The recent popularity of games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring has brought brutally challenging games to the forefront of the industry.
These games are difficult because we want them to be. Back in the day, a game’s difficulty was designed around constantly putting quarters into the arcade slot. Today, gamers ask developers to push them to their limits.
Sure, we may have broken a controller or two, but it’s all been worth it. From yesterday’s old-school classics to today’s modern hits, here are some of the most challenging games ever made.
Ghosts ‘n Goblins
Old-school games are notoriously difficult as a way to pad their runtime. The games were relatively short, so developers cranked up the difficulty. A great example of that is Ghosts ‘n Goblins.
Gamers play as Sir Arthur, who can only take damage twice before dying. Unfortunately for our friend Arthur, there are zombies, demons, dragons, ghosts, goblins, and other monsters all trying to kill him.
Ghosts ‘n Goblins is an exercise of patience. The game is an absolute blast, provided you don’t snap your controller in half.
Ninja Gaiden Black
The Ninja Gaiden series has always focused on being one of the more difficult games you’ll ever play.
Starting as a 2D side-scroller for the NES, Ninja Gaiden was rebooted in 2004 and became a 3D action game for the original Xbox. Its director’s cut, 2005’s Ninja Gaiden Black, adds a new difficult level for those who thought the already difficult game was too easy.
Conversely, the game will introduce a new, easier difficulty mode if you struggle.
I Wanna Be the Guy
This game is evil. Pure evil.
There’s difficult, and there’s just a game being unfair. I Wanna Be the Guy is the latter.
Based on the iconic 2D side-scrollers from the 1980s, I Wanna Be the Guy will throw the kitchen sink at you through various platforming challenges, false pathways, easter eggs, and more. Good luck; you’re gonna need it.
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Demon’s Souls
The original FromSoftware Soulslike, Demon’s Souls is a rewarding, albeit frustrating, experience.
It lacks the improvements and updates that made Dark Souls such a beloved game. For example, when you die in Demon’s Soul, you lose half your health. Fun, right? I sure always have fun playing these games!
Contra
Contra is the definition of difficult but fair.
Yes, the NES classic is extremely unforgiving. If you take one hit, you die and lose everything, but the game isn’t impossible. While the infamous Konami code allowed people the ability to make it through the game with 30 extra lives, it’s not a necessity.
Battletoads
The side-scrolling beat ’em up Battletoads is a cult classic despite its difficulty. While you could play co-op with a friend, you could also accidentally kill them, adding to the challenge.
One level in particular stands out as brutally unfair: the Turbo Tunnel. Players need to have precise timing to dodge obstacles, some of which require a split-second reaction time.
Ikaruga
A throwback to the arcade bullet hell games of old, Ikaruga pushes players to their absolute limits.
Unlike similar games, Ikaruga doesn’t reward players with power-ups or new abilities. It’s always just you and your standard weapon, doing your best to dodge the endless onslaught of enemy attacks.
Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels
Longtime Nintendo fans know about the lore behind Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels.
The game was released as Super Mario Bros. 2 in Japan, but Nintendo felt like the game was too difficult for its North American audience. That’s how we got the wildly different experience in the North American Super Mario Bros. 2.
Nintendo wasn’t lying; the game doesn’t hold back when offering a more challenging platforming experience.
Super Meat Boy
Speaking of challenging platformers, Super Meat Boy fits the bill perfectly.
Its platforming challenges make The Lost Levels feel like a walk in the park. Best of all is that its difficulty never feels cheap or unfair. It pushes players to the limits of what’s possible in a platformer similar to the Donkey Kong Country franchise.
F-Zero GX
The futuristic GameCube racer was about one thing: speed.
F-Zero GX is no joyride. It’s a test of skill from start to finish as you need to navigate every track’s twists and turns while racing at speeds topping out above 1000 km/h.
Cuphead
Don’t let it’s presentation fool you. Cuphead is one of the most challenging games you’ll ever play.
Its side scrolling stages require you to jump, dash, and dodge your way to completion, while its bosses will test your patience as you dodge their constant barrage of attacks.
Mike Tyson’s Punchout!!
If you think Iron Mike Tyson was tough in the ring, you haven’t seen anything yet.
Adding in Mike Tyson as a final boss for the home release of Punchout!! is an excellent touch. Making him notoriously difficult is just the icing on the cake.
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