The 10 HARDEST Levels from NES Games

10 Hardest Levels From NES Games

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re counting down our picks for the ten hardest levels from the NES that will truly test your gaming skills.

Springfield Museum of Natural History

“The Simpsons: Bart vs. The Space Mutants” (1991)

Bart’s goal is simple enough in this maniacal museum: obtain all of the exit signs strewn about by the nefarious space mutants. Ah, but doing so is a whole different story. This super unique level sees Bart moving from section to section in the museum, avoiding mutants disguised as guards, security lasers, snakes, monkeys, and of course, some dastardly platforming sections. Oh, and let’s not forget the random hazards that pop up to send Bart back to the start. Make sure you get every dart gun that you can in order to hoover up those exit signs and make it through this tough-as-nails museum of miscreants.

Death Mountain

“Zelda II: The Adventure of Link” (1987)

Apart from being an odd duck of a “Zelda” game, “The Adventure of Link” is chock full of maze-like areas and challenging baddies. One look at the overworld map of the Death Mountain area clearly lays out how confusing this section of the game is, unless you happen to know exactly where to go. Each of the Death Mountain areas you enter are littered with tough monsters who often take multiple hits to defeat and different strategies for Link to employ in order to come out as the victor, all while you search for important items needed to progress. Fortunately, Link can level up and become a bit stronger which certainly helps when venturing through Death Mountain’s many hazards.

World C-3

“Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels” (1986)

Dare we say that “The Lost Level’s” World C-3 is the hardest 2D Mario level out there? Perhaps so. Despite this level’s brevity, it’s insanely punishing. Very few platforms combined with powerful wind and myriad enemies equals pure platforming chaos. You can swiftly make it through this level by using the aforementioned wind; however, as you soar through the sky above via the wind gusts, you have no idea where you actually are in the level, apart from the general camera placement. Trying to land on the platforms and then run into the wind gusts over the bottomless abyss requires the utmost skill and precision. Best of luck!

Stage 8 - Alien’s Lair

“Contra” (1987)

I mean, come on, it’s “Contra,” of course it’s hard. However, nothing can really prepare you for the sheer gauntlet of punishment that is the game’s eighth stage, Alien’s Lair. If the electric ball attacks fired at you from the gaping maws of the aliens embedded in the walls, floors, and ceiling don’t get you then the sheer relentlessness of the alien bombardment at the end of the stage will. Contending with that giant fleshy alien organ and it spews out countless aliens is enough to test any “Contra” player, even those with run-and-gun gaming skills.

Stage 6-2

“Ninja Gaiden” (1988)

The “Ninja Gaiden” series is well-known for its highly challenging gameplay scenarios. This point is very, very evident in the 1988 game, especially one you venture to Stage 6-2, which feels like a real difficulty spike. Broken up into multiple layers accessed via wall jumping and ladders, Stage 6-2 is here to test your ninja skills. Now, the platforming itself isn’t all that bad here but the enemies…my goodness…they are fast, ferocious, and nonstop. Knowing which ones to attack and which ones to parkour over and around (along with plenty of ninja speed) will ensure you make it to Stage 6-3.

Area 8

“Blaster Master” (1988)

This labyrinth of vibrant neon colors and all-consuming death is not for the faint of heart. “Blaster Master” is a tough game all around, but Area 8 really ups the difficulty ante. The maze-like level layout and plethora of baddies that seemingly crop up out of nowhere are ready to send you to your demise. Navigating the walls, ceilings, and floors is like drawing a line from through a connect-the-dots but with multiple hazards in your path. Then, hopping out of your vehicle to dole out punishment to the boss of this area is an exercise in patience and skill. Only the best will survive this nightmarish onslaught!

Stage 6

“Ghosts ‘n Goblins” (1985)

Many 80s and 90s gamers out there will likely have some fond memories (or haunting nightmares) of attempting to play through “Ghosts ‘n Goblins” on the NES. Retro gamers know how brutal this game can be, especially because you need to beat it twice in order to get the game’s happy ending. Well, Stage 6 is the culmination of the gallant and brave knight Arthur’s brutal adventure. The best way to sum up Stage 6, the castle area, would be platforming bullet hell. Knight Arthur must ascend the castle all while contending with a relentless barrage of supernatural baddies. It feels like you can’t even blink once as you play through this stage, hoping to obtain the key at the end to then face the big boss baddie himself.

Dracula’s Final Clock Tower

“Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse” (1989)

Dracula’s dark supernatural power and presence is on full display in Block’s A-01 to A-03, often just referred to as Dracula’s Final Clock Tower. This final push in “Dracula’s Curse” requires absolute pixel perfect precision for every jump and attack if you hope to make it to the tough-as-coffin-nails three-phased final boss battle against Dracula himself. Each block in this level requires a new strategy as you make your way through each of them. Every jump needs to land and every attack needs to count. It’s a short but grueling gauntlet that only true “Castlevania” fans can overcome.

The Revolution

“Battletoads” (1991)

We all know about how tough the Turbo Tunnels level is from this game, so much so that we featured it on our hardest Sega Genesis levels list. However, for the NES version, we wanted to highlight The Revolution, the last stage of the game. The Revolution is a massive revolving cylindrical level that seems to just go on forever. Getting higher and higher in this revolving level eventually leads you to the game’s final boss. But, getting there is unbelievably difficult. With so many tough baddies to defeat, tight platforming, finicky springs, and the rotating nature of the level, means you are in for a heck of a time.

Dam

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (1989)

Yes, of course…it had to be the Dam from 1989’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” This level is downright notorious for how deeply challenging it is. Many of us 80s and 90s gamers are still scarred from sitting on the floor with our buddies, NES controller in hand, and countless hours spent trying to forge our way through this nightmare of a level. While the opening parts of the Dam certainly are not easy, what with the myriad goons trying to pummel you, it’s really the underwater sections where you must successfully guide one of the turtles through a labyrinth of electricity and damaging seaweed, in the hopes of disarming a bunch of bombs. Oh, and you have to do all of this with a countdown timer flashing at you to hurry up. The underwater section of the Dam from “TMNT” is essentially the equivalent of playing the board game “Operation.” Talk about stress-inducing!

So, do you agree with our picks for this list? What are the hardest levels you encountered in NES games? Let us know in the comments.