Hard PC games for a real challenge, by the kind of difficulty

If you are looking for hard PC games, it helps to know which kind of difficulty you fancy before choosing. Some games test your reflexes, others your patience, others your head, and others make you accept losing things you care about. Here are eight from the catalogue, grouped by the challenge they pose, with what they ask of you and who they are not for.

A challenge of reflexes and precision

These are action games where you die a lot, but every attempt is short and you learn from it. They ask for practice, not study.

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  CelestePlatformer · Precision · NarrativeWhen you have energy and fancy a fair challenge: every screen you clear gives instant satisfaction, even in short sessions.When to play it and when not to
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  CupheadAction · Boss fights · Local co-opWhen you have energy and fancy a challenge: each boss lasts minutes and victory tastes sweet.When to play it and when not to

Celeste is precision platforming with very tight controls: you die hundreds of times, but you respawn instantly and every screen is a small, beatable challenge. It has a very flexible assist mode, so you can adjust the difficulty without stopping playing. Even so, the final screens take many attempts and are not for a day when your patience is short. It has Spanish text and is verified for Steam Deck.

Cuphead is a boss-fight game with the look of 1930s cartoons. Each fight is a pattern challenge you memorise through attempts, and each boss lasts a few minutes. It supports local co-op. If you get frustrated easily, it is very hard.

A combat challenge: duels you have to master

Here the difficulty is understanding a demanding combat system and not giving up against bosses that seem impossible.

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  Sekiro: Shadows Die TwiceSoulslike · Action · Feudal JapanWhen you have energy, concentration and the will to overcome a real challenge.When to play it and when not to

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice puts you in the shoes of a shinobi in Sengoku-era Japan. Its combat is built on deflecting blows to break the enemy’s posture, and once you master it, it is a very satisfying sword duel. There are no classes or builds: everything depends on your skill. It is one of the hardest games of its generation, so it is best not to start it if you are tired or want to relax. It has Spanish text and voices.

A challenge of surviving the chaos

The difficulty is dying in unexpected ways and starting again with what you have learned.

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  Spelunky 2Roguelike · Platformer · HardWhen you have energy and want short, intense runs: a run can last two minutes or an hour.When to play it and when not to

Spelunky 2 is a roguelike platformer with randomly generated levels where everything interacts with everything: traps, animals, angry shopkeepers and explosives. Dying is constant and it is almost always your own fault. A run can last two minutes or an hour, and each one starts from scratch, with no permanent progression. It is verified for Steam Deck. If you want to know where to begin with this genre, there is our roguelike guide.

A mental challenge: puzzles that leave you staring at the screen

Here you do not need to be fast, but to think differently. The difficulty is the moment of being stuck… and the click when you finally see it.

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  Baba Is YouPuzzle · Logic · IndieWhen you want a pure mental challenge. A level can take five minutes or an hour of staring at the screen.When to play it and when not to
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  The WitnessPuzzle · Exploration · First personWhen your mind is sharp and you want to think deeply, with no rush or pressure.When to play it and when not to

Baba Is You writes each level’s rules with blocks you can push: if you change ‘WALL IS STOP’ to ‘WALL IS YOU’, you start controlling the walls. A level can be solved in five minutes or after an hour of staring at the screen.

The Witness drops you on an island full of line-puzzle panels. Nobody explains the rules: you learn them by observing. It needs a clear head and plenty of patience, so it is not a game for when you are tired. On Steam Deck it is rated as playable, not verified.

A strategic challenge: decisions with consequences

The difficulty is not in your hands but in your decisions, and losing is part of the experience.

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  Darkest DungeonTurn-based RPG · Roguelite · Gothic horrorWhen you want a tense tactical adventure and have an hour to plan an expedition.When to play it and when not to
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  XCOM 2Turn-based tactics · Strategy · Sci-fiWhen you feel like thinking and have an hour or two: each mission is a small tactical drama.When to play it and when not to

Darkest Dungeon has you lead a band of mercenaries through the dungeons beneath your family’s mansion. You look after not just their health but also their sanity, because stress makes them paranoid, selfish or heroic. You accept losing characters, and it is cruel by design. It has Spanish text and is verified for Steam Deck.

XCOM 2 is turn-based tactical combat where your soldiers can die for good, with a base-management layer between missions. If luck frustrates you, be warned: missing a 95% shot is part of the experience. It has Spanish text and voices. More on the genre in our turn-based strategy guide.

How to pick your challenge

• If you want a challenge with adjustable assistance: Celeste, thanks to its assist mode.
• If you like improving by repeating: Cuphead or Sekiro, because every defeat teaches you a pattern.
• If you would rather think than react: Baba Is You or The Witness.
• If losing and carrying on appeals to you: Spelunky 2, Darkest Dungeon or XCOM 2.

One practical tip: difficulty is best enjoyed with energy. Almost all of these games warn on their page that they are a bad idea when you are tired, so save them for a day with a clear head. And if you do not fancy suffering today, the recommender will suggest something else.