PlayStation's Most Challenging Games: Conquer the Steepest Learning Curves

Summary

PlayStation continues to set new standards with high-quality and challenging games like Demon’s Souls.
Returnal and Rise of the Ronin offer steep learning curves with relentless difficulty and rewarding gameplay.
Lies of P, Nioh 2, and Sifu provide intense challenges with punishing combat mechanics and high skill demands.

Few video game brands can rival the quality and prestige of PlayStation. Its exclusive first-party games are so appealing that gamers often purchase an entire console just to play them. Furthermore, its collection of games consistently expands each year. The influence of this company on the gaming world is evident, and they continue to release top-notch titles in a variety of categories, catering to different levels of skill.

Striking a harmonious blend of difficulty and fairness is quite challenging, as only a handful of games successfully attain an optimal level of both. This current generation of gaming consoles has introduced numerous remarkable titles, many of which have pushed boundaries within the industry by showcasing that a game doesn’t necessarily need to increase in difficulty after the initial stages, and can instead present a substantial challenge from the get-go.

8. Demon’s Souls

The First Of Its Kind

Demon’s Souls might not be as challenging as some other FromSoftware games, but it certainly holds its own as a formidable adversary. When it was first released, Demon’s Souls established a new benchmark for the type of punishing, skill-based gameplay players have come to expect. The PS5 remake only made its toughness more refined. In this game, you’re plunged into the decaying kingdom of Boletaria, where each enemy encounter could lead to instant death if not approached with caution. To prevail, precision and learning are essential.

The learning process in this game is sharp and unrelenting, much like FromSoftware’s signature style. Unlike many games, it offers minimal guidance or assistance to beginners, instead pushing players to learn through their own experiences, mistakes, and setbacks. Delving into the game world can be hazardous but profitable, with concealed passages, valuable treasures, and earth-shattering secrets waiting for those brave enough to venture forth. Mastering even the fundamental mechanics takes patience, but the payoff is substantial, making you feel like you’ve conquered a mountain when you reach the end.

7. Returnal

Takes Some Getting Used To

In a remarkable fusion of familiar and innovative elements, Returnal offers an exhilarating blend of fast-paced third-person gameplay, roguelike mechanics, and challenging difficulty levels set in a distinctive world that stands alone. The core mechanic is reminiscent of roguelikes, where death serves as a reset, compelling players to learn, adapt, and enhance their skills with each attempt. The combat requires precision, quick reactions, and strategic thinking, all while being subjected to relentless enemy attacks that create bullet-hell patterns on the screen. Even standard opponents can easily overwhelm careless players in mere moments.

In the game “Returnal“, the challenging learning experience comes from its unique combination of unpredictable elements and tough combat that appreciates skill while penalizing carelessness. To succeed, players must learn enemy patterns, master dodge invincibility frames, and carefully manage scarce healing resources. From the very beginning, the game demands a lot from the player, with high expectations set right away. Progress may be slow, but it’s satisfying as players gradually unlock permanent upgrades that slightly simplify future playthroughs. What makes this game special is that no two attempts are identical due to its ever-changing world.

6. Rise Of The Ronin

Not Quite Sekiro But Still A Challenge

Rise of the Ronin offers an immersive open-world journey set in a meticulously crafted Bakumatsu-era Japan, brimming with authentic flavor and visual splendor from one end to another. To excel in this game, you’ll need to move beyond mindless button-pressing. Mastery of weapon types, stances, and strategic timing for parries is essential when facing off against both human and supernatural adversaries. These foes hit hard and swiftly, exacting punishment on untimely dodges or reckless advances, much like in a Soulslike game but with a touch more sophistication and grace.

The learning process in this game is quite challenging, extending beyond combat into navigation and mission creation. Various aspects of the game, such as weapon durability and stamina, necessitate thoughtful management, as a single mistake can result in the player’s downfall. Delving deeper into the game may uncover concealed enemies, optional missions, and beneficial enhancements; however, deviating from the main path frequently presents challenging scenarios that test every skill acquired thus far, requiring continuous adaptability and caution to avoid encountering deadly weapons on the other side of a fight.

5. Black Myth: Wukong

Bringing All The Folklore Action To Life

Black Myth: Wukong” is an outstanding game, seamlessly blending elements of the Soulslike genre with a deeply intriguing world steeped in myth and legend. The combat requires both precision and strategic thinking, making it equally challenging and enjoyable to engage with. Instead of multiple weapon types, the game’s depth comes from mastering skills and stances, each offering a distinct playstyle that keeps battles fresh and dynamic.

