Are you looking for some of the most difficult games to play on the Nintendo Switch? Well, look no further! We’ve decided to scour the internet and list it all in one place. We have you covered from Super Meat Boy to Into The Breach and everything in between.
So read on to find out some of the most challenging games currently available on the Nintendo Switch today.
Cuphead
Don’t be fooled by its 1930 Disney-like animation. Cuphead is a brutal run-and-gun shooter that focuses on boss battles. If you’re a first-timer, this game will kill you within the first few minutes. Its boss battles are intense and intricate, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
When you’re done with the base game and still can’t get enough of its wild boss battles, you can hop into their DLC: Delicious Last Course. As you travel across the Inkwell Isles collecting soul contracts for the devil, you’ll fight some dangerous creatures that refuse to pay off their debt. In the DLC, you’ll meet Chalice and explore Inkwell Isle with her.
Cuphead is one of the most difficult games to play and is recommended for those with enough spare time. However, it’s a great feeling to be able to beat the game.
Dark Souls: Remastered
Souls games have made their name in the gaming world as a whole other level of difficulty for a reason. The Dark Souls games are known for their punishing difficulty, which makes it extremely satisfying to beat. This remastered version improves the original’s performance while staying true to the original game that players have come to love.
Dark Souls is not unbeatable, even if it may initially feel that way. You’ll have to learn its enemies and boss’s weaknesses and be cautious of your actions. However, your hard work will pay off with enough determination, skill, and practice.
It’s a great time to be alive, as you get to experience this gem of a game on a handheld console, giving you more time to practice.
Ikaruga
As a game that incorporates puzzles and bullet hell into one adrenaline-pumping game, Ikaruga is tough to beat. In addition to its seamless port onto the Switch, Ikaruga is a great co-op game for friends who love a challenge.
Since this is a bullet hell game, one hit and you’re dead. Add this to the puzzle-solving mechanic, and you have a game that will challenge you to think fast and work well. There’s a catch, though. Ikaruga has a unique polarity switch mechanic implemented, so you can reverse your ship’s polarity and absorb bullets to fuel your laser instead of taking damage. But this depends on the color of the bullets.
All in all, Ikaruga is one of the most difficult games to play. But if you’re quick and good at dodging, chances are you’ll survive.
The Binding of Isaac
You might want to skip this one if you’re not a fan of gore or overt acts of violence. If you’re easily offended by religious blasphemy, you might want to move along as well. The Binding of Isaac is a brutal roguelike RPG with randomly generated dungeons and multiple endings. Additionally, this game has a high replayability value with its over 50 enemy types and 20 boss types on top of over 100 unique items to unlock.
Your objective would be to not die and eventually not to die as you battle all sorts of enemies and bosses while getting stronger. In your journey, you’ll uncover some messed-up secrets and overpowering abilities that will help you get to help you reach your goal. The Binding of Isaac is a highly rated game that has been noted as one of the most difficult games to play on the Nintendo Switch or any platform, really.
Shin Megami Tensei V
As a game and franchise that continues to deliver hit games, Shin Megami Tensei V is one of the best titles you could get from the Shin Megami franchise. This title incorporates challenging gameplay with some heavy narratives and wide team-building options for its players.
For those who are new to challenging games, Shin Megami Tensei V might be the best choice. Mainly because you have the option to change the difficulty settings to suit your preferences. Once you get over the easiest mode, you can keep scaling up to a point where you have conquered the hardest mode of the game.
Don’t overlook this JRPG title; you might find yourself drawn by it!
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Those that enjoy 2D platformers would have heard of Donkey Kong by now, and one of the hardest platformers out there would be Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. On the surface, the game may look cute and fun, but at its core, this platformer is a tough nut to crack.
This title adds Funky Kong in Funky Mode as part of its gameplay to balance things out for those who are new to tough platformers. For Funky Mode, everything is considerably easier, as Funky Kong has extra hearts and more useful abilities. For its Original Mode, you’ll be banding together with Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, and Cranky Kong.
