Cuphead, Super Meat Boy, and 3 of the Other Hardest Platformers of All Time

Platformer games have been a staple of the video game industry for decades, but not all are created equal. Some, like Cuphead, are designed to test players’ patience, reflexes, and mental fortitude to the breaking point.

While the genre might seem simplistic, many developers have taken it upon themselves to create some of the most unforgiving and soul-crushing experiences in gaming history. Here are five of the most challenging platformers ever created.

5. Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy

Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy is a game designed to frustrate. Players control a man named Diogenes, who is inexplicably trapped in a cauldron and must climb an abstract mountain using only a sledgehammer. The game’s physics are intentionally awkward, making even the simplest movements difficult to execute.

One wrong move can send you tumbling back to the beginning, erasing hours of progress in an instant. The game was crafted to “hurt a certain kind of person,” as the developer himself admitted. Despite—or perhaps because of—its sadistic design, Getting Over It has developed a cult following among gamers who relish the agony of its relentless difficulty.

4. Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

When most people think of Super Mario Bros., they think of a fun, family-friendly platformer. However, The Lost Levels, originally released in Japan as Super Mario Bros. 2, is anything but easy. This sequel was deemed too difficult for Western audiences and for good reason.

The game takes the mechanics of the original and cranks up the difficulty to absurd levels. Invisible blocks, deadly poison mushrooms, and pixel-perfect jumps are just a few of the challenges that await players.

You may want to give this game a try after Mario & Sonic being abandoned by the Olympics. Even experienced gamers find themselves struggling with the game’s unforgiving design, making it one of the hardest entries in the Mario franchise.

3. Cuphead

At first glance, Cuphead is a delightful homage to the golden age of animation, with its hand-drawn, 1930s-inspired visuals. But beneath its charming exterior lies a game that is as brutal as it is beautiful. Players must navigate through a series of boss battles and platforming levels, each one designed to push their skills to the limit. 

The game is a gauntlet of boss battles that require perfect timing, memorization, and the ability to read complex attack patterns. The game’s difficulty is further amplified by its unforgiving nature—there are no shortcuts or cheats to make things easier. The only way to succeed is to master each boss.

2. Super Meat Boy

Super Meat Boy is another title that has become synonymous with extreme difficulty. Released in 2010, this game takes the platforming genre to its limits with over 300 levels filled with deadly traps and hazards. The game demands near-perfect timing and precision, as a single misstep often results in instant death.

What sets Super Meat Boy apart is its relentless pace. There’s no time to catch your breath as you navigate through increasingly difficult levels. Despite its brutal challenge, the game’s tight controls and fast respawns make it highly addictive, drawing players back in time and time again.

1. I Wanna Be the Guy

If there’s a game that embodies the term “masochistic platformer,” it’s I Wanna Be the Guy. Designed specifically to be as frustrating as possible, this indie game pulls no punches. From the moment you start, everything is out to kill you—spikes, apples, even the floor itself.

The game’s levels are designed to deceive and torment, often subverting player expectations in the cruelest ways possible. Memorization and lightning-fast reflexes are the only way to survive, and even then, progress is slow and painful. Yet, for those who persevere, the sense of accomplishment is unparalleled. I Wanna Be The Guy isn’t just a game; it’s a trial by fire.

In a world where many games are designed to be accessible and easy to pick up, some are intentionally hard. Despite their differences in style and presentation, these games all share a common goal. To make us, the players suffer.

While they may cause frustration and even the occasional broken controller, the satisfaction of overcoming their challenges is unmatched. These games remind us that sometimes, the most rewarding experiences come from the hardest battles.

Have you faced the challenges of any of these games? Let us know in the comments!