The metroidvania genre thrives on exploration, challenge, and the satisfaction of mastering intricate worlds. The genre has some of the hardest games out there, and Silksong is no exception to that rule. The platforming is tricky, and the enemies are faster than ever, testing even veterans of the original game.
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But even though Silksong poses a significant challenge, there are still a few Metroidvanias out there that are considered even harder, at least based on PC ratings on GameFAQs. From limited save points to punishing platforming, these games demonstrate that a game doesn't have to be difficult for a single reason and can instead be a combination of many challenges that the player has to overcome all at once.
La-Mulana 2
The Pinnacle Of Cryptic Difficulty
La-Mulana 2
- Released
- July 30, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- PLAYISM
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
- Difficulty Rating: 4.62/5
La-Mulana 2 is a labyrinth of cryptic puzzles, brutal platforming, and relentless enemies. Success demands not just skill but meticulous note-taking and deep observation, as traps are hidden everywhere, and one wrong move often leads to sudden death. Though it is a more modern release, it takes its aesthetic and style from a simpler time of pixelated graphics and more charming enemy designs that still appear horrifying.
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The game builds on the original’s punishing design while expanding the scale of its dungeons. Bosses are ruthless, and progress is often locked behind puzzles that require both lateral thinking and exhaustive exploration. It’s a game that punishes carelessness at every step, cementing its reputation as one of the hardest Metroidvanias ever created.
Aeterna Noctis
Platforming Taken To The Extreme
Aeterna Noctis
- Released
- December 15, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Aeternum Game Studios
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Metroidvania
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
- Difficulty Rating: 4.50/5
Aeterna Noctis combines the sprawling design of a metroidvania with the precision of a hardcore platformer. Tight jumps, spike-filled gauntlets, and relentless enemy placement make traversal just as dangerous as combat, and every mistake is costly as the checkpointing is limited, which can mean that easy errors become huge defeats.
Its demanding difficulty curve doesn’t ease up even late into the adventure. Success requires mastering movement abilities and adapting to high-intensity encounters. It challenges players with relentless trial-and-error gameplay that rewards only the most dedicated, which makes it perfect for those seeking difficulty beyond the genre’s norms.
La-Mulana
A True Puzzle-Laden Nightmare
La-Mulana
- Released
- June 27, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- Difficulty Rating: 4.35/5
The original La-Mulana is infamous for its devious puzzles and punishing design philosophy that bordered on the realm of unfair. Unlike most Metroidvanias, it gives almost no guidance, forcing players to decipher obscure hints and ancient riddles to progress, and simply understanding where to go next can be harder than surviving its enemies.
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Every discovery comes at the cost of hours of trial and error. Death is constant, traps are unforgiving, and bosses demand precise execution, with players having to jungle mechanical skill with mental fortitude at all times. The game’s difficulty also tests the player’s endurance, memory, and problem-solving skills in ways few games dare attempt, which makes it the perfect combination of challenge for players who really love to be pushed.
Eternal Daughter
Forgotten Yet Ruthlessly Hard
Eternal Daughter
- Released
- January 1, 2002
- Difficulty Rating: 4.29/5
A lesser-known classic, Eternal Daughter is a freeware Metroidvania that predates many of the genre’s modern staples. What it lacks in polish, it makes up for in sheer difficulty, as enemies hit hard, checkpoints are sparse, and precision from start to finish, with few players ever making it past the first few hurdles
The game’s platforming challenges are beyond punishing, requiring near-perfect execution to survive. Combined with limited healing and constant resource scarcity, it forces players to approach each encounter cautiously, and while it may not have the production value of modern titles, its relentless difficulty ensures it stands among the hardest Metroidvanias out there.
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Hollow Knight: Silksong is dethroned by a new game that has even higher review scores than the long-awaited Metroidvania.