15 best boss fights in iOS games

One of the most exciting moments for any gamer is when he or she makes it through a level in a game and reaches the boss monster. It’s at that point that everything is on the line. Can the gamer figure out how to defeat the boss monster or will the boss destroy the gamer?

But not all games have bosses that are on the same level in terms of difficulty or complexity. Some bosses in games are easy to beat, and are hardly more than a yawn for an experienced iOS gamer. But other bosses can be quite tricky to defeat, and can require quite a bit of patience, skill, strategy and dexterity to destroy.

In this roundup I’ve compiled a list of 15 games that have some of the best boss fights in iOS gaming. If you’re a gamer looking for a challenge, then you came to the right place. These bosses will give you a run for your money and then some.

I’ve included the official description of the game from the iOS App Store, the price of the game, and a link to it in the App Store. Note that some games are free to play and offer in-app purchases rather than a flat price.

Let’s get started with our first game:

Oceanhorn

SET SAIL AND EMBARK ON AN EPIC JOURNEY Grow from a boy to a legend. 5/5 – TouchArcade – “Must-have for any iOS gamer” 4/4 – Slide2Play – “a real gem on the App Store” 5/5 – Gamezebo – “strikingly gorgeous visuals” 5/5 – Apple’N’Apps – “a must buy” 10/10 – Capsule Computers – “Game of the Year” You wake up and find a letter from your father. He is gone… The only lead is his old notebook and a mysterious necklace. What happened? Explore the islands of Uncharted Seas, a world filled with many dangers, puzzles and secrets. Fight monsters, learn to use magic and discover ancient treasures which will help you on your quest. Use all your wits and skill to unravel the mysteries of ancient kingdom Arcadia and sea monster Oceanhorn. Oceanhorn combines captivating storytelling, breathtaking 3D visuals and exciting gameplay into one massive action adventure experience you will never forget. Enjoy an incredible soundtrack from the best video game composers in the world: Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy*) and Kenji Ito (Seiken Densetsu*) Master the game effortlessly with accurate touch controls or iOS7 Controller. FEATURE OVERVIEW: -Music from legendary Nobuo Uematsu and Kenji Ito -10+ hours of story driven gameplay. -Master magic and swordfight -Find ancient items to help you on your quest -Game Center Achievements -Accurate Touch Controls -iCloud support -iOS 7 Controller Support

Get Oceanhorn in the iOS App Store for $8.99

Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade

TAKE COMMAND OF A WARHAMMER 40,000 IMPERIAL KNIGHT IN THE MOST ACTION-PACKED AND VISUALLY STUNNING ACTION GAME ON iPAD AND iPHONE. When a young Imperial Knight sees their noble house destroyed by the twisted forces of Chaos, they join forces with the Dark Angels Space Marines chapter as a Freeblade. Experience an epic story in over 170 single player missions as you command your Freeblade on a journey of honour, redemption and vengeance. Test your skills and patrol the world of Tarnis to slay endless invaders. EXPLOSIVE “TAP TO SHOOT” ACTION Feel the power of an unstoppable war machine at your fingertips. Use cannons, missiles and thermal blasts to obliterate your foes and watch environments crumble to dust before you. SUPER HIGH DETAIL 3D GRAPHICS Witness the most visually stunning shooter available for your device. Experience the world, characters and creatures of Warhammer 40,000 like never before in stunning high detail using the latest graphical effects. EXPERIENCE ALL NEW 3D TOUCH GAMEPLAY On iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus experience an enhanced control system that incorporates 3D Touch technology. Press into the screen to zoom weapon sights, the deeper the press the further the zoom, a reduction in pressure zooms the sights back; or press down far enough and switch to a heavier weapon to go in for the kill – all without lifting a finger from the screen. EPIC MELEE COMBAT BATTLES Rip apart the enemies of the Imperium with a mighty Chainsword. Feel the weight of your Freeblade’s every swing as they execute mechanised horrors and gargantuan beasts with brutal, visceral strikes. FORGE, UPGRADE AND CUSTOMISE Design the look of your own Freeblade, forge and equip powerful weapons including the Avenger Gatling Cannon and Melta Gun to purge Ork scum and Chaos heretics alike. COMPETE IN DAILY EVENTS Battle to get the highest score against players around the world in a new mission every day for legendary wargear and unique customisation options; let the other Freeblades know who the best in the world truly is! MORE COMING SOON… More updates to the game are coming – win legendary weapons, armour and liveries by competing with players all around the world in intense multiplayer combat.

