If you’ve played video games, you’ll know that at the end of the game or an important section, you will have to overcome a challenge. The music will swell, you’ll be in some dramatic environment and have to come face to face with what is very clearly a “boss.” But did you know that you can run into them in real life as well?
We’ve gathered the best posts from a group dedicated to gathering the best, most interesting and unhinged examples of “final bosses” spotted in the wild. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own thoughts and even stories in the comments section below.
#1 Stomp, The Stomper Of Girlfriends
Image credits: NovaIpanda
#2 Lockdown Woman, Hater Of People, Fan Of Lockdowns
Image credits: Beautiful_Toe_760
#3 Old Man, 21st Century Odin
Image credits: xpleier2
It’s not just video games that feature “boss fights,” they are a staple part of martial arts films (or most action cinema in general), table top roleplaying and, if you really stretch it, a key part of the hero’s journey. Humans just have an understanding of the world where “winning” or achieving something does mean you have to “beat” some sort of major challenge.
Of course, this idea is probably the most prominent in video games. However, as you may have noticed, “boss fight” is a term that is mostly gaming-exclusive. We wouldn’t call Rocky fighting Ivan Drago his “boss fight” even if it fits the form. In general, the best explanation for this term comes from the games popular in the 80s and 90s, where the final “boss” would be “in charge” of the other characters.
#4 Bruce, The Berry Annihilator
Image credits: -Stacys_mom
#5 Hot Satans The Fallen Lustful Brothers
Image credits: Dude_with_hat
#6 The 6' 10" Business Card Dealer
Image credits: themajkisek
All in all, games make sure the player understands that the opponent they face isn’t “normal,” that this is a bigger challenge with, hopefully, bigger rewards. Typically, this will be communicated with musical stings (or even theme music, which is also common in films) to make sure the person playing knows what is happening.
#7 J. Udge He Is The Senate
Image credits: denhelle
#8 Man-Made, False God
Image credits: marssar
#9 The Arcane Deer, Scurge Of The Dark Lands
Image credits: Other_Combination136
The main thing, as in video games and these pictures, is that whatever is in front of you isn’t typical. It’s bigger, scarier, more impressive. It has, as gen Z slang would say, an unmistakable “aura” that sets it apart from anything else. Just take a look at some of the entries here, if you put your mind to it, it’s not hard to imagine the soundtrack that is playing.
#10 The Stubby Legged Wolf Of Terror And Dispair
Image credits: Zestyclose_Camp_9716
#11 Real Life Square Root, The Last Math Challenge
Image credits: Green____cat
#12 Frehnieggy, The One True Solver Of Mysteries
Image credits: Mementoes121655
This drama is an important part of visual and audial storytelling in games, films and really any non-written media. How do you know that something is important? It’s got spikier armor, it’s bigger, there are flames coming out of it or, at the very least, you see other folks clearly in awe of it.
#13 The Last Transformer
Image credits: CookZealousideal9150
#14 Japanese Emperor Caterpillar, Ruler Of Japan
Image credits: Playful-Ostrich3643
#15 Sisyphus, The Boundless
Image credits: Blackout_M
In non-gaming circles, this might be generally called the “big bad,” the primary antagonist. The aforementioned Ivan Drago, for example, would qualify for this term. It originated, surprisingly, with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in the episode "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," but can be used these days for any antagonist that isn’t a minor character.
#16 Bird Man, The Feeder Of The Bird Feeder
Image credits: NCH-69
#17 Big Truckin Goth Farmer
Image credits: Otherwise_Basis_6328
#18 Lenarus, The Almighty Bloodsucker
Image credits: Alarmed_Bed_8363
Of course, all this rhetoric makes it sound like everyone here is some sort of supervillain, when in most cases it’s just a cool image, or, at worst, an interesting person. Indeed, in some cases, these are downright cool people. However, if you happen to be an artist and designer and need some inspiration, I’m sure there is something useful in this list.
#19 Yi Long Maa CEO Of China Tech
Image credits: IllustriousHurry2380
#20 Archangel Pringlei, The First Ophanim
Image credits: Winther87
#21 Figaro, The 9th Passenger
Image credits: joongfrowww
Ultimately, what makes any of these images memorable is that they have the aforementioned “aura,” just a sort of energy to them that is both impressive and interesting. It catches your eye, it intimidates, it maybe even inspires you. It has an, well, “it factor” that can’t be easily described, but you definitely know it when you see it.
#22 Warp Frog, You Already Fought Him, He Already Won
Image credits: Late_Bridge1668
#23 The Clipsmith, Armorer Of The Fae
Image credits: TheChickenWizard15
#24 The One Who Walked On Fours
Image credits: Silver-Plane-8270
#25 Trinity Of Assassin Guild
Image credits: IllustriousHurry2380
#26 The Beast The Winter Brings - Elves Devourer
Image credits: BlekRAVEN
#27 Rythaze The Beast Master, Caller Of The Avian Titans
Image credits: angieeeeebb
#28 Hector The Multiversal Being
Image credits: le_Grand_Archivist
#29 The Circuit Masters, Keepers Of The Grid
Image credits: Plasmul
#30 Giant Kangaroozilla, Against Of Bushfires
Image credits: Complete-Ad-9533
#31 Mitoggy, Dog Of Mitosis And Father Of One
Image credits: North-Line7134
#32 Fighters Who Always Fight
Image credits: BiCurious2v
#33 Winged Figure, Wanderer Of The Ancient Earth
Image credits: GoodMornEveGoodNight
#34 Mary The Golden Guardian Of Basilica
Image credits: 51vleugim
#35 Turkraken Kitchen Experiment Gone Powerful
Image credits: throwaway23984293847
#36 The Holy F35
Image credits: Coldat_Bermann
#37 The Question Is, “Who” Is The Boss In This Picture
Image credits: Chllm1
#38 Bossu Kitty, Main Head Of The Sanrio Mafia
Image credits: Brave-Pollution-8286
#39 Chadus Maximus, Medium Of Masculinity Itself. Has All The B**ches
Image credits: Sansa_Joy
#40 Muscle Priest With Max Str Statatus
Image credits: IllustriousHurry2380
