Video game difficulty has evolved in a cyclical manner over the decades. In the heyday of arcades, players faced notoriously tough games that often had high score achievements as a mark of triumph. However, as gaming matured, audiences shifted towards more accessible and less punishing experiences that emphasized enjoyment rather than just skill mastery.
The emergence of titles like FromSoftware’s Soulsborne series rekindled a demand for challenging gameplay, with many players expressing discontent with linear tutorials and obvious design choices that made exploring and overcoming challenges feel less rewarding. Yet, when a game becomes excessively difficult, it risks alienating players and diminishing enjoyment, prompting developers to intervene.
Developers often implement patches and updates to fine-tune difficulty levels, preserving the essence of challenging gameplay while creating a more enjoyable experience overall. Consequently, for those who seek the grueling experience of the pre-update versions, here is a list of games that provided a true test of endurance prior to significant balancing tweaks.
10 The Callisto Protocol
Breaching Protocol
Although it may not stand out as a stellar horror title, The Callisto Protocol provides a decent homage to the horror experienced in Dead Space. Initially, players faced significant frustrations, with a combat system requiring precise parries, challenging enemies, and brutal checkpoint placements that could easily lead to players abandoning the game.
Fortunately, updates have made the game a more balanced survival horror experience. While it may not reach the heights of Dead Space, it now offers a more accommodating challenge that is worth exploring.
9 Dead Cells
Dead Hard
Dead Cells has long been a balanced experience thanks to ongoing updates and expansions that keep gameplay fresh. Yet, early players encountered a steeper difficulty curve, with bosses inflicting higher damage and a scarcity of healing opportunities.
Despite its intensity, the game retains its reputation as one of the toughest indie titles. The additional challenges introduced in the DLC further cement this status, but it remains a game worth overcoming for any enthusiastic player.
8 Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order
A Disturbance In The Force
Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order initially presented a more difficult challenge than it warranted. Players often faced frustration due to difficulty spikes at various points in the game, which stemmed more from design flaws than player skill.
Updates addressed these balance issues effectively, making gameplay smoother with AI less aggressive against players. Players opting for harder settings still find a real challenge, but overall, the game has become more accessible thanks to patches.
7 Return
Bullet Hell With Breaks
While Returnal maintains its core challenge as a bullet-hell roguelike, a significant update introduced a save feature that allows players to save their progress at regular intervals. This critical addition alleviates the pressure of completing hours-long sessions to reach difficult checkpoints.
Though the game maintains its high level of difficulty, this adjustment offers players the flexibility to experience it in shorter, manageable sessions, making it more approachable than its original state.
6 Nioh 2
A Smoother Experience
The success of recent titles, such as The First Berserker: Khaszan, underscores the significance of pioneering games like Nioh, which innovatively combined Souls-like action with loot mechanics.Nioh 2 improved upon its predecessor but launched with several bosses that felt unbalanced, disrupting the gameplay flow.
Subsequent updates addressed enemy damage output and balanced several challenging bosses like Saika Magoichi and Shibata Katsuie, enhancing the overall experience without sacrificing its challenging nature.
5 Blasphemous
2D Souls Suffering
For new players venturing into the Blasphemous series, it might be advisable to explore the games in reverse order, starting with Blasphemous 2, which offers a gentler introduction to the genre compared to the original’s relentless difficulty.
Upon release, the first installment was incredibly punishing, but over time, updates improved I-frame availability, reduced aggressive knockbacks, and provided more save opportunities. While still a challenging title at heart, these adjustments make the current version noticeably easier.
4 Tunic
Looks Can Be Deceiving
At first glance, Tunic may appear to be a charming and straightforward Zelda-like adventure, but it quickly reveals itself as a deceptively challenging Souls-lite. This unexpected difficulty curve left many players struggling against foundational bosses.
However, contrary to many games adhering to a single difficulty level, the developers introduced various accessibility features, allowing players to opt into easier experiences if desired. These changes significantly broadened audience engagement, transforming a once-daunting task into a smoother puzzle experience.
3 Elden Ring
Put Those Foolish Ambitions To Rest
As a hallmark of the FromSoftware lineup, Elden Ring is recognized for its challenging gameplay. However, upon its release, players encountered several encounters that felt unnecessarily difficult, prompting developers to make adjustments through patches.
Iconic bosses like Margit the Fell Omen and Malenia were made more manageable, while the introduction of new builds from the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC provided additional strategies for confronting the game’s formidable adversaries. Today, it stands out as an accessible entry point for newcomers seeking to venture into the Soulsborne genre.
2 Sifu
Black Belt Difficulty
Unlike many games that cater to diverse difficulty levels, Sifu initially adopted a rather unforgiving approach, making it challenging for players to progress without mastering its intricate combat mechanics. As a result, many players found themselves overwhelmed during early stages of their journey.
Later updates introduced a range of custom difficulty sliders and training rooms, allowing players to dedicate time to honing their skills without the relentless grind. While still demanding, Sifu has become much more accessible to newcomers exploring martial arts gameplay.
1 Lies of P
The ‘P’ Stands For Punishing
Finally, Lies of P presents a unique example of how difficult gameplay can evolve post-launch. During its initial release, players faced harsh boss mechanics and resource scarcity that could render the game an exhausting experience.
Following critical player feedback, developers made significant balancing changes that made encounters with bosses like Romeo and Simon Manus far more manageable. The addition of more weapon resources and buffs has transformed the experience from overwhelmingly challenging to a more balanced blend of difficulty and enjoyment.
While I might not return to revisit the battles that once caused me frustration, it’s evident that Lies of P has benefited greatly from these updates, creating a more engaging game for players.
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