconic theme song, “One Winged Angel”, plays during the entire battle, which is a great detail.
For a time, Sephiroth was definitely the hardest secret boss that fans had encountered. This changed with the release ofKingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix, where they could fight the mysteriousLingering Will. This fight is relentless, and even players who mastered every single Organization XIII Data Battle beforehand may struggle with it.
Lingering Will not only hits hard and requires a lot of damage to take down, but he can also mess around with some of the game’s mechanics in devious ways, like completely suppressing Sora’s magic or physical attacks. Despite the challenge, this is a very emotional battle that foreshadows a lot of crucial plot beats from future installments. Most people’s perspective on Lingering Willchanges after playingBirth by Sleep, which makes this battle even more brilliant.
Kingdom Hearts 3was the emotional climax of the franchise’s entire plot, so it was a genius idea to have a boss fight that is made up of the threemain Xehanort incarnations, each the antagonists of previous installments:Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness,Xemnas,andYoung Xehanort. All whileMaster Xehanorthimself assists them from the background.
Despite having three targets to attack, the combat is not as confusing as one would initially think, and taking all of them down feels amazing. This is an epic encounter, made specifically for those fans that played through every single installment and defeated these villains in the past. Witnessing the speeches that Xemnas and Ansem give to Sora and Riku as they’re fading away feels oddly emotional, as if players are saying goodbye to a pair of characters they have known for many years.
5Riku-Ansem
The Franchise’s Most Infamous Boss Fight
The tragic tale ofRikuis one of the biggest emotional plot beats of the originalKingdom Hearts. Throughout the game, Sora’s best friend slowly succumbs to the darkness, as he follows Maleficent’s orders. But the moment in which he accepts Ansem’s influence and is possessed by the main villain of the game is a huge turning point in the story.
With the full power of darkness in his hand, the fight againstRiku-Ansemis the most difficult non-optional boss in the entire game,and it’s infamous because of how many people initially got stuck in it. It’s actually a very balanced battle that requires the player’s full attention and skills in order to complete. Coupled with an amazing battle theme known as “Forze del Male”, this is undoubtedly one of the most intense battles in the franchise.
WhileKingdom Hearts 358/2 Daysis not a perfect game, it is deeply beloved among fans, who praise its deep and emotional storyline following Roxas’ experience with Organization XIII. The addition ofXionwas definitely the most interesting part of this narrative, and it all culminates in a fateful final battle against this replica that was ordered to absorb Roxas’ powers.
During the first three phases, Roxas and Xion travel through many Disney worlds, and the replica actually fights by using some of Sora’s iconic moves and abilities, which is a clever touch. But the best phase is the final one, which is set in the Clock Tower. This may just look like an epic battle with gigantic attacks, but it’s also a tragic encounter between two best friends who are forced to kill each other, and it’s made even more painful by the beautiful piece of music that plays during the fight, titled “Vector to the Heavens”.
3Xemnas
The Best Final Boss In The Franchise
Sora and his friends fought and defeated the entire Organization XIII over the course of two games, and it all finally culminated at the end ofKingdom Hearts 2,when he was tasked with taking down their leader,Xemnas.This franchise is no stranger to mind-blowing spectacles, and this final boss is a perfect example.
The long level that precedes it, where Sora has to slice through giant buildings and take down enormous structures, is already epic enough, but it gets even better when he and Riku are isolated and have to face Xemnas on their own. With his crazy attacks, this battle not only feels like a worthy conclusion that perfectly utilizes this game’s combat system, but it also has some great surprises hiding up its sleeve. Like the moment where players are forced to play as Riku in order to save Sora, or the incredible Laser Barrage at the very end.
2Yozora
The Most Challenging Boss Fight In The Series
In a way, the combat ofKingdom Hearts 3is considered to be the conglomeration of every mechanic in the franchise, and this is especially evident during the secret boss fight againstYozorain theRe: MindDLC. This battle presented a challenge like nothing that longtime fans had experienced before, and was way harder than Sephiroth or Lingering Will.
As expected, Yozora can kill Sora in one hit, but this is not solely where his challenge lies. He can also mess with the game’s mechanics in frustrating yet unique ways, like taking Sora’s Keyblade, stealing his healing items, or even starting the entire encounter with his most powerful attack.Yozora is the franchise’s ultimate challengeand a masterpiece in boss battle design, so defeating him is an incredibly rewarding experience.
1Roxas
The Perfect Kingdom Hearts Battle
The bestKingdom Heartsboss battles may have solid gameplay, important narrative context, or challenging mechanics, but there’s one that combines all of these elements in a way that makes it the absolute best fight in the entire series. This is the climactic encounter between Sora andRoxas, inKingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix.
The tale of Roxas is really tragic, so being forced to face him inside Sora’s heart is incredibly emotional, and it’s made even better by his beautiful battle theme, “The Other Promise”. But the gameplay is truly where this battle shines, as Roxas is not only extremely tough to beat, but he also has some amazing mechanics that will give players goosebumps. His Reaction Command, in particular, is the best part of this fight, since Sora can steal his two weapons and attack him by using three Keyblades at the same time. After it’s all over, this amazing boss is followed by a legendary cut scene in which Roxas finally accepts his fate.
