Nintendo’sKirbyseries debuted in the early 90s. In the three decades since then, the series has featured over a dozen mainline installments as well as a multitude of spin-offs. Among these games are some of the most epic battles in 2D platforming history.
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Many of theseKirbybosses are story-driven. In addition to being powerful menaces, simply hitting the Start button will reveal lore attributed to them. Readers should keep in mind though that this will only focus on the mainline platforming series andCanvas Curse.
Updated June 30, 2025, by Tom Bowen:Having originally been designed to be accessible to everybody, the Kirby games aren’t really known for their depth or difficulty. That’s not to say that neither are present throughout the franchise, however, with some boss fights requiring players to memorize attack patterns and perfect counter timings. This is once again the case in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which many consider to be the best Kirby game in recent memory, if not of all time. Its main antagonist also provides one of the best final boss fights in the Kirby franchise, which is high praise indeed given the strength of some of its predecessors.
14Kirby’s Dream Land - King Dedede
The big bad of the first game stole all of the fruit from Dream Land. Kirby engages him in a boxing ring, where he flew around and attempted to slamKirby. It was certainly a spectacle, but left a little to be desired.
While Kirby and Dedede became allies after, Dedede would still fight Kirby with similar abilities. Also, it’s worth noting thatKirby Super Starwould retell the events ofDream Landas well as the beginning of their rivalry at the end.
Kirby spends the entire entirety ofKirby: Squeak Squadchasing perceived villains over a slice of stolen cake. The treasure chest lifted from King Dedede and Meta-Knight housed the powerful Dark Nebula being.
Possessing the main antagonist Daroach, Kirby would eventually free him and engage the star-shaped creature in a final battle for Dream Land. It was an epic battle, but far from the best that the pink puffball has been involved in over the years.
12Kirby and the Amazing Mirror - Dark Mind
This massive eyeball creature was behind the mirror dimension and Dark Meta-Knight inKirby and the Amazing Mirror. While this floating eyeball creature does not possess any storyline relation to Dark Matter, the resemblance might be a reference.
Dark Meta-Knight would later reappear as a boss inKirby Triple Deluxe. As for Dark Mind, players are yet to see him since, though many players still have fond memories of Kirby’s fight with him all those years ago.
11Kirby Canvas Curse - Drawcia
The only non-traditional Kirby platformer in this list,Kirby Canvas Cursesees Kirby save his world from the sorceress, Drawcia. This demented witch would transform into a sphere-shaped blob with an evil scream and a twisted theme.
While Drawcia did not appear afterward, her sister, Paintra, appeared as one of the bosses in Triple Deluxe. Furthermore, another of her family members, Claycia, appeared during the events ofRainbow Curse.
10Kirby’s Dream Land 2 - Dark Matter
The beginning of the Dark Matter in the Kirby series, this big, floating eyeball began as a flying swordsman. Despite the limitations of the hardware, its design was incredibly distinctive and helped to give the fight an ominous feel.
In one of the hardest fights in the series, Kirby had to fight back with projectiles while staying away from the creature at all costs. Dark Matter would later appear as a cameo fight inKirby: Planet Robobot.
9Kirby’s Adventure - Nightmare Wizard
WhenKirbyfinally confronts Dedede, he learns that the latter tried to protect everyone from the Nightmare within the Fountain of Dreams. It’s a nice twist, which helped to further strengthen the relationship between the two long-time enemies.
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The Nightmare Wizard flies around space to attack Kirby with projectiles. When they fight on the ground, this shades-wearing magician teleports around the screen firing stars at Kirby. Nightmare Wizard would later return inSuper Kirby Clash.
8Kirby’s Dream Land 3 - Zero
The progenitor of Dark Matter, this massive, white floating eyeball possessed King Dedede duringKirby’s Dream Land 3. When Kirby reduces his first form’s life to zero, the bloody red eyeball casts off its shell in a disturbing sequence.
Both visually and thematically, the fight with Zero remains one of the most memorable in theKirbyseries to date. Granted,Kirby’s Dream Land 3hasn’t aged all that well, but the impact and legacy of Zero can still be felt in the series today.
7Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards - Zero-Two
Seeking payback after being defeated inKirby’s Dream Land 3, Zero evolved into an angelic form. Teamed up with Ribbon, Kirby would fly up against Zero within the Dark Star and engage him once more.
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Zero-Two now bled with every strike, making the whole fight feel much more epic, not to mention a lot more high-stakes. Since the defeat of Zero-Two, Dark Matter has scarcely appeared in the series, though it remains an important part ofKirbyhistory.
6Kirby Super Star/Ultra - Marx
This little jester fiend tricked Kirby into using Nova in order to become powerful and take over Dream Land. He would appear at the end of the Arena as well in what would ultimately be one of the more memorable fights inKirby Super Star.
InSuper Star Ultra, the dead Marx would be revived by Nova, being transformed into the zombified Marx Soul. This much harder boss fight included an ear-piercing, blood-curdling scream of death at the end of the fight.
5Kirby Triple Deluxe - Sectonia
This queen of bugs fromTriple Deluxebelieves only in beauty and self-gratification. Sending her minion, Taranza, to take over Dream Land, Kirby ends up chasing them to her hive and engages her in combat. The resulting battle really is top-notch.
Sectonia willingly gave up everything just for the world to acknowledge her beauty. In that sense, she’s very much a tragic villain, though players shouldn’t allow that to distract them from how deadly she really is.