Due to its different modes, this title is best for those who are new to tough platforming and are on the fence about making the jump. You can experience Funky Mode and switch over to Original Mode to take it up a notch.
Cyber Shadow
Can’t get enough of tough platformers? Well, Cyber Shadow is a great option to challenge your skills. This title is a retro action platformer inspired by Ninja Gaiden created by Mechanical Head Studios. Make sure to get your head in the game and not lose focus, or it’ll cost you your life.
You fill the shoes of Shadow, the last remaining survivor of his clan. He sets out on a mission to find out the root cause of the world’s descent into destruction. Cyber Shadow is a ninja platformer with cybernetic influences, great for those who are fans of sci-fi, ninjas, and ridiculously hard platforming.
Furthermore, the retro visuals of the game bring back a hit of nostalgia that is true to the simpler days of gaming.
Super Meat Boy
For those of you who don’t have the time for stretched-out levels and winding backstories, we present Super Meat Boy. This indie platformer presents to you short but challenging levels where you get ferociously beat up if you don’t know what you’re doing.
One thing about these super hard games is that you’ll learn that in order to succeed, you’ll have to first be comfortable with failure. Anyways, in Super Meat Boy, your goal as an anthropomorphic cube-shaped meat is to save your girlfriend. Ironically, your girlfriend is made out of bandages.
After officially beating the game, you can even dive into Super Meat Boy Forever, the sequel to this title that is equally as hard to beat.
Ghosts n Goblins Resurrection
A mashup of Ghosts n Goblins and Ghouls n Ghosts birthed this masterpiece. Similar to its predecessors, it is one hell of a game. In a beautiful storybook world, you are met with outrageous difficulty. Death and restarting are a part of the game’s selling point.
To ease your pain, the controls are relatively easy, and its visuals are breathtaking. You are also granted a variety of weapons, skills, and magical abilities to ease your journey as Arthur. Aside from that, there are local co-op options. Your friends can join in as The Three Wise Guys to support your Arthur.
This reimagined title is as punishing as it gets, resurrecting the old games and repackaging them into something deadlier.
Into the Breach
A tactical game that allows you to take your time by thinking through your moves and strategies as you go along, we have Into the Breach. Even the smallest mistake would cost you your life.
In a warring world between humans in mech suits and overpowering monsters, you have to literally plan every move as your firepower is limited. Players would have to think about the civilians they are tasked with protecting while defeating some monsters along the way. With a rather high difficulty level, you’ll find yourself restarting the game over and over again.
Try all the strategies you can think of, and perhaps eventually, you’ll defeat them all and win this war.
Spelunky
Roguelikes have a reputation for being challenging, and Spelunky is one of those roguelike titles you can’t really go without hearing about. Even years down the line, there are still a lot of secrets to uncover in the game.
In truth, if you would like a tough roguelike with solid addictive gameplay, Spelunky is a good place to start. It’s a great introduction to the roguelike genre, and its difficulty levels could either make you want to quit immediately or come back for more. A sequel to Spelunky is also available if you’re looking for more underground roguelikes to get into.
Both are some of the most difficult games to play, hands down.
Battle Brothers
Now, if you prefer gameplay that focuses on tactics and strategies of war, Battle Brothers is a good starting point. This is a turn-based tactical RPG where you lead a group of mercenaries set in a medieval fantasy world.
As you travel across the world map to earn coins and resources to take care of your men, you take on contracts and can either choose to hire more people to your party or get rid of them. Battle Brothers allow you to manage your company, upgrading them as you go along. Naturally, each character in your company is unique with their own personality and skills to help you along.
It’s not as easy as just managing a team, though. You will have to juggle between fighting against varying levels of enemies and an unpredictable environment. This title is one of the most difficult games to play for a reason!
Metroid Dread
The most recent release in the Metroid universe and the comeback of Samus Aran into our lives is a satisfying yet challenging experience. You guide her to escape the deadly alien planet she finds herself on. You’ll be met with enemies and bosses of punishing difficulty.