Get Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade for free in the iOS App Store

BattleHand

Join the battle! Recruit your team of heroes, lead powerful attacks, and defeat the evil minions of Queen Amethyst in this addictive and free to play 3D action RPG! The dreaded Queen has awoken and with her, the foul creatures that lie beneath the peaceful land of FellCrest. But all is not lost! The forgotten heroes of this land who had long ago put up their swords and bows are back and ready to fight in pursuit of honor and justice! These brave elves, mages, and fighters must find their ancient weapons, relearn old battle spells, and come together to defeat the evil forces of Queen Amethyst. Adventure awaits… Are you ready? FEATURES: * Epic free-to-download strategy adventure RPG (Role Playing Game) * Recruit and train an army of legendary Heroes to take to victory! * Unlock and upgrade unique special moves for each Hero * Multiple battle modes, including Player vs Player challenges and survival modes * Collect, level up and evolve powerful cards on your way to build the perfect BattleHand * Adventure through mystical lands, discover new locations and defeat despicable creatures! * Perfect your combat strategy using elemental strengths and weaknesses for all Heroes and Villains * Complete epic quests for stinky cheese and stardust! * Stunning 3D animation and easy to learn tactical combat

Get BattleHand for free in the iOS App Store

Infinity Blade III

The award-winning Infinity Blade video game trilogy reaches its epic conclusion! Created by ChAIR Entertainment, the original iOS blockbuster returns with adrenaline-fueled sword-fighting action, gorgeous visuals, and a thrilling story of love, betrayal, and redemption. Siris and Isa have joined with the God-King Raidriar in a desperate attempt to destroy the Worker of Secrets and his army of Deathless titans. Uncover new mysteries to wield the power of the Infinity Blade in this timeless adventure of champions and villains. RESPONSIVE AND INTUITIVE TOUCH CONTROLS 

 Attack, dodge, block, and cast devastating spells – all with the simple swipe of a finger. 

 SIMPLE NAVIGATION 

Easy to use, tap-to-move controls enable players to effortlessly navigate and explore while searching for collectible items such as treasure, swords, shields, armor and other magical rewards. DYNAMIC 3D WORLD Explore larger, beautiful and immersive environments that dynamically change as you choose multiple gameplay paths, new quests, side missions, and ClashMob engagements with the new in-game World Map interface. TWO PLAYABLE CHARACTERS Battle all-new enemies as both the legendary hero Siris, and the stealthy female warrior-thief, Isa, each with three unique combat styles and hundreds of fantastic weapons and items. THE HIDEOUT Discover and unlock allies to join your cause at your all-new base of operations. Here, you’ll encounter the Gemcutter, Potionmaster, Blacksmith, and Merchant, who will help you unlock incredible new strength and skills. GLOBAL CLASHMOB CHALLENGES Three new modes! Team up with players from around the globe for unique “massively social,” group-based challenges to defeat new enemies, unlock rare treasures and earn exclusive items. NEW ACHIEVEMENTS All-new Goals feature takes achievements to the next level, allowing players to earn valuable Chips that they can spend on keys, treasure maps, prize wheels, and other rare in-game items. NEW iOS FEATURES POWERED BY UNREAL ENGINE TECHNOLOGY Epic Games’ Unreal Engine technology powers the definitive visual experience in mobile gaming, complete with cloud saves and HDMI output. BONUS FEATURES – The most detailed story scenes ever shown on a mobile device, featuring the voice talents of fan-favorites John Noble and Troy Baker. – Animated “Infinity Blade: Origins” short film by acclaimed director Ben Hibon. – The in-game debut of “Monster,” an original new song from internationally acclaimed rock band Imagine Dragons.

