5. Judgement – House of the Dead 2

It’s not often that a first boss achieves iconic status, but Judgement from House of the Dead 2 is an exception. Not least because it’s usually the only boss most players saw back in the day, considering how hard the game was to progress in. Nevertheless, Judgement is unforgettable. It’s your quintessential “big guy, little guy” dynamic, with the pair offering different attack patterns that keep you on your toes. Also, the imp’s voice? Pure magic. Infinitely quotable, all these years later we’re still telling people to “suffer like G did(?)”.

4. Billy/Jimmy – Double Dragon

Rug-pull incoming! Some of you may not know this, but the makers of Double Dragon created one of the most narratively impactful twists in arcade gaming. Play through the game in co-op, surviving the highs and lows with your best mate, and finally triumph over Willy, the game’s main antagonist. You’re just about to high-five when bam—the game drops its ultimate twist. You now have to fight each other. The winner gets the girl. The loser? Well, let’s just say he doesn’t make it. It’s a brutal, unforgettable moment that makes the cheeky kiss from Marian feel both triumphant and deeply awkward.

3. Goro – Mortal Kombat

Goro isn’t the final boss in Mortal Kombat, but he might as well be. The first time you see him, it’s a mix of awe and terror. Four arms. Massive muscles. That smug expression that says, “You’re about to have a bad time.” Goro isn’t just a boss—he’s a rite of passage. His iconic design and rock-hard difficulty made him unforgettable, leaving countless gamers sweaty-palmed and button-mashing their way to glory (or more likely, defeat).

2. Dobkeratops – R-Type

Another rare example of a game’s first boss becoming its de facto poster boy. And really, how could it not? Just look at the thing: one part Geiger-inspired xenomorph on steroids, one part existential cyber-nightmare. Dobkeratops bursts onto the screen as a fully realised masterwork of video game villain design. Most of us can still remember the first time we laid eyes on it, and for that reason, it charts so highly on this list. A proper baddie, in a proper game, that’s 100% proper. Apologies for going full Danny Dyer there at the end…

1. M. Bison/Vega – Street Fighter II

Call him whichever name you will, Bison is our top pick for the best arcade boss of all time. You’ve just made it past his henchmen—Balrog, Vega, and Sagat—all of whom could have made this list, such is their notoriety in the ‘90s arcade scene. Now, it’s time for the head honcho himself. A Psycho Energy-wielding dictator with a bad attitude, Bison is the ultimate villain of the arcade scene.Put him in any other game, and he wouldn’t seem out of place as the main antagonist (OK, maybe not Bubble Bobble). Bison’s Bond-villain vibes combined with fiery fists and head-stomping aplomb make him a perfect storm of character design and challenge. No matter how you swing it, M. Bison is an absolute dog of a boss, and for that reason, he gets the top spot in our best boss fights list!