When it comes to The Legend of Zelda and its iconic Zelda Formula, the dungeons are easily one of the most essential elements in making a Zelda game feel like a Zelda game. Not to mention, the bosses within these dungeons are just as influential on players, with some opting to go back and replay these bosses (or even the dungeon entirely) to experience the fight again.

Unlike the final bosses that end the game when Link defeats them, these bosses are just the final chapter in their respective dungeons, granting Link the necessary health and items to progress and save Hyrule. In these games, the bosses are crucial to the overall gaming experience and positively impact the franchise overall.

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10

The Right Hand is Always Unsettling

Villains Like Zant and Ghirahim are Impactful

Ganondorf doesn’t always work alone – in fact, in a couple of the games, he has a henchman at his right hand, helping him in his villainy. Players are likely to notice that their first impressions of these characters are a blend of confusion and intimidation, clearly feeling threatened by the new presence in the room. However, once players get to their boss fight, they’ll watch the icy facade slip, and descend into chaos.

Villainous characters like Zant and Ghirahim work with Ganon (or Demise) directly, with a cold and calculating demeanor. However, once they start fighting, they’ll watch as these villains lose their sense of control, and begin to frantically lash out however they can in order to win. They don’t, of course, but these fights linger for players due to just how impactful they are on the stories in each game.

9

Twinrova is an Interesting Concept

With an Equally Entertaining Execution

Zelda games have always had a fascination with incorporating the natural elements, typically in dungeon themes and maybe items. In Twinrova’s case, though, the elements are the foundation of the entire boss fight. Located in the Spirit Temple in Ocarina of Time, Twinrova is a set of witch twins (Koume and Kotake), one fire and one ice, and Link has to use the opposite element to combat them.

At the start of the fight, Link is fighting Koume and Kotake simultaneously, reflecting the fire and ice right back at the pair. Clearly, these sorceresses are not afraid of using magic in the fight, using this very magic to combine into Twinrova for Phase 2. After defeating her with her powers combined, their spirits promise to haunt Link forever – but in reality, the only haunting they’re experiencing is the player coming back to the temple to fight them one more time.

Released

November 21, 1998

ESRB

E10+ for Everyone 10+: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes

8

Bongo Bongo’s Stage is a Drum

A Lighthearted Boss Despite the Horrors

Nearly every player remembers the Shadow Temple as one of the scariest temples in Ocarina of Time and in Zelda games as a whole. It’s filled with all manner of horrifying creatures and terrifying encounters, which makes the dungeon’s boss, Bongo Bongo, stand out far more. Despite a dungeon full of horrors and death, Bongo Bongo is simply playing the drums with its palms – unfortunately, Link is typically under those palms.

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Fighting Bongo Bongo is one of the more unique and entertaining bosses in the game, relying on Link to keep his balance while the drums keep trying to shoot him into the air. It’s not an easy boss necessarily, but it’s definitely fun, and far more lighthearted than the rest of the dungeon it’s hiding in. Perhaps it’s hiding because it knows the player will keep coming back to play again.

7

Blizzeta’s Complete 180 is Jarring

Plus an Intensely Fun Item

When making their way to Snowpeak Ruins in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, the dungeon feels like a straight-up winter wonderland, complete with yetis and a cozy soup for health. It’s also known for being the stage for the boss fight Blizzeta, one of the yetis who ended up being corrupted by the Mirror of Twilight. The goal goes from destroying her to freeing her once Link realizes what’s going on.

To this day, the uncanny way her head rotates backward so she can scream at players has caused many to at least leap from a jumpscare. And, in the fight itself, Link will have to use the Ball and Chain to defeat her, and it’s one of the coolest weapons in the franchise. Right off the bat, it makes the whole fight more engaging and fun, and it gives multiple incentives to come back with the Ball and Chain to do it again.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Released

November 19, 2006

ESRB

T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence

6

Odolwa’s Fight is a Barrage of Colour and Sound

Plus It’s a Unique Tone Indicator

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Majora’s Mask is a stark tone-shift to previous games in the franchise, and with each mask that Link has to collect, the more that tone seeps through the screen. Woodfall Temple is already a drastic contrast to how the Deku are in previous games, with Odolwa being the final boss at the end of the dungeon.

