The 10 Hardest Nintendo Games of All Time, Ranked by Difficulty

In the ’80s, when the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was introduced, it soon gained a reputation for hosting extremely challenging games. Players even started using the term “Nintendo hard” to characterize its most difficult games. Interestingly, not all of the toughest NES games were developed by Nintendo themselves, but they did publish some games that lived up to this tough-as-nails label, with games like Ninja Gaiden and Battletoads being prime examples.

Over the years, it can be debated that video games have become less challenging, however, Nintendo has consistently introduced tougher games into the market. From SNES games that left many players feeling frustrated to GameCube titles that had players considering throwing their controllers, Nintendo has a variety of games designed for those seeking a challenge. These games may not be the hardest ever made, but they are undeniably among the most challenging games produced or distributed by Nintendo.

The Retro Studios Donkey Kong Game Lived Up to the Originals

Although Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze appears to be a game designed for families, its unassuming adorable appearance hides one of the most challenging 2D platform games of recent times. The game offers a relatively simple method for players to accumulate lives, but it consistently puts their skills to the test. The boss battles can be punishing, and there are sections where precise timing is crucial for every jump.

Due to the adjustable difficulty settings of Tropical Freeze, it’s less challenging than some other games on this list, but it does have a significant learning curve. The game’s hidden levels are among the most difficult in any Nintendo platformer, and mastering them requires patience and practice. Despite being tough at times, Tropical Freeze never feels unfairly so, which adds to the enjoyment of its challenges.

This Fire Emblem Game Is Brutal Even On Normal Difficulty

On January 21, 2000, the game “Fire Emblem: Thracia 776” was the final Super Famicom title to be distributed physically. To this day, it hasn’t been made available beyond Japan. One possible reason could be its challenging nature. Even on the standard difficulty setting, “Thracia 776” doesn’t hold back in presenting hurdles for players, such as capped stats, a veil that hides parts of the map, and enemies that can move during the very turn they appear.

In Thracia 776, there was no choice other than permadeath when it was launched. This implied that a single error could lead to losing valuable units or requiring players to redo maps from the beginning. While emulators can simplify things with save states for those who use them, the regular version of the game offers a genuine test of skill.

It’s One of the Hardest Games to Use the NES Zapper

In contrast to many players becoming angry at the dog in Duck Hunt, the game To the Earth presented a far greater challenge. This game, available exclusively in North America and Europe, was a light gun game that demanded exceptional accuracy from its players. The objective was to journey through planets such as Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter, culminating on Earth; however, very few managed to reach the end credits due to its difficulty level.

Much like numerous NES Zapper games, “To the Earth” is hardly remembered nowadays, with its main claim to fame being its notorious difficulty level. Despite being published by Nintendo, this game was developed by an enigmatic studio called Cirque Verte, who are known for no other projects. It’s possible that the developers intentionally remained anonymous due to their creation of this seemingly unconquerable game.

Diddy’s Kong Quest Is Easily the Hardest Donkey Kong Game

The game “Tropical Freeze” isn’t the only “Donkey Kong” title that presented a tough challenge for players. Although the initial “Donkey Kong Country” was relatively easygoing, its successor, “Diddy’s Kong Quest“, stands out as one of the most difficult platformers in the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) library. It constantly tested players and, just when they thought they had mastered a gameplay mechanic, the game would increase the difficulty level.

In most Donkey Kong Country games, you begin with an easy pace that ramps up in complexity. However, Diddy’s Kong Quest is mercilessly challenging from the get-go and doesn’t ease up. A significant part of its toughness lies in the vast array of challenges it presents. Each level in Donkey Kong Country 2 offers a unique experience, requiring players to frequently adjust to new hurdles. Despite its steep difficulty curve, it’s often praised as one of the best due to its exceptional gameplay quality.

Passwords Weren’t Enough to Make Kid Icarus Easy

In some NES games, you had to complete the entire game in a single session without saving progress, but the password system in “Kid Icarus” made it more accessible for players by letting them resume their progress. Without this feature, a significant number of players might have struggled or even failed to beat “Kid Icarus”, and even with it, a good portion of gamers found the game’s initial level challenging.

