Without a doubt the hardest boss if you couldn't parry him. I love Gwyn but he's gonna take 2nd place to Manus for me. At least for Dark Souls

Gwyn is good for me, but I have to agree that his design in terms of the mechanics puts him below a number of others. Parrying trivializes him, while no parrying can make him almost unfair due to the inability to heal. I can't say I found Gwyn not allowing you to heal at all unless you parry to ever be fun and engagingly challenging. His offensive moves are, otherwise, difficult but very fair with clear tells and dodge timings.

In general, in RPGs like this - ones that allow for multiple, divergent playstyles - I never liked final bosses that either catered to specific styles or ones that tested every mechanic available to you. The former for obvious reasons, but the latter because once you chose a style, it's reasonably encouraged that you stick to it and focus on your chosen strengths. You'll be good in certain things, but weak in others; it's almost never encouraged to be a jack-of-all-trades. But the developers had wanted the test-everything-you-know type of boss and I can't hep but feel the mindset wasn't to Gwyn's benefit, considering the whole parry issue that came from it.

To give an example, Isshin tests everything you know in Sekiro, but it works because Sekiro has very focused and streamlined combat, unlike Dark Souls that has great variety. To give another example, Knight Artorias and Slave Knight Gael, my favorite bosses of their respective games with Gael also being my favorite in all of Dark Souls, have more difficult offensive movesets that made it hard to heal, but possible with proper timing and an understanding of their mechanics, making it a fun challenge. Gwyn's moveset, on the other hand, is easier to deal with but I found him almost as hard due to the healing issue, and all throughout, I couldn't help but find that aspect of difficulty to feel rather artificial.

Still, his lore and presentation (arena, design, music, etc.) are top-notch, maybe even unrivaled in Dark Souls. For these reasons, among others, I still think quite highly of the fight.

It would have to be Gael for me. It’s just such a climactic fight and a worthy one to finish off the series. If Bloodborne is included I’d have to say Lady Maria. Absolutely adore that fight.

Other than Gwyn I'd say O&S or Gwyndolin

You’d have to be a giant pussy to think Gwyn is the best boss. The “Smough and Ornstein” fight is clearly the most superior boss fight.

Did you just say smough before ornstein when mentioning the ornstein and smough boss fight?

Yes, i did. It’s the same thing.

Whats so bad about Gwyn A237?

I didn’t say he’s bad, just that I think the chad duo is better than him.

Oh i see. I mean O&S is a really good boss as well. I really like ornstien's design and his weapon