When fighting Odolwa, players are hit with wave after wave of multiple bright colors and wild, loud noises and music – including Odolwa chanting his own name. It’s a really unique way to emphasize the new tone that Termina has set, and following this chaos throughout the boss fight is more than rewarding for players. It’s fast, bright, and practically overwhelming, but it’s thankfully simple enough to where it ends up adding to the experience rather than taking away from it.

Released

October 26, 2000

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes

5

Master Kohga is Outright Hilarious

Memorable and Fun in Every Way

It’s no secret that Breath of the Wild did many new things and brought many changes to the Zelda Formula. One of these changes is how dungeons are tackled, with a drastic lack in them in order to balance out the various shrines in the game instead. That said, the Yiga Clan Hideout is fun (and funny) to go through, with Master Kohga being the cherry on top for the entire ordeal.

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Master Kohga’s boss fight is wild, no pun intended, with a slapstick, almost cartoonish ending once he’s defeated. Players have to use their Sheikah Slate to use Master Kohga’s weapons and abilities against him, literally dropping it on his head instead. Overall, the fight is memorable and engaging, leaving players with giggles and victories all around.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Released

March 3, 2017

ESRB

E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes

4

Koloktos Pushes the Player’s Limits

What’s Harder Than One Sword Fight? Six of Them

The Ancient Cistern in Skyward Sword is one of the most gorgeous dungeons in the whole franchise, pulling from Buddhist imagery and symbolism. The entire dungeon, if it could really be called that, is shrouded in gold from top to bottom, a stunning and lively coating of life and wealth for the goddesses themselves.

The boss for the cistern, Koloktos, is easily one of the most challenging bosses that players can encounter, even after they get the whip. Link will have to take his sword fighting to the extreme, not just because Koloktos also has a sword to fight back – but instead, actually has six swords. Players are literally fighting for their lives, and having the time of their lives while they do.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Released

November 20, 2011

ESRB

E10+ for Everyone E10+: Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence

3

Gohma Encourages a Child’s Creativity

Use the Environment to Turn the Tides

Many players haven’t made the connection that The Wind Waker is wholly through the eyes of a child going on a grand adventure, which means that players have to think like a child in order to progress. From a game of hide-and-seek at the Forsaken Fortress to literally swinging from a dragon’s tail – and that’s exactly what Link does with Gohma at the Dragon Roost Cavern.

Gohma is identical to how she is in Ocarina of Time, but far more vibrant and brought to life. As Link grapples onto the dragon’s tail and swings across the lava-filled cavern, rocks fall from the ceiling onto Gohma, breaking away pieces of the exoskeleton. It’s a simple premise, but it’s distinct and fun, and whole-heartedly memorable to children exploring problem-solving and solutions through play.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Released

March 24, 2003

ESRB

E For Everyone

2

Phantom Ganon is a Classic

One of the Most Iconic Bosses in Zelda

Without a doubt, Ganondorf is the most iconic boss in the entire Zelda franchise, but players have the opportunity to potentially fight him even sooner. However, Ocarina of Time has players fighting an echo of him – a phantom that attacks from paintings all around the walls. Since the Forest Temple is the first temple that Link does as an adult, this boss fight is easily remembered as a tone shift, the weight of the gravity of the situation, and a taunt from Ganondorf himself.

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Phantom Ganon is seen riding on his armored horse, running towards Link from the horizon line of a painting. It’s something that many players had never seen before now, and suddenly, it becomes painfully clear just how much Ganon has taken from the world. Defeating him doesn’t do anything to Ganondorf himself, of course, but he does remark that he’s impressed, before cockily resuming his rule. Seriously, it wouldn’t be a surprise in the slightest if this room of paintings (and boss fight) ended up in the Zelda movie with how iconic it is.

1

Stallord is Amazing Every Single Time

Easily the Best Boss Ever

Twilight Princess deserves more love in nearly every possible way – with Midna, the weapons, gameplay, and dungeons, there’s something spectacular around every corner. However, the main dungeon (and subsequent boss fight) that really takes the cake here is Stallord, located within the Arbiter’s Grounds. It is, without a doubt, one of the most fun bosses in the whole franchise – and definitely the most replayable.

In this fight, Link has to use the Spinner to make his way around the tracks and to attack this skeletal behemoth. The Spinner, easily, is one of the most entertaining items in the franchise, and it’s such a shame that it can only be used here and with this fight. Because of it, that just gives players all the more reason to return and replay the boss again and again and again.