Top 20 Most Cruel Video Games Ever Made

  • last year
If you want to give someone a cruel gaming experience, show them one of these games. For this list, we’ll be looking at games that are so difficult and unbalanced, they border on being unfair.
Transcript
00:00 [Gameplay]
00:08 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 most cruel games ever made.
00:16 [Gameplay]
00:24 For this list, we'll be looking at games that are so difficult, they border on being unfair.
00:29 That means we won't be including any games that are simply tough.
00:35 Have you conquered any of these cruel games?
00:38 Is there something we left off?
00:40 Sound off in the comments below.
00:43 [Gameplay]
00:56 The early 90s saw a boom of arcade fighters, and Mortal Kombat was one of the franchises leading the charge.
01:03 But when the sequel was released, Midway found numerous ways to improve on the first,
01:09 including how many quarters they could get players to part with.
01:13 The enemy AI in the arcade classic is supreme.
01:18 [Gameplay]
01:26 You may make it through the first few rounds okay, but you'll eventually hit a massive spike.
01:31 Simply put, the computer opponents can read you far faster than vice versa, at least for the average player.
01:39 And the game culminated with one of the cheapest final bosses in fight game history,
01:44 the taunting brute, Chao Khan.
01:47 [Gameplay]
02:03 Maybe we just never had the patience to replay multiple sections of a game multiple times over.
02:09 But the PlayStation 2's Stuntman is a major test of will.
02:13 It places you in the role of a Hollywood stunts expert, pulling off daring set pieces
02:19 in a variety of vehicles across several genres of film.
02:22 [Gameplay]
02:28 It's a pretty fun premise, but the problem arises as soon as you fail.
02:33 Every sequence is timed, and you must perform each stunt to the game's strict standards of quality.
02:40 Make one mistake, and you'll have to start the level all the way over.
02:45 We get that filmmakers want to get these scenes perfect,
02:48 but that tedium should have never been translated into a game.
02:52 [Gameplay]
02:59 Number 18.
03:01 Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy.
03:03 [Gameplay]
03:11 Although it's quite simplistic, Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy is remarkably frustrating.
03:17 Armed with only a cauldron and a sledgehammer,
03:20 players must ascend a mountain while contesting the game's slippery physics.
03:24 However, there's a high probability that you'll end up losing some of your progress as you play.
03:30 [Gameplay]
03:38 If you slip up, you can take quite a tumble and end up wasting a huge chunk of time.
03:44 There also aren't any checkpoints, so we're using the word "waste" in a very literal sense.
03:52 It only takes a few falls before you're either ready to scream or just give up.
03:57 [Gameplay]
04:07 Number 17.
04:08 Mario Party series.
04:10 [Gameplay]
04:22 Many cruel games are thought of as such because of their difficult mechanics.
04:27 While Mario Party can be understood by anyone regardless of skill level,
04:32 it still holds elements that are completely unfair.
04:37 Many of its free-for-all minigames are balanced,
04:40 but we'd swear there are some others that are stacked against certain players,
04:44 primarily those of the 1v3 variety.
04:47 [Gameplay]
04:51 However, the most unfair feature in the franchise are bonus stars.
04:56 These are given out at the end of a game to players who did the most of...
05:00 something.
05:01 Like landed on the most event spaces.
05:04 Since some of these are random, you can go from having no stars at all to winning the game.
05:10 [Gameplay]
05:14 Number 16.
05:15 The Unfair Platformer.
05:18 [Gameplay]
05:26 There are few games with such fitting titles as this.
05:30 The Unfair Platformer was released during a wave of brutally hard flash games in the late 2000s
05:36 and tells you exactly what you'll be getting into.
05:39 Your objective is simple.
05:41 Make it through each section looking for checkpoints while avoiding boatloads of traps.
05:46 [Gameplay]
05:53 The problem is that most of these traps are completely hidden.
