10 Games Best Played On The Hardest Difficulty

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We opt to engage in such challenging games not for their simplicity, but for their difficulty.” This phrase is reminiscent of the words attributed to President John F. Kennedy in 1962, after facing a setback in a game with permanent consequences.

Feel free to challenge the accuracy of this claim, but here’s something not up for debate: when a game presents a challenge, it can make the experience of playing that game more rewarding.

I compiled this list, drawing upon my own trials and tribulations, successes and setbacks, as a tribute to humankind’s remarkable resilience in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Each instance when a game stirred feelings so intense I was on the verge of tears or compelled me to unwind with a mindless FIFA match, there’s an equally memorable moment when it delivered a virtual triumph, heightening my admiration for the captivating world of video games.

10.
Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic

Rocks To Riches

Constructing your very own settlement, be it a village, city, or an empire, isn’t necessarily groundbreaking or original in terms of gameplay. However, what sets Workers & Resources apart is its departure from the constraints of exploitative capitalism.

Equipped with an unyielding determination to construct a self-reliant socialist state, this is among the most tranquil games I’ve ever encountered. Despite the occasional tears that well up when a minor issue escalates into the loss of 80% of the population, no game is flawless.

The authentic challenge in Workers & Resources really stands out. Instead of forcing increased difficulty through artificial means, activating this setting serves as a stark reminder of the first law of thermodynamics.

To construct anything, it’s essential to obtain the necessary laborers, resources, and equipment. Additionally, managing the waste produced during construction is crucial to prevent your community from appearing as a messy landfill.

You can incorporate certain aspects from here, yet it necessitates dispatching your own transportation to the border to retrieve the goods. This process slows down the construction of your Soviet republic, but the end result is immensely rewarding.

9.
Ghost of Tsushima

One Strike Is All It Takes

2020’s Ghost of Tsushima launch marked a significant resurgence of samurai themes in entertainment, a trend for which we are deeply grateful to Sucker Punch.

In this game, you’ll find yourself immersed in the era of the initial Mongol attack on Japan, where you assume the role of a resilient samurai engaged in a valiant effort to repel the invaders from Tsushima Island.

As a gamer immersed in the world of Ghost of Tsushima, I can attest that the Lethal difficulty level isn’t just about historical accuracy; it’s about feeling every strike of a sword as if it were real. In simpler terms, it means getting hurt or even killed quickly and brutally. Whether you’re familiar with the game’s backstory or not, one thing is clear – this mode ain’t for the faint-hearted!

Instead of merely weakening opponents, Lethal mode significantly reduces the number of attacks required to defeat anything within the game, including yourself, to just three or less. This mode not only penalizes errors but also generously rewards precision and skill.

Despite stumbling on what seemed simple challenges multiple times (whether it was three or thirty occasions), I wouldn’t feign ignorance about feeling annoyed. However, all those instances paled in comparison to the moment when I overcame the adversary before me.

8.
Ghost Recon: Wildlands

When Dead Means Dead

Superficially, Ghost Recon: Wildlands shares elements reminiscent of a fusion between Grand Theft Auto and the gritty style of Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario. You traverse an open world, engage in gunfights with criminals and corrupt law enforcement, commandeer vehicles for quick transportation, and subsequently find yourself embroiled in more firefights.

Although not overly challenging compared to many games, the Ghost Mode in Wildlands presents an exceptionally tough experience. Essentially, each time you die, your progress resets back to zero, and you must begin anew from scratch. What’s more, this mode spans approximately 30-40 hours of gameplay.

Transforming a straightforward shooting game into an authentic stealth game of skill, the prospect of severe heartache and unrestrained gaming fury adds a layer of realism.

The majority of the game involves sneaking into cartel and gendarmerie bases, often outmatched by forces that can range from four times to twenty times larger. Essentially, stealth is key or you risk failure and having to begin anew. This could be seen as a form of self-punishment turned into an artistic experience.

