Let's admit it—some games are just plain brutal. Yet somehow, we keep going back. Whether it's dying 50 times on the same level or restarting from scratch, something keeps pulling us in.
Today, we're looking at those infamously tough games that have pushed us to our limits—and maybe made us throw a controller or two.
Dark Souls: A new definition of hard
When we talk about challenging games, Dark Souls always comes up first. This series doesn't hold our hand. Every fight, even with a basic enemy, can be deadly. We've all died over and over, only to finally beat a boss and feel like heroes. What makes it so rewarding is that nothing is cheap—it's all about learning, adapting, and mastering timing.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
From the same creators of Dark Souls, Sekiro takes difficulty to another level. There's no grinding our way out of trouble here. We have to learn how to parry, dodge, and strike with near-perfect timing. One mistake, and it's back to the checkpoint. This game punishes impatience and rewards precision, teaching us discipline in the most intense way.
Celeste: Precision platforming with heart
On the outside, Celeste looks like a cute pixel-art platformer. But don't be fooled. This game demands quick reflexes and exact timing. Every screen is a puzzle, and one wrong move means instant death. Yet we keep trying, not just for the challenge, but for the emotional story that drives us to climb higher in-game.
Getting Over It: Pure frustration
If you've ever wanted to test your patience, Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy is the ultimate challenge. We control a man in a pan with a hammer—and that's it. No checkpoints, no mercy. One slip, and we fall all the way down. The game even taunts us with voiceovers as we lose progress. And yet, something about it keeps us coming back.
Hollow Knight: Tough but fair
This beautiful indie game mixes exploration and combat with a steep difficulty curve. Bosses are quick, smart, and hit hard. The world is massive, with hidden paths and secrets that only the most curious and persistent players find. We need patience, strategy, and a good memory to survive and grow strong in Hollow Knight's dark world.
Super Meat Boy: Reflexes tested
We've never seen a platformer move this fast. In Super Meat Boy, levels are short but deadly. Spikes, saws, and walls of doom make every jump a test of skill. But dying doesn't mean waiting—we respawn instantly, which means we can try, fail, and try again in seconds. It's exhausting, but also wildly addicting.
The appeal of tough games
So why do we keep playing games that seem to hate us? It's not just about proving something—it's about growth. These games force us to slow down, analyze our mistakes, and improve. Every tiny win feels huge. They challenge not just our fingers, but our mindset.
Tips to survive the madness
Want to get better at hard games? We've found that patience is everything. Take breaks when frustration builds up. Watch how other players beat the same challenges. And remember, it's okay to fail. Every time we lose, we learn something new. That's how we grow.
What's the hardest game you've played?
So, Lykkers, what game made you want to rage quit the most? Was it one of these, or something even worse? Let us know—we might even try it ourselves (and regret it later). Whether you're into platformers, action RPGs, or psychological tests disguised as games, we're all in this together.
Let's laugh at our pain—and keep pressing "retry."