From the very beginning, it’s evident that this game won’t be a piece of cake. The enemies, though basic, are quite formidable, and even the side-bosses present a significant challenge right off the bat. By the end, you’ll be a proficient user of the staff, but mastering the combat style and ability usage takes some practice; if not handled correctly, your performance will resemble that of a zoo animal rather than a legendary hero from ancient stories.

4. Lies Of P

Stunningly Beautiful And Satisfyingly Hard

As a passionate gamer, I’ve been utterly captivated by the intriguing Soulslike title, Lies of P, crafted by a studio not traditionally known for this genre. What’s fascinating is that this game, despite its newcomer status, showcases how diligent design and clever adaptation can result in an extraordinary, yet challenging experience from the get-go.

Nestled within the city of Krat, this game seamlessly weaves elements of fairy tale folklore into a captivating narrative. Players find themselves locked in combat against colossal mechs and formidable swordsmen, all while navigating their own identity as a puppet.

Overcoming challenges isn’t easy, and even the initial obstacles can be quite formidable, demanding a solid grasp of defensive techniques. Seeing the player persevere through powerful assaults is incredibly rewarding but challenging to achieve, especially since there aren’t many resources available at the start to help navigate through the tough parts. Ultimately, it’s up to the player to improve their skills and stand firm against the bizarre dangers that plague the once serene city streets.

3. Nioh 2

Stepping Up The Challenge

Nioh 2, crafted by a studio known for challenging combats, offers an exquisitely polished Action RPG experience. It enhances the Soulslike genre by merging classic samurai warfare with potent Yokai abilities. In the tumultuous Sengoku era of Japan, you create your unique half-human, half-demon warrior and face waves of lethal foes and imposing bosses, each offering a distinct challenge that doesn’t require an extended wait for leveling up. The combat mechanics are extensive, ranging from stance swaps to resource management, with every detail requiring thoughtful attention and skillful application to maximize its potential.

In Nioh 2, challenges quickly escalate, offering tough lessons about timing, resource management, and strategic counterattacks from the very beginning. Enemy diversity ensures that players are always alert and strapped for resources, with narrow chances to recuperate, minimal quick paths to victory, and no easy battles in sight. To survive the unyielding barrage of enemies, players must grasp Nioh 2’s systems thoroughly.

2. Stellar Blade

Intense Action And Gorgeous Style

In a fresh take on action games, the title Stellar Blade offers high-speed battles centered around precision, agility, and timing, creating an exhilarating blend of intense action and extreme challenge. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic Earth infested with grotesque monsters, where players assume the role of Eve, a warrior determined to protect mankind using her array of mechanical abilities. Each battle requires unwavering focus as Eve’s adversaries are designed to penalize hasty button-pressing while rewarding well-executed combos, skillful dodges, and timely counters.

The challenge level becomes apparent right from the start, forcing players to swiftly adjust to enemy attack strategies and carefully balance their stamina and cooldown usage. Particularly, bosses are merciless and unyielding, frequently demanding numerous attempts and pinpoint accuracy to conquer, and maintaining their intensity even during the early stages of the game. It provides few shortcuts for those ill-prepared, making the journey to mastery a challenging but fulfilling ascent, solely relying on the player’s skill to learn, adapt, and persist through adversity.

1. Sifu

Brutal For Even Veteran Gamers

Sifu is a demanding beat-’em-up game that integrates realistic martial arts battles with an exceptional aging feature, making each battle feel significant. In this game, players assume the role of a vengeful student, seeking retribution for their family’s murder. As they fight through increasingly formidable adversaries, their character ages after each defeat, introducing distinct advantages and alterations to every subsequent combat. The fighting system emphasizes accuracy and timing, with parries, evasions, and counterattacks crucial for surviving encounters.

In this game, you need to be proficient in executing combos and understanding enemy behaviors because it’s merciless when it comes to mistakes, doling out harsh, damaging penalties quickly. Starting off is quite challenging, as even the simplest enemies can easily overpower an untrained player. Each battle, whether it involves a single opponent or a larger group, feels like a significant achievement and there are many more battles to come. Winning depends on practice and continuous improvement. Every loss offers valuable insights that help players master the intricate combat mechanics of the game, leading to one of the most rewarding and enjoyable combat experiences in gaming.

2025-04-27 13:47

PlayStation’s Most Challenging Games: Conquer the Steepest Learning Curves