Get Infinity Blade III for $0.99 in the iOS App Store

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE. INSANELY FUN. Pick up your cards and throw down the gauntlet! In Hearthstone, you play the hero in a fast-paced, whimsical card game of cunning strategy. In minutes, you’ll be unleashing powerful cards to sling spells, summon minions, and seize control of an ever-shifting battlefield. Whether it’s your first card game or you’re an experienced pro, the depth and charm of Hearthstone will draw you in. JUMP RIGHT IN: Fun introductory missions bring you into the world of Hearthstone’s intuitive gameplay. BUILD YOUR DECK: With hundreds of additional cards to win and craft – your collection grows with you. HONE YOUR SKILLS: Play in practice matches against computer-controlled heroes of the Warcraft universe. Thrall, Uther, Gul’dan – they’re all here! COLLECTION TRAVELS WITH YOU: Your card collection is linked to your Battle.net account – enabling you to switch your play between tablet and desktop with ease. AND FIGHT FOR GLORY: When you’re ready, step into the Arena and duel other players for the chance to win awesome prizes!

Get Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft for free in the iOS App Store

The Executive

Flame kick werewolves, perform thrilling acrobatic stunts, and run a trillion dollar mining company in Riverman Media’s combat-action masterpiece! #2 Best-reviewed iOS game of 2015 – Metacritic.com From the creators of the award-winning “Pizza Vs. Skeletons” comes The Executive: a fast-paced, cinematic, martial arts action game designed from the ground up for iPhone and iPad. You are the CEO of a company that has been infiltrated by werewolves, and it’s your job to save your employees, and eventually the entire city, from their dastardly schemes. OUR PROMISE TO YOU: No ads. No getting suckered into buying more stuff later. The whole game, for one price, for all updates, forever. The Executive combines a high-speed combat system, timing-based running and platforming, 120 hand-crafted levels, a full inventory of moves and upgrades, and a simple mining company simulation for earning money, all into one cohesive experience. The fighting engine evokes a cross between Street Fighter II and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, with controls designed from scratch to be ideal for touch screens. The platforming (or “stunt”) segments require precise timing, similar to Elite Beat Agents but with an emphasis on visual timing instead of musical rhythm. Both of these mechanics are brought together by the SP bar, which allows you to execute gesture-based special moves like flame kicks, health restoration, and even morphing your character’s arm into a silver spike to impale foes. The Executive uses Riverman Media’s proprietary animation system to bring to life its large, hand-drawn 2D sprites with an unprecedented amount of smoothness and detail. The Executive represents the pinnacle of Riverman Media’s research and development into new 2D graphics technology. FEATURES + 120 levels, hand-crafted one pixel at a time. No randomly generated endless filler. + Dozens of abilities and skills to learn + Battle enemies and execute stunts in every level + Over 50 unique enemies, each with their own intelligence, strengths, and weaknesses + Invest in your mining company and earn money continuously + 12 Menacing bosses that will require your strategy and skill to defeat + Universal App: purchase it once, play forever on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch + 12 Challenging achievements + High-definition “Retina” graphics for all supported devices, Retina HD graphics on iPhone 6+ + iCloud support: touch the Book icon from the main menu to transfer progress between devices! Not ready to buy? Try the first 10 levels in the FREE version! Once you’re ready to upgrade to this version, your progress will transfer over automatically.

