Over the past few years, The difficulty of video games is closely linked to Soulsborne Games’ impact on the industry.
The FromSoftware title is known especially for its cruel challenges, so many studios follow the example, creating tough video games within it Souls-like genre.
However, not all difficult experiences fall into this category as many games have already put controller life at risk before and after this trend.
As a result, it’s time to recognize these harsh adventures where genres like souls were able to apply pressure without the difficulties that they had come to support them.
10 The Doctrine of Dragons
A merciless open world
When I first played Dragon’s Dogma, my impression was the combination of Dark Souls’ difficulties with Elder Scroll V: Skyrim’s freedom, and I was right for the target.
Although the Capcom title could not provide a simple solution to the problem, as it was not difficult at startup and was added to the patch after the original release. You went to them and forced them to fail until you win.
Even with more accessibility options, the lack of unlimited fast travel, the presence of huge and powerful monsters, and the scary nights that can end your life with anything heartbeat make Glancy a welcome land.
There are points in the game that gather enough power so that it doesn’t matter anymore. To reach that moment is a challenge for a lifetime.
9 Taro’s Principle 2
Puzzle with maximum complexity
Talos Principle 2 is a very challenging puzzle game that pushes your mind to the limits.
Its progression curve is great, and the game knows how to explain itself very well, It took me hours and didn’t stop me from figuring out a way to solve it.
Luckily, all the challenges are not mandatory and are designed to be skipped, but I am a stubborn player and I was forced to solve everything myself, without shortcuts.
As a result, I spent more time on Taro Principle 2 than the average player, as some puzzles require creative solutions beyond traditional abilities. Make it one of my most satisfying but tired and difficult game playthroughs.
8 Tunic
A lost adventure
Soulsborne Formula taught me spatial awareness, but Tunic opposed all my knowledge of this subject.
Except for the really difficult boss, The challenge of this great indie game lies in the lack of guidancebecause it develops in an unreadable language that can only be constructed through estimation and inference.
Knowing where to go and what to do is the biggest challenge of the journey, and we inevitably need to add different encounters with dozens of enemies that don’t make the experience easier.
Even if you’ve finished the tunic, your approach to difficulty is that your second playthrough will probably spend about the same amount of time as your first playthrough. You need a connection that requires little other games.
7 The darkest dungeon
Unusual fear
Darkest Dungeon is one of the cruelest indie games I’ve ever played.
I didn’t deny it was also one of the best permedes strategy games, but the difficulty irritated me multiple times.
Certainly, the level of satisfaction you achieve when you are able to understand and overcome it is little similar, It seems like you’ll mostly climb a mountain to reach this point. Managing all the stress, character information, financial difficulties, health issues…it’s too much.
Although you can change the difficulty mode, the darkest dungeons are intended to be experienced when playing the way the developers intended.
That being said, I will never try to run a Stigian again in my life. Those who have played the game will know perfectly well why it is a bad decision for their mental health.
6 Cup head
Run, cry with a gun
I’m not sure if Cuphead goes to the point where it’s on par with Software’s most demanding challenges, but my death counter definitely aims in that direction.
Many bosses in this epic run and gun forced me to try them again hundreds of times. Dr. Carl’s robot or Clown’s Beppi.
Perhaps counting DLC that outweighs all base game fights in quality and difficulty, and non-boss sections that are very challenging platform runs, The complexity becomes even greater.
Cuphead is undoubtedly one of the best indie games of all time, and its difficulties are also one of the most notable in video gaming history.
5 Fear and hunger
It will not appear unharmed
Fear and hunger are unforgiving to both its moral dilemma and its gameplay.
The inexorableness that this experience presents is unparalleled, and it took me dozens of hours to even see the first and most basic ending.
Whether it was because it had no strength to make the decisions necessary to survive or simply not knowing the laws of that world, the outcome was almost always the same.
The cruelty of that world encourages you to make immeasurable decisions, Just realizing even the greatest sacrifice will probably only lead to your end.
After seeing the first and only time credits, my fear and exposure to hunger reduced my view of people better than I play it. I don’t think I’ll be able to do the dungeon again.
4 sifu
A game that demands perfection
In the list of video games you will die over and over, sifu It stands out as one of the most prominent.
The level of integrity of its gameplay demands is hardly similar in the video game industry. You have to become a master of martial arts even to see that first ending.
Given the diversity and speed of the bosses in terms of combos and gimmicks, the number of things happening in parallel, and the depth of their mechanical configuration, requires time, patience and focus to know how to fight in SIFU.
Of course, reaching the flow state and controlling everything, the satisfaction it offers is enormous, Few people actually achieve such feats.
3 Contra 4
Hellish Difficulty
I have taken the time to choose which contradiction games were on the list, knowing it is impossible to talk about tough games without mentioning this iconic franchise.
I’ve calmed down Contra 4 That’s because it’s the latest memory of my series It definitely feels like everything in the game is walking through hell.
Between projectile speed, those with a few players’ lives available, and the confused health bar of the boss, Every time I tried to make progress it felt like a battle between life and death..
To be honest, it stops being interesting and reaches an extreme point that really makes you feel depressed. I have a lot of love for this series, but I never miss a feeling of such a level of discomfort.
2 Ninja Gaiden 2
It’s not fair
In this series, I was stuck in the extensive history that may have made a list. Ninja Gaiden 2 Because it was the first time I felt I couldn’t finish a video game.
I feel that grabs, carelessness, or inadequate positioning will lead to better and worse, my death inducing indescribable tension.
The reading of that enemy input is some of the most brutal things I’ve ever seentaking the challenge to a level I have never experienced in my previous games.
When Ito Shimadajima, the director of the series, once explained it The enemy is Ninja Gaiden 2 I was there to kill you, but not the other way aroundhe really meant that. It is the ultimate testament to the immeasurable difficulties of such a wonderful classic.
1 Celeste
Dying is part of climbing
It’s a video game that turns failure into fun, but Celeste is the most difficult masterpiece I’ve ever been pleased to play and suffer.
The first seven chapters are enough challenges to ensure its existence in this article, and feature some of the most complicated platform sections in history.
However, considering the alternative sides of each chapter and additional content that expanded the campaign, it became clear to me. Other titles don’t require much skills from this controller.
The accuracy, calmness and memory required to perform pinpoint jumps and dashes to advance pixels by pixel is simply unprecedented.
It’s enough to die 10,000 times in one chapter Celeste The most difficult non-soul-like game. A true work of art designed to teach you unparalleled discipline and control.