Additionally, the levels were cleverly designed to be challenging for you to pass through. There is a Rookie Mode implemented in the game for those who are not used to the high difficulty level that Metroid Dread brings to the table. But if you’re here, that means you’re searching for the toughest titles. Great news, there’s a Dread Mode that unlocks after you beat the Hard Mode of the game.
Once you’ve beaten Dread Mode, you can officially be crowned a Metroid champion.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
Arguably the hardest title in the Crash Bandicoot franchise, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is here to give you a fun and challenging experience. This platformer takes the idea of hidden items and collectibles to another level, adding the N. Sanely Perfect relic challenges to the game. This makes it extra hard for completionists looking to 100% the game.
Other than that, there are all sorts of gameplay mechanics implemented into its levels that are purposely designed to make the game a challenge. Some of these include backward challenges through inverted mode, challenges set in black and white, and even underwater.
The Crash franchise is continuously trying to figure out new mechanics to add to their games, improving replayability while adding to the difficulty.
Hollow Knight
There’s a lot to be said about Hollow Knight’s difficulty. This Metroidvania title adds in all sorts of enemies and boss battles, each with its own move sets and abilities. In a way, this keeps the gameplay exciting and grants a ton of replayability.
There are also different levels of difficulty and modes that unlock the moment you finish the game for the first time. Just when you thought that the game was over? It was only just beginning. There are pantheons and enemies in the colosseum to beat, the White Palace to ace through, and more.
Hollow Knight is a gift that keeps on giving, especially if you’re relentless. On that note, their second game is releasing sometime this year. Keep your eyes out for Hollow Knight: Silksong!
Enter the Gungeon
Add roguelike to bullet hell and dungeon crawling mechanics; you’ll get Enter the Gungeon. This game brings with it endless replayability with a sense of challenge to stay alive and make it to the ultimate loot. Besides that, you can either loot these dungeons solo or through co-op play. We would recommend co-op for the extra support.
The Gungeon itself is a bullet hell fortress that is a procedurally generated maze, so no two reruns are the same. Adding to that, you’ll have some gun-wielding undead to take care of as well. Anyways, one of the most impressive parts of the game is the selection of guns at your disposal. Each of these guns is equipped with its own unique abilities and traits.
Overall, Enter the Gungeon is one of the most difficult games to play on the Nintendo Switch. One bullet and you’re back to square one.
Celeste
On the surface, Celeste may look like a melancholic game on self-discovery, and it is, but it is also an absurdly challenging action platformer. The art style and narrative of the game are well worth the journey to the top, though.
For those who are more interested in the narrative and message of the game, there is an Assist Mode available that might make things easier. But for those who are into hardcore platforming, Celeste is a well-packaged treat. Your goal in any mode is to get Madeline to the top of Mount Celeste as she battles with her inner demons and darkest secrets.
The simple controls of Celeste ease its challenging platforming mechanics, but there’s a lot that stands in your way and your objective at the top.
The Messenger
Similar to Cyber Shadow, The Messenger is also a ninja-themed action platformer inspired by Ninja Gaiden. The only difference is this time, you are tasked to deliver a scroll in order to ensure your clan’s survival. Plus, there are time-traveling mechanics involved.
On your journey, you’ll be met with a variety of enemies and bosses that are out to get you in order to stop you from delivering the scroll. There are your typical character upgrades, abilities, and hidden levels to uncover along the way.
The game plays like a retro 2D action side-scrolling platformer, so if you enjoy a taste of nostalgia with your challenge, this is a great title for you.
Thumper
It feels criminal not to include a rhythm game in a list of the most difficult games to play, so here’s Thumper. This title forces you to get into rhythm and speed as you tap along to some of the most difficult beats at breakneck speed.
You’re a beetle being thrust at the speed of light on an endless track with all sorts of obstacles in the way. The controls are simple; it’s just a button and a stick. However, to master the game, you would have to be incredibly fast. Thumper has nine levels, each brutally difficult with its own boss battles for you to go through.
Think you can take it? Try it out, then!
