Challenges That Test Your Patience
There are games that grab players' attention immediately. And then, there are mind-bogglers that most players rage in a matter of minutes. Whether it's the tricky mechanics or quests that seem impossible to finish, these games have cemented themselves as some of the most off-putting titles out there. Still, there’s a morbid curiosity that continues to attract hardcore gamers looking for a challenge. So, let’s take a quick look at 20 titles players often give up on and see what makes them so infuriatingly unforgettable.
1. Dark Souls
When Dark Souls launched in 2011, it redefined what “hard” meant. The game’s bosses, especially the infamous duo Ornstein and Smough, punished the unprepared mercilessly. Dying wasn’t rare—it was constant. So, many surrendered early, leaving victory to only the most unshakable.
Dark Souls Remastered - Ornstein & Smough Boss Fight (1080p 60fps) PS4 PRO by Shirrako
2. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The difficulty in Sekiro came from its demand for absolute timing. Players had to deflect rapid attacks perfectly, since dodging rarely worked. Bosses like Isshin the Sword Saint tested stamina and reflexes across several phases, creating one of gaming’s most infamous difficulty spikes.
Sekiro Shadows Die Twice PS5 - Isshin The Sword Saint Boss Fight & Ending (4K 60FPS) by Shirrako
3. Cuphead
On paper, Cuphead looks playful with its 1930s-style cartoons, but the gameplay punishes sloppy timing. Boss fights like King Dice push players past their patience while jazz music plays on. It’s so charming that Netflix even turned it into a kids’ show, even though the actual game is anything but gentle.
Cuphead: ALL Casino Bosses / King Dice Boss Fight by Boss Fight Database
4. Battletoads
Ask any NES veteran about Battletoads and they’ll mention the “Turbo Tunnel.” The stage required memorizing patterns while dodging obstacles at extreme speeds. In co-op, one mistake sent both players back. Its punishing difficulty built a legend that later versions softened, though the original remains infamous.
NES - Battletoads (1991) by The VideoGames Museum
5. Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy
At first glance, this game looks easy—scale the mountain, reach the peak. But one bad swing, and everything crashes down. Players raged, and Twitch became flooded with clips of shattered dreams and broken keyboards.
Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy | Full Game and Ending (No Commentary) by TheOneIndieGamer
6. Returnal
In 2021, Returnal turned failure into a storytelling tool. Players fought through alien storms where one mistake erased hours of progress. Although save options arrived later, the tension and thrill remained the game’s true hook.
Returnal (PS5) 4K 60FPS HDR + Ray tracing Gameplay by FA GAMEZ
7. Ghosts ’n Goblins
Capcom’s 1985 platformer doubled the pain by requiring two full playthroughs for the real ending. One hit strips your armor, another sends you back to start. It’s both frustrating and iconic, with a final boss fight that still tests reflexes decades later.
Ghosts 'n Goblins (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete by NintendoComplete
8. Demon’s Souls
The difficulty in Demon’s Souls came from its merciless design. Tower Knight crushed careless players with sweeping attacks, and Flamelurker’s speed overwhelmed anyone unprepared for nonstop assault. Healing grass was finite, too, and progress demanded methodical learning rather than quick reflexes alone.
Demon's Souls Remake (FULL GAME) by jacksepticeye
9. F-Zero GX
F-Zero GX turned speed into punishment. Later missions pushed reflexes past their limit, with Chapter 7 infamous for aggressive rivals and sharp track design. Many gave up here, while finishing it only revealed even harsher modes waiting to break determination all over again.
Why F-Zero GX is the GREATEST Racing Game 20 Years Later by GameCube Galaxy
10. Silver Surfer (NES)
Silver Surfer is a love-it-or-hate-it NES classic from 1990. One hit and you’re gone, and those tight corridors leave almost no room for mistakes. Despite critical backlash, collectors adore it, partly for the soundtrack, which is still considered a little masterpiece.