Get The Executive for $4.99 in the iOS App Store

Final Fantasy VII

The smash hit RPG: Final Fantasy VII, which has sold over 11,000,000 units* worldwide, finally arrives on iOS! *Total includes both packaged sales and downloads. The first Final Fantasy to feature 3D backgrounds and CG movie scenes, this dramatic tale continues to be loved by numerous fans around the world. Battle stages also appear in full 3D for the first time, bringing an even greater sense of awe and spectacle to combat! Customize your characters in any way you like using the fantastic “material” system that allows endless combinations of spells and abilities. This product is a port based on Final Fantasy VII for PC (No changes or additions have been made to the story). Story With its unshakeable monopoly over Mako energy production, the evil Shinra Electric Power Company holds tight to the reigns of world power. One day, a Mako reactor serving the sprawling metropolis of Midgar is attacked and destroyed in a bombing raid by a revolutionary group calling themselves Avalanche. Cloud Strife, a former member of Shinra’s elite “Soldier” unit takes part in the raid as a mercenary hired by Avalanche and sets events in motion that will draw him and his friends into an epic struggle for the fate of the planet itself… Special features for the iOS edition – Play using a simple and comfortable virtual controller designed not to obscure the action, choosing between virtual analogue or fixed 4-way digital control pad options. The opacity of on-screen controls can also be adjusted from the Config Menu. – Two new features to make play easier and more convenient! The iOS edition also includes an option to turn enemy encounters off on the world and area maps (will not skip event battles) and a Max Stats command to become all-powerful in the blink of an eye. Major game controls Movement: Virtual joypad (Select between analogue and digital modes) Menu navigation: Fixed digital buttons Confirm: A button Cancel: B button Open menu: Y button

Get Final Fantasy VII for $15.99 in the iOS App Store

Wayward Souls

Wayward Souls is an action-adventure game built for quick playthroughs and massive amounts of replay value. It was inspired by Spelunky, Secret of Mana, and our previous game, Mage Gauntlet. Procedurally generated random levels mean that every time you play the game, it’s a different experience. Control one of six characters, all with their own unique playstyles, abilities, and equipment. Explore and fight for survival, in combat where your tactics, positioning, and timing matter. More Features: – Fancy control scheme with no virtual buttons or sticks to fumble over. – Unlock new areas, for increasingly punishing difficulty. – 13 area types, all with different monsters, potential traps, and rare encounters. – Each character can find equipment combinations that change their gameplay. – Victory is based on your increasing skill as a player, not solely on grinding. – Hats. – No IAP ever, even for the hats. All content updates will be free for our fans. – Unprecedented scope and variety for an action-adventure game on iOS, maybe anywhere. Another update is being planned! Expect a new character to play as in 3rd quarter of 2016.

Get Wayward Souls for $6.99 in the iOS App Store

Goblin Sword

Goblin Sword is a retro-inspired action platformer with light rpg elements. An army of monsters led by an evil wizard have invaded your hometown. Slay as many monsters as you can, collect loot, avoid dangerous traps and defeat menacing bosses, before facing the evil wizard himself. Reviews: “It’s such a crazy value and has such good production quality it kind of speaks for itself.” 5/5 TouchArcade “Fun visuals, good music, engaging level design, and lots of content make Goblin Sword an excellent little game.” Editor’s Choice -148 Apps “A deeply compelling and staggeringly impressive tribute to retro games.” 10/10 ArcadeLife Features: -89 levels -13 bosses -30 weapons with unique special attacks -30 relics that grant you abilities -14 costumes -8 guardians that follow you around and assist you -5 secret very hard levels -Decorate your home with souvenirs -Customizable touch controls -Universal app. Works on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. -iCloud and MFi support -Game Center achievements and leaderboards -Premium game. No IAP or ads ever.

