Summary
Bloodborne- much like the rest of the so-calledSoulsborne games- is often touted as one of the hardest mainstream games of all time, as it’s had players all over the world hitting brick walls since it was released in March 2015. However, the game’s developer, FromSoftware, has done a wonderful job of showing the value in punishingly difficult games and how rewarding they can be, leaving some players itching for more. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of great games that will push players' skills to their limits.
Updated on May 6th, 2024, by Jack Pursey:The continued success of the Soulsborne series and the birth of the Souls-like genre has continued to prove that millions of gamers are happy to take on brutally difficult challenges if the game is well-made and fairly balanced. To give players some more ideas of tough games to try, this list has been updated to include some more games and more information. To add some methodology to the list, each game featured will now include its GameFaq difficult score.Bloodborne has a difficulty score of 4.13.
GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 4.42
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (dupe)
Crash forward into a time-shattered adventure with your favorite marsupials. Neo Cortex and N. Tropy are back at it again and launching an all-out assault on not just this universe, but the entire multiverse! Crash and Coco are here to save the day by reuniting the four quantum masks and bending the rules of reality. It’s up to Crash, Coco and friends to go across time and space to stop these three from not only taking over the world, but the entire multiverse.
New abilities? Check. More playable characters? Yep. Alternate dimensions? Obviously. Ridonkulous bosses? For sure. Same awesome sauce? You bet your sweet jorts. Wait, are they actually jorts? Not in this universe!Wield four powerful guardians of space and time that give Crash and Coco the power to bend the rules of reality and conquer dangerous obstacles in exciting new ways. Play not only as the wumping, jumping, marsupial duo, but also experience things from different perspectives such as the one and only Dr. Neo Cortex.
After over 20 years,Crash Bandicootfans were finally treated to a sequel to the classicCrash Bandicoot: Warped.This grand return came after the success ofCrash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy, a remake of the bandicoot’s iconic PlayStation 1 platform games. The game has given hope to fans of forgotten gaming franchises of the past and has shown just how successful a well-designed remake can be.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Timereturns the series to its platforming roots and doesn’t lower its difficulty to appeal to younger audiences; in fact, it ramps it up significantly. Completing the main story ofCrash Bandicootis tough but not too taxing, thanks to the new unlimited lives system. However, completing the game 100% offers one of the toughest platforming challenges of the last decade. Platinum relics,flashback tapes, hidden gems, and much, much more need to be obtained to complete the entire game, pushing the player’s platforming skills to their limit.
Sekiro: Shadow Die Twiceis made by the same developer asBloodborne, FromSoftware, and features many of the same trademark level design and gameplay features as the other Soulsborne games. However,Sekirodifferentiates itself from the other Soulsborne titles by ditching the action-RPG genre in favor of action-adventure, with character-creation and build choices being absent. Moreover, the stamina bar is removed, and the combat relies more on deflection timing than dodging, which has resulted in some people comparing the combat to rhythm gameplay.
Players can’t summon friends or farm experience points; they must just tackle enemies and bosses head-on, which can lead to some brutal brick walls.
Super Meat Boywas one of themost influential games of the 2010s. The game proved that indie games and - likeDark Souls- difficult games could be major commercial successes, and it was also a pioneer in unlimited lives systems in platforming games.
The fact that the game gives players unlimited lives may make it seem like a cakewalk; however, the sheer challenge of each level means that players will be raking up tens or even hundreds of deaths before they can progress. Despite the challenge, the game features superbly well-designed levels that make completing it an addictive task.
2Silver Surfer
GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 4.68
One might expect a video game based on a Marvel comic book character to have a reduced difficulty level, but that certainly isn’t the case with 1990’sSilver Surfer. The game’s difficulty predominantly derives from how the screen is constantly scrolling forward (despite the player’s actions), and the player is relentlessly attacked by countless different enemies. The game’s difficulty may have been an intentional way of masking its length, as skilled players can beatSilver Surferin under an hour.
GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 4.70
Ghosts ‘n Goblins
Watch as this nostalgic yet completely reimagined storybook world unravels before your very eyes.Taking cues from both Ghosts ‘n Goblins and Ghouls ‘n Ghosts and giving birth to something entirely new, Resurrection is a title worthy of its name.Don’t be fooled—this picturesque storybook world, while gorgeous, is a love-letter to the original titles and maintains the same punishing gameplay that fans have come to expect. So go on and test your mettle, for the gauntlet has been thrown!StoryA long time ago…In a far off land our tale begins, its beauty matched by none.The knight, Arthur, and the princess there, bathed in midday sun….but suddenly something’s amiss, the town is up in flames,a cloud of darkness does emerge, the palace it does claim.The shadow then extends its reach, to the Umbral Tree divine.Its color fades, its vigor drained by powers most malign.And with this chaos wrought, the Demon Lord plays his vile hand.While Arthur’s back is turned, the princess he kidnaps as planned.In haste does Arthur don his armor, to save his maiden fair.To the Demon Realm he does depart, so demons best beware.GameplayJust like its predecessors, Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection makes use of simple controls that anyone can enjoy. Use them to your advantage as you fight your way through weird and spooky stages filled with unique enemies in this enchanting world brought to life with modern technology and game design philosophy!Ghosts ‘n Goblins is, well, hard. Its unyielding difficulty has been a defining characteristic of the series, and Resurrection pays respect to that legacy. You’ll die, and you’ll die again, but you’ll dust yourself off and get better with every attempt as you learn more about your foes and further craft your strategy. You’ll struggle, but you’ll also bask in glory once you do eventually emerge victorious. That is Ghosts ‘n Goblins.In Resurrection, Arthur can obtain 8 types of weapons, each with its own unique characteristics. Fell your foes with old favorites such as the Lance and the Dagger, shoot shockwaves with the Hammer to launch enemies, or send a Spiked Ball crashing along the ground to bowl them over instead! Use these—and more—to your advantage as you form your plan to progress through the Demon Realm!In addition to his large arsenal of weapons, Arthur can also learn a magnitude of magic and skills. Use Thunderstorm to unleash a hailstorm of bolts in four directions, or learn Kitted Out to increase Arthur’s inventory space and carry more weapons. With tons more available, be sure to make room for magic and skills in your strategy!Make full use of Arthur’s weapons, magic, and skills as you brave the ordeals of the Demon Realm to bring the princess home safely. Muster every ounce of grit you possess; you’re going to need it!On top of single player mode, which focuses on the fun of hunkering down and overcoming challenges alone, Arthur can be aided in his quest by support characters, the Three Wise Guys. This gameplay style makes for an intense two player co-op experience—a first for the series.Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection can also be played with a single Joy-Con™ held horizontally, so fun couch co-op play is as easy as passing your other Joy-Con™ to a friend!Note: Local co-op only. Online play is not supported.Experience the sweaty palms and white-knuckles that come with single player mode, or share the fun with your friends in a party game-like co-op experience!
Ghost ‘N Goblinsis an action-platforming game that puts players in the shoes of a knight who must do battle with many supernatural creatures.
It is infamous for being one of the most difficult mainstream games of all time, particularly because it only takes two hits to for the player to lose a life. Moreover, if the player dies, they are forced all the way back to the beginning of the level. If that wasn’t bad enough, players who want to reach the true final boss and ending can’t claim victory after beating the game once, as they have to beat the game all over again on a harder difficulty level.
Despite how intimidating that all sounds,Ghost ‘N Goblinsis still an acclaimed game that is well worth playing for anyone in search of a retro challenge.
