Spider-Man 2: Every Boss Fight, Ranked

Like its predecessor, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is in no short supply of villains, enough to give Peter Parker and Miles Morales their toughest stretch of crime-fighting yet while saving New York from the symbiote uprising.

In addition to clearing out Hunter Bases and blowing up Symbiote Nests, there are a number of thrilling boss battles to endure, and we’ll be ranking them based on the fight’s contribution to the narrative, how hard the enemy is to beat, and the overall enjoyment of the encounter. Here is every boss fight in Spider-Man 2 ranked.

~ Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for Spider-Man 2. ~

9 Lizard

Lizard became overpowered in Spider-Man 2 thanks to Kraven’s serum, but the actual boss battle in Oscorp, undertaken by Peter Parker in his symbiote suit, sits at the bottom of the ranks for not being as memorable or exciting as others.

The symbiote suit is often weakened by Lizard’s roars, but once you figure out the pattern of opening the steam grates, it’s just about maintaining that rhythm. Furthermore, Dr. Connors becomes an ally during Peter’s symbiote struggle, but his boss battle as Lizard doesn’t add much to the main narrative.

8 Wraith

Peter’s ally and informant from the previous game, police captain Yuri, returns as the vigilante Wraith during The Flame quest to take down the titular cult, and despite being a side mission, this brief boss battle had a greater impact than Lizard’s encounter.

Peter and Yuri have different beliefs when it comes to the no-kill rule, and this adds weight to her boss battle. Wraith has a number of smoke bombs that cannot be dodged and a sharp Kusarigama to contest, but the actual battle is a quick affair overshadowed by Cletus Kasady’s cameo and therefore stays in the low ranks.

7 Sandman

Sandman is the first boss battle of the game while also serving as the tutorial, and thanks to this exhilarating opening and benchmark for the game’s visuals, this boss fight packs a punch and is distinctly more momentous than Lizard and Wraith’s conflict.

Mixing airborne combat with horde takedowns in nearby buildings, the vision of New York being engulfed in a sandstorm was impressive, and it marked the stakes of boss battles going forward while teeing up the Marko’s Memories side task.

6 Mister Negative

The returning primary antagonist from the first Spider-Man game, Mister Negative makes a comeback thanks to Kraven’s round-up of villains, but it’s his ongoing arc with Miles Morales that makes this boss fight emotionally charged.

Taking place in Kraven’s gladiator-like arena, Mister Negative has speed and stamina on his side which makes him a tougher opponent than previous, but this battle stands head and shoulders above prior fights because it sets Miles and Martin on a path of acceptance and redemption in the main story.

5 Kraven The Hunter

Kraven has two boss battles in Spider-Man 2, one being against Symbiote Peter Parker and the other against Venom near the end. Battling the hunter as Venom is distinctly easier, but his encounter with Peter is hard-going and the toughest boss fight on this list so far.

In addition to his aggression behind melee strikes and his smarts to use objects around him in his attacks, including the nearby bell, Kraven’s boss battle is significantly noteworthy in the main story as it debuts Peter’s new abilities and weaknesses which are key going forward.

4 Symbiote Peter Parker

Following his battle with Kraven, Peter and his symbiote suit become the next boss fight against Miles, and not only is this one of the more emotional fights of the game, but it’s also the hardest encounter for Miles getting his first taste of symbiote combat.

Peter’s strength is amplified by the Venom symbiote, making his attacks stronger than Kraven’s, and the sentimental intensity fueling this fight makes it more notable than previous encounters on this list. Miles encouraging Peter to fight the symbiote is also a pivotal point in the main story that requires a higher ranking.

3 Mysterio

After clearing all the Mysteriums around New York, Miles faces Mysterio during the Grand Finale, and even though this enemy is significantly weaker than Kraven and Symbiote Peter, this boss battle is the most enjoyable and visually stunning fight of the game.

Shrunk down in size and trapped within Mysterio’s snow globe simulation, Miles is thrown off by the enemy’s skills in deception and illusion, and despite not having great significance in the main story, it serves the conclusion to Mysterio’s side arc, and it’s a thrilling one at that.

2 Scream

After Harry Osborn reunites with the Venom symbiote, the villain turns Mary Jane into its Scream offspring, which is one of the biggest surprises of the game. Scream is also the hardest enemy to face at this point, beating Kraven and Symbiote Peter, and there’s also an emotional thread between Peter and MJ to up the ante.

Scream is the toughest boss fight yet because of her five phases to contest, and having it take place in the Astoria suburbs is a nice change of scenery from the concrete jungle. Not only is this fight important for MJ’s development, but it also strengthens her bond with Peter and fortifies their union for the final fight.

1 Venom

After Harry fully transforms into Venom, he becomes the hardest enemy to beat in the game without a doubt. Switching battlefields, from Midtown High’s campus to the EMF building, keeps the terrain interesting, and Venom’s ability to deploy symbiotes at will, take flight, and deliver a series of debilitating combos against Peter and Miles awards him first place as the toughest boss fight.

Furthermore, this final fight fuels the player’s excitement by dropping a number of well-placed cutscenes that are seamless with gameplay. Emotions are also running high in this battle to end all battles with the fate of New York in the Spider-Men’s webs and Harry’s life on the line. This boss battle is the pinnacle of the story and a thoroughly entertaining one to conclude the game awarding it first place.