Summary
Since the dawn of video games, developers have been looking for ways to challenge players to their wits' ends. Back in the days of arcade games, rising up the levels was a Herculean task meant to eat up a person’s quarters. Nowadays, video games don’t want to alienate players with difficulty, but still want to give them an engaging challenge that feels rewarding to complete.
There are plenty of video games throughout history that are notoriously difficult, and despite the initial reaction from fans that might cause them to rage out and throw a controller, it can’t be denied that the difficulty is more than fair, as without it, players might breeze through the experience far too easily than intended.
Cupheadhad a long development process following its announcement in 2013, finally releasing in 2017 and becoming one of the most commercially successful indie games of the 2010s. While its cartoonish graphics might invokea simpler time of movie animation, don’t be fooled by all the smiles.Cupheadis almost notorious for being one of the hardest platformers of all time.
It’ll take a long time for players to master the timing down to the seconds, but many who have played the game will attest that it’s far from unfair. Nothing will compare to the euphoria players will experience from completing a level or defeating a boss after sinking literal hours into every single movement they make. Be warned,Cupheadis not for the faint of heart.
Titles likeMonster Hunter Worldhave caught on in Western countries, butfew entries in the series feel as cumulativeasMonster Hunter Rise. Originally released for the Nintendo Switch, this title is the perfectMonster Huntergame for co-op play and hardships.
That being said, rising up the ranks of hunting monsters won’t be an easy feat. The game can be incredibly challenging to take on solo, which is why it encourages local and online multiplayer to take a party of four hunters on missions. With a full party of seasoned hunters, fights can feel pretty easy, but when it’s just a one-on-one hunt, it might be a lot for one person to handle.
For now,Kid Icarus: Uprisingis an exclusive title for the Nintendo 3DS and the brainchild ofSuper Smash Bros.‘Masahiro Sakurai. This reboot of the NES classic reinterprets its Greek mythology-inspired world as a rail shooter, as Pit leads Palutena’s army against invading forces of the Underworld while jumping between sky battles and land infiltrations.
What makesUprisingunique, especially for Nintendo, is that players are in complete control of the difficulty. Before each level, the Fiend’s Cauldron allows players to spend hearts to challenge themselves, reaping higher rewards the harder the level they complete. While the higher difficulty levels are no laughing matter, players will only have themselves to blame if they can’t match up.
In 2011, the video game world was introduced to the horrors ofDark Souls. From the very first entry in this now-legendary series, players have been pushed to the edge of their sanity with the game’s unforgiving difficulty. While extreme toughness has become part of theDark Soulsidentity,few games described as “Soulslike"are as reasonably fair as the first one.
Many critics praisedDark Soulsfor not holding the players’ hand, as games of its era had already conditioned them. Even retrospective reviews have pointed out how satisfying it is for players to become stronger as the game continues on, proving that its infamous difficulty doesn’t come without the proper rewards for the bravest video game fans out there.
Bayonettahas had a lot of longevityfor a game originally released in 2009. However, it’s seen numerous ports on consoles like the Wii U, Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation 4, among others. It’s also seen two sequels, often bundled together as an entire trilogy for fans who want the fullBayonettaexperience (so far) from start to finish.
The game isn’t as notorious for its difficulty as others on this list, despite having a difficulty mode called “Non-Stop Infinite Climax.” However, the gameplay ofBayonettamakes use of quick-time events, which while frustrating, add to the game’s chaotic hack-and-slash structure. Sadly, the two sequels don’t match up to the first in difficulty, as consistently good as they are.
Released in 2018,Celestecomes from indie studio Maddy Makes Games, and was the product of a 2015 game jam. The gameplay involves platforming as the protagonist, Madeline, climbs the titular mountain, navigating across obstacles and traps as they make their way through levels. However, what makesCelestea fair but difficult experience is its accessibility.
Through the game’s “Assist Mode,” players can lower the difficulty by slowing the game’s speed down or making Madeline invincible, though this may be a cop-out to some steadfast gamers. For the ones who want the full experience, they may have to get used to some pretty particular timing, and for the completionists, there are even secret routes with even harder platforming.
“Metroidvania” games are notably difficult, prioritizing non-linear exploration and elements of RPGs. One such example of this subgenre isHollow Knight, which since its release in 2017 has become one of the most iconic Metroidvania games. Players control a warrior navigating a fallen kingdom, battling insectoid bosses, and upgrading their abilities.
While some critics felt the game’s difficulty was at times unfair, others felt the bosses were adequately fair enough to challenge prepared players. Considering the game’s non-linearity, players can level up on their own time while steadily progressing through the game’s story. Plus,its replay value is unparalleledcompared to other indie titles like it.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freezewas originally released for the Wii U in 2014, but has since seena port on Nintendo Switch. It’s a good thing more players get to experience this 2D platformer, as it lives up pretty well to theDonkey Kong Countrylegacy on SNES. Oftentimes, there’s no room for error in this game’s platforming, but there’s still tons to appreciate.
For instance, playing as Cranky Kong might be a much more difficult experience than players that go with Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong. In its Nintendo Switch version, there’s also an easier gameplay mode for the less experienced 2D platforming fans. A new mode where Funky Kong is playable on the Switch version also offers a new experience while not sacrificing difficulty.
Roguelike games are notoriously arcade difficulty, requiring players to often replay the same levels again and again every time they die. That’s certainly the case withHades, one of the most popular indie games of the past few years. Playing as Hades' son Zagreus, players must attempt to escape the Underworld without dying, powering up in between attempts.
For a game to get a lot out of players repeating randomly generated levels again and again, it has to get pretty difficult. However, players will often find themselves continuing to get better and advancing through the game’s numerous floors of the Underworld each time they play. It may take a while to complete it, but the story and gameplay will keep players engaged the entire time.
One of the most iconic indie games of all time isShovel Knight, which began as a Kickstarter campaign before turning into a popular franchise of its own. The original version, released in 2014, invokes retro sidescrollers likeMega ManandDuckTalesasplayers adventure as the titular herothrough a series of medieval levels and charismatic boss battles.
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope, the main campaign, is difficult in its own right, especially for first-time players. However, the game only gets harder with its DLC expansion campaigns, which feature protagonists in former bosses Plague Knight, Specter Knight, and King Knight. IfShovel Knightwas difficult enough to be unfair, it certainly wouldn’t have the legacy it does now.
