5 Hardest Platformers Ever Made, Ranked by Difficulty

When missing a jump means certain doom, you might wish for death

Platform games have an undeniable innocence. Since the days of Super Mario Bros., they've embodied the escapist joy that people associate with the medium. It's hard not to be charmed by the colorful aesthetics, creative styles, and beautifully simple gameplay. Sure, plenty of other genres have emerged over the years, but none have captured the easygoing appeal of running and jumping over obstacles. That pure sense of fun makes platformers the ultimate gaming comfort food. On the other hand, not every bite is so sweet.

Some platformers are downright cruel in their difficulty. These titles present the same leaps and bounds as other genre gems, but they amplify these elements to insane degrees. Oftentimes, the levels have so many hazards and hostiles that beating them seems virtually impossible. One wrong move can spell instant doom, and that challenge can surprise any player. After all, who predicts such unforgiving standards from just jumping on blocks? Once the shock wears off, though, fans are more driven than ever to conquer these titles.

5 Castlevania

This 1986 gem is an ode to gothic horror, which is clear in the premise. Castlevania sees the vampire villain Dracula wreak havoc on the world. From his creepy castle, he sends zombies, gorgons, werewolves, and other night creatures to ravage the countryside. The only one standing in their way is Simon Belmont. Descended from a proud line of monster slayers, the whip-cracking hero is uniquely equipped to handle Dracula's horde. Of course, that doesn't make the battle any easier.

The count's castle is a veritable death trap. The crumbling foundations are rife with bottomless pits. Navigating them takes an expert acrobat, yet Simon only has his stiff walk and pitiful hops. These issues would be treacherous enough on their own, but Belmont must also fend off monsters. Every screen has a barrage of enemies either charging forward or firing projectiles. Sure, Simon can slay these guys with his trusty whip, but this weapon only attacks left and right. This means that he's utterly powerless against foes coming from above or below. Worse, one hit from these enemies sends Belmont flying into the nearest death pit. How ironic that the scariest part of Castlevania is simple platforming.

4 Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

The Crash Bandicoot series is notorious for tough platforming. Even by that standard, though, the 2020 sequel is a steep hurdle. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time involves Neo Cortex and the other bad guys tearing a hole in dimensions, connecting their universe to countless other timelines. Crash and his sister, Coco, set out to mend this multiverse, but they can only do so with the Quantum Masks. These mystic entities work like the series' other talking masks, but they manifest to protect space and time. Then again, maybe these things are more trouble than they're worth.

Crash 4 carries on the tradition of precision. The marsupial must traverse levels riddled with spikes, chasms, flame jets, and monstrous mutants. Avoiding these hazards is as difficult as ever, but the Quantum Masks amplify the challenge tenfold. They grant new powers like slowing time, shifting gravity, and making objects incorporeal. it can be hard to keep them straight, yet players must do so at a moment's notice. With each mechanic added, the game becomes a greater test of skill. It's not long before fans go as "N. Sane" as Crash.

3 Sonic the Hedgehog

The Blue Blur is right up there with Mario in gaming fame, but neither he nor his games are as friendly. 1991's Sonic the Hedgehog opens on the malicious Dr. Robotnik (or Dr. Eggman) collecting the magical Chaos Emeralds in a bid for ultimate power. To achieve that goal, he captures various woodland creatures and harnesses their life force to fuel his robot army. The only one who can stop this plot is Sonic the Hedgehog. Not only does his super speed reduce Eggman's bots to scrap, but he can wield the Emeralds himself to attain godlike power. You'd think he'd be a little sturdier, then.

Sonic's strength is also his greatest weakness. The rascally rodent can run at insane speeds, leaving every other game protagonist in the dust. He's so fast that the screen can't keep up with him, and that's the problem. These levels have all the hallmarks of 2D platformers: spikes, lava, death pits, cartoonish enemies, and other obstacles. Since players' running speed is so high, however, they can't see these things coming. Sonic only has a millisecond to react before he slams into a wall, falls in a hole, or collides with an enemy. In short, the game's own gimmick is what makes it so frustrating.

2 Cuphead

Cuphead is a blast from the past. Not only does this 2017 indie title hearken back to 1930s cartoons, but it's a love letter to classic 2D platformers. Players control Cuphead and his brother, Mugman, who rack up a gambling debt at the Devil's Casino. To settle this debt, the demonic boss gives the boys a simple task: collect payment from the Devil's other debtors. Little do they know how hard this mission will be. These mischievous thugs owe their souls to the dealer. Unwilling to part with such precious cargo, they'll only pay up if the brothers defeat them in battle. Coming quietly isn't an option.

With that setup, Cuphead fashions a hellish adventure. The platforming itself is admittedly basic, consisting of easy jumps from one block to the next. The real challenge lies in the shooting. The brothers can fire energy blasts from their fingers, and they must use that gift to combat evil flowers, mushrooms, bubbles, clowns, and other objects flooding the screen. Dodging and shooting these deadly hurdles can lead to absolute chaos. Combining that chaos with platforming makes every stage an endurance round. What else could fans expect from a deal with the Devil?

1 Rayman

Behold, one of gaming's biggest pranks. 1995's Rayman is as weird as it is whimsical. It presents a world powered by magical Lums, which grant energy to the various enchanted realms. Threatening that stability is the shadowy Mr. Dark (yes, really), who imprisons the Lums for his sinister schemes. This crisis calls for a limbless hero named Rayman. Using his floating fists and helicopter hair, he travels the land to free the Lums and foil Mr. Dark's evil ends. With that premise, players might expect a silly venture for kiddies, yet it couldn't be further from the truth.

This title's animated aesthetic is a facade, hiding one of the most punishing games of all time. Every problem outlined in prior entries returns here with a vengeance. Fans must deal with Castlevania's tricky jumps, Cuphead's endless enemies, Crash Bandicoot's complex gimmicks, and even Sonic's self-sabotaging speed. Not a single frame goes by without pain. The cartoonish appearance only adds insult to this injury; it's as if the game is laughing at you. What's more, that same silliness means it's impossible to predict the next challenge. Rayman is a game where anything can happen, which is exactly what makes it so dangerous.