Unforgettable Platforming Challenges: 10 Video Game Sections Harder Than Boss Fights
In the realm of video gaming, players often recall the fierce boss battles that caused countless moments of frustration. Yet, they may overlook the treacherous platforming sequences that nearly pushed them to abandon the game altogether. While boss encounters serve as the main obstacles, it is the less visible platforming challenges that can be even more punishing.
Platforming has established itself as a vital element in many games across various genres, adding complexity and difficulty. This article highlights ten notoriously challenging platforming sections that surpass the strain of any boss fight, showcasing the intricate designs that have brought both joy and agony to gamers.
10. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Sandworm Escape
In Ori and the Will of the Wisps, players experience a masterful blend of platforming and boss encounters, highlighted by the challenging Sandworm Escape sequence. This segment cleverly employs Ori’s underground movement abilities and is notorious for its requirement of unyielding precision at every turn.
The intense reflexes demanded to navigate this segment can be daunting, leading to numerous deaths before mastering its mechanics. It’s a standout reminder of why Ori and the Will of the Wisps is lauded as one of the best cinematic platformers while also being exceptionally challenging.
9. Bionic Bay
Cryostatic
Bionic Bay has emerged as a hidden gem in 2025, showcasing a unique fusion of physics-based platforming and complex puzzles. The Cryostatic level exemplifies this with its requirement to freeze objects mid-air, creating precarious platforms.
This creative mechanic not only tests players’ movement skills but also their spatial awareness.Bionic Bay reaffirms its status as a timeless platforming experience, rewarding those who dare to tackle its intricate challenges.
8. Unlinked Mask
Kaizoblock
|
Platform(s) |
PC |
|---|---|
|
Released |
2024-03-29 |
|
Developer(s) |
Klonoz |
|
Publisher(s) |
indie.io |
|
Genre(s) |
2D Platformer |
|
How Long To Beat |
2 Hours |
With Unlinked Mask, the platforming genre is celebrated in its purest form, reminiscent of nostalgic Game Boy games while drawing inspiration from Celeste. This game is not only aesthetically pleasing, but its challenges rival those found in Madeleine’s adventures.
The prize challenge, Kaizoblock, demands perfect timing and precision due to rapidly shifting platforms, thrusting players into a test of skill. Mastering each screen is essential, making this title a must-play for fans of rigorous platforming challenges.
7. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Oboro Village’s Ankou Rift
Within the intertwining mechanics of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, players encounter a multitude of platforming trials; the Oboro Village’s Ankou Rift is notably one of the harshest. With limited movement tools at this stage, mastering precision in jumps and evading enemies is critical.
Striking a balance between combat and platforming adds a layer of tension, with many players finding this rift more challenging than the game’s bosses. The obstacles here push players to their limits, enhancing the game’s overall intensity.
6. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Back in the Caves (S-4)
As I dove into Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, I encountered a platforming level, Back in the Caves, that became a pivotal torture point. Featuring a unique mechanic of switching characters to navigate through nightmarishly difficult terrain, the level’s low time limit intensifies the experience.
The requirement for pinpoint accuracy in jumping—balancing enemy encounters and the need for speed—demands an extraordinary level of concentration and skill. Breaking down the segment into manageable chunks proved effective but highlighted the frustration inherent to the experience.
5. Cuphead
Perilous Piers
Cuphead is notorious for its challenging boss battles, but Perilous Piers stands out as an exceptionally painful level that pushed my gaming skills to the limit. With relentless enemies, shifting platforms, and a formidable pursuing lobster, it was a test of patience coupled with skill.
This level had me rethinking my love for gaming, as it forced me to confront numerous defeats before finally achieving victory. Completing Cuphead feels like a personal triumph, particularly after overcoming the difficult trials of Perilous Piers.
4. Super Mario Bros.
World 8-3
No matter how many contemporary titles I’ve conquered, the frustrations with Super Mario Bros. remain profoundly vivid, particularly with the infamous World 8-3. The overwhelming presence of Hammer Bros consistently disrupts gameplay, bringing about significant anxiety during every encounter.
While I can manage tricky jumps and hidden power-ups, the presence of flying hammers sends me into a panic. Without the fireball ability, my chances of success are grim—prompting a reliance on luck rather than skill to navigate this notorious level.
3. Eternal Night
Cosmos
While it may seem unconventional to name an entire map, the challenges within Aeterna Noctis‘ Cosmos are incredibly formidable. Players must navigate through planets with varying gravitational forces amidst a barrage of enemies and spikes.
This gameplay, centered around a throwable projectile that allows for teleportation, adds a unique twist to the platforming experience, amplifying its complexity. With a robust passion behind its development, the trials offered in Cosmos serve as a testament to the game’s high level of design.
2. Hollow Knight
Path of Pain
In a decade filled with extraordinary titles, Hollow Knight remains a defining entry, particularly notable for the notorious Path of Pain. This hidden segment offers one of the most grueling platforming challenges in gaming history, making full use of the game’s meticulously refined controls.
The sheer skill required—ranging from precise jumps to perfect timing—transcends typical gameplay, making it an unmissable test for dedicated players. Completing this section is not merely about persistence; it is an exercise in mastering the craft of platforming.
1. Celeste
Farewell
Finally, while each preceding game on this list presents daunting challenges, none quite reach the heights of difficulty found in Celeste’s DLC, specifically the Farewell chapter. This expansion introduces an unparalleled series of platforming hurdles that demand a level of skill and creativity that tests even the most seasoned players.
The legendary final sequence of Farewell can consist of up to three minutes of relentless jumps and maneuvers, leaving no room for error. My journey through this level recorded countless deaths, with a significant number arising from that climactic challenge, marking it as the toughest gaming experience of my life.
With its flawless design and player-driven learning, Celeste is not just a triumph of platforming; it embodies the relentless spirit of gamers who willingly embrace difficulty as a pathway to mastery.
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