Get Goblin Sword for $1.99 in the iOS App Store

Crashlands

Craft, battle, and quest your way through Crashlands, an outlandish, story-driven Crafting RPG overflowing with sass! Become Flux Dabes, a galactic trucker whose latest shipment gets derailed by a chin-strapped alien menace named Hewgodooko, leaving you stranded on an alien planet. As you hustle to retrieve your packages you’ll become enmeshed in a nefarious plot of world domination, which will require all of your wits and both of your glutes to overcome. Learn recipes from the local sentient life, make new friends, uncover ancient secrets and deadly bosses, tame everything and build yourself a home-away-from-home as you learn to thrive on planet Woanope. ▼▼ Key Features ▼▼ -● Expansive Crafting System ●- Unlock over 500 craftable items as you explore the world and learn its secrets! -● Self-managing, Infinite Inventory ●- In Crashlands, your inventory is infinite, manages itself, and retrieves your tools when you need them, so you can focus on adventuring, questing, and building. You’ll never have dig through your bag or return to your base to free up inventory space! -● RPG-Style Character Progression ●- Become more powerful through creating ever-more-amazing items! As you grow in power, you can venture to new regions of the world, meet strange characters, discover new stories, and encounter new and interesting enemies. -● Skill-Based Combat ●- Learn the attacks of the enemies you encounter, and use your skill, agility, and wits to defeat them! You can even augment your fighting prowess with the power of the dozens of gadgets you can craft. Set your enemies on fire, stun them, slow down time, and more! -● Intuitive Base Building ●- Building a base in Crashlands is so simple it feels like fingerpainting. You can create beautiful, sprawling bases in minutes! -● Tameable Creatures ●- Every creature in Crashlands can become a trusty combat sidekick. Find an egg, incubate it, and hatch your very own adorable or hideous bundle of joy. You can even craft special items to grow and empower them! -● Huge World… with Huge Problems ●- Four sentient races, three continents, an epic bid for the future of the planet, and you – trapped in the middle, trying to deliver your freakin’ packages. Take your time to dive into the sidestories of the characters you meet or just rush headlong into making that special delivery. With hundreds upon hundreds of quests, there’s a lot to do and discover on planet Woanope! -● Effortless Cloud Saving ●- Just because your battery died or you accidentally dropped your device into a bottomless chasm, doesn’t mean your save has to die with it. With BscotchID, you can easily store and retrieve your save from the cloud, and move it between your devices!

Get Crashlands in the iOS App Store

Dungeon Boss

Build a rich roster of heroes, upgrade their abilities, and charge your teams against fierce enemy bosses in this gripping strategy RPG! Unlock a horde of goblin warriors, brain-eating skeletons, ninja assassins, and mythical beasts – all are your allies for attack or defense.

Be the boss of your dungeon, defending it against powerful raiding teams, and raid the dungeons of others for your gain. Join millions of players worldwide in this fun and challenging battle adventure, recently included in the App Store Best of 2015! Key Features: • Collect Strategic Heroes – Build a team, unlock more abilities and take enemy bosses down! • Crush Your Enemies – Fight your way through a vast network of dungeons and rivals! • Guilds – Band together with your allies to compete with other guilds and amass a greater bounty together! • Multiply Your Fortune – Fortify your dungeon’s defense against attacks from other players, and raid their dungeons for your own gain. • Tower of Pwnage – Every day is a new battle! Ascend the Tower, challenge your skills and reap epic rewards at the top! • Tournament Events – Qualify for special tournament rewards when you earn top-tier status in ongoing events! • Connect with Friends – Expand your team by making friends in the game! Summon their heroes to rush into dungeons and assist your team, share tips in chat and more. • Quick Loot – For any 3-Star Dungeon win, you can grab loot, evos and tokens faster! • Evo Combining – Craft the ascension materials you need from the evos in your stable. • Amazing Graphics – Experience epic battles and tactical combat with immersive 3D art!

Get Dungeon Boss for free in the iOS App Store

Pirate Power

Get ready for an epic pirate RPG adventure filled with boats, cannons, heroes, powers, huge bad guys, exploration and discoveries! Lead your pirate fleet into battle now. It’s easy to play, but difficult to master! DEFEAT HUGE BOSSES! There’s some huge bad guys in Pirate Power. And to beat them, you will need to build, customize and make your boats stronger. With the help of all your heroes and their powerful powers you will teach a lesson to the evil Doge, the giant King Crab, the Kraken and even more enormous bad guys. RICH UNIVERSE and ADVENTURE Discover the rich and colorful universe of Pirate Power with its unique and high definition 2d art style, stylish heroes and huge monsters in an Epic pirate adventure. 60+ HEROES AND THEIR SPECTACULAR POWERS Tsunamis, Meteorites rain, Tornadoes, Thunder Strikes, Arrow shower and other impressive powers will help you win battles against the bad guys. There are more than 60+ heroes and each hero has a unique badass skill. BUILD and CUSTOMIZE YOUR BOATS Discover and collect 200+ boat parts to create thousands of boat combinations. Level up your heroes, weapons, sails, hulls, crazy boat gadgets to become the strongest pirate in the whole universe. PVP MULTIPLAYER Fight against real opponents to win the arena battles RECORD AND SHARE New for iOS 9, use Replay Kit to screen record full motion video of your epic battles, then share it with other players and viewers online and on your social networks. 3D TOUCH Quick actions to access quickly part of the game, and move building quickly using the pressure sensitivity. PLEASE NOTE! Pirate Power is completely free to play. However, some game items can also be purchased for real money. If you don’t want to use this feature, please disable in-app purchases in your device’s settings.