Silver Surfer (NES) Playthrough by NintendoComplete
11. Donkey Kong Country Returns
The 2010 Wii release doubles down on platforming cruelty. Mine cart stages kill unfairly, collecting Kong letters tests your patience, and co-op often adds chaos rather than relief. Still, the visuals and music make the challenge feel like a reward for enduring the madness.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD — Overview Trailer — Nintendo Switch by Nintendo of America
12. Contra
Contra in 1987 was basically the NES version of “good luck, you’ll need it.” Two players? Double the chaos. One-hit deaths? Guaranteed rage. And then there was the magical Konami Code—a cheat that felt less like cheating and more like survival. With bullets flying everywhere and enemies piling on, the game turned frustration into legend, spawning sequels that only confirmed its “hard but worth it” reputation.
CONTRA Full Game Walkthrough - No Commentary (CONTRA Full Gameplay) 1987 by RabidRetrospectGames
13. The Witness
Puzzle fans got a challenge with The Witness in 2016. It is an island full of mind-bending puzzles without any tutorial. The final section pushes even seasoned players to their limit, prompting hundreds of online guides to appear. Myst might have inspired it, but this one hits harder.
The Witness - Full Game by Encrypted Duck
14. XCOM: Enemy Unknown
XCOM: Enemy Unknown stood out for making every decision feel permanent. Missed shots or unlucky rolls often spiraled into total squad wipes. Permadeath also meant rebuilding from scraps, and Ironman mode further sealed the deal by forcing players to live with every mistake, no matter how costly.
Xcom Enemy Unknown Review – What makes it so Good? by InfoGuy101
15. I Wanna Be The Guy
This freeware platformer earned its reputation by constantly tricking players. Spikes appeared where they seemed safe, and gravity-defying apples dropped out of nowhere. Most importantly, the difficulty came not from skill alone but from anticipating the developer’s cruel surprises, which turned each stage into a trap-filled puzzle.
I Wanna Be the Guy - Remastered Any% Speedrun 22:56 by LogicPQ
16. Bloodborne
Bloodborne took the FromSoftware formula to a Lovecraftian level in 2015. Father Gascoigne alone has ruined countless newcomers’ nights. Players farm bosses for rare loot, but it's the PvP duels and online invasions that add a layer of chaos that keeps adrenaline high from start to finish.
Bloodborne (FULL GAME) by jacksepticeye
17. Ninja Gaiden (NES)
This 1988 release looked like just another action side-scroller until its knockback deaths taught players otherwise. Stage 6-2 became notorious for near-impossible jumps. Even years later, old-school fans mention it as one of the most punishing titles in the NES library. In fact, you can still test your skills by playing it via emulators, the NES Classic, or collections like Retro-Bit and Rare Replay.
Ninja Gaiden (NES) Playthrough by NintendoComplete
18. Super Meat Boy
Super Meat Boy challenged players with platforming that tolerated no sloppiness. A missed input meant instant death, and hazards covered nearly every surface. The game’s design rewarded mastery but punished experimentation, which led many to abandon its later stages in frustration.
Super Meat Boy - Full Game by Encrypted Duck
19. Etrian Odyssey
Dungeon-crawling and map-drawing collide in Etrian Odyssey from 2007. Optional bosses can demolish unprepared parties early on, yet the soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro makes it all feel epic. Every trek through twisting corridors teaches patience and a respect for careful planning.
Etrian Odyssey HD - Raw Stream 01 | Because I Failed at Wizardry... by SomethingIshy VODs
20. Catherine
2011’s Catherine keeps your brain and your heart on edge. Puzzle-platforming climbs punish overthinking, while romantic storylines distract you just enough to make failure inevitable. Multiplayer and the near-impossible Babel Tower mode ensure that even the bravest players walk away muttering.
CATHERINE Classic - PC Gameplay / No Commentary by Generic Gaming
