As someone who’s spent a considerable chunk of their life navigating through various digital realms, I find myself drawn to the list you’ve so meticulously compiled. It’s almost like a treasure map leading me to the most elusive and challenging gaming experiences out there.
Although video game categories encompass games ranging from easy to extremely challenging, some particular categories are known for their toughness and are therefore perceived as daunting by many players.
Typically, a game that falls into a particular genre tends to be difficult because the original game that set the trend was challenging. Any subsequent games inspired by this genre must also maintain this difficulty level.
Here, I’ll delve into the genres that set the stage for increased challenge, the trailblazing titles that sparked this trend, and the standout games that aimed to surpass their predecessors in ingenuity.
Since trouble often makes a certain genre seem uninviting to beginners, I will aim to focus on those that boast particularly challenging, highly acclaimed titles within their collection.
10 JRPG
Unrelenting, As Is Tradition
80’s-era JRPGs, including those from the Shin Megami Tensei series, were often quite challenging, repetitive, and somewhat frustrating to play due to their high difficulty levels and grinding requirements.
As the show progresses, it remains challenging, but increasingly, Japanese Role-Playing Games offer you the flexibility to decide how tough you’d like it to be.
In contrast to many modern games within the same genre, which now feature adjustable difficulty levels and are more user-friendly than before, Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) continue to adhere closely to traditional gameplay elements rather than embracing contemporary changes, as is often seen in Western RPGs.
These types of games, such as Dragon Quest 11 and Persona 5, feature tougher difficulty options that can deliver sudden challenges reminiscent of an oncoming freight train, despite their generally non-demanding grinding requirements.
9 Metroidvania
A Trifecta of Tested Skills
Metroid pioneered a new genre by blending elements from Mario’s platforming and Zelda’s exploration, with Castlevania adding to this concept. This genre, stemming from two series recognized for their challenging gameplay, continues to thrive even though Castlevania may not be active currently. Its influence remains strong.
In most Metroidvania games, you’re challenged to demonstrate your skills in traversal, fighting, and wayfinding as you delve deep into expansive worlds, often pushing these abilities to the very extremes.
In simpler terms, games like Hollow Knight put you through demanding battles and tricky navigation challenges spread across a vast world. This is just one instance of the many challenging Metroidvania-style games available.
8 Real-Time Strategy
Stressful Planning
In essence, apart from some popular Nintendo titles, the Real-Time Strategy (RTS) genre primarily consists of intricate games requiring constant attention and management of numerous elements at once.
Instead of aiding simplicity, it’s often challenging to navigate RTS games such as the Warhammer series due to their interfaces being congested with numerous tiny components, making them appear complex.
Currently, these strategy games such as Age of Empires, Company of Heroes, and the Total War series are persistently competing by incorporating additional gameplay elements.
This makes the entire genre look like a stressful nightmare where you have to perform constantly, but at least Pikmin is nice to you.
7 Survival
Very Broad, A Little Obvious
In survival video games, you are tasked with staying alive using scarce supplies, searching for new items, and always facing the danger of potential demise.
Rather than stating that The Oregon Trail originated the genre, it would be more accurate – and less simplistic – to assert that DayZ and Don’t Starve provided a source of inspiration for subsequent games in the same vein.
Instead of just the dread of surviving under the constant threat of starvation and pain, games such as Subnautica amplify that fear and plunge it deeper into the realm of terror.
As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in various genres, I find that many modern survival games come across as rather off-putting at first glance. With their bleak environments and harsh gameplay mechanics, they can feel like a challenge even for veterans of the gaming world. To make matters worse, some of these games incorporate permadeath as a feature, which adds an element of unforgiving realism that I find quite daunting. As someone who prefers a more casual gaming experience, I often find myself steering clear of these titles, opting instead for genres that offer a more welcoming and less punishing atmosphere.
6 Rhythm
Highest Skill Ceiling
Without a doubt, rhythm games are renowned for their intensity, starting from tapping along with the beats in Dance Dance Revolution and progressing to the more complex interactions seen in Beatmania iidx.
