Marvel's Spider-Man is perhaps the most popular superhero ever created, which has allowed him to appear in no shortage of iconic video games. The wall-crawler's journey in this type of media began back in 1982, when games were little more than pixelated, scrolling adventures with very simple gameplay mechanics.
Throughout the years, evolving technology has allowed for more complex and ambitious titles with intricate level design, touching voice acting, and an exhilarating soundtrack. All of these elements come together to create a big, impactful sequence that sticks with players long after they complete it, and there's no better example of an exciting moment in a game than its final boss fight: the pinnacle of everything the story has been building towards.
Now, it's time we take a trip down memory lane and rank the five best final bosses in a Spider-Man title in order to determine which one is the very best.
5. Venom
Game: Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
When Spider-Man: Web of Shadows was initially released, it proved to be a bit of a divisive game. Some felt it took itself too seriously, others pointed out that its map lacked engaging activities, and its multiple bugs prevented it from being a more enjoyable experience. But regardless of all the negatives, there's no denying that this title had a very atmospheric and stylistic final boss.
Fighting a giant, five-headed version of Venom on top of a Helicarrier with a symbiote-infested city acting as the background is nothing short of epic. Despite its shortcomings, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows has a very original and fast combo-based combat system that shines when fighting the countless minions that Venom throws your way.
Love it or hate it, the game is plagued with quick-time events, so it isn't surprising that the boss ends with a QTE sequence. However, this makes for a very cinematic experience that allows you to pick one of two endings that couldn't be any more different from one another, adding a bit of replayability along the way.
Whenever a player faces a giant boss fight in any video game, there's a high chance that most of the encounter comes down to defeating regular-sized hordes of enemies, with the kaiju-like creature just roaming in the background. Unfortunately, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows suffers from the same problem, but at least it gives a great and memorable spectacle along the way.
4. Mysterio
Game: Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions features a giant-sized Mysterio as its final boss, meaning this encounter also suffers from the same problem plaguing Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. Most of the time, players aren't directly fighting Mysterio, but instead normal-sized enemies with Quentin Beck just towering in the background and saying some menacing lines. But unlike Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions adds a lot of variety to its final fight.
Throughout the game, players get to control four different versions of the wall-crawler, each with its own unique set of weaknesses and strengths. As was to be expected, the final boss puts you in control of all these heroes, making the most out of their skills.
Given that Spider-Man: Noir is a stealth master, his section consists of hiding in the shadows while slowly getting closer to Mysterio unnoticed. As Spider-Man 2099, you'll experience a free-falling, fast-paced sequence where you'll need to dodge obstacles. The Amazing Spider-Man and Ultimate Spider-Man are the only two that play very similarly, but at least their respective sequences in the boss fight are spaced out so that they don't feel very repetitive.
Unfortunately, there's never a time in the battle where the Spider-Men fight Mysterio at the same time. But at least we get to see them sharing the screen in a cut-scene narrated by Stan Lee, so extra points for that!
3. Doctor Octopus/Carnage/Monster-Ock
Game: Neversoft's Spider-Man
Legends say that '90s and 2000s kids still have nightmares about Monster-Ock, and, as someone who belongs to that group, I can confirm those legends are true.
Neversoft's Spider-Man is a classic still considered one of the best Spider-Man games ever created, despite being released 26 years ago. Naturally, as time goes by and technology evolves, developers are given the tools to craft more complex and ambitious titles, meaning that recent releases should usually translate into better gaming experiences. But despite showing its age in some sections, Neversoft's Spider-Man caps things off in a spectacular way.
After defeating Doctor Octopus and Carnage in separate boss fights in an underwater lair, the two join forces and become the nightmarish Monster Ock. What makes this mission so unique is that the player cannot go toe-to-toe with this creature. Instead, you have no option but to flee the scene while being chased by Monster Ock, all while the whole underwater base starts to collapse and explode. Yes, this was the 2000s equivalent of a modern-day Uncharted chase sequence.
Having a three-part final boss against Doctor Octopus, Carnage, and Monster Ock was a fantastic way to cap off a fantastic game. Venom and Spidey joining forces to save the day was the cherry on top, and despite its technical limitations, there's no denying that Neversoft's Spider-Man was a very ambitious game for its time.
2. Venom
Game: Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Out of every Spider-Man game ever created, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has perhaps the most challenging final boss ever. In the first phase, you have to jump between different arenas and keep your eyes open for any sonic elements in the environment that might give you the upper hand against Harry Osborn's Venom. Things rapidly go sideways as the parasitic alien grows wings—a nice detail that pays homage to Donny Cates' Venom comic book series, which is still considered the best run the Lethal Protector has ever had.
Players swap from Peter Parker to Miles Morales and fight Venom both in the air and on the ground, adding a nice mix of gameplay variety to the boss fight as a whole. As if that wasn't enough, there's still a third phase where Peter, Miles, and Venom take the fight to new heights (quite literally) with New York acting as the background. Granted, this sequence is short, and it mostly consists of QTEs, but it is cinematic nonetheless.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 final boss has everything: The animations are flawless, the soundtrack is very powerful, and the fight can be a genuine challenge. It would've been nice for the two Spider-Men to tag-team the fight at some point, with an AI taking over as the character you're not controlling (as was the case in other parts of the game). Still, this boss manages to go down as one of the best ever found in a Spider-Man video game, only second to...
1. Doctor Octopus
Game: Marvel's Spider-Man
Insomniac Games is constantly trying to raise the bar with each of its releases, but there's a real chance that they never manage to craft a better boss fight than the one used to wrap up the events of Marvel's Spider-Man for PS4.
This boss fight does not simply rely on spectacle (though it has plenty of it). Instead, what makes it so impactful are the emotional stakes. Throughout the entirety of the game, we saw Otto and Peter try to craft an invention that would help thousands, becoming genuine friends in the process. As such, it was heartbreaking to see them battle to decide the fate of New York.
The final boss of Marvel's Spider-Man for PS4 encourages you to use all the gadgets you have obtained throughout your adventure to best Otto Octavius. The battle shifts from taking place on top of the Oscorp Tower to unfolding on the side of said building. Debris falls all around the player as they dodge Otto's tentacles and strike back while a heartbreaking dialogue between Peter and his former mentor takes place in the background.
Perhaps the final boss of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 was more engaging gameplay-wise, but even then, it fails to surpass the emotion and level of spectacle that its predecessor achieved.