20 Bosses You Can Beat By Doing Absolutely Nothing

Most video game bosses challenge players to prove their skills in fighting and quick reactions. But some games offer a different approach, letting you win by not fighting. Certain developers have included hidden ways to win – either by refusing to attack or just waiting patiently. Here are a few unusual enemies you can defeat without any intense button pressing.

‘Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater’ (2004)

The End, a famously skilled sniper and a very old man, challenges Naked Snake to a long and grueling fight that tests endurance. However, players can skip this difficult battle with a clever trick: save the game during the fight, then wait two full weeks in real life. When you reload the saved game, you’ll find The End has passed away from old age. This surprising feature rewards patience instead of direct combat and has become one of the most well-known secrets in the game series. The creators at Kojima Productions intentionally designed this to highlight how time itself can be a powerful weapon.

‘Final Fantasy V’ (1992)

Gogo, a well-known mimic, can be found in the ruins of Walse Tower, where he proposes a strange challenge. He perfectly copies everything your character does, and powerfully retaliates against any attack, whether magical or physical. Surprisingly, the way to win is to do absolutely nothing – just leave your controller untouched for a few minutes. Gogo will eventually commend your ability to match his own stillness and then vanish into the void. This encounter cleverly shows players that sometimes, the most effective strategy is to remain completely still.

‘Borderlands 2’ (2012)

In the ‘Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt’ expansion, Professor Nakayama is the main villain. Before the final fight, he delivers a long speech about his plans and how clever he is. If you let him finish, he’ll accidentally trip and fall down a staircase, which instantly defeats him. This unexpected and funny ending is in line with the game’s overall comedic style.

‘Dark Souls II’ (2014)

The Dragonrider is one of the first bosses you’ll encounter, protecting the Tower of Flame. He’s normally a tough fight that requires good timing to avoid his attacks. However, players have found a surprising trick: you can actually make him defeat himself! If you remain completely still when you first enter the arena, he’ll try to lunge at you, but this causes him to fall off the edge of the platform and into the water, instantly winning the fight. This makes the battle very easy, even for beginners.

‘Cuphead’ (2017)

The Root Pack includes three vegetable enemies, one of whom is a big onion named Ollie Bulb. Unlike the potato and carrot, you don’t have to fight Ollie. If you simply avoid attacking him, he’ll eventually understand you’re not a threat and return to the ground. This peaceful option skips a part of the battle and often surprises players who are used to shooting everything they see.

‘Fable II’ (2008)

The final showdown with Lucien Fairfax isn’t about a challenging fight; it’s meant to be a tense, dramatic moment. Lucien starts talking, and you face him holding a music box. If you don’t shoot him while he’s speaking, your ally Reaver will eventually get impatient and shoot him instead. This means the villain dies without you ever firing a shot, unexpectedly avoiding a typical, epic boss battle.

‘Far Cry 4’ (2014)

Far Cry 4 has a hidden ending that lets you defeat the main villain, Pagan Min, right at the start of the game. During the opening scene, when Min asks you to wait at the dinner table, you can just sit there for about fifteen minutes. He’ll come back, thank you for waiting, and help you with your mother’s ashes. After that cutscene, the credits roll, effectively finishing the game without any fighting.

‘Earthworm Jim 2’ (1995)

Level Ate features a frightening boss called The Slobbering Real Monstar. This creepy creature jumps out of the darkness with a loud roar that makes the whole screen tremble. Surprisingly, you don’t actually have to battle him – he gets scared and runs away immediately! His health bar empties instantly as he flees, which is a perfect example of the quirky, unexpected humor this platforming series is known for.

‘The Simpsons Game’ (2007)

In a follow-up to the Grand Theft Scratchy level, Bart and Lisa meet Martin Prince, who challenges them to a video game duel. However, Martin plays the entire game himself on an arcade machine, and all the player does is watch. He loses through his own mistakes, without any input from Bart or Lisa. This amusing scene playfully comments on common video game clichés while automatically giving the player a victory.

‘Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows’ (2015)

While playing as Plague Knight, you’ll encounter a dark copy of yourself. This Shadow Plague Knight perfectly mirrors your actions and attacks. Interestingly, if you remain completely still, the shadow will do the same. After a brief pause, the boss will disappear, awarding you the win. This unique feature encourages players to pay attention and try a non-violent approach instead of fighting.

