Elden Ring is now considered by many to be one of the hardest games ever made and one of the best-liked in recent memory. These are the top 10 hardest video games ever made, even though Souls games are known for their brutal difficulty. There are many other challenging games available.
Elden Ring has reopened the discussion on video game difficulty since its release. As a spiritual sequel to the Dark Souls trilogy, which was in turn a spiritual successor to Demon’s Souls and one of the hardest video games ever created, Elden Ring, although being a new franchise, is the most recent “Souls” game from FromSoftware.
These kinds of games are enjoyable when players ultimately overcome a significant challenge and go on to the next one, experiencing a sense of success. The Souls games weren’t the first to use this tactic, despite the fact that many would contend that FromSoftware redefined the idea of challenging games by producing experiences that reward talent, patience, and endurance.
Here are 10 more of the hardest video games and brands, along with their respective rankings, for individuals who have completed Elden Ring and are searching for their next challenge.
10. Flappy Bird
Due to its notoriously addicting gameplay, Flappy Bird’s inventor had to withdraw it from multiple app stores, which led to a flurry of imitations. This just served to solidify its reputation, and as a result, this straightforward yet extremely challenging game is now regarded as one of the hardest ever made.
One button controls a single bird in the game, which you must fly higher to go to the next area. One of the hardest games ever made is Flappy Bird because of something that sticks with you and makes you want to keep playing no matter how many phones you break.
9. Returnal
Returnal is a genre collision that manages to function.
The Souls series and third-person survival horror shooters are major influences on Returnal, which is an incredibly challenging game. Its strict progression requirements account for a large portion of its complexity, yet some of these concepts have subsequently been changed to improve the game’s accessibility.
Though punishing games are not everyone’s cup of tea, fans of nuanced and well-told stories will find much to adore in this science fiction adventure. Even though Returnal can be annoying at times, it’s worth putting up with the discomfort in order to see the credits.
8. Ninja Gaiden (Series)
Ryu Hayabusa reaching for a blade
TEAM NINJA: Ninja Gaiden is a trial that requires tolerance and comprehension.
Every Ninja Gaiden game is incredibly difficult, and the only people who can really enjoy it are those who have mastered its mechanics. Even in the easy mode, the game will mock you and refer to you as a Ninja Dog. All three of the Ninja Gaiden adventures will put a player’s mettle to the test, albeit the first game is arguably the hardest.
Ninja Gaiden’s combat is intense, gratifying, and brutal. It’s also quite severe because there are a ton of enraged adversaries attacking you from every direction. One of the reasons Ninja Gaiden has such a devoted fan base is that beating a game, even on easy difficulty, is a sign of a great gaming warrior.
7. Sifu
Sifu is an extremely strong beat-em-up.
Sifu is a lot like the classic beat ’em up games—tough, unforgiving, and skill-based. The people who are most likely to survive are those who are adept at picking up patterns and movesets and will truly enjoy Sifu. Although Sifu is a completely different genre from Elden Ring and the Souls series, there are significant similarities between the two, particularly in terms of boss encounters. A single miscalculation can put an end to a player’s run, and to make matters worse, the game penalizes failure and death by aging the main character with every passing game.
Sifu’s chances of getting retribution decrease with the number of player deaths, and as he ages, both he and the player are in danger of dying. This has a striking resemblance to the lost souls system found in FromSoftware games, but with far greater consequence.
6. Cuphead
A picture of Cuphead and Mugman engaging in combat with CAGney Carnation, one of the most challenging games ever made.
STUDIOMDHR
One of the most interesting games I’ve played in a long time, along with the expected criticism that it will drive you crazy.
Upon initial release, Cuphead appeared to be a tribute to 1940s and 1950s animation. Players had no idea that beneath this endearing façade was one of the harshest lessons in despair and futility ever. Before beginning this game, be sure you take a drink of chamomile tea to help you relax. You should never judge a Cuphead by his or her cover.
Cuphead, which was mostly bosses, demanded laser-like focus and accuracy. Although Cuphead is a creative masterpiece and consistently endearing, it will press the player’s buttons more than they will. The Expert Mode of the game is available for those who are feeling really daring; be prepared for some agony.
