mini-bosses
Lesser powerful adversaries
Mini-bosses are enemies in video games that are stronger than regular opponents but less powerful than the main boss of a level or area.
They often guard key items, block progress, or appear as mid-level challenges: There are two mini-bosses before you reach the final boss.
The term extends to any intermediate obstacle or adversary: My supervisor is the mini-boss; the CEO is the final boss.
One who opposes another
- adversaryEnemy in conflict
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
- foeHostile opponent
- henchmanLoyal criminal subordinate
enforcer · lieutenant · gatekeeper · guardian · champion · brute · rival · tyrant
Interim stage toward goal
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- checkpointInspection station on route
- precursorSomething that comes first
- thresholdPoint of beginning
Something blocking the way
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- testEvaluative examination
- trialJudicial examination of claims
gauntlet · difficulty spike · skill check · gear check · roadblock · bottleneck · setback · ordeal
Sudden increase in challenge
- health barOn-screen vitality indicator
- pattern recognitionIdentifying regularities in inputs
- phase transitionMatter shifting between states
- save pointStored game progress location
antagonist
One who opposes another
henchman · enforcer · lieutenant · gatekeeper · guardian · champion · brute · rival · tyrant · overlord
stepping-stone
Interim stage toward goal
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- checkpointInspection station on route
- precursorSomething that comes first
obstacle
Something blocking the way
trial · gauntlet · difficulty spike · skill check · gear check · roadblock · bottleneck · setback · ordeal · proving ground
difficulty spike
Sudden increase in challenge
- health barOn-screen vitality indicator
- pattern recognitionIdentifying regularities in inputs
- phase transitionMatter shifting between states
save point · respawn · aggro · hitbox
mini-bossesfinal boss
Last major enemy
grunts · mooks · minions · cannon fodder · boss
mini-bossesfinal boss
Last major enemy
boss · superboss · raid boss · secret boss · arch-nemesis
mini, boss, miniboss, bosses, bossed, bossing, bossy, bossier, bossiest