‘Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones’ (2005)

The Prince faces a final showdown with his darker side, playing out as a battle within his own mind. This ‘Dark Prince’ throws shadows and tries to goad you into an endless fight. However, the way to win isn’t to fight back – it’s to completely ignore him and simply walk away. As you move through the levels while avoiding any reaction, the Dark Prince weakens and disappears. This sequence demonstrates that giving in to, or even acknowledging, his darkness only makes it stronger.

‘Cave Story’ (2004)

Balrog is a boss that looks like a toaster and frequently battles the main character, Quote. In one part of the Labyrinth, he asks if you want to fight, and surprisingly, you can actually say no! If you decline, Balrog simply accepts it and walks away, letting you completely avoid the boss fight just by being courteous.

‘Undertale’ (2015)

Papyrus is a skeletal guard who attempts to capture the player character using puzzles and a challenging battle. If he lowers your health to just one point, he’ll capture you and put you in a shed. You can break out and try fighting him again, but if you lose three times, he surprisingly lets you continue. He concludes you’re too weak to bother capturing and allows you to move forward without winning. This feature allows players who are struggling to still experience the story.

‘Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty’ (2001)

Fortune is an enemy in Dead Cells armed with a powerful railgun and an incredible ability – she’s super lucky and bullets tend to bounce off her. When you fight her in the cargo hold, you can’t actually hurt her with any of your weapons. Your only option is to dodge her attacks and survive until the timer runs out. After enough time, the fight ends automatically with a cutscene, highlighting that she’s invincible.

‘Silent Hill 2’ (2001)

As James Sunderland explores the foggy town, he repeatedly faces the terrifying Pyramid Head. Their first major confrontation takes place in an apartment building, but you can’t defeat the monster. Instead, you must evade his massive knife by running around the room until a siren sounds. When the siren wails, Pyramid Head loses interest and walks away, down a flooded staircase. The goal isn’t to win, but simply to survive this intensely stressful ordeal.

‘Super Mario Bros. 3’ (1988)

The last fight with Bowser happens in a castle room with a floor of breakable bricks. He tries to defeat Mario by repeatedly jumping and slamming down. If you can get him to land on the bricks, he’ll eventually break through and fall. Surprisingly, you can actually win this fight just by dodging his attacks – you don’t even need to use fireballs! This clever design makes the environment itself the key to defeating Bowser.

‘Fallout’ (1997)

The Master is the bizarre and imposing leader of the Super Mutant army and represents the game’s ultimate challenge. Players skilled in speech and intelligence can engage in a conversation with him about his goals. If they convince him that his army cannot reproduce and will eventually die out, he understands his mistake. The Master then initiates a self-destruct sequence, destroying himself and his base. This unique outcome allows players who prefer a peaceful approach to complete the game without fighting.

‘Mass Effect’ (2007)

Saren Arterius is a traitorous Spectre, secretly controlled by the Reapers and working against the galaxy. In the climactic battle on the Citadel, players with high Charm or Intimidate skills can appeal to the part of Saren that’s still himself. If successful, Saren briefly regains control and, horrified by his actions, commits suicide rather than continuing to serve the Reapers. This choice allows players to skip the initial part of the final boss battle, achieving a meaningful victory through dialogue.

‘Fallout: New Vegas’ (2010)

Legate Lanius is the ruthless commander of Caesar’s Legion and a major challenge in several endings of the game. He’s an incredibly skilled fighter who values strength and smart tactics. If your character has high speech skills, you can convince him that trying to control the West would overextend the Legion’s supplies and ultimately lead to its downfall. Lanius, recognizing the logic, will then order a retreat, allowing you to secure the Hoover Dam through diplomacy instead of combat.

‘Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’ (2015)

The Man on Fire is a powerful, seemingly immortal enemy who chases Venom Snake and can’t be defeated with normal attacks. While you can briefly disable him with water towers, the easiest way to deal with him is to simply wait for it to rain. The rain will put out his flames and make him disappear, offering a simple, hands-off solution to this tough boss fight thanks to the game’s dynamic weather.

Let us know in the comments which of these peaceful victories you like best, or if you can think of any other bosses that manage to defeat themselves!

2025-11-24 16:16