Most Mentally Exhausting Open-World RPGs

Feeling stressed while playing a game isn’t always negative. Consider this: wouldn’t you rather be fully engaged in a difficult, exciting experience than feel bored or only mildly comfortable? While everyone is different, many players actually enjoy being challenged and pushed to their limits in a game – as long as it’s done in a healthy way.

Okay, so I love a game that really challenges me, and if you’re like me, you need to check these out. We’re talking tough enemies, complicated systems to learn, and bosses that feel almost unbeatable. They’re open-world games that mix survival elements with RPGs, and honestly, they’ll push your brain. They’re stressful, for sure, but the feeling when you finally overcome those challenges? Seriously rewarding. These are the games you play when you want to really earn your victories.

Gothic 2

Old But Gold With A Hefty Dose Of Challenge

The Gothic series is famous for being challenging, and Gothic 2 is no different. The game throws you into a harsh world where enemies are tough from the start and don’t get easier as you improve. It expects you to learn and adapt, unlike many modern games that guide you step-by-step. If enemies are too difficult, you’re meant to level up and try again. This, combined with a world map that doesn’t hold your hand with precise directions or track your progress, can be overwhelming if you’re used to more modern, guided gameplay. It’s a game that expects you to figure things out for yourself, like many games did in the past.

Leveling up can be a bit slow and unforgiving – a bad choice in stats can really set you back. But when you do level up, it feels meaningful and satisfying. Games like Gothic 2 make the effort worthwhile because you’re not just improving your character, you’re also learning how to play better. It’s a challenging experience where you have to be willing to fail and learn from your mistakes before you can truly master the game.

Pathologic 2

You Are The Town’s Only Hope

Pathologic 2 is a deeply challenging game, both in terms of its story and how you play it. It puts you in the shoes of a plague doctor desperately trying to save a town on the brink of collapse. The game creates a relentlessly dark and suffocating atmosphere, making you feel helpless as you attempt to help its residents. However, every decision you make comes with a difficult trade-off, and it’s emotionally draining to realize there are no easy answers.

While many games try to create a sense of helplessness, Pathologic 2 does it better than most – and it adds the pressure of simply staying alive. Not only will you be facing difficult choices, but you’ll also need to find food, water, and supplies. You’re the town’s only hope, but will you prioritize helping others or your own survival? The game’s ticking clock adds to the desperation, really testing your ability to make tough decisions under pressure. Despite all this, it’s a remarkably intense and captivating survival game, and it brilliantly portrays the feeling of facing a threat you can’t defeat with force. It’s a challenging game, but well worth the struggle.

Outward

A Highly Punishing Survival RPG

Success in Outward depends heavily on preparation – the game makes sure of it! Many of us are used to quick, action-packed games where rushing in is the norm, but Outward challenges that by rewarding careful planning and a slower pace. Similar to Gothic 2, you begin as a nobody and gradually become a hero, but it’s a difficult journey. Expect challenging enemies in the harsh, unforgiving world of Aurai, and be prepared to do a lot of walking – there’s no fast travel here, so staying safe is crucial.

Even small errors in Outward can quickly lead to disaster. Dying sets you back considerably, leaving you injured, weakened in combat, and vulnerable to almost any enemy. Neglecting basic needs like sleep and hydration also has serious consequences, and you can even get sick. The enemies are challenging, and being caught off guard is often fatal, forcing you to constantly be careful and plan ahead. Despite the difficulty, Outward is a fantastic experience, much like Gothic, because it’s all about learning. It’s not about simply becoming powerful; it’s about figuring out what works and what doesn’t through your own mistakes. Nothing is easy, so overcoming a dungeon or defeating a tough boss feels incredibly rewarding, especially when playing with friends.

Kenshi

A Gritty Survival Experience Like No Other

If you enjoy challenging, unforgiving games like Gothic and Outward, you might love Kenshi. It’s a very open-ended game, and people tend to either really connect with it or find it frustrating. You have complete freedom to define your character, but the world is incredibly harsh. You start as a weak, insignificant character and will likely face frequent defeats, even death – you might be killed in the wilderness or captured and enslaved. Kenshi is designed to test your limits, offering little help or direction. Expect repeated setbacks with serious consequences – losing battles can mean long recovery times or even permanent injuries.

Even as you play, the world of Kenshi continues to live and change. It’s a dynamic simulation where towns are attacked and factions fight, all happening independently of your actions. The beginning can be really tough, and many players get discouraged. But Kenshi has a dedicated fanbase because it lets you create your own unique adventure. While setbacks are inevitable, the open world – where you can go anywhere and interact with anyone – makes overcoming those challenges incredibly satisfying. Watching your character, and eventually your entire team, grow and succeed after so many failures is a truly rewarding experience.

Elden Ring

The Lands Between Are Relentless Against The Tarnished

While Elden Ring isn’t quite as relentlessly difficult as some other games on this list, it’s still worth mentioning as a challenging open-world RPG in the ‘Soulslike’ style. Like other games from FromSoftware, it drops you into a vast world with minimal instruction. You’ll start with a brief tutorial, but stepping out into the open world of Limgrave, you’re immediately confronted by a tough boss – the Tree Sentinel – which serves as a challenging introduction to the game.

Elden Ring’s world, the Lands Between, is packed with challenging dungeons, points of interest, and enemies – even the seemingly small ones can be surprisingly difficult when you’re first starting out. You’ll often find yourself needing to play cautiously and grind for experience to improve your character. Like other ‘Souls-like’ games, the bosses are incredibly tough, often much larger than you and equipped with attacks that can easily stun or combo you if you aren’t prepared. The game keeps you constantly on edge, with unpredictable enemies and unfair tricks around every corner, from wandering knights to giant trolls, and especially the challenging boss Malenia. However, overcoming these hurdles is incredibly satisfying. Each victory earns you Runes, which you can use to upgrade your gear and stats, making your character more powerful. While certain character builds can make the game easier, Elden Ring remains a demanding but rewarding experience, especially for players new to the ‘Souls-like’ genre.

2026-02-01 11:35