05:58 Platforms with secret spikes will eviscerate you instantly,
06:02 and solid ground will vanish as soon as you land on it.
06:05 It all comes down to a whole lot of trial, error, and pain.
06:10 [Gameplay]
06:16 Number 15.
06:18 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
06:20 [Gameplay]
06:28 There are several games in the NES's library that have taken on new lives in pop culture
06:33 due to their immense difficulty.
06:36 The original Ninja Turtles game is definitely one of them.
06:40 While many focus on the infamous dam level, it's for good reason.
06:45 The combination of stiff controls, bad sprite placement, and the heavy damage should you mess up
06:51 makes it a major hassle.
06:53 [Gameplay]
06:58 But it's more than just one hard level.
07:00 Specific sections of stages and enemies are better suited for different turtles.
07:06 Not that most players would know that.
07:08 If one of the heroes runs out of HP, they get captured,
07:12 which means they're locked until you can rescue them in a different stage
07:16 with whichever turtles you have left.
07:18 [Gameplay]
07:25 Number 14.
07:27 Contra.
07:27 [Gameplay]
07:35 If you want to make it far in Contra, you're basically required to know the Konami Code,
07:41 which gives you 30 lives instead of the standard 3.
07:45 Even still, there's no guarantee that will be enough.
07:49 The classic side-scrolling shooter gives you a single-hit health bar
07:53 and throws you into levels covered in enemies.
07:56 [Gameplay]
08:04 Whether they be foot soldiers, wall-mounted guns, or some other bullet-spraying enemy,
08:09 it doesn't take them long to flood your screen with ammunition.
08:13 Only by dying numerous times can you gain the reaction time to survive.
08:18 At least co-op eases things a bit, but it's still a major test to reach the end.
08:24 [Gameplay]
08:31 Number 13.
08:33 Ninja Gaiden.
08:34 [Gameplay]
08:40 How players were able to make it through some of these games, we'll never know.
08:45 Like many others of the era, Ninja Gaiden is a tough-as-nails action side-scroller,
08:51 the majority of which will never be experienced by the average player who tries it.
08:56 At least you get a health bar,
08:58 but that alone won't be enough to stop enemies from ripping you to shreds.
09:03 [Gameplay]
09:08 It's not just that your foes are clever, their placement is also a major factor.
09:14 If you kill an enemy, it only takes moving the screen an inch out of their spawn point
09:19 before they're back.
09:20 Some enemies even dive-bomb you from off-screen,
09:24 amounting to a constant barrage of damage.
09:27 [Gameplay]
09:35 Number 12.
09:36 Cat Mario.
09:38 [Gameplay]
09:44 Long before Mario himself would actually dress as a cat,
09:48 this Flash game put one feline in the plumber's shoes.
09:53 Except their game wasn't exactly a stroll in the Mushroom Kingdom.
09:58 Its setting will undoubtedly feel remarkably familiar,
10:02 but it lures you into a false sense of security.
10:05 Just like the unfair platformer,
10:07 traps and hazards are placed at completely unexpected places.
10:11 Nothing acts as it should, and you'll soon find yourself dying too many times to count.
10:17 [Gameplay]
10:23 The creator essentially matched the charm of the original Super Mario Bros.
10:27 with just as much cruelty.
10:30 To reach the end, it takes the utmost patience and memorization.
10:35 [Gameplay]
10:39 Number 11.
10:40 Takeshi's Challenge.
10:43 [Gameplay]
10:50 This Japan-only game has become infamous in certain circles
10:54 not because of crushing mechanics,
10:56 but because it has some of the most out-there solutions in any video game.
11:01 Designed by comedian and filmmaker Pete Takeshi,
11:05 it seems purposely made to be obtuse.
11:08 It follows a man who earns a treasure map and seeks his fortune.
11:13 But he has to do a few things before setting out on his adventure,
11:16 including quitting his job and divorcing his wife.
11:20 [Gameplay]
11:26 And just how was any kid expected to know that?