It is renowned for enabling you to react swiftly with your hands and legs, while also demanding exceptional skill in coordinating your eyes, ears, and movements.
Rhythm games are known for presenting formidable tasks that go beyond human capabilities, creating an aura of great difficulty around them.
Learning to use a map in a game like StepMania isn’t particularly challenging, but most players struggle to master more than 10% of the available games without giving up.
5 Bullet Hell
It Has “Hell” In The Name
As a gamer, you might have figured out that when I dive into a Bullet Hell game, it’s all about dodging an onslaught of projectiles hurled at me from every direction. And you’d be spot-on!
The difficulty level of these games is mind-boggling, and despite the extensive history of Touhou, it hasn’t lost an ounce of its daunting appeal.
Instead of adopting a more relaxed gameplay style like many other games, bullet hell titles tend to restrict your control, demanding pinpoint accuracy in your shots, and they seldom show mercy as you must skillfully dodge and maneuver to avoid the barrage of incoming projectiles.
Playing these games can frequently feel intimidating due to their complex, stunning barrage of bullets, which are typically mastered by skilled players.
4 Roguelike
A New Challenge Every Time
Games categorized as roguelike are often known for their challenging nature, characterized by features like permanent character death and the absence of permanent advancements or upgrades in the gameplay.
If you fail to give adequate attention to both aspects, you can be considered a game that follows the Roguelike style, and with The Binding of Isaac playing a significant role in its revival, this type of gaming has grown increasingly challenging.
Due to the strict criteria people often use to distinguish a roguelike from a lite game, combined with the typically challenging game mechanics, it can be quite challenging for newcomers to immerse themselves in the world of roguelikes.
This point is significantly strengthened by the dedicated, long-term fanbase that titles such as Risk of Rain 2 and Noita have developed over time.
3 Massively Multiplayer Online
Nose to the Grindstone
Among games with genres that often include extensive repetitive tasks, Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOs) stand out as particularly popular within a group primarily consisting of individuals who have more free time, such as the unemployed.
Over time, I’ve journeyed from plodding through the vast landscapes of Runescape for hours on end, to the heart-pounding, coordinated efforts in the epic team battles of Destiny 2.
In most Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs), they tend to adopt a gradual strategy in their design, providing fresh activities in small doses to prevent players from feeling overwhelmed or discouraged by the extensive grinding required for significant advancement.
This means the most dedicated players spend hundreds or thousands of hours on the game and it is especially frustrating for anyone looking to do PVP.
2 Precision Platformer
Only For the Best
It seems that the title “Precision Platformer” might give the impression of a more challenging game with increased complexity, potentially making it less inviting for players who are not familiar with the genre or have lower skill levels.
As a devoted gamer, I can’t help but marvel at how the challenging platformer genre took shape with titles such as Super Meat Boy and 1001 Spikes. Over time, it has morphed into an intimidating colossus, housing some of the most difficult games ever created.
In other words, games such as Celeste, Geometry Dash, and Hollow Knight (a type of Metroidvania), can all be described as Precision Platformers because they demand a high level of skill and precision from players.
In other words, while games within this category can remain user-friendly, having a steep learning curve as a prerequisite makes it difficult for newcomers to grasp and start playing.
1 Soulslike
The Dark Souls of Genres
The exceptional quality of Dark Souls sparked numerous other games, many of which emulated its challenging gameplay, a trait for which Dark Souls is widely recognized.
Soul-like games aren’t always challenging by default, but they often feature intense combat, the art of parrying, and a somber ambiance as consistent elements.
Each of these aspects contributes significantly to making titles such as Elden Ring, Another Crab’s Treasure, and lastly Hollow Knight more challenging for newcomers to grasp.
When a game is labeled as a “soulslike,” my instinct is often caution, because I typically link that term with challenging boss battles, grim narratives, and titles I might otherwise find intriguing.
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2024-11-29 16:09