It’s a discussion that goes round in circles and is a lot more complicated than it seems. We neither want to nor could take a stance in this argument, but one thing is clear: a lot of you really love complicated games.
So, in view of that, we’ve compiled a list of the most difficult games of all time, starting with FromSoftware. FromSoftware is the developer that started the whole discussion about Dark Souls, although personally, we found Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice to be a lot more difficult.
The change in performance mode from its first games caught even those most up for the challenge by surprise. Its blocking system is a real challenge, and we still have nightmares when we think of Genichiro.
However, within the genre that they themselves invented, you can certainly find even more difficult games. Nioh and Hollow Knight are two games that require excellent precision and a good understanding of their combat system.
Sticking with action-focused games, the Ninja Gaiden series deserves a spot on this list for offering such an incredibly challenging experience. It got so achingly difficult that even some of the most avid gamers struggled to complete their instalments.
Most notable is Ninja Gaiden II, representing a new level of difficulty even by the standards of a franchise that always makes your hair stand on end. Even so, the Internet is full of players who boast having completed it without taking a hit.
It’s not only the action genre that offers brutally difficult video games. Platformers are another genre with extraordinarily challenging games that are virtually impossible to finish.
Geometry Dash is one such platform game. It offers an almost impossible challenge that takes many attempts to master by testing your ability to make very quick decisions.
The Super Mario Maker community levels can also be insanely difficult, designed so that only the most skilled in the Nintendo platform will be able to level up.
Levels that should take seconds to complete can end up taking days, mainly because you have to memorise each point on the map and a single mistake will cost you the opportunity.
This genre also features some great retro games. Old arcade games like Ghosts ‘n Goblins often rank as some of the most difficult in history. And there’s an easy explanation for that: the harder it was, the more coins you’d have to feed the slots.
The Mega Drive version of the Lion King game is one of the most interesting examples of this. It’s an incredibly difficult game, despite being aimed at a young target audience. However, that’s only because Disney intentionally modified its development.
At that time, renting games from video stores was immensely popular, so developers had to create games that would be near impossible to finish in a few days. This was a challenge that the Lion King film creators wanted to attempt with their video game.
To do that, they artificially increased its duration and prevented players from being able to complete it quickly. In doing so, however, they made the game much worse, as they did it very artificially.
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning the most difficult levels of music games like Osu and Guitar Hero. Creating an orchestra with a single person is not easy, although there are always gifted instruments that manage to finish these games.
Which of these would you attempt?