Darkest Dungeon
Everything about Darkest Dungeon is dark. From its visuals to its gameplay, Darkest Dungeon has managed to create an atmosphere and plotline that is equally as gruesome. You’ll be controlling a party of heroes as you travel deeper and deeper into a mysterious dungeon.
Perhaps one of the details that make Darkest Dungeon difficult is its permadeath mechanic. Characters that die remain dead, and its range of bosses and enemies is no easy feat. There’s also a sanity system in place, where your characters could slowly descend into madness if not managed well.
There’s a lot to take account of in the Darkest Dungeon, which makes it a stressfully challenging game.
Baba Is You
This game is what can be simplified as a compilation of brain-teasing puzzles. Even so, Baba Is You is not a game that you should underestimate. It is, to date, one of the most unique puzzle games available on the market and the Switch.
The idea is to break the rules of the puzzle and create your own along the way without much of a hint. There is a spike in difficulty once you get further into the game and grasp its basic nuances. Hence, don’t be fooled into thinking it is as easy as its first couple of levels. As you change the rules to your liking, you’ll uncover some cute surprises and new interactions that will hopefully fuel your motivation to get further.
It’s difficult to explain the game as a hands-on experience is a better option. With that said, go get the game for yourself or watch some gameplay streams online to further understand it!
Dead Cells
Another roguelike mashup of action platforming and Metroidvania, it comes as no surprise that Dead Cells is making its name as one of the most difficult games to play. With its fast-paced gameplay and simple controls, Dead Cells is an easy title to pick up.
Be that as it may, it offers challenging gameplay with every run. Every single time you die, which you’re definitely going to be doing a lot of, you’ll have to restart the game. There’s no point in memorizing your routes or strategies either, as the island changes every time you restart.
Another plus point is that as you die, you get to uncover more secrets about the infected island and gain more resources to build your skills. There are currently over 130 weapons for you to try out to keep your gameplay interesting.
Tumbleseed
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Adding to the roguelike genre, we have Tumbleseed. The concept of Tumbleseed is relatively simple. All you have to do is balance a seed on an ever-changing mountain while avoiding all the holes and fighting some creatures.
It may sound easy, but it isn’t easy. The mountain holds unpredictable challenges, and you must restart your game every time you fail. You are granted some powers to aid in your fight against questionable creatures. There are about 30 for you to unlock. Finally, the mountain is procedurally generated, meaning each run is different.
The one aspect that adds to the fun of this indie title is the daily challenge. In this challenge, you get to compete with others worldwide or simply try to beat your personal best.
La-Mulana
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Hailed as an archaeological ruin exploration game, La-Mulana is about traversing some ancient ruins in search of the ‘Secret Treasure of Life.’ The title is inspired by retro gaming and brings its players a strong sense of adventure. Fans of Indiana Jones and treasure-hunting movies, this one is for you.
La-Mulana is about granting its players a fulfilling and challenging exploration adventure. It is filled with tough enemies, challenging bosses, and mind-scratching puzzles. Beware of the many traps and mysteries that lie behind those centuries-old ruins.
There’s even a second game, La-Mulana 2, for you to dive into once you’re done!
Hotline Miami
Our last entry, for now, is none other than Hotline Miami, which is not a family-friendly game. This title has an age rating of 16 and above, so be warned. Hotline Miami is choked-filled with action and violence, so the rating is understandable.
This action shooter game is set in 1989 Miami, where violence is rampant, and blood paints the streets red. Your role in the game is to go on a murderous rampage against the people of the underworld. For that reason, you will find yourself in impossible situations against groups of people, occasionally, with no way out.
Hotline Miami forces you to think fast and act fast to survive and uncover the mysteries behind all this violence. The game is brutal and violent, reminiscent of when gangs rule the streets.
Wrapping Up
Look at that! You’ve made it to the end! These are the 25 most difficult games to play on the Nintendo Switch. If you think we’ve missed some notable titles on our list, do let us know in the comments below. And, if you would like to read more Nintendo-based lists, try out this list of the Best Nintendo Switch Exclusives.
