Variety is an important element in video games. From the environment, gameplay, and enemies, having variety will prevent a game from becoming stale. When it comes to the number of unique enemies in games, there is a sweet spot that is not that easy to hit.
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Too much and it might feel too cluttered and unnecessary; too little and you might lose interest in the game halfway through. Some games perfectly nail enemy variety and ensure that every level is a treat, so no encounter will feel the same.
8Enter The Gungeon
As aroguelikegame with procedurally generated dungeons, no run will feel the same. Along with over a hundred enemy types that will stop at nothing to take you out,Enter the Gungeonis one of the tougher roguelike games on the market today.
Depending on your current gear and power-ups, certain enemy combinations can genuinely give you trouble. With so many possible combinations of enemies, playing the game is a mix of challenge, fun, and luck. Fortunately, the steepest challenge tends to be when you are just starting. As you master the mechanics and get better upgrades, dealing with enemies later in the game will be more on the “fun” side of the spectrum.
7Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
A classicCastlevaniagame from thePlayStation Oneand the one that helped coin the termMetroidvania,Castlevania: SotNshowcases an impressive bestiary. Each area of Dracula’s castle will have its own theme and monsters to slay. Each area has its charm, which is accentuated by the unique monsters that are exclusive to specific sections of the sprawling castle.
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With over 170 monsters between you and Dracula, you will be glad to know that Alucard also has an impressive array of armaments. This is a true classic from the PS1 era and a game that every Metroidvania fan should play.
6Shovel Knight
Shovel Knightby Yacht Club Games simply oozes personality and charisma. Each level will feature a unique set of enemies that perfectly encapsulate the specific themes of their stages and add significantly to the ambiance.
While Shovel Knight only holds around 56 unique enemy types, each carries its own weight in enhancing the game’s appeal.
5Hollow Knight
From one knight to another, we have theHollow Knight. Developed by Team Cherry and taking inspiration from Metroidvania and Soulslike games, Hollow Knight is a nice blend of adorable-looking characters and a rather grim setting. All rolled into one of the more challenging 2D action-adventure games in the genre.
It also holds a solid number of enemy varieties, up to 150. The designs ofmost of the enemies are also quite cute and charming, which is not something you would use to describe video game enemies whose sole purpose is to take you out. Yet, Hollow Knight does it with relative ease.
4Shin Megami Tensei 4
Atlus’long-running dark JRPG series,Shin Megami Tensei, is no stranger to having some pretty wild enemies in the game. Shin Megami Tensei 4 launched on theNintendo 3DSin 2013, and it holds the record for having the most enemy varieties of the series, with approximately 400 demons that you can encounter throughout the game.
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Besides the mind-boggling amount of enemies in the game, it also has a pretty deep story that dives heavily into notions regarding religion. Overall, Shin Megami Tensei 4 is one of the best entries in the beloved series and is a must-play if you can still find it out in the wild.
3Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is the direct sequel to Monster Hunter Generations. The game launched on theNintendo Switchin 2017 and received glowing reviews from critics and fans. The game acts as an expansion of its predecessor, with more content and upgraded graphics. Other changes include a different control scheme to optimize the player experience on the Nintendo Switch controller.
MHGU boasts a total of 93 monsters that you can hunt and currently sits at the top for having the most monsters in the series. For a game that revolves around hunting dangerous monsters, hearing that Generations Ultimate packs an impressive array of beasts totaling almost a hundred is music to everyMonster Hunterfan’s ears.
2Bloodborne
FromSoftware’s take on gothic horror,Bloodborne, is one of the best action RPGs on thePlayStation 4. The variety and designs of the enemies are also among the highlights of this game. You start off facing classic fictional monsters such as werewolves and zombie-like townspeople, which escalate as you get farther into the game.
Next thing you know, you will be facing off against enemies that were taken out of H.P. Lovecraft’s imagination. From the twisted and indescribable terror that is Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos, to the deadly and madness-inducing Winter Lanterns, Bloodborne has you covered if you are low on nightmare fuel.
1Elden Ring
One of 2022’s best games and one of FromSoftware’s most successful to date,Elden Ringbrought the hype and delivered on its promises upon launch. A genuine labor of love, Elden Ring boasts an amazing cast of enemies, with some having quite interesting lore to boot.
You will be facing off against 126 different enemies in Elden Ring. As is FromSoftware’s M.O., each of these enemies can easily take you out if you drop your guard. The enemy variety ranges from your typical undead knights, trolls, and dragons tomore over-the-top creaturessuch as a giant lobster that can snipe you from miles away and pottery that knows martial arts.