5. Ghosts ‘n Goblins
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In Ghosts ‘n Goblins, taking damage will strangely cause your garments to come off.
It’s time to go down memory lane and die a lot after all these modern games. It is possible to finish Ghost ‘n Goblins in less than an hour, if not less, although most players won’t get that far. Inexperienced players may need several days or even weeks to complete the game. On YouTube, some players give the impression that it’s simple, but in practice, things never quite work out that way.
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Sometimes it seems pointless to advance in Ghosts ‘n Goblins because of the adversaries’ unpredictable movement patterns, their frequent respawning, the ticking timer, and a variety of other issues. This doesn’t allow you to advance your character like Souls games do. Although it never makes perfect, practice helps.
4. Super Meat Boy
a screenshot from one of the most difficult platformers ever made, Super Meat Boy.
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It’s similar to Mario, but incredibly, ridiculously difficult.
Super Meat Boy is essentially a simple, fluid platform game. Its concepts and art style are captivating, and its mechanics are masterfully crafted. The game will devour players like yesterday’s dinner before discarding them, which is the only minor problem. After completing the original game and enduring its cruelty, players must take on the even more difficult “Dark” levels.
Super Meat Boy is a timeless game that can only be fully appreciated by those who have played it for a while and experienced tears of frustration.
3. Elden Ring, Dark Souls (1-3), Demon’s Souls, Bloodborne
An advertisement for Elden Ring, arguably the hardest video game ever made.
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Elden Ring used an open environment and the Souls formula.
Elden Ring is now ranked third, however it shares this position with its older siblings, the Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne, and Demon’s Souls, its grandfather. In order to prevent FromSoftware’s games from taking over the entire list, we’ve combined the Souls family into a single entry. The method used in most Souls games is similar but harsh; in fact, Elden Ring is one of the simpler Souls games. But some of the bosses in the late game will leave even the most seasoned player in tears of pain.
Nevertheless, in terms of complexity, it’s the first Dark Souls game that merits recognition. The Demon’s Souls formula was taken and made much darker and harder in this title, which also crammed so many masochistic pleasures into its terrible universe that it would make a Cenebite blush. Dark Souls was the game that engulfed gamers in FromSoft’s engrossing veil, even when Elden Ring brought the series into the light.
Remember that you can play a ton of other Souls-like games that weren’t created by FromSoftware. Some of the hardest video games ever made are also these.
ELDEN RING AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON: THE DARK SOULS TRILOGY
2. Sekiro
Feeling frustrated when playing Sekiro like a Souls game is possible.
The fact that Sekiro isn’t one of the games featured in the third place may surprise some people. In actuality, Sekiro is not a “Souls” game, even if it is a FromSoftware title. Even though it is quite similar to games like Dark Souls, Elden Ring, etc., the game is a challenging single-player only experience. You can basically assign buddies to share the workload when you summon them to assist you in defeating a challenging boss in a Souls game. In Sekiro, on the other hand, players frequently “get good” or perish trying.
The game rewards skill, perseverance, practice, and cunning as well as mechanic mastery. You won’t get very far if all you want to do in Sekiro is button bash. Because it doesn’t include multiplayer and doesn’t compromise, the game is easily the most brutal experience FromSoftware has ever created and is harder than any Souls game. However, those who defeat Sekiro will never again have their abilities called into question.
1. Contra
Get ready to pass away once and for all time.
Pick any of the original Contra games to understand what we mean. As much as we disliked it, we eventually came to love it and crave its acceptance. Contra may have been the hardest video game ever made; it certainly set the standard for sheer complexity and is still as challenging as nails today. It is best avoided at all costs by those who are easily stressed. But those looking for a true challenge ought to set aside some time to demonstrate their mettle.
Most players still find it difficult to complete the game, even though it doesn’t offer limited lives or continue in Contra. A Konami code won’t help either. Contra games force players to become familiar with its mechanics by maintaining a constant high speed throughout, similar to Ghosts ‘n Goblins. Players need to be at their best and pick up a variety of motions and behavioral patterns in order to survive; there is no time for panicking or regrouping.
The franchise will go down in history for having some of the hardest games ever made.