The Best Action challenging difficult Games

Update : Lies Of P added at rank #1.
1

Lies Of P (2023)

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86
Review score
Logo of Lies Of P Screenshot of Lies Of P Screenshot of Lies Of P Screenshot of Lies Of P

Mac OS Playstation 4 Playstation 5 Xbox Series X Xbox One PC Windows

Become Pinocchio in Lies of P, a gothic action RPG that takes you on a dark journey through a city plagued by madness. Unleash unique combat styles, engage with interesting characters, and make choices that shape your path. Experience a reimagined Pinocchio tale in this grim, captivating narrative.


What we like:
  • Immersive narrative and world
  • Deep and rewarding combat system
  • Visually stunning with grandiose set pieces
  • Variety of weapons and customization options
  • Outstanding score and visuals
What could be improved:
  • Challenging parry and dodge timing
  • Artificial difficulty
  • Limited weapon variety

  • souls
  • boss
  • boss-fight
  • fight
  • combat
  • gothic
  • action
  • steampunk
  • narrative
  • rpg
  • dark
  • story

2

Hyper Light Drifter (2016)

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92
Review score
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IOS iPhone Linux Mac OS PC Windows Xbox One

Hyper Light Drifter is an atmospheric action RPG set in a gorgeous pixel art world with a superb score. You are a Drifter fighting your way through enemies while piecing together the story of the world around you.


What we like:
  • Atmospheric soundtrack
  • Gorgeous visuals
  • Superb gameplay
  • Unique Zelda-like experience
What could be improved:
  • Difficulty spikes when there are too many enemies around you

  • pixel
  • boss
  • boss-fight
  • combat
  • post-apocalyptic
  • narrative
  • exploration
  • dungeon
  • rpg
  • difficult
  • action
  • platform
  • battle
  • challenging
  • retro

3

Nioh 2 (2020)

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86
Review score
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Playstation 4 PC Windows Playstation 5

Unleash your inner demon in Nioh 2 - The Complete Edition! Engage in thrilling, fast-paced combat against fearsome yokai, explore devastated locales in Japan, and overcome new challenges in the Dark Realm. With its unique mechanics, extensive content, and rock solid co-op experience, you're in for a wild ride.


What we like:
  • Unique, improved mechanics
  • Fast-paced, smooth combat
  • Extensive content
  • Solid co-op experience
What could be improved:
  • Unfair price increase
  • Minor performance issues
  • Occasional crashes

  • boss
  • souls
  • rpg
  • combat
  • action
  • skill
  • controller-support
  • demons
  • ninja
  • combo
  • fight
  • challenging
  • difficult
  • customization
  • crafting

4

Verlet Swing (2018)

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92
Review score
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PC Windows Playstation 4 Xbox One Nintendo Switch IOS iPhone Mac OS

Verlet Swing is a curious game where you must swing and manoeuvre through obstacles towards a shimmering goal in order to escape. Target something, then use the left thumbstick to guide you through the air, timing your swings correctly to avoid obstacles and crashing into the ground. With 100 levels to clear, each with their own online leaderboards, it provides plenty of challenge and satisfaction.


What we like:
  • Unique concept
  • Interesting visuals
  • Exhilarating experience with sound of air rushing around
  • Reasonable price considering the amount of gameplay
  • Chilled out vibe with themed levels
What could be improved:
  • Repetitive tasks
  • Some stages can feel unfair

  • fast-paced
  • surreal
  • editor
  • level
  • abstract
  • 3d
  • action
  • first-person
  • challenging
  • replay-value
  • difficult
  • platform
  • manipulation
  • sport
  • corridor

5

Grimvalor (2018)

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84
Review score
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IOS iPhone Nintendo Switch Android

GrimValor is a dark fantasy action-adventure game with smooth controls, fast movements and challenging enemies. You will need to master basic movements, earn new abilities and access items while taking on powerful bosses. Enjoy an immense amount of content with no IAPs or ads.

