The most difficult video games (Part 2)

While difficulty can take many forms in gaming, it remains a selection criterion for some players. Whether you’re looking for a constant challenge in video games or, on the contrary, seeking tranquility, difficulty can quickly become a key factor in your choices. We recently published our first selection of the most difficult games, and now it’s time for part two. Grab your controllers!

Let’s start our list with a title known to many, which is the second installment of a well-known franchise. Dark Souls II, released in 2014, will bring back fond memories for fans, but less so for others, due to its methodical and punishing difficulty, with numerous enemies, frequent ambushes, and strict stamina management. It is considered one of FromSoftware’s most difficult productions, sometimes even too difficult according to part of the community. In a similar vein, Bloodborne takes an aggressive approach to combat, where attack is often the best defense in the intense battles of this installment.

No Rest for the Wicked is a bloody and demanding action RPG designed to reinvent the genre. Hand-drawn, it opts for a sumptuous artistic direction, but be careful not to be fooled. It offers meticulous combat, combining timing, positioning, and resource management. The slow pace and lack of tolerance for inaccuracy force the player to play cautiously and strategically.

Let’s leave souls-like games behind for a moment to tackle another type of difficulty. Darkest Dungeon offers a challenging experience due to its ruthless management of stress, permanent death, and the psychological impact on characters. Players must accept losses and make strategic decisions under constant pressure. No hero is irreplaceable. Pathologic 2 is a dramatic narrative thriller that tells the story of the fight against a deadly epidemic in an isolated rural town. It is deliberately oppressive and punishing, with scarce resources and narrative choices that have serious consequences. It is through purely intellectual difficulty, based on complex logical puzzles, that the title Baba Is You stands out. Don’t be fooled by its simplistic graphics!

Now it’s time to shine the spotlight on 2D games. While Hollow Knight is an excellent representative of the genre and needs no introduction, it’s titles such as Super Meat Boy and Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree that are particularly interesting to highlight. In the former, the difficulty comes from ultra-precise levels that require perfect execution. Deaths are instantaneous and frequent, but the speed of attempts encourages perseverance and learning through repetition. The second game stands out for its souls-like combat, requiring rigor and observation. Enemies inflict heavy damage and resources are limited, requiring a cautious and thoughtful approach.

For those who think this selection lacks firearms, here we go. GTFO is a cooperative title renowned for its tactical demands and mandatory coordination between players. Resource management, discretion, and communication are essential, as a single mistake can doom the entire team. Escape from Tarkov is difficult in its genre due to its extreme realism and complex mechanics. Death results in the loss of equipment, knowledge of the maps is essential, and every decision can have major consequences.

That concludes our second list of the most difficult video games. Combined with the first list, that makes a total of twenty complex and demanding titles waiting for you, or at least those who dare to take them on. What will you choose? It’s up to you now!