11:30 Its design led to poor reception at launch,
11:33 and the passing of time hasn't done Takeshi's Challenge any favors.
11:38 [Gameplay]
11:43 Number 10.
11:44 Super Star Wars.
11:45 [Gameplay]
11:53 Why this wasn't re-released for the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita,
11:58 we'll never understand.
12:00 Super Star Wars is one of those games that seems like it's just another hard platformer,
12:05 but you'll quickly discover it's one of the most unfair games on the whole damn planet.
12:11 As you make your way through the first level,
12:14 multiple enemies start spawning in the background.
12:17 [Gameplay]
12:23 While they can be killed in just a couple of hits,
12:25 they respawn almost half a second later and will be out to murder you.
12:31 It isn't an unplayable game,
12:34 but trying to progress becomes an arduous chore.
12:37 We'd rather take our chances surviving in a sarlacc pit.
12:41 [Gameplay]
12:47 Number 9.
12:48 I Wanna Be The Guy.
12:50 The Movie.
12:51 The Game.
12:52 [Gameplay]
12:58 If you're looking for a game that is the definition of sadism,
13:02 then I Wanna Be The Guy might be what you're looking for.
13:05 Taking pages from the old days of difficult platformers,
13:09 the game forces players to go through a constant trial and error process,
13:14 avoiding death traps like spikes and apples.
13:17 [Gameplay]
13:23 As if the explosion of blood isn't humiliating enough,
13:27 the game over screen is accompanied by a heavy medal score.
13:30 I Wanna Be The Guy is just one of those games that's best enjoyed from watching
13:36 others rage over its sadistic level design.
13:40 [Gameplay]
13:46 Number 8.
13:47 Silver Surfer.
13:48 [Gameplay]
13:54 There are many games where you can die in one hit,
13:57 but they are still fair in some ways.
14:01 The Contra games are the first to come to mind,
14:03 but if there was one game that seems to strictly abide by the one hit rule,
14:09 it's Silver Surfer for the NES.
14:11 [Gameplay]
14:18 You're given very little time to react and avoid obstacles.
14:22 Should we mention that even the walls are instant death?
14:26 To add to our frustration,
14:29 the graphics are so poor that it's hard to tell what can and can't kill you,
14:34 let alone where bullets may be flying.
14:36 In the end, Silver Surfer just expects too much from us.
14:41 [Gameplay]
14:47 Number 7.
14:49 Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels.
14:52 [Gameplay]
14:59 You know, in hindsight,
15:01 maybe there was a good reason this wasn't officially Super Mario Bros. 2.
15:06 Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels wasn't released outside of Japan until 1993
15:12 as part of Super Mario All-Stars, and we can see why.
15:17 Lost Levels wasn't just a hard game, it was agonizing.
15:21 [Gameplay]
15:29 Question blocks could spawn poison mushrooms that could take away a hit point or kill you,
15:34 gusts of wind could mess up your jumps,
15:37 and certain warp pipes could hinder your progress by sending you back a few levels.
15:42 We can appreciate it as a piece of gaming history,
15:46 but it's also a prime example of how to make a game incredibly aggravating.
15:52 [Gameplay]
15:57 Number 6.
15:58 XCOM 2.
15:59 [Gameplay]
16:06 We understand the point of XCOM 2 is to feel overwhelmed,
16:10 but that doesn't excuse some of the asinine stuff it pulls at the beginning of the game.
16:16 For starters, no matter how close you are to the enemy,
16:19 you're never guaranteed to hit your targets.
16:23 You are two squares away from an enemy!
16:26 How is that not a 100% guaranteed hit?
16:30 [Gameplay]
16:34 To make matters worse, XCOM 2 throws some of the most irritating enemies early on,
16:39 such as the Sectoid, which can mind control your soldiers
16:43 or cause them to panic and refuse to take orders.
16:46 It's almost enough for us to let the aliens conquer Earth.
