10 hardest games

These violent games are not for the faint of heart.

While they are not all classic, this is indeed true of the titles on this list. So, if you want to really test your might, here are 10 of the toughest games to take on.

10 PHOTOS

1. Dark Souls.

Dark Souls is the simple answer and has gained notoriety as one of the most gritty games of modern times. Dark Souls punishes as brutally as it rewards, with challenges facing players around every corner and enemies who are out to kill you. Dark Souls is also difficult because it changes the way you play action games. In Dark Souls, movement is often slow and unhurried, unlike fast-paced games like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta.

2. Ninja Gaiden

Ninja Gaiden is a 3D reimagining of the already complex 2D platformer from 1988. Ninja Gaiden boasts an incredibly dynamic game against ruthless enemies. Defeating them meant many accurate attacks, as well as blocking and parrying. Ninja Gaiden is also notorious for its extremely difficult boss fights that would make Dark Souls bosses look tame.

3. Contra.

Arcade games are specifically designed to be incredibly challenging so that the machine can get a steady flow of coins. Contra is one of those games that originated from arcades. Playing as a simple Rambo-style soldier, you face waves of enemies and formidable bosses, as well as deadly traps and a ticking timer.

4. Mega Man 9

Released ten years after Mega Man 8, Mega Man 9 returns to its roots and could be the most challenging game in this classic series. The gameplay sits between Megaman 2 and 3 - there are no sliding mechanics or charging shots, but Megaman Rush's robot dog companion is back to help out in some of the game's more difficult situations. However, treacherous enemies and tricky traps like bottomless pits and deadly spikes ensure that maneuvering through the level is nothing short of a challenge.

5. Flywrench.

In Flywrench, you pilot a small rectangular spaceship whose goal on each level is to avoid obstacles and pass through colored gates to reach the goal at the end. Unlike Flappy Bird, your little ship is constantly falling down and players must keep it afloat by pressing the up arrow key to flap its wings while simultaneously using the left and right arrow keys to glide.

6. 1001 Spikes.

1001 Spikes belong to a genre of games called "masocore" (a mixture of "masochism" and "hardcore"), which is centered on trial and error games, complex game mechanics, and high difficulty. Masocore games are deliberately designed to frustrate players. So death is part of the journey in 1001 Spikes. Although you are given 1001 lives to complete more than 100 levels, you will die, again and again, falling victim to many unexpected traps. If you want to hope to survive, you will need to react on the fly and your reflexes will need to be lightning fast.

7. Dota 2

Dota 2 may seem like an odd choice for the "hardest games" list, but Dota 2 has so many moving parts that you're constantly learning as you play the game. Dota 2 has an incredibly high skill ceiling, which is what keeps new players from diving into the game in the first place. With a wide range of items, heroes, and abilities, there are a lot of things to pay attention to in order to understand all the complex mechanics and strategies available to you.

8. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Not only is combat in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link difficult due to your limited melee attack, but it may well be impossible to complete the game without a playthrough due to the game's dumb puzzles. You also have to face some of the toughest enemies in the game very early on when you have yet to level up. The game's final boss, Dark Link, was also notorious for being one of the hardest - considered invincible - before players came up with clever tactics to deal with it much, much later.

9. Super Mario Bros: Lost levels.

There seems to be a pattern with Nintendo sequels; This game was originally released in Japan as Super Mario Bros 2, but was deemed too difficult for Western gamers and thus was never released for them. This is another name in Japan, Super Mario Bros. 2: For Super Players, which gives you an idea of ​​what to expect from the game. This game assumes that you have already mastered the original Super Mario Bros., and has increased the difficulty considerably compared to the first game. This game also introduces some new game mechanics, such as the insidious Poison Mushroom, which harms the player when touched. You will definitely need some serious skills to get your head around this game.

10. Ghosts ‘n Goblins.

Ghosts 'n Goblins seems like a video game created by the devil himself. Throughout the game, enemies attack you from impossible angles and it only takes two hits to bring you back to your original position. What's more, each life can only last a certain amount of time (usually around three minutes), with the clock resetting at the start of the level. If the clock does run out, the player instantly loses that life. To make matters worse, you need a very specific weapon in order to defeat the final boss, and you will be prompted to restart levels if you didn't get that weapon.