00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the games
00:12released this year that were staggering in their difficulty.
00:1510. Hell is Us
00:35While you can lessen how brutal the combat can be by lowering the settings, don't expect
00:39any hand-holding when it comes to navigation through this underrated gem. Hell is Us is
00:44very much deliberate in offering nothing in the way of direction, leaving you to piece
00:48together what is going on, including the story behind the various atrocities behind the silver
00:53wall dotted across the land. Not to mention why you're being attacked by faceless entities.
01:07Throw in puzzles that are the furthest thing from simple and you're left with an uphill
01:11climb as to how to proceed. The fact Hell is Us was able to turn this into such a positive
01:16game that can't be ignored.
01:239. Silent Hill F
01:38The only thing scarier than dealing with living nightmares born from the trauma of a young
01:41woman during the impressive reality of 1960s Japan? Clunky combat. Hinako's struggle to
01:47survive is gnarly enough, given the veracity of the monsters on her heels. Not to mention
01:52how everyone in her peer group are slowly losing their minds. While the only way to defend herself
01:57is by lashing out with whatever blunt objects she can get her hands on.
02:09Unfortunately Hinako, being a meek teenager, isn't exactly adept at bringing the pain. Or
02:14parrying. Or dodging. On harder difficulties, taking down enemies and bosses can feel arduous
02:20to the nth degree. And that's to say nothing of how complex the puzzles can be.
02:34Number 8. Captain Blood
02:42We never said this selection had to be made up of good games. And unfortunately 2025 had
02:47plenty of stinkers. With this one in particular really making the journey towards the finish
02:52line as much of a grind as possible. While it presents itself as a pirate game that harkens
02:57back to the days of old school PS2 action titles, Captain Blood also inherits the worst attributes
03:02from that era. Namely, janky controls, super spongy enemies, and combat that makes every encounter
03:08a cure to complete. Especially when it comes to the bosses.
03:12Pirate games have had a real rough time of it recently, and due to its core mechanics being
03:24so needlessly aggravating, Captain Blood easily joins the pile down in Davy Jones' locker.
03:29Number 7. Claire Obscure Expedition 33
03:42I suck!
03:44When it comes to upping the ante in turn-based games, the only options available tend to be
03:57buffing the enemies to ludicrous degrees and limiting the resources of your party. Expedition
04:0333 shifted all conventions on its head by integrating mechanics such as dodging, parrying, and third-person
04:09shooting into its gameplay cycle. Not only did this add a whole new dimension to battles,
04:13but also gave the game plenty of excuses to go crazy with difficulty spikes.
04:30Enemies will have askew attack timings, forcing players to make split second decisions to either
04:35dodge or risk a counter. It can feel unrelenting and unforgiving at times, especially with some
04:40of its late game bosses, and yet never feels cheap. Just another layer on top of what makes
04:45Expedition 33 such a masterpiece.
04:59Number 6. Lies of P. Overture
05:01Much like the top tier Souls-like DLC of the past, Overture is a triumph in just about everything
05:18it tries to do. More weapons, more bosses, more lore, and tremendously enhances the base
05:23game merely by its inclusion. And in typical Lies of P fashion, it's a gauntlet of steel
05:29that will have you falling prey to the game over screen more times than you care to admit.
05:41The inclusion of difficulty settings aside, the puppets and monsters found across this DLC,
05:46including resident big bad Arlechino, will test you like never before, regardless of all your fancy new toys.
05:52I will come!
06:02Number 5. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
06:05Have you been hungering for an RPG that goes deep when it comes to choice and consequence?
06:19How about one that revels in its historic setting and strives for accuracy and realism on every fundamental level?
06:26Then Deliverance 2 is your holy grail. Just be warned that it takes its role playing very seriously.
06:32Cutting your way through political intrigue and sieges as would be Knight Henry is the furthest thing from simple.
06:43Not only due to the first person melee combat, but because you'll also have to maintain your health,
06:48fatigue, cleanliness, weapons, and so much more. Like we said, they went deep on this,
06:53so don't expect to leap into battle like a one man army. Otherwise, prepare to be humbled.
06:58I can't express name into your face for that!
07:03Number 4. Hollow Knight Silksong
07:09This long awaited sequel quickly established that, while it retained plenty of what made the original Metroidvania such a sensation,
07:28it was also packing way more bite.
07:31Hornet's exploration into Farlum is chock full of dangers, whether it be some of the hardest bosses the genre has ever known to hazardous platforming around every corner.
07:40But unlike its predecessor, it goes all in on making you feel like you're constantly outnumbered and outclassed.
07:46Double damage is a constant threat, from both regular enemies as well as traps littered across the map.
08:02All the while, pogoing and platforming come in at an angle, meaning every movement needs to be a calculated one.
08:08It can be a gruelling experience for those who aren't willing to, in Hornet's own words, get good.
08:25Number 3. Elden Ring, Night Reign
08:37Whether it's an open world adventure or a roguelike, a FromSoft game is still a FromSoft game.
08:42So expect to have the grace of gold snatched out of you more than once.
08:46With limited time to level up and gather weapons, taking on a randomised gauntlet of bosses straight out of the Dark Souls and Elden Ring catalogue can be brutal, depending on your luck.
08:55Doubly so if you dare to take on an Expedition solo, as opposed to with a group of other players.
09:00Though even that may not be enough when you reach the end of a run and have to contend with one of the Night Lords.
09:13Number 2. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
09:28This game destroyed us back in 2008 and nearly 20 years later, it's still kicking all our asses.
09:46While Ninja Gaiden 4 offered a far more polished yet still trying experience, this remaster of Ryu Hayabusa's iconic second outing is a true trial by fire.
09:56Assuming you play on anything other than hero mode.
09:59Enemies will annihilate you, soaking up a crazy amount of damage while often ignoring your blows altogether.
10:05Ripping and tearing through demons with an awesome collection of ninja tools certainly hits the sweet spot.
10:19But for anyone who isn't willing to embrace the aggressiveness and off-screen bombardments, this is a baptism in blood.
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10:47Number 1. The First Berserker, Kazan
11:00Cleaving its way to the top, Kazan tore apart the competition and established itself as a name forever synonymous with controller-breaking, rage-inducing, yet highly addictive gameplay.
11:10Blending together the merciless bosses found in Souls games with an emphasis on parries, chaining combos and RPG loadouts, Kazan succeeds in setting itself apart from its contemporaries as a gore-filled dark fantasy phenomenon.
11:23While still making you sweat each time you take another step on Kazan's road to revenge.
11:38The learning curve can feel impossible at times, but stick with it long enough and you'll soon find yourself relishing in the combat.
11:44And for the true masochists out there, it's even got a hardcore mode.
11:48Which of these games broke you? Let us know in the comments!
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