7.
Sniper Elite: Resistance

Slow Is Smooth, Smooth Is Fast

In the context of World War II, carrying out covert operations beyond enemy territories often required a strategic, prolonged approach. The time gap between an operative being deployed and the actual execution of the mission could span several months, as there were no second chances in war.

Instead of playing both Sniper Elite 5 and Sniper Elite: Resistance, which take place in Nazi-occupied France during 1944, I prefer the latter due to its refined and smoother gameplay overall.

As a gamer, when I dive into this series, I’m usually prepared for the explosive ballistics and boisterous kill cams. But switching to Authentic mode transforms the game into a methodical journey. A mission that might typically zip by now becomes a prolonged test of patience, taking anywhere from an hour to three hours to conquer.

As a player, I find myself in a challenging scenario where my health doesn’t automatically recover, the ballistic computer hack that lets me survive without air has been disabled, enemies seem to remember me even after I disappear from sight, and I succumb to damage much more swiftly.

Playing Sniper Elite at its most challenging level, Authentic, pushed me incredibly close to my mental limits, but finishing missions using my honed skills rather than my old ‘shoot first and ask questions later’ strategy was far more rewarding.

6.
Alien: Isolation

It’s Behind Me, Isn’t It?

Each day spent without playing Alien: Isolation feels like a missed opportunity. This game truly shines as an outstanding video game interpretation of a renowned movie series, making it one of the most remarkable contributions to the survival horror genre.

I really appreciate how Creative Assembly chose to maintain the “feeling of helplessness and impending doom” from the original film, as opposed to the “Space Action Heroes” vibe in the sequels.

Let me clarify, Alien: Isolation is an outstanding game regardless of its difficulty level. However, once I gave it a try, I couldn’t imagine playing it under any other setting except Nightmare Mode. The title itself subtly suggests that this isn’t a good time, but in an enjoyable, somewhat disturbing manner.

As a devoted fan, I’d rephrase that as: “Engaging Nightmare Mode strips me of my map and health gauge, turning the Xenomorph into an authentic hunter. My reliable motion tracker, once unerring, occasionally falters, adding to the suspense as its mere sound could betray my location. This makes every decision I make crucial.

In comparison to both maintaining constant control over your breath and its execution, Alien: Isolation more convincingly emulates the atmosphere of A Quiet Place than the actual video game adaptation of that franchise does, which is quite remarkable.

5.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A New Immersive Fantasy

It’s likely that many individuals have either experienced playing The Witcher 3 themselves or have a general understanding of its narrative and characters. Nevertheless, only a few daredevil adventurers have managed to finish the game at the Death March difficulty level.

Although its over-the-top title may lead one to think otherwise, Death March isn’t an artificially challenging mode concocted specifically for the friend who prides himself on his prowess in Dark Souls 3. Instead, it represents a level of difficulty that’s appropriate for more experienced players.

At its most challenging level, playing The Witcher 3 feels akin to embodying a Witcher, as the obstacles and adversaries presented become surmountable with an in-depth knowledge of how to conquer them.

In order to succeed as the game becomes more challenging, it’s essential to not only utilize items like signs, potions, and decoctions but also to thoroughly study your enemy’s characteristics in the bestiary so that you can equip yourself appropriately.

The journey through The Witcher 3 on this setting is noticeably more leisurely compared to other challenges, yet it showcases the game’s finest qualities, transforming it into the truly immersive role-playing game it was meant to be.

4.
The Last of Us

Embrace Grounded Misery

Naughty Dog has been tirelessly working to surpass the sales records of The Last of Us series, compared to how often Todd Howard might release Skyrim.

As a passionate admirer, I must admit, I can’t fault the company for leveraging opportunities – and who wouldn’t when they manage to attract stars like Pedro Pascal as their poster figures, introducing new fans to the world of legends? Yet, it’s hard not to notice that this strategy is starting to generate quite a buzz, almost reaching meme status.

In recent years, The Last of Us has significantly impacted the survival horror genre, yet its Grounded difficulty setting often goes unnoticed. I’m highlighting the original game for this discussion, as it was the one that initially offered this option; however, you can also select it in subsequent sequels, updates, and reinterpretations.