16:50 [Gameplay]
16:56 Number 5.
16:57 Battletoads.
16:58 [Gameplay]
17:05 Battletoads has been known to be one of the most notoriously difficult games
17:10 in the platforming genre.
17:11 The game demands your full attention,
17:14 so much so that it ends up becoming more reliant on memorization and quick reactions.
17:19 Now, typically, adding in a second player would make games like this a little bit easier.
17:25 On the contrary, it does the exact opposite.
17:28 [Gameplay]
17:36 As you could accidentally end up killing your buddy just trying to beat the baddies.
17:41 Battletoads is fondly remembered.
17:44 But is the nostalgia really worth the migraines and frustration?
17:48 [Gameplay]
17:54 Number 4.
17:55 Ghosts 'n Goblins.
17:57 [Gameplay]
18:03 With a name like Ghosts 'n Goblins, we'd expect almost everything to try and kill us.
18:08 This?
18:09 This is taking it way too far.
18:12 You're constantly being bombarded with different kinds of enemies,
18:16 each with their own specific attack patterns.
18:19 Not only that, but you have no way of saving your progress.
18:23 Checkpoints are non-existent.
18:25 [Gameplay]
18:32 But wait, there's more!
18:34 After you've completed your first run,
18:36 you must go through the entire game a second time to defeat the true final boss,
18:43 all while being on a higher difficulty.
18:46 Good luck!
18:47 You'll need it!
18:48 [Gameplay]
18:52 Number 3.
18:53 Superman 64.
18:55 [Gameplay]
19:01 We could easily talk about how cruel Superman 64 was
19:06 in terms of decimating our hopes for a good game,
19:09 but we'd be here all day.
19:10 No, Superman 64 is cruel in just how broken it truly is.
19:18 You'll find yourself fighting the terrible controls that are occasionally unresponsive,
19:23 random encounters with a large assortment of glitches,
19:26 and the god-awful camera.
19:29 [Gameplay]
19:36 And then there are the rings.
19:39 The most useless and unrewarding task in all of gaming.
19:44 Just when you think you've seen all the crap Superman 64 has to offer,
19:50 it manages to surprise you with new terrible experiences.
19:55 [Gameplay]
20:00 Number 2.
20:02 Trap Adventure 2.
20:03 [Gameplay]
20:10 Chances are you've seen this mobile game pop up on your social media feed at some point.
20:15 Trap Adventure 2 has been described as one of the most cruel games you could ever play.
20:21 Each time you think you've figured out how to pass an obstacle,
20:24 it throws something completely unexpected at you,
20:28 like spontaneously spawning a wall of spikes.
20:31 [Gameplay]
20:39 With its trial and error gameplay,
20:42 Trap Adventure 2 will crush your hopes and dreams the same way it crushes your character.
20:48 Trust us, this is not for the easily irritated.
20:52 Unless you want a broken phone.
20:54 [Gameplay]
21:00 Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel
21:03 and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
21:06 You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
21:10 If you're on your phone, make sure to go into your settings and switch on notifications.
21:14 Number 1.
21:17 Dragon's Lair NES version.
21:19 [Gameplay]
21:24 The arcade version may feel a little frustrating at times,
21:28 but it's still a somewhat fair game.
21:31 As for the NES version, the game is anything but fair.
21:36 The controls are clunky as hell,
21:38 and just about everything can kill you in just one hit.
21:42 [Gameplay]
21:49 If things couldn't possibly get any worse,
21:51 the elevator portion of the game is a living nightmare.
21:55 Should you choose to get off on the wrong floor,
21:58 you could potentially be sent back to the beginning of the game.
22:03 Getting past that first screen is already torture,
22:07 and we'd rather play the other games on this list
22:10 than have to go through this [bleep] again.
22:14 [Gameplay]
22:20 In the mood for more awesome gaming content?
22:22 Be sure to check out this video here on Mojo Plays.
22:25 And don't forget to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
22:30 [Outro]