Best Difficult games on Steam

Unlike generic lists, our difficult game recommendations are based on a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews. We believe that player feedback is the most reliable indicator of a game's true quality and enjoyment. Our algorithm evaluates user reviews to identify difficult games that consistently deliver exceptional experiences. This means you can be confident that our lists feature only the best difficult games on Steam, validated by the community itself.

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Pid

You are stranded on a strange and peculiar planet. It’s time to embark on your journey and find your way home! Explore a gravity defying and challenging platformer with striking visuals and a captivating story that transports you to a world beyond ours.

Price 19.50€
Rating 8.0
Release 31 Oct 2012

Condemned: Criminal Origins

What twists the mind of an ordinary human into a serial killer?

Price -87% 1.25€
Rating 8.4
Release 29 Oct 2012

Divinity II: Developer's Cut

Dragons: they have been hunted, they have been slain, but now the hour to strike back has come.

Price 19.99€
Rating 8.2
Release 29 Oct 2012

Lucius

Equipped with supernatural powers, take control of Lucius as he begins his blood filled tour of horror through his own house.

Price -85% 1.49€
Rating 7.9
Release 26 Oct 2012

Hotline Miami

Hotline Miami is a high-octane action game overflowing with raw brutality, hard-boiled gunplay and skull crushing close combat.

Price -79% 2.06€
Rating 9.6
Release 23 Oct 2012

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is a blistering hardcore platformer with contrasting worlds.

Price -83% 2.60€
Rating 7.5
Release 22 Oct 2012

Unity of Command: Stalingrad Campaign

Unity of Command is an innovative and refreshing operational-level wargame that covers the entire 1942/43 Stalingrad Campaign on the Eastern Front.

Price 9.75€
Rating 7.5
Release 17 Oct 2012

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare

Besiege castles and raid villages in Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, a fast-paced medieval first person slasher with a focus on multiplayer battles

Price -89% 2.60€
Rating 8.1
Release 16 Oct 2012

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

The XCOM: Enemy Unknown - Slingshot Pack is Now Available!

Price -91% 1.85€
Rating 9.2
Release 11 Oct 2012

Of Orcs And Men

You have been appointed to fulfill an extremely dangerous mission, deep in enemy territory: to kill one man... the Emperor himself. Lead the revolution of the Orcs and Goblins!

Price -93% 1.00€
Rating 7.1
Release 11 Oct 2012

Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit

A crazy action-adventure platformer... In Hell.

Price 12.99€
Rating 8.2
Release 03 Oct 2012

Cortex Command

Choose between different factions, with their own set of expendable soldiers, mechas, and weapons. Protect your brain, mine gold, and destroy the enemy cortex in his bunker complex!

Price 18.99€
Rating 7.0
Release 28 Sep 2012

FTL: Faster Than Light

This "spaceship simulation roguelike-like" allows you to take your ship and crew on an adventure through a randomly generated galaxy filled with glory and bitter defeat.

Price -76% 2.44€
Rating 9.4
Release 14 Sep 2012

Intrusion 2

"This is some of the most fun I've had with a game so far this year, and it will go down as one of the best side-scrolling shooters of all time." - 9/10, Destructoid

Price 7.99€
Rating 8.5
Release 11 Sep 2012

The Basement Collection

A collection of 9 award winning indie games from the creator of "Binding of isaac" and "Super Meat Boy"!

Price 3.99€
Rating 8.2
Release 31 Aug 2012

They Bleed Pixels

They Bleed Pixels is a fiendishly difficult action platformer inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and classic horror.

Price -75% 2.43€
Rating 8.0
Release 29 Aug 2012

Super Crate Box

Vlambeer's SUPER CRATE BOX is coming to bring back the glory of the golden arcade age, when all that really mattered was getting on that high score list. Grab your baseball cap and loosen your pants, it's time to fight endless hordes of enemies and collect every weapon crate you can.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.6
Release 29 Aug 2012

Counter-Strike 2

For over two decades, Counter-Strike has offered an elite competitive experience, one shaped by millions of players from across the globe. And now the next chapter in the CS story is about to begin. This is Counter-Strike 2.

Price Free to play
Rating 8.7
Release 21 Aug 2012

Tower Wars

Tower Wars combines elements of tower defense, RTS, and all-out multi-player mayhem to bring you a completely unique experience, delivered with a fun and funny not-so-old world style!

Price -26% 5.93€
Rating 7.0
Release 14 Aug 2012

English Country Tune

English Country Tune is a luxuriant abstract 3D puzzle game containing more than a hundred levels situated throughout 17 worlds.

Price -80% 1.00€
Rating 7.6
Release 09 Aug 2012

Kung Fu Strike - The Warrior's Rise

Taking its inspiration from ancient Chinese tales of revenge and retribution and then adding a dash of over-the-top martial arts and old school arcade fun, Kung Fu Strike features 28 stages of fast-paced combo-based fighting.

Price 9.99€
Rating 7.5
Release 24 Jul 2012

Hard Reset Extended Edition

Over-the-top destruction, loads of enemies & a beautifully realized cyberpunk setting. Hard Reset is here to shake up the shooter scene. Try the demo now.

Price -74% 3.86€
Rating 7.9
Release 12 Jul 2012

Source Filmmaker

The Source Filmmaker (SFM) is the movie-making tool built and used by us here at Valve to make movies inside the Source game engine. Because the SFM uses the same assets as the game, anything that exists in the game can be used in the movie, and vice versa.

Price Free to play
Rating 9.1
Release 10 Jul 2012

Tribes: Ascend

This edition packages weapon DLC from ten previous expansions as well new featured content.