Buy

What we like:
  • Smooth controls
  • Fast movements
  • Challenging enemies
  • No IAPs or ads
  • Robust RPG mechanics
What could be improved:
  • Collision detection can be gummy near walls and platform edges
  • Occasional attempts at story-telling not up to standards of the rest of the game

  • boss
  • platform
  • combat
  • challenging
  • tall
  • action
  • souls
  • boss-fight
  • entertainment
  • zombie-type
  • mad
  • nice-looking
  • puzzle
  • difficult
  • fast-paced

6

DARK SOULS: REMASTERED (2018)

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95
Review score
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Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch PC Windows Xbox One

Dark Souls: Remastered is an improved version of the classic action role-playing game from the last generation. It includes all the content from the original game, as well as some additional features such as improved visuals and dedicated servers for smoother online play. You can expect intense bosses, beautiful areas to explore, and an incredibly rewarding experience.


What we like:
  • Improved visuals
  • Dedicated servers for smoother online play
  • Additional content in Artorias of the Abyss DLC
  • Matchmaking system closer to Dark Souls III
  • Supports 32:9 aspect ratio on PC
What could be improved:
  • Cutscenes slightly zoomed in compared to original version

  • boss
  • rpg
  • boss-fight
  • fantasy
  • difficult
  • dark
  • souls
  • action
  • combat
  • online
  • challenging
  • exploration
  • battle
  • cooperative
  • platform

7

Devil May Cry HD Collection (2012)

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93
Review score
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Playstation 3 Xbox 360 PC Windows Playstation 4 Xbox One

The popular stylish action games Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 2, and Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition return in one collection!


  • demons
  • action
  • fight
  • hack-and-slash
  • boss
  • combat
  • combo
  • boss-fight
  • battle
  • gothic
  • classic
  • difficult
  • hardcore
  • spectacle
  • challenging

8

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019)

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95
Review score
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Xbox One Playstation 4 PC Windows stadia

In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you are the one-armed wolf protagonist, tasked with fighting off demonic roosters, drunken ogres and other foes in a purgatory-like world. You will need to use your grappling hook and stealth skills to survive the difficult encounters that await you.


What we like:
  • Challenging yet fair gameplay
  • Unique blend of stealth and action
  • Verticality introduced via grappling hook
  • Vibrant love letter to Feudal Japan
  • Posture system adds new dynamic to combat
What could be improved:
  • No online integration
  • Difficult bosses require skill and technique to beat
  • Dragonrot disease affects NPCs upon death - halting their questlines until you cure them

  • stealth
  • boss
  • ninja
  • boss-fight
  • combat
  • fight
  • battle
  • difficult
  • skill
  • challenging

9

Moonscars (2022)

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74
Review score
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PC Windows Playstation 5 Xbox Series X Playstation 4 Xbox One Nintendo Switch

Moonscars is a 2D souls-like, non-linear platformer that marks the debut of developer, Black Mermaid. Play as Grey Irma, a "Clayborn" with a head full of questions and an eyeful of stunning pixel art. Experience the mystery of Moonscars while exploring themes of identity. Enjoy fluid and gratifying combat with melee moves, special attacks, witcheries and amulet stones.


What we like:
  • Beautiful pixel art
  • Well written story
  • Excellent voice work
  • Satisfying parry system
  • Great use of light to create silhouette-like foregrounds
  • Unique enemies with visual cues
  • Stunning soundtrack with choir vocals
  • Replay value through side quests and trophy hunting
What could be improved:
  • Trial and error approach can make some boss fights difficult

  • souls
  • boss-fight
  • platform
  • boss
  • metroidvania
  • 2d
  • combat
  • pixel
  • gothic
  • fight
  • action
  • challenging
  • difficult

10

Flywrench (2015)

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83
Review score
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PC Windows Playstation 4 Mac OS

Flywrench is an intense aerial obstacle course, where the goal is to guide the ship to the end of the level while passing through barriers and avoiding walls. It has similar difficulty as Super Meat Boy and VVVVVV, but without being a platformer.


What we like:
  • Updated graphics and physics
  • New soundtrack
  • Levels steadily become more difficult
  • Introduces new obstacles
  • Allows precise maneuvering through air
What could be improved:
  • Movement with momentum can be difficult to break
  • Some levels are too challenging for newer players

  • platform
  • difficult
  • agenda
  • finely-honed
  • colour-coded
  • drum
  • zero-player
  • action
  • surgeon
  • bat
  • ninja
  • vertical
  • tough-as-nails
  • reflexes
  • challenging

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