10 Incredible Games Featuring One Infamous Challenging Level
One of the most cherished gaming traditions is the inclusion of an extraordinarily challenging segment designed for the most dedicated players. This concept, originally prevalent in platformers, extends to various genres today, including shooters and RPGs, showcasing an additional test of skill for those daring enough to tackle it as part of the endgame content.
In this discussion, I’ll highlight games that feature a notorious level known for its difficulty. This could manifest as a particularly challenging boss battle or an optional stage notorious for driving players to the brink of frustration.
The ranking will be based on the level’s notoriety and its ability to provide a solid challenge without crossing the line into unfairness or excessive frustration.
10 Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Stormy Ascent
Upon the release of the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, many players took to social media to express their surprise at how challenging the game was compared to their memories. Responding to this feedback, the developers reinstated a previously cut level from the original Crash, known as Stormy Ascent. This level is notorious for being one of the hardest in platforming history, albeit with a fair share of frustrating moments.
Players must execute their jumps with impeccable timing, navigating stairs that can unexpectedly become slopes, sending them tumbling back down. While perfecting the rhythm is achievable, it often veers into the realm of unfair difficulty.
9 Kirby’s Return to Dreamland
The True Arena
Surprising to some, the Kirby series includes the exceptionally difficult True Arena. This challenging gauntlet features all the EX versions of prior bosses, alongside intense new encounters, with an emphasis on skill and strategy for victory.
Among the formidable foes is Galacta Knight, a fan-favorite character whose difficulty has only intensified in this installment due to reduced healing opportunities and fewer chances to exploit invincibility mechanics. Players are required to memorize attack patterns and employ their abilities optimally to succeed.
8 Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion
Inner Agent 3
The Octo Expansion DLC for Splatoon 2 already posed significant challenges, but it culminated in one of Nintendo’s most challenging fights: the rematch against the first game’s protagonist. This battle is marked by relentless special spam, deadly ink attacks, and a steep learning curve that left players puzzled for days on end.
This fight, though undeniably tough, can feel unfair at times, as it incorporates random elements and AI manipulation, making survival feel like an uphill battle.
7 Mario Karts Wii
Rainbow Road
Rainbow Road has earned its reputation as a challenging track across the Mario Kart franchise. Particularly in Mario Kart Wii, this track presents tight corners and precarious pathways that often lead to disastrous falls.
Players gravitate towards bikes, infamous for wobbling precariously off course, which compounds the track’s challenges. Attempting tricks off half-pipes may also result in unexpected plunges into the abyss. In Mario Kart 8’s remastered version, racing at 200cc adds an extra layer of chaos, making it a contender for the most frantic track across all racing games.
6 Sonic Unleashed
Eggman Land
Among Sonic the Hedgehog’s notoriously challenging levels, Eggman Land in Sonic Unleashed stands out as arguably the most difficult within the series. This extensive gauntlet blends both Werehog and daytime gameplay elements, featuring perilous platforming over treacherous pits and intricate sections above bubbling lava.
Frequent quick-time events further heighten the difficulty, often resulting in frustration as failed attempts reset your progress.100% completion requires clearing Hot Dog missions with stringent conditions, making it a true test of endurance.
5 Super Mario Galaxy 2
Grandmaster Galaxy’s Perfect Run
In many modern Mario titles, a final optional level enhances the challenge, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 exemplifies this trend effectively. Grandmaster Galaxy presents a rigorous challenge that surpasses the standard game experience.
Upon unlocking the Prankster Comet for this level, players face “The Perfect Run, ”a trial that eliminates checkpoints while restricting health to a single point. This transforms an already challenging stage into a demanding test requiring masterful execution and strategy.
4 Undertale
Without
The battle against Sans in Undertale exemplifies a uniquely challenging moment in RPGs. Encountered during a No Mercy run, this fight signifies one of the steepest difficulty spikes in gaming history.
Despite being a single encounter rather than a traditional level, its design and the accompanying narrative weight cannot be overlooked. Players face an intense challenge that demands both strategic movement and memorization of Sans’s attack patterns, all while feeling the weight of the story’s emotional stakes.
3 Cave Story
Bloodstained Sanctuary
Cave Story is a hallmark of indie gaming, and its Bloodstained Sanctuary level is a testament to its design excellence. This area is accessible only through a series of deliberate actions, leading players into a labyrinth of perilous environments filled with spikes and hostile creatures.
As players progress, they confront Ballos in an exhilarating climax that challenges their platforming and combat skills, rewarding their efforts with a sense of accomplishment upon completion.
2 Hollow Knight
Path of Pain
While some segments in Hollow Knight may rival its difficulty, the Path of Pain is often regarded as one of the most daunting challenges, designed to test players’ platforming abilities amid an unforgiving environment.
This segment stands out in a game primarily focused on combat and exploration, presenting a gauntlet where a single mistake sends players back to the start of sprawling screens. However, the game’s empowering movement mechanics and charm combinations provide some manageability, turning frustration into a rewarding challenge.
1 Celeste
Farewell
Recognized for its overall difficulty, Celeste’s Farewell chapter is an exceptional showcase of challenges, notably because it feels rewarding despite its tough nature. It tests players’ mastery of various techniques learned throughout the B-Sides while introducing new mechanics like wavedashing.
The visual aesthetics of the level enhance the experience, allowing players to marvel at its beauty while navigating intricate challenges, combining a magnificent environment with an uncompromising difficulty. This mountain-climbing adventure truly takes no prisoners.
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