The most difficult games to go through in 2025

Difficulty in video games has been a hot topic ever since the rise of Souls-like titles. Long before FromSoftware’s games made headlines, retro titles were already delivering a serious challenge. Over the years, many developers have aimed to reach a broader audience by dialing down the difficulty and making their games more accessible. A shift that hasn’t pleased everyone. Fortunately, many recent games have chosen to keep a high level of difficulty. Some can be punishing, others ramp up gradually over time — but the sense of satisfaction players feel when they defeat a tough boss or overcome a major obstacle is hard to beat. So, let’s dive into some of the most challenging games you should definitely try in 2025.

If there’s one game that absolutely needs to be mentioned, it’s the one by Team Cherry. After years of anticipation, Hollow Knight: Silksong was finally released on consoles and PC in September 2025. Fans’ patience paid off, as this sequel lived up to expectations — especially in terms of difficulty. If the first Hollow Knight was no walk in the park, the sequel goes even further with ruthless enemies, tense platforming sections, and hidden traps in nearly every corner. One example is a bench where Hornet thinks she can rest… only to fall into a potentially deadly trap when you least expect it. Silksong is a long and painful learning curve for the player, but the enjoyment remains strong thanks to a beautiful world, endearing characters, and gameplay that’s as demanding as it is refined.

As mentioned earlier, Souls games are a cornerstone of difficult games. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is nothing short of legendary in this regard. Voted Game of the Year in 2019, FromSoftware’s title will push even the most composed players to their limits. Its minimalist storytelling, high skill ceiling, and intense combat make for a borderline traumatic experience — and it sets the tone from the very beginning. The Japanese studio also left a mark with Elden Ring, which hardly needs an introduction. This time, though, it’s the DLC Shadow of the Erdtree that deserves a spotlight, having expanded on the base game’s formula in impressive ways — all without sacrificing the challenge or that ever-present fear of dying from a single mistake. While Armored Core VI delivers a different experience, the difficulty remains just as unforgiving.

Then there are games that hide their true nature well. Despite its cartoonish art style, Cuphead is actually one of the most difficult titles of recent years. It’s nearly impossible to stop and admire Studio MDHR’s stunning visuals because the gameplay is so relentless. Cuphead draws heavy inspiration from old-school platformers and doesn’t forgive a single mistake. In the same vein, there’s Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. While the franchise is iconic, many seem to forget just how demanding it can be — and this fourth installment fully honors the legacy in display. As the game progresses, levels get longer and feature increasingly precise platforming sequences, leaving no room for error. Definitely not a game to hand over to younger players.

Among the other recent and tough games, Blue Prince is a must. Here, there are no enemies and no way to die. Instead, the difficulty lies in its puzzles. Players must put their thinking caps on, observe carefully, and use logic to progress and uncover a hidden room in a mysterious manor. Thinking is everything, and taking notes can be essential to make progress on each new run. Meanwhile, fans of martial arts might have hit a brick wall with Sifu. This kung fu game has you analyze your surroundings, position yourself strategically, and execute the right techniques at the right time. Each time you die, your character ages — and with age, their abilities change. The concept was so tough that many players gave up, prompting the developers to add an easy mode so as not to alienate a chunk of the community.

In short, there’s no shortage of ways to suffer through gaming. Of course, we haven’t covered every single hard game out there. Pretty much every FromSoftware title offers an intense challenge and endless frustration. Other genres can be just as punishing — take RPGs like Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, or fast FPS titles like DOOM Eternal. And let’s not forget the retro game libraries on classic Nintendo and SEGA consoles, filled with games that still seem nearly impossible to beat even today. So go on — treat yourself… to some pain!