10 Hardest PS4 and Xbox One Games of All Time

Though the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are nearing the end of their life cycle, some incredible games have been released for these two consoles throughout the years; some, more difficult than others. Even though the PS5 and Xbox Series X are just on the horizon, today we will be taking a look at ten of the hardest games for PS4 and Xbox One.

 

10. Resident Evil 2

Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom

The Resident Evil 2 remake had fans of the series raving back in 2019, but it is certainly one of the most challenging games of this generation of consoles. The original version of this game was known to have plunged players to their wit’s end due to its ridiculous difficulty, and the new version is no different.

Originally developed by Capcom in 1998, Resident Evil 2 tells the story of Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield who must escape from Racoon City after the residents of the small town have been transformed into brain-eating zombies, following a biological weapon attack.

The title can seriously put your gaming skills to the test, however, the new remake does offer adaptive difficulty. This is great for beginner players, as the game adapts to how you play and will adjust the difficulty on the fly. However, as soon as your skills increase, villains get stronger. For RE2, your most powerful weapon is patience.

 

9. Bloodborne

Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: SIE

You all likely guessed that this PS4 exclusive would make the list, as Bloodborne is notorious for being one of the most difficult video games ever created. Bloodborne follows the player through the Gothic Victorian-era city of Yharnam after his residents have all been overcome by a terrible blood disease. You must uncover the many mysteries of the city while fighting off its various residents who want nothing more than to paint the streets with your blood.

This game can be super fun, but its difficulty is not for the faint of heart. Simple one-on-one combat can be very testing on your sanity, though boss fights are where this game gets completely unreal. This game has been described by many players as “impossible”, though it’s all down to learning the patterns of each enemy and trying time and time again to rise victorious.

 

8. Alien: Isolation

Developer: Creative Assembly
Publisher: SEGA

Alien: Isolation is based on the famous “Alien” film franchise, with this game being set about 15 years after the original film. The story follows Amanda Ripley as she tries to investigate the disappearance of her mother. Isolation is best described as a survival horror, very similar to Resident Evil. Though, rather than fighting off zombies, you’ll be fighting otherworldly beings that are bound to place you on the edge of your seat.

This game is no joke, and even on the easiest difficulty setting, many players found themselves completely dumbfounded by the difficulty. The trick to this game is to analyze your opponent, in this case, the alien, and map out his habits and patterns so that you can finally get past him and continue on your mission. This will take many attempts and lots of trial and error, though many players were never able to overcome the alien.

 

7. Code Vein

Developer: Bandai Namco
Publisher: Bandai Namco

Code Vein was released by Bandai Namco back in 2019, selling over one million copies by February 2020 as a third-person action-RPG that was heavily inspired by both Dark Souls and God Eater. This is a team-based game, with the main character always having a companion alongside them unless you choose to play the game solo — though we don’t know why you would.

Most of the bosses were crafted specifically for co-op play, making this game borderline-impossible to play alone. You’re almost forced to summon various NPCs to help along the way, but even then, Code Vein is brutal and relentless. Many have called this the anime version of Dark Souls, and they would be exactly right. If you’re a fan of Dark Souls, you’ll be a fan of Code Vein.

 

6. Dark Souls III

Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Bandai Namco

Of course, we had to mention Dark Souls on this list. After all, it is widely considered one of the most difficult games on the current generation of consoles.

Developed by FromSoftware, Dark Souls is an RPG that is heavily reliant on head-to-head combat. However, unlike other games on this list, there are no patterns to memorize or overcome. Enemies can change their fighting styles in the middle of a fight, leaving you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire playthrough.

The good news is that the game is extremely rewarding if you manage to get through its various bosses, but most players never do. For real, this game is no joke and is easily one of the most difficult games ever made.

 

5. Remnant: From The Ashes

Developer: Gunfire Games
Publisher: Perfect World Entertainment

Remnant: From the Ashes is an action-packed shooter that was released in 2019, is critically acclaimed by many journalists, and sold over 1 million copies in its first year. This game differs from many on this, as the game isn’t difficult in the traditional sense of having super-strong enemies and very little health. Instead, its difficulty is based on its unpredictability.

The randomly generated world ensures that every player has a unique experience, but this means it can be borderline impossible to memorize the trials it offers. Enemies can be incredibly difficult to avoid and even harder to face head-on. Remnant does have a fairly relaxed learning curve, but as soon as you have become familiar with the controls and mechanics, enemies unleash a fury unlike any other.

 

4. Cuphead

Developer: Studio MDHR
Publisher: Studio MDHR

The retro-inspired Cuphead is known for being one of the hardest games available on modern consoles.

While it may seem cheery and relaxed on the surface, this is a ridiculously challenging platformer that will require you to play levels ten times over in order to understand the patterns and weaknesses of enemies across the various levels and landscapes.

There are continual boss fights that push the player to their limits. Don’t let the cartoon-style fool you – this game is not messing around. The only merciful quality this game offers is an endless supply of do-overs, as the game doesn’t count how many times you died.

 

3. Devil May Cry 5

Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom

Yes, Devil May Cry 5. While this game has multiple difficulty settings, they are each unbelievably difficult and will put you to the ends of your sanity.

The Devil May Cry series has earned recognition for offering some of the most challenging gameplay experiences players have ever seen – and Devil May Cry 5 fits that bill as well. Unlike some of these others on this list, DMC5 does give the user a bit of a tutorial to get things started, but after that, you’re on your own.

Boss fights in this game are unlike any other, with some players reporting that they spent hours fighting a single boss. Normal gameplay doesn’t lighten up either, as every monster, demon or villain seems as though it’s one step ahead of you, no matter what techniques you try. Overall, Devil May Cry 5 is widely considered to be one of the most difficult games released for PS4 or Xbox One.

 

2. Monster Hunter: World

Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom

Monster Hunter: World was the most ambitious installment in the Monster World universe, back in 2018. This action-RPG is unlike any other and sees the player wandering through a beautiful landscape filled with dinosaurs and other bone-chilling monsters. This game has a massive learning cover, as there you’re immediately plunged into the world without any lead-up or runaround.

Like many of the other games in the Monster Hunter series, you’ll likely find yourself too captivated by the beautiful landscapes to really notice the difficulty. But trust us, this game is relentless and super difficult. If you’re a fan of games like Turok and Devil May Cry, this game is the perfect blend of them both.

 

1. XCOM 2

XCOM 2 was released back in 2016 as a follow-up to the 2012 reboot of the series. This game has been critically acclaimed by many video game journalists as being extremely captivating visually, but also remarkably difficult.

The game saw a rocky launch when it was first released, but that didn’t prevent players from diving head-first into this terrifying world of aliens and other extra-terrestrial life forms. It’s considered a shooter, but you’ll often be forced to rely on your wit rather than your ammo.

This turn-based strategy game is one of the most difficult shooters out there, requiring lots of thought and planning rather than brute-force tactics. XCOM 2 was nominated for various awards in the year of its release and it is widely considered one of the best games ever released for the current generation of consoles.

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