Beat This: The Hardest Games That Are Still Fun

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Difficult games often bring a mix of pain, frustration, and ultimately, a great sense of accomplishment. It’s strangely rewarding to struggle and fail repeatedly before finally succeeding. These games don’t make things easy – you have to work hard for every bit of progress.

These games aren’t frustratingly difficult; they’re challenging by design. They require players to be focused and precise in every action, whether it’s a fight, a jump, or solving a puzzle. Acting carelessly will be punished, but that’s what makes the game so engaging. Even after failing many times, players are motivated to keep trying because they’re still enjoying themselves.

Super Meat Boy

A Brutal Platformer That Rewards Perfect Timing

Super Meat Boy seems easy to pick up – you simply run, jump, and try to rescue Bandage Girl at the end of each level. But don’t let the charming look fool you! It’s actually one of the most challenging 2D platformers ever created. Each level is packed with deadly obstacles like saw blades, missiles, and hazardous surfaces, requiring incredibly precise movements. A single mistake will send you right back to the beginning.

Later levels, such as “The Cotton Alley,” are known for being incredibly challenging. They demand quick reflexes to navigate obstacles like moving saws and crumbling walls. While tough, this difficulty actually helps players learn – they’ll naturally start memorizing the level designs, improving their reactions, and discovering hidden shortcuts without even realizing they’re doing it.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

For Those Who Need Something Tougher Than Hollow Knight

In Hollow Knight: Silksong, you play as Hornet, who is quicker and more nimble than the Knight from the original Hollow Knight. While Hornet’s movements are fluid and graceful, the enemies are more challenging – they’re stronger, faster, and come in larger numbers. It’s easy to get overconfident until you take just a couple of hits and quickly lose a significant amount of health.

The boss battles in Silksong will likely be challenging, with many bosses changing their attacks over multiple phases. Just when players feel they’ve mastered a boss’s patterns, it will introduce new ones. However, the game is designed to be fair, giving players complete control over every action – every hit, dash, and jump.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

A Samurai Adventure Focused On Out-Dueling Ruthless Swordsmen

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice doesn’t offer different difficulty settings. The developers at FromSoftware intentionally designed the game to be challenging from the start. Even seemingly minor enemies can be incredibly dangerous – a single mistake in timing a block against a common soldier can quickly lead to defeat.

Sekiro isn’t just about quick reflexes; it demands patience and a good sense of timing. Being slightly off with a parry can cost you a lot of health. Bosses like Genichiro, Owl, and Isshin are incredibly challenging for new players, with their lengthy attack combinations, unpredictable moves, and punishment for hasty reactions. Unlike many games, you can’t rely on leveling up or strong armor – you must become skilled with the sword to survive. Sekiro is designed for you to learn from numerous defeats, memorizing enemy patterns until you finally overcome each challenge.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

A Cyber-Action Game Where Fast Blade Combos Push Reflexes To The Limit

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance makes sword fighting incredibly fast-paced and demanding. Players control Raiden, a cyborg ninja, and must react quickly to deflect enemy attacks, or risk instant defeat. The game’s unique parry system isn’t just about blocking – you have to time your directional inputs and attacks with precision.

Revengeance mode amps up the difficulty in combat. Enemies are quicker, deal more damage, and relentlessly attack. Even standard soldiers can easily defeat Raiden if you’re not careful. To succeed, you’ll need to be constantly on the offensive, link together combos, use blade mode to target enemy weaknesses, and perfectly time your energy absorption.

Spelunky 2

A Roguelike All About Collecting Treasure, Avoiding Traps, And Surviving Randomly Generated Caves

Spelunky 2 might seem simple and inviting as a roguelike game, but it’s actually incredibly challenging. Even if you survived a trap before, it could easily kill you now. One small error – like stepping on a spike, failing to grab a rope, or upsetting a shop owner – can end your entire game immediately.

As players venture further in the game, the environments become increasingly bizarre and challenging. However, the core appeal of Spelunky 2 is its blend of unpredictability, fairness, and enjoyment. Each death isn’t a setback, but a learning opportunity, encouraging players to return with improved strategy, caution, and a thirst for discovery.

Celeste

Scale Mount Celeste With Precise Movement And Patience

Celeste appears calm, but it’s actually a very challenging game. Each level is like a small puzzle filled with dangerous obstacles like spikes, wind, and moving platforms. You play as Madeline, who can only dash once during each jump, so timing is crucial. A single mistake can send her falling!

Okay, so after you beat the main levels in Celeste, there are these super challenging B- and C-Sides. Seriously, they’re brutal! One of them can honestly take hours to finish, even if you’re really good at the game. Celeste is definitely hard, but the way it feels to move and the perfect timing it asks for makes even dying over and over again…fun, somehow. It’s just so satisfying!

Elden Ring

The Freedom To Go Just About Anywhere Can Be Both Fun And Challenging

The world of Elden Ring is stunningly beautiful, but also incredibly unforgiving. While the game gives you freedom to explore anywhere, you’ll quickly encounter enemies much stronger than you. Peaceful meadows might hide dangerous dragons, and even a simple cave could contain a boss that defeats you instantly.

Malenia, Blade of Miquella, perfectly illustrates the game’s difficulty. She recovers health with every attack, even if you block. Her signature move, Waterfowl Dance, is a rapid series of strikes that covers a large area and can instantly defeat powerful characters. Many players spend hours just learning how to dodge it.

Dark Souls 3

A Dark Fantasy Journey Where Every Fight Tests Patience, Timing, And Nerve

Even after mastering the first two Dark Souls games, Dark Souls 3 quickly proves that success isn’t guaranteed. The game constantly challenges players to learn from their mistakes and get better. A single careless encounter with an enemy can end a run, so careful timing, positioning, and stamina management are crucial.

The game’s level design adds to the challenge. Tight walkways, sneaky enemies, and dangerous traps quickly punish mistakes. While bonfires act as safe havens and checkpoints, reaching them requires real effort. Dark Souls 3 doesn’t hesitate to send you back to the beginning if you’re not careful.

Cuphead

Who Knew A 1930s Cartoon Shooter Would Be So Difficult

Though it looks cute with its old-fashioned, 1930s cartoon style, Cuphead is known for its challenging boss battles. These fights are fast-paced and fun, and each boss keeps players on their toes by constantly switching up its attacks. You’ll need quick reactions to handle the new patterns and obstacles in each phase of the battle.

Even seemingly straightforward levels demand precise timing with jumps, blocks, and shooting. While the action looks frantic, there’s actually a rhythm to it. Mastering this rhythm is incredibly satisfying, and makes the challenge of learning the levels enjoyable.

Bloodborne

A Gothic Horror Hunt Where Monsters Grow Stronger The Bolder Players Become

Bloodborne is a dark and challenging game overrun with terrifying creatures and crazed hunters. The combat is quicker and more frantic than previous Souls games, forcing you to rely on dodging, precise timing, and quick counterattacks instead of a shield. Expect relentless enemies – hunters will shoot to break your attacks, beasts will swarm you, and tight environments will make escaping a real struggle.

Yharnam, the city in Bloodborne, creates a consistently tense and threatening atmosphere, with unsettling sounds that build anticipation for every encounter. If you enjoy games that prioritize fast-paced, aggressive combat over careful planning, Bloodborne is a fantastic option. The game encourages constant offense by allowing players to regain health through counterattacks, even when they’re nearly defeated.

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2025-11-03 06:06