No Mercy for Beginners
Most games ease you into the action with friendly guidance. But these 20 titles? They take a different approach. They mock your mistakes, troll your every move, and turn failure into comedy. If you've ever felt personally attacked by a game's tutorial, chances are it's on this list. Let's dive in!
South Park: The Stick of Truth | Gameplay HD 30Min by GAMEPLAYSHINE
1. Drawn to Death (2017)
This game pulls no punches. The tutorial starts by calling you an "idiot," and the insults just snowball from there. It's unapologetically juvenile, tossing out absurd, gross-out comparisons that feel like a middle schooler's burn book. Brutal but totally on-brand.
Drawn to Death Gameplay Launch Trailer PS4 2017 by GameCross
2. Broforce (2022)
Broforce doesn’t scold; it screams. Fail the tutorial a few times, and the narrator loses his cool, yelling increasingly unhinged lines like “GOOOOOOOOOO!” with the intensity of a drill sergeant on a bad day. It's hilarious and somehow makes messing up even more stressful.
Broforce PC 4 player All Stages Netplay 60fps by arronmunroe
3. Ninja Gaiden Black (2005)
Mess up too often, and you'll be offered "Ninja Dog" mode, a gentler setting that comes with a pink bow on your character's head. Even NPCs tease you about it—a humbling experience with pixelated shame for those who dare to struggle.
Ninja Gaiden Black - Xbox One Enhanced Gameplay [1080p 60FPS HD] by MichaelXboxEvolved
4. Splosion Man (2009)
You'll finish this game alright, but not without wearing your shame on your sleeve and your waistline. How? Fail repeatedly, and the game politely offers you the "Way of the Coward," a skip option that forces your character to don a frilly pink tutu.
Splosion Man HD Gameplay (XBLA) - Single Player 1-9 and 1-10 by pd
5. Earthworm Jim (1994)
Playing on Practice Mode? Prepare for mockery. A snarky voice calls you out with, "What a worm! Playing on practice, eh?" It's the '90s equivalent of a digital side-eye, and somehow, it still stings today.
Longplay of Earthworm Jim by LongplayArchive
6. Alien Hominid (2004)
Pick the easiest difficulty, called "Thumb-sucker," and the game limits your progress to just a third of the adventure. It cheekily suggests you might want to try a real challenge instead and playfully dares you to level up your alien-busting skills.
Alien Hominid (2004) Nintendo GameCube Gameplay in HD (Dolphin) by Lot Lot Gaming Channel
7. Streets of Rage 3 (1994)
This one gives a playful jab that encourages you to step up your game. If you choose Easy mode, the game wraps up prematurely with a blunt message: "You play this game like a beginner." Some way to encourage!
Streets of Rage 3 | Ultra HD 4K/60fps🔴| GENESIS/MEGA DRIVE | Full Longplay Walkthrough No Commentary
8. Viewtiful Joe (2003)
If your skills aren't up to snuff, the game won't hesitate to call you "Crappy." It's an insult that keeps things light but lets you know you've got some serious work to do if you want to master the action-packed gameplay.
Viewtiful Joe PS2 Gameplay HD (PCSX2) by xTimelessGaming
9. Killer Instinct (1995)
In the SNES version of Killer Instinct, cruising on with an easy mode doesn't earn you much respect. The game outright mocks your victory by calling your defeated boss “weak” or “pathetic”—a blunt reminder that taking the easy route won’t impress anyone.
KILLER INSTINCT 1 | SUPER NINTENDO (SNES) | GAMEPLAY FULL HD by Dante Classico
10. TimeSplitters 2 (2002)
Doing poorly in multiplayer? The game will literally spawn a "Monkey Assistant" to help you out. While useful, it's also a not-so-subtle jab at your performance. Nothing like being saved by a banana-loving AI to crush your ego.
TimeSplitters 2 Full Game Walkthrough (No Commentary) 2002 by iampanax
11. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015)
What's a "Chicken Hat?" On Phantom Pain, it's a goofy headpiece that makes enemies less alert. It's surely effective, but every time you see it flopping around in cutscenes, it reminds you of your mistakes and stumbles.
MGS V: The Phantom Pain Stealth Kills (A Hero's Way)1080p60Fps by StealthGamerBR ™
12. Wolfenstein: The New Order (2014)
The easiest difficulty option on New Order? "Can I play, Daddy?" Complete with the main character wearing a pacifier and bonnet, it's as if the game is daring you not to pick it (and shaming you if you do).
13. Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge (1991)
Sarcasm was alive and well in the early '90s, and LucasArts wasn't afraid to rub it in. So, if you opt for Monkey 2 Lite, the game snarkily tells you it's for "beginners and magazine reviews."
14. Jak and Daxter Series (2001–2004)
Daxter doesn't hold back. Fall off a ledge or mess up a move, and he's there with a sarcastic one-liner or exaggerated eye roll. In this series, it’s like having a mean sibling constantly judging your gameplay.
Evolution of Jak and Daxter games [2001 - 2006] by GAME EVOLUTION TV
15. South Park: The Stick of Truth (2014)
Mini-games like the infamous "toilet battle" or other absurd segments make it feel like the game is laughing with you—and at you. Fail a lot, and you'll feel every ounce of the South Park crew's disdain.
South Park: The Stick of Truth Gameplay [HD] by Throneful
16. Unfair Mario (2013)
This indie platformer is designed to betray your trust at every turn. Invisible blocks, instant pitfalls, fake flags—there's a lot going on. Failures come fast and often, each time with cheeky commentary that makes you question your platforming instincts.
Unfair Mario Gameplay HD by TRCommunity
17. David Lynch Teaches Typing (2018)
This one’s a parody of the digital scene. It’s different from any other game out there. If you fail to follow Lynch's surreal instructions, the game might crash or give you cryptic, unsettling messages. It's bizarrely judgmental, but you'll love it.
David Lynch Teaches Typing - A Surreal, Strange & Hilarious Learn-to-Type Game! by Alpha Beta Gamer
18. The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile (2011)
Struggle enough in The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile, and the game unlocks “Pretty Princess Mode”—a so-called assist that is only there to bruise your ego. It’s less of a helping hand and more of a sarcastic pat on the head.
The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile Gameplay (PC 1080P 60FPS) by TheBlueDragon
19. Batman: Arkham Series (2009–2015)
When you fail, the game doesn't quietly reload. Instead, iconic villains like the Joker or Scarecrow pop up to taunt Batman and, by extension, you. Their smug remarks hit harder than any punch, making each loss sting just a little more as you scramble to hit that retry button.
20. Katamari Damacy (2004)
With lines like "We believed in you... but we were wrong," the King of All Cosmos doesn't hold back. When a player fails to meet a level's quota, his disappointment is majestic and melodramatic—and it cuts deep if you’re the one holding the controller when the judgment drops.