In The Last of Us’ Grounded mode, you’re plunged directly into the game without any heads-up display (HUD) or Listen Mode for detecting enemies during combat. Additionally, resources like materials, weapons, and supplies are scarce, increasing the challenge on the survival front.

If your day seems perfect and you’re looking for a challenge, the remake of Part I and all iterations of Part II offer a permadeath difficulty setting. This feature means that when you die, you’ll start the game over from scratch. However, you also have the option to reset just the current chapter or act instead of the entire game.

3.
Metro: Exodus

If Not Us, Then Who?

Just as a child persistently showing the same favorite toy in school, I can’t help but bring up Metro Exodus once more. It’s simply due to the fact that 4A Games crafted an exceptional game that checks off numerous desirable qualities.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but notice that Metro Exodus has been showered with praise for its haunting ambiance and smooth gameplay, yet the impact of its difficulty settings often goes unnoticed.

As a big fan, it seems like everyone is talking about how cool Metro Exodus looks and plays, but not many people mention the important role that difficulty levels play in this game.

In this tough Ranger mode, the game transforms from a casual journey to an authentic post-apocalyptic survival nightmare, as intended. You’ll notice the absence of any heads-up display (HUD) elements, resources are extremely hard to come by, and your character can be killed just as easily as other human opponents.

As a devoted gamer, I must say that apart from an initial unbalanced segment within a Hansa base at the start of Metro Exodus, the game ultimately offers a balanced experience. It’s not just about dishing out damage; the enemies can retaliate just as effectively.

To provide an uninterrupted gaming experience, Ranger Hardcore disables manual saving options. So, there won’t be any need for regular saves. The game will automatically save your progress at specific story milestones, as well as when you take rest at a shelter. But beyond those instances, there are no other opportunities to manually save your game.

2.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Medieval Peasant Simulator

If anyone dreamt of being an ordinary person in medieval times, it’s safe to say that dream never crossed anyone’s mind. Yet, the upcoming game Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 offers just that experience, should you grow weary of heroics, by opting for its Hardcore mode instead.

By assuming the role of Bohemia’s renowned vagabond in Hardcore mode, you effectively neutralize any advantages you might have against others. This is because Henry will not have a compass, no visible map markers, and no guidance on enemy attack directions.

In essence, you must be aware of your current location, the position of your opponents, and your destination, much like a seasoned Medieval traveler. To heighten the authenticity, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 omits fast travel and automatic saving options.

At the outset of the challenging game mode, you’re given the option or requirement to select three disadvantageous traits that will persist throughout your gaming experience until its conclusion. This slightly hinders the game’s advancement but greatly enhances your appreciation for the game environment.

1.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Hey, I’m Walking Here

To respect your time and mental peace, I won’t resort to making a “buy Skyrim” joke in this context. However, it’s worth noting that the reason for Skyrim’s continued popularity as one of the top RPGs globally, more than a decade after its debut, is not difficult to comprehend.

The unique charm of Skyrim lies not only in its remarkable and peculiar mods, but also in its ability to fully immerse players. Once you complete the game in Survival Mode, you might find yourself regarding those who shy away from this challenging experience as less experienced or daring.

In the 2017 Special Edition, a new game mode called Survival Mode was introduced. This mode challenges players to cope with issues such as hunger, fatigue, and exposure to harsh temperatures. Attempting to play recklessly could lead to contracting an illness. Unlike before, your health no longer recovers on its own, so it’s essential to carry healing items with you.

The art of inventory management has undergone a significant overhaul, largely due to the reduction of carrying weight by half and the removal of weightless items from the equation. This change is particularly noteworthy for characters with archer profiles, as they often carry more arrows than they could ever use throughout their lifetime.

The unifying factor among all these aspects is the absence of quick transportation options. This means that you must navigate through challenging terrains like freezing water or face exhaustion, which in turn heightens the intensity of your journey to an equal degree as the destination itself. This situation also encourages a deeper appreciation for the game’s meticulous design details.

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2025-04-28 17:41