The DOOM games are well known for allowing the player to feel like a certified demon slayer with their fast-paced and intense gameplay. Nothing is more satisfying than facing down an especially challenging adversary and coming out on top. While many of the enemies in the games consist of onslaughts of enemies attacking in waves, the most memorable are the boss encounters.
Often found at the end of areas, these enemies block the player from processing forward, requiring them to use all of the skills they have learned up to that point to push forward. Some of these bosses are hard enough to make the player regret ever picking up a controller, while others are so simple they may as well be starter enemies.
10 Easiest: Cyberdemon-DOOM 3
DOOM 3 was a change in tone from the DOOM formula fans had grown to know. The game had more of a horror element more akin to the later game, Alien: Isolation. It reintroduced many classic demons in more realistic and terrifying designs.
The final boss of the game was a much larger version of the classic Cyberdemon. This behemoth of a character seemed intimidating in the cutscene that introduced it, but the battle itself seemed to be rather lackluster. The Soul Cube is an overpowered weapon in the game, and using that only a few times takes the boss out for good. Odds are this boss can be defeated in one go, which is rare for any game’s final boss.
9 Hardest: Icon Of Sin- DOOM Eternal
The Icon Of Sin is a very familiar name to veteran DOOM players. Throughout DOOM Eternal, the name is mentioned several times, letting the player know they are in for one tough final showdown. Eternal’s Icon is different than the one fans are used to. The creature is a full-bodied and armored terror as opposed to the lone face of games past.
The Icon still summons demons of all sorts while the player is attempting to attack it. However, this can be used to the player’s benefit as they provide much-needed ammo. What makes this battle so hard, is how long it takes. As long as the player keeps moving, they won’t die. But they better have a fair amount of patience.
8 Easiest: Spider Mastermind- DOOM (2016)
It should come as no surprise that the final boss of the original DOOM game is also the final boss of the rebooted entry. While the Spider Mastermind has caused many fans of the series grief and torment in the past, they should have little difficulty taking out this next-gen upgrade of the character. If the player reserved their BFG ammo, this final boss fight is a walk in the park. The only challenging aspect is the dodging of projectiles that take a good chunk of health away. Yet, if the player has made it this far, this shouldn’t be an issue.
7 Hardest: Cyberdemon – DOOM II
While the Doom 3 counterpart may be underwhelming, the first appearance of the Cyberdemon is not to be underestimated. Appearing in DOOM II before the player finds the BFG, their best bet is to pummel the creature with rockets, which luckily there are plenty of around the stage.
Regardless of the merciful amount of ammo, dodging the creature’s own rockets is another story. Two or three hits will make the player start all over. Mix this overpowered attack with spontaneous Lost Souls appearing, and this is a boss fight that keeps players on their toes.
6 Easiest: Vagary- DOOM 3
While terrifying and intimidating at first glance, the first boss of DOOM 3 shouldn’t give players too much trouble. Like any great boss, there is a pattern to the attacks. The boss may be difficult at first, but once the player gets the pattern down and learns how to quickly evade them, landing hits on the spider creatures is a breeze.
Players can’t hit Vagary head-on, but if they place as many well-timed hits as soon as they see an opening, they will be able to take down this horrible monstrosity. Some health may have to be sacrificed to deal with some damage, but as long as the player keeps their eyes open and remain alert, it shouldn’t be enough to take them out of the fight.
5 Hardest: The Gladiator- DOOM Eternal
Irritating is a nice way to describe this demon. At first, it is nothing too severe; it is difficult to attack the shield, but it’s nothing the player can’t handle up to this point. Like most bosses in the newer games, however, there are two phases. The second phase ramps the battle up to eleven and doesn’t relent until the player is victorious. Even the trusty BFG doesn’t help a tremendous lot, as it only takes a less than fair chunk of health away.
The attacks are difficult yet satisfying to dodge, and even when the player gets the pattern down, they must still rely on all of their skills as the Doomslayer to take The Gladiator down. But the feeling one gets after the fight makes it all worth it.
4 Easiest: Spiderdemon- DOOM (1993)
While seemingly tricky at first, the final boss to the original DOOM game is far from the hardest. Its attack will all but drain the player of all their health, but some quick dodging and clever maneuvers will ensure the player will make short work of this iconic boss.
It helps if the player has saved a fair amount of their heavier ammo to unleash on the boss, but even the handy shotgun can take it out if enough damage is dealt. Once the player takes out the Cacodemons and learns the layout of the arena, sneaking in enough shots is a breeze to beat the classic DOOM.
3 Hardest: Icon Of Sin- DOOM II
Perhaps one of the most iconic bosses in video game history is the Icon Of Sin from the ending of DOOM II. While the boss itself seems easy enough to defeat, it is everything that is happening around the player that causes aggravation. All the player has to do is right a platform up high enough to fire a rocket into the Icon’s weak point a few times.
The Icon Of Sin only has one attack so this seems like a walk in the park. Too bad the one attack is summoning every single type of enemy in the game to bombard the player as they try to finish the Icon off. The best method is to ignore the onslaught of enemies and hope the rocket hits its mark.
2 Easiest: Doom Hunter- DOOM Eternal
The Doom Hunter appears as the first mini-boss of the game. After the initial defeat, the Hunter appears as a normal, albeit more difficult, enemy. With a quick succession of the Plasma Rifle and a Rocket Launcher, this boss isn’t an issue. The Hunter is surrounded by an energy field the Rifle can make short work of.
Using the Rocket Launcher to take out the chassis is the next step, which then makes the Hunter easy to take out using any weapon in the Slayer’s arsenal. As long as the player keeps moving and aims correctly, this is one hunter who will find it hard to make the player their prey.
1 Hardest: Mother Of All Demons- DOOM 64
If the player has collected all of the demon keys and fully upgraded the Unmayker, this boss fight is a breeze. For those who haven’t, this is one of the most difficult stages in all of DOOM. The stage starts with a brutal barrage of enemies that rivals the newer DOOM titles. If the player has the keys, they can simply shut down the portals; however, if they don’t, they must take them all out.
After this, The Mother Of All Demons appears to test the player’s skills, and patience. The fully upgraded Unmayker is incredibly effective, but if this isn’t an option, the player must pray they have enough ammo and skill to finish this grueling task.
About The Author