In contrast to numerous challenging Nintendo games with steep learning curves, the difficulty of Kid Icarus peaks at the start when players possess minimal life energy. However, as players advance, their health improves, offering some relief. Yet, it remains a tough game, even by NES standards. Interestingly enough, one villain from Kid Icarus can transform the player into an eggplant, albeit temporarily, rendering them incapable of attacking foes.

Not Many Players Have Beat Mike Tyson

1987’s “Punch-Out!!”, a beloved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) title, is a game that easily earns its popularity. The game centers around Little Mac, an aspiring boxer with big dreams, aiming to reach the pinnacle of the World Video Boxing Association. Initially, the matches are reasonably easy, but as you progress, particularly against Mike Tyson, they become extremely challenging to the extent that many players consider Tyson one of the toughest video game bosses ever encountered.

In “Punch-Out!”, the narrative revolves around an underdog, which adds to its difficult gameplay. Unlike most opponents who possess numerous moves, our protagonist Mac has limited attacks, thus he must strategize effectively to stay alive. The game is tough in any situation, but “Punch-Out!” becomes virtually unbeatable with minimal input delay. This makes it one of the few NES games that are even more challenging on emulators.

Samus’ First Adventure Really Was Nintendo Hard

In the Metroid series, games such as Metroid Dread and Metroid Prime 2 are known for being tough, but when it comes to sheer difficulty, the original Metroid game outshines them all. Unlike many action-adventure games of its era, Metroid didn’t follow a linear path or have a map system, making it tricky for players to keep tabs on their location. Fortunately, Metroid did feature a password system that saved player progress, but this didn’t make the game any easier.

In the classic version of Metroid, while the boss fights weren’t exceptionally challenging, the game could be quite harsh. Many players often had to grind for energy after each death, a process that significantly slowed their progress through the game. Modern releases of Metroid often incorporate elements that make the game less demanding, such as the option to save anywhere on the NES Classic, but the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) game is undeniably tough.

Death Mountain Has a Brutal Difficulty Spike

In this franchise, it’s undeniably the toughest part. Peril is everywhere, and not just from adversaries. Players must also navigate through perils such as lava or hidden traps that can instantly end their journey with a single misstep. To make matters worse, the game’s most grueling segment, known as Death Mountain, comes before players have had a chance to fully grasp the game’s mechanics, plunging them straight into the deep end.

In the Nintendo Switch Online version of Zelda II, there’s an option that allows players to rewind if they mess up, but without this feature and save points, the game is incredibly challenging to complete. Even with the help of modern conveniences like rewinding and save states, gamers will still need to put in a lot of effort to reach the end. The unique aspects of Zelda II, such as its limited lives and complex dungeons, set it apart from other games in the series, but not always for the better.

F-Zero GX’s Story Mode Will Challenge Any Gamer

In the era of GameCube, games generally became more accessible, but F-Zero GX seemed oblivious to this trend. It possesses an incredibly steep learning curve for a racing game, making it challenging even on the easiest setting. To progress through the story mode, players must master every aspect of the game, including swift maneuvers and drifting techniques.

To put it simply, the challenging nature of F-Zero GX was so intense that numerous fans speculate it led to the demise of the series. Following its launch, there were only occasional handheld installments until the franchise entered a long hiatus. However, in 2023, an online racer titled F-Zero 99 emerged, bringing the series back to life. Yet, it’s possible that Nintendo will never create another F-Zero game featuring a story mode again.

The Original Super Mario Bros. 2 Is As Tough As Nintendo Games Get

In 1986, following the massive triumph of Super Mario Bros. in 1985, Nintendo chose to redesign and significantly increase the difficulty level of the game. This new version was so challenging that many players didn’t manage to play it for quite a few years after its release. Interestingly, Japan received the original Super Mario Bros. 2, but other regions were given a remodeled version of a game known as Doki Doki Panic.

Initially, Super Mario Bros. was initially unveiled for the SNES within the compilation game “Super Mario All-Stars,” which later got renamed as “Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.” This version proved to be incredibly challenging, as players encountered numerous tough obstacles such as sudden gusts of wind while in mid-air and deceptive poisonous mushrooms disguised as power-ups. Interestingly, Luigi controlled differently from Mario, forcing players to adapt their strategies for overcoming the game’s challenges in two distinct manners. To this very day, “The Lost Levels” remains the most challenging Mario game ever created by Nintendo.

2025-06-06 23:53