Despite Nintendo’s family-friendly image, anyone who’s played many of the company’s results can tell you that while Nintendo games may all start out fuzzy and colorful and welcoming, you’ll need all the hugs and fluff you can get when you get it. endgame, with the challenge increasing significantly in the final quarter, especially as you hunt down every last secret.
This of course does not apply to everything, but for a company known for its multicolored hardware offerings and cute, cuddly character design, it sure knows how to up the ante in the difficulty department when needed. Add in a bunch of unforgiving third-party and indies classics, and the Switch offers some of gaming’s toughest challenges, conquering the bus or the swamp (or, you know, the telly).
In the list below, we’ve rounded up just some of the biggest challenges on the console – the hardest Switch games available. Our only criteria, other than asking a lot from players, was that the games had to be good, no, big. Anyone can make something difficult; it makes you come back and try again, which is what sets the genius game design apart from trolling. All the games below are super challenging, but also fair. Persevere and your efforts shall be rewarded!
So, in no particular order, let’s take a look at some of the hardest games on Switch…
Publisher: Bandai Namco / Developer: From Software
Let’s get the most obvious entrance out of the way first, shall we? Dark Souls: Remastered is a faithful remaster of a touchstone in video game design that improves on the overall performance of the original release while retaining all the character traits that made it such a memorable experience. While no less forgiving and the menus a bit clunky, this slick Nintendo Switch iteration provides an excellent way to experience Lordran’s extremely challenging odyssey in true handheld form.
Challenging perhaps, but Dark Souls is a very fair game. Get to know his systems, scan his areas and approach carefully, and you will triumph in the end. However, if you make a blunder in enemy encounters on a wing and a prayer – even against low-level enemies you’ve defeated dozens of times before – and your very first mistake will be punished mercilessly.
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Publisher: StudioMDHR / Developer: StudioMDHR
Cuphead, a run-and-gun boss dressed as a 1930s Fleischer or Disney animated film, is a visually stunning, aurally delightful, knuckle-whitening difficult game. The focus on intense boss battles won’t be to everyone’s taste, especially if you somehow come to the game expecting a bouncy, cartoonish platformer, but as long as you know what you’re getting into we can’t recommend it enough.
Publisher: Mossmouth / Developer: Mossmouth
Many years after its debut, Spelunky still has all the basics in place and continues to be a great entry into the roguelike genre. Solid gameplay, lots of secrets and an addictive gameplay loop make for an easy game to recommend, but be prepared to die a lot before you really ‘get’ it. Whatever your tolerance for difficulty, this indie classic turned out to be excellent for the Switch, and the sequel is just as good – if not a bit better. Feel free to jump right into that game if you only have room for one Spelunky in your life. You know, if you don’t like a challenge and want to skip a classic and the simple Exit.*
*Jokes! Play games you enjoy on the difficulty setting that makes you happy. They’re just games. Thank you.
Publisher: NIS America / Developer: Nigoro
The original La-Mulana was a masterpiece in its own right, but we’d argue it’s been supplanted by the sequel, a skillfully paced, crushingly difficult and utterly puzzling adventure that constantly invites you to explore deeper and familiarize yourself with its unique charms. . La Mulana 2 Surely isn’t for everyone – if you consider yourself an impatient or clumsy player, stay away – but those who have put in the time and effort to crack this nut will be deeply pleased that they did.
And if this isn’t enough for you, you can always go back and polish the original too. The same goes for Spelunky.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Metroid Dread was a triumphant return for both Samus Aran and developer MercurySteam, a super slick, wildly entertaining, beautifully designed entry in the Metroid franchise that plays better than anything we’ve seen in the series so far. It’s also a tough cookie, with punishing bosses and cleverly cumbersome level design that demands a lot from you, especially after the relative linearity of Metroid Fusion, the previous installment in the 2D Metroid series.
Publisher: Team Cherry / Developer: Team Cherry
Hollow Knight’s beautiful 2D world, tactile combat and impressive array of secrets constantly drag you on for more and help you persevere when the going gets tough, which it often does. In an eShop full of top quality indie games, Hollow Knight is one of the very best; a big, beautiful, foreboding Metroidvania that is absolutely packed with details and difficulty. From the spirited combat system to the charming art and sound design, this remains one of the most beautiful adventures to be had on Nintendo Switch.
Publisher: Matt makes games / Developer: Matt makes games
Celeste is an exemplary amalgamation of style, mechanics and character. A devilishly brilliant action platformer with enough skill required to excite genre purists and the speedrunning community, it also caters to audiences who aren’t the hardest core gamers. It presents a literal (well, digital at least) mountain for you to climb and conquer, with an art style and story to help you with the challenges the game presents.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Okay, okay, what’s this doing here? Well, as an example of a Nintendo game that starts out simple and kicks things up a notch in the closing part, look no further than Super Mario 3D World.
Notably, we spent several nights getting the final level back on Wii U, so much so that it’s burned into our minds as one of the greatest video game challenges we’ve overcome in the past decade. Maybe we were just having an off day. Free week. Maybe we’re just scarred and emotionally exhausted and it really isn’t that bad. Watch the video below and tell us this isn’t terribly difficult…
Dark Souls was nothing compared to that. Complaints to the usual address.
Publisher: Red Hook Studios / Developer: Red Hook Studios
With a title like that, you’d be disappointed if this dungeon turned out to be a walk in the park, wouldn’t you? Darkest Dungeon has always been an RPG that finds ways to make the player’s life uncomfortable, and this Switch version managed to add some usability issues to that list. However, it’s still a dauntingly deep, thoroughly absorbing dungeon crawler that will keep you going for hours.
Publisher: hemp oil / Developer: hemp oil
Baba Is You is like a compilation of brain teasers in gift shops; they are not for everyone, but some people just can’t get enough. One of the most unique puzzlers you’ll find on the Switch, you’re encouraged to break the rules and create your own, making it a refreshing and unique experience, albeit a difficult one if your brain isn’t so weird. The sudden difficulty and lack of hint system can easily discourage you, but if you like a good brain teaser, Baba’s puzzles are a joy to get lost in.
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