The 10 HARDEST Crash Bandicoot Levels

10 Hardest Crash Bandicoot Levels

Welcome MojoPlays, and today we’re counting down our picks for the ten hardest levels from the “Crash Bandicoot” series.

The Crate Escape

“Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time” (2020)

This Neo Cortex level might not seem all that tough at first glance, but it quickly spirals into full-on chaos. The Crate Escape is littered with challenge platforming gauntlets where Cortex must use his ray gun that transforms objects such as flying garbage cans into solid platforms or bouncy pads. The level’s sci-fi theme also houses challenges such as fast-moving delivery vehicles, smashing pneumatic platforms, and fall-away bridges. Plus, the final section of the level tosses you into the role of Crash as he must bound across an array of debris with pixel perfect precision in order to catch up to Neo Cortex.

Orange Asphalt

“Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped” (1998)

This short but uber-challenging vehicle level from “Crash 3: Warped” is not for the faint of heart. Hopping atop his motorbike, Crash must race across the desert tarmac in order to achieve first place. Sounds pretty simple, right? Wrong. Timing your drifts, avoiding the police cars, navigating the slalom of barricades, all while boosting off the green boost pads needs to be done with near-perfect timing in order to come out on top. And, while the remade version of this level in the “N. Sane Trilogy” might look prettier and run more smoothly, it’s just as demanding.

Stormy Ascent

“Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy” (2017)

It seems as if everyone in the platforming community has at least heard tales of how downright brutal “Crash Bandicoot’s” Stormy Ascent level is. Cut from the OG “Crash” game, it was added to 2017’s “N. Sane Trilogy” for the platforming masochists out there. Yes, Stormy Ascent is every bit as hard as you’ve likely heard. This rainy, gloomy castle level requires you to survive a relentless gauntlet of platforming perils, with nary a break in sight. Every section of this level aims to trip you up, meaning that only those with sheer determination come out as the victor. All we can say is good luck…you will need it here!

Cold Hard Crash

“Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back” (1997)

When even the adorable penguins in a level want to send you to your grave, you know you are in for a heck of a tough time. “Crash 2’s” Cold Hard Crash level combines the challenges that most winter/ice-themed levels bring (slipping around everywhere) with tons of baddies and hazards around every frozen corner. If the falling icicles don’t get you then smashing tree trunks surely will. Plus, the game throws platforming conventions on their head by having Crash drop down into a pit in order to access the level’s bonus area. It just feels confusing and wrong to do that, but yet, it’s here in Cold Hard Crash. Bundle up for this level, you are going to need that extra padding.

Slippery Climb

“Crash Bandicoot” (1996)

Now, you might be thinking to yourself? Hey, haven’t we seen this level already on this list? Well, no…not really…well, sort of. You see, Slippery Climb from 1996’s “Crash Bandicoot” is sort of the sibling to the cut level, Stormy Ascent. I guess you could think of Slippery Climb as the progenitor to Stormy Ascent, since it was, after all, left in the OG game. But, make not mistake about it, Slippery Climb is every bit as devious and grueling (if not more so) than Stormy Ascent. It’s a rain-soaked castle climb that will test all of Crash’s platforming prowess.

Hot Coco

“Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped” (1998)

What is it with “Crash 3 Warped” and its tough-as-nails vehicle levels? In the case of this entry, we are discussing Hot Coco, a level that sees Coco hop atop her waterbike in order to navigate a labyrinth of peril surrounding a tumultuous island volcano. To be fair, the majority of the challenge in this oceanic level comes from actually trying to steer and guide Coco’s waterbike. It’s certainly no easy feat. Finding your way around the island, avoiding bombs and smashing crates is the name of the game here. It’s a needlessly complicated, yet still fun level, that will pur your vehicle driving skills to the test.

Toxic Tunnels

“Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time” (2020)

Toxic green sludge, a labyrinthian cave system, electricity-infused rolling platforms, molten lava, spinning gears: these are just some of the perils that Crash must contend with in this brutal level from “Crash 4 It’s About Time.” Tons of levels in this game are quite lengthy but Toxic Tunnels feels like it goes on forever. Don’t get us wrong; we love platforming through this devious level, but its difficulty is downright stress-inducing at times. Of course, that’s not even mentioning trying to hoover up every single box, gem, and secret this level has. Toxic Tunnels is a well-crafted maze that changes things up almost constantly to keep Crash guessing. Please just don’t fall into the toxic green sludge or the hot lava!

The High Road

“Crash Bandicoot” (1996)

Ah yes, here we are, The High Road. Apart from looking like a level straight out of “Silent Hill” with the layers of fog concealing what’s to come, The High Road is just a super punishing stage that demands absolute perfection. Yes, yes, we know, you can cheese parts of the level by tightrope walking the rope railings, but even that isn’t always guaranteed. Trying to make it across this hazardous mountain bridge will really test your skills. Knowing when to hop on the turtles, which falling bridge boards to avoid, quickly hopping off the icy platforms, and more are sure to make you pull your hair out. 2017’s “N. Sane Trilogy” might be a smidge easier due to Crash’s more pronounced drop shadow and the overall more refined controls, but even still, The High Road is super duper tough all around.

Future Tense

“Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy” (2017)

This brand new level to the series, added specifically to “N. Sane Trilogy,” easily ranks as one of the absolute hardest around. This futuristic cityscape level really does have it all when it comes to punishing you. Not only do you have to be a master at Crash’s jumps and floating spin thingy, you also need to be adept at using his Wumpa fruit launcher in order to smash crates and get to out-of-reach places. Toss in a bunch of tricky hazards and powerful goons, and some section where you need to use the building’s reflections to see incoming attacks, and you have yourself a recipe for a tough-as-all heck “Crash” level

Cortex Castle

“Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time” (2020)

Seriously, just watching gameplay of this nefarious level makes my palms sweat. While every level we have mentioned so far in this list have been incredibly hard; for our money, nothing truly beats the platforming brutality of “Crash 4: It’s About Time’s” Cortex Castle level. This level is just absurdly challenging, even if you do consider yourself a Crash Bandicoot expert. What makes Cortex Castle so notoriously difficult is because it requires you to utilize every single Crash ability pickup/time power, oftentimes in rapid (and punishing) succession, in order to make it through this gauntlet. There’s just so much going on at any given moment in this level that you master ninja-like focus and reflexes in order to survive. It’s like Cortex Castle takes every aspect of every tough “Crash Bandicoot” level and smashes them into one mega-tough level that demands perfection if you hope to succeed. Good luck indeed!

So, do you agree with our picks for this list? What are the hardest levels you’ve experienced in the Crash Bandicoot series? Let us know in the comments.