Price Free to play
Rating 7.9
Release 27 Jun 2012

Quantum Conundrum

Find and rescue your uncle by using his newest invention to work your way through a crazy complex mansion as you switch between dimensions and solve puzzles!

Price -76% 2.14€
Rating 8.1
Release 21 Jun 2012

Ys Origin

The perfect mix of action, exploration and story with screen-filling bosses, unique platforming elements, and innovative puzzles.

Price 15.99€
Rating 8.9
Release 31 May 2012

Blades of Time

Ayumi, the gorgeous gun and sword-wielding treasure hunter, sets out on a journey to an ancient island in search of new adventures. While rich in bounty, the island is also filled with the magic of Chaos, being at the same time home to blood thirsty monsters.

Price -79% 2.04€
Rating 7.6
Release 20 Apr 2012

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition

A time of untold chaos has come. Mighty forces clash behind the scenes in a struggle for power and influence. The Northern Kingdoms mobilize for war. But armies on the march are not enough to stop a bloody conspiracy...

Price 19.99€
Rating 8.8
Release 16 Apr 2012

Legend of Grimrock

Use the Dungeon Editor to build entirely new adventures and challenges for other players to solve.

Price -68% 4.66€
Rating 9.1
Release 11 Apr 2012

Lunar Flight

A modern take on the classic arcade game, Lunar Lander, Lunar Flight extends the experience to a fully fictionalized and accessible lunar module simulator

Price 14.99€
Rating 7.7
Release 10 Apr 2012

Rayman® Origins

Experience the magical universe of Rayman with legendary 2D gameplay that has captured the hearts of millions of fans!

Price 9.99€
Rating 9.1
Release 29 Mar 2012

Waveform

Navigate the beauty and hazards of the solar system while riding a wave of light through 100+ levels in this innovative action-puzzle game!

Price 0.99€
Rating 8.0
Release 20 Mar 2012

Ys: The Oath in Felghana

An Action RPG driven by fast-paced combat and paired with an intricate puzzle-filled world.

Price 11.99€
Rating 9.0
Release 19 Mar 2012

iBomber Defense Pacific

iBomber moves to the Pacific as you fight a whole new enemy across the Pacific rim to regain freedom.

Price 5.89€
Rating 7.8
Release 01 Mar 2012

Realm of the Mad God Exalt

Embark on an exhilarating journey into the pixelated Realm of the Mad God! Join, an action-packed, free-to-play MMO bullet hell game. Discover a world with danger, challenges, and hidden treasures as you battle through waves of enemies. Team up with players and conquer dungeons to become a legend!

Price Free to play
Rating 8.2
Release 20 Feb 2012

Shank 2

The fan-favorite 2D brawler is back as ex-mob hit man Shank returns to action in Shank 2. With those closest to him under attack, Shank is once again forced on the offensive. Now he must put his trusty arsenal of handguns, shotguns, automatic weapons, chainsaws, machetes, grenades, plus all-new weaponry and moves to use in order to...

Price 9.99€
Rating 7.9
Release 07 Feb 2012

Titan Attacks!

As the last surviving tank commander on Earth, single-handedly turn back the evil invading alien army, drive back the Titans across the Solar System, and defeat them on their homeworld... Titan Attacks has the same easy-to-learn and addictive gameplay of the classic arcade shoot 'em up, but is packed full of extras - new features, new...

Price 10.79€
Rating 8.6
Release 03 Feb 2012

Serious Sam 2

Serious Sam 2 is a shot of adrenaline to the hearts of first-person shooter fans across the world. This is serious!

Price -75% 2.46€
Rating 8.7
Release 31 Jan 2012

Fortune Summoners

A massive gameworld to explore with nearly a dozen dungeons to delve into.

Price 14.99€
Rating 8.1
Release 30 Jan 2012

Dustforce DX

Take control of a nimble janitor to rid the world of dust and debris.

Price 9.75€
Rating 8.4
Release 17 Jan 2012

Serious Sam 3: BFE

Serious Sam 3: BFE is a prequel to the original indie fast action FPS and Game of the Year sensation - Serious Sam: The First Encounter!

Price -91% 2.63€
Rating 8.7
Release 22 Nov 2011

Cave Story+

Run, jump, shoot, fly and explore your way through a massive action-adventure reminiscent of classic 8- and 16-bit games.

Price 14.99€
Rating 9.0
Release 22 Nov 2011

PAYDAY™ The Heist

Take on the role of a hardened career criminal executing intense, dynamic heists in constant pursuit of the next “big score”

Price 14.99€
Rating 9.2
Release 20 Oct 2011

The Binding of Isaac

Now 20% More Evil with the Free Halloween update!

Price 4.99€
Rating 9.3
Release 28 Sep 2011

Cossacks: Art of War

Cossacks: The Art of War continues the history of the great battles of XVII–XVIII centuries

Price -78% 1.10€
Rating 7.5
Release 26 Aug 2011

Blocks That Matter

When indie game developers Alexey and Markus are in trouble, their only hope comes from their creation.

Price 4.99€
Rating 7.4
Release 19 Aug 2011

EDGE

EDGE, the award winning retro-styled platform game has been extended! Now with over 40 brand new levels, additional music and all-new races against the notorious Dark Cube!

Price -89% 0.75€
Rating 8.8
Release 11 Aug 2011

LIMBO

Uncertain of his sister's fate, a boy enters LIMBO

Price -78% 2.23€
Rating 9.1
Release 02 Aug 2011