Get Pirate Power for free in the iOS App Store

Shadow Fight

Epic battles in the Underworld are waiting! Unite with friends and fight! The sequel to the famous Facebook smash hit with 40 million users! From the creators of Vector: Shadow Fight 2 is a nail-biting mix of RPG and classical Fighting. This game lets you equip your character with countless lethal weapons and rare armor sets, and features dozens of lifelike-animated Martial Arts techniques! Crush your enemies, humiliate demon bosses, and be the one to close the Gate of Shadows. Do you have what it takes to kick, punch, jump, and slash your way to victory? There’s only one way to find out… – Plunge into epic combat sequences, rendered in astonishingly lifelike detail by an all-new animation system. – Devastate your enemies with delightfully intuitive controls, thanks to an all-new fighting interface designed especially for touchscreens. – Journey through six different worlds full of menacing demons in this action-packed, adrenaline-fueled combat RPG with an immersive, intriguing storyline. – Customize your fighter with epic swords, nunchacku, armor suits, magical powers, and more. Shadow Fight 2. May the battle begin!

Get Shadow Fight for free in the iOS App Store

Tap Titans

In a world overrun by evil Titans, it is up to you to slay them and restore peace and order. How do you do it? You must tap! Tap to attack, tap to slay, tap to collect gold, tap to hire heroes. Tap to activate devastating skills, tap to unlock powerful auras, tap to summon mysterious artifacts. Tap to explore beautiful worlds, tap to meet helpful fairies, tap to revive heroes, tap to collect lost treasures. Keep tapping away. You are our last and only hope! Features: * HIRE 33 animated heroes to help you along your journey * DEFEAT 60 unique and destructive monsters * EXPLORE 10 beautiful, hand-crafted environments * PRESTIGE to new worlds to collect relics used to buy precious artifacts * SUMMON 30 powerful artifacts to give your heroes special abilities

Get Tap Titans for free in the iOS App Store

Shooting Stars!

This game is the answer to one of the most important questions in life: “I can haz lazer kitty?“ Yes you can! Shooting Stars is a refreshing colorful and funny take on the classic arcade shoot’em up, bullet hell, shmup, space invader like, whatever you want to call it – but finally, with evil aliens disguised as superstars, cats and rainbow lazers. Superstars like Justin Belieber, PewDerPie, Kanye East and many more. Did you just say rainbow lazers? Yes! Rainbow freakin’ lazers! Shooting Stars has over 50 stunning ultimate weapons and items to collect. Every item will completely change the way you play. Don’t be afraid to use attacks like Clone Warriors, Freedom Sheeps, a Ro-Cat launcher, the Disco of Doom and so much more. Every game you play will be completely different. And the best part is, pay once – play forever! Save planet earth in various game modes. Challenge your friends with daily generated levels or go at it alone in the rogue like Card Hunt mode.

Shooting Stars is the complete package of quirky internet awesomeness and shoot‘em up retro feeling. FEATURES: * over 20 “celebrity” bosses * challenge your friends in a global and daily highscore battle * collect up to 50 amazing ultimate attacks and superfoods * stack superfoods for ultimate destruction * two different game modes * 16 beautiful collectible cards * roguelike elements * thrilling soundtrack with stunning sound effects * weird and funny satire on pop culture * every game will be totally different * ride a freakin’ hoverboard * Game Center Achievements * Rainbow Unicorn Approved

Get Shooting Stars! for $2.99 in the iOS App Store

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