Malicious Malenia tops list of world’s hardest video game bosses – but which console gamers are most likely to cheat to beat her?

A recent study, by gaming and tech retailer Currys, surveyed 1,000 UK gamers and found that 3 in 10 think that unforgiving enemies and bosses are an element that makes a game "difficult" or hard to complete, with the majority of gamers (34%) having spent 1-3 hours trying to beat a specific level or boss, and a staggering 18% admit it has taken them over 10 hours. 

Using global Google search volume for phrases including "how to beat", Currys were able to identify the bosses causing gamers the most grief, and for all those that have played the game it should then be of no surprise that an Elden Ring boss came out on top of the hardest bosses list, more specifically Malenia, Blade of Miquella.

There are 30,660 annual searches for “how to beat malenia” and the most viewed video walkthrough for this fight on YouTube, uploaded by Shirrako, has 6.26m views since its upload in 2022, and if that wasn't enough another Elden Ring boss also came in third place with 17,540 annual searches: Margit, the Fell Omen.

In second place is Psycho Mantis, who originally appeared in the first Metal Gear Solid game and also featured in the fifth instalment of this franchise. There have been 23,700 searches for “how to beat psycho mantis” over the past year. This boss was particularly difficult, and memorable, for gamers as part of the gameplay in the original on PlayStation 1 (PS1) required players to switch controller ports mid-play to defeat the boss.

Other notable additions include Sans from Undertale, Dark Link from Ocarina of Time and King Dice from Cuphead.

The top 15 hardest video game bosses in the world:

1. Malenia, Elden Ring
2. Psycho Mantis, Metal Gear Solid
3. Margit, Elden Ring
4. Sans, Undertale
5. Bed of Chaos, Dark Souls
6. Genichiro Ashina, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
7. Dark Link, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
8. Blood Starved Beast, Bloodborne
9. Ornstein and Smough, Dark Souls
10. Balteus, Armored Core 6
11. Vicar Amelia, Bloodborne
12. Mike Tyson, Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
13. King Dice, Cuphead
14. Flamelurker, Demon Souls
15. Hydra, God of War

The same survey found 21% are willing to spend as long as it takes to complete a hard level or defeat a boss, whereas the majority (22%) will only give it 1-2 hours before moving on, with 70% having abandoned a game for good due to it being too difficult.

PS5 gamers most likely to rage quit, and Switch gamers most likely to cheat

When faced with tough games, gamers have three choices: persevere, rage quit, or cheat. According to the study, PlayStation 5 gamers are the most likely to rage quit, with 68% admitting to abandoning a game due to its difficulty. Close behind are PS4 and Xbox One players, both at 64%. PC gamers were the least likely to rage quit, though 58% still confessed to giving up on a difficult game.

Shockingly, nearly 1 in 5 gamers admitted to breaking something in frustration after struggling with a difficult level or boss.

Gamers thah rage quit by console

PlayStation 5 - 68%

PlayStation 4 - 64%

Xbox One - 64%

Nintendo Switch (lite, OLED or standard) - 63%

Xbox Series X/S - 59%

PC (Windows, Mac, Linux) - 58%

And what about those that turn to cheating?

The study found that when it comes to turning to cheating to get through a tough game Switch players are most likely to do so, with 56% of them admitting they would turn to cheats to help.

This was followed by PC players and Xbox One players, where 52% would cheat their way through difficult games.

Percentage of gamers most likely to cheat to get through a tough game

Nintendo Switch (lite, OLED or standard) - 56%

PC (Windows, Mac, Linux) - 52%

Xbox - 52%

OnePlayStation 5 - 51%

PlayStation 4 - 49%

Xbox Series X/S - 47%

You can find the full study here: https://www.currys.co.uk/techtalk/gaming-news/challenge-accepted.html