The 20 HARDEST Levels in N64 Games

First Ride
“Superman 64” (1999)

Kicking us off is a game that is not only considered incredibly hard, but also incredibly bad: “Superman 64”! Although the Underground Parking Complex level could be argued as objectively harder, the first level of “Superman 64” is so notorious for its difficulty that it's hard to not kick our list off with this ring grabbing, bad flying, poor controlled s**t show. The learning curve shouldn't be that steep that quick, and it was famous for making most players quit the game entirely, and cementing it as one of the worst levels ever crafted.

Oyster Bay
“Blast Corps” (1997)

“Blast Corps”, one of the hardest N64 games on our list, is so hard in fact that if you Google this game, you’ll get loads of threads claiming that it is literally impossible. The level Oyster Harbor is notoriously difficult thanks to a complex layout requiring precise vehicle switching and tight timing. The level features water hazards, our least favourite type of hazard, and many obstacles require specific vehicles to destroy them efficiently. The Backlash, one of the hardest vehicles to control, is heavily relied upon, with an unforgiving time limit. The level from toe to head is about as fun as smashing your thumb with a hammer.

Rainbow Ride
“Super Mario 64” (1996)

Tick Tock Clock could easily rank among the toughest Nintendo 64 levels, but Rainbow Ride surpasses it by just a teeeenie tiny amount. That amount being personal hatred. Both stages frequently send players plummeting back to the start, but Rainbow Ride is IN MY OPINION, far less forgiving. Honestly, when you combine Mario with rainbows, nothing good ever happens. It’s undeniably one of the hardest Mario levels ever designed. I only have one tip... Patience. Also patience. And don’t forget patience, that’s key.

Big Hand (Joker Cup)
“F-Zero X” (1998)

Big Hand in “F-Zero X" is the final track of the Joker Cup and the toughest in the game. Featuring brutal hairpin turns and notorious no-wall sections lined with ice, it’s a track that can wipe out racers as early as the first lap. True to its name, Big Hand is shaped like a giant hand with five fingers, making for a uniquely challenging course. Picture driving around a hand! The palm? Fine, sure. The fingers? Yuck.

Aztec
“GoldenEye 007” (1997)

Don’t freak out, I love GoldenEye, and while “GoldenEye 007” is often praised for its groundbreaking multiplayer, don’t forget how challenging the story could often be, especially in higher difficulties. The Aztec level stands out as the toughest of them all, regardless of where you set the difficulty. Navigating its maze-like corridors is disorienting, while waves of pinpoint-accurate Moonraker-wielding guards make survival a struggle. Before you even get to fighting Jaws, who ALSO sucks poo, you are red in the face from confusion and rage.

Venom 2
“Star Fox 64” (1997)

Traditionally, a final stage should be the hardest, but some games don’t live up to that reputation... “Star Fox 64” does. There are two paths you can take with the final stage, Venom. Venom 1 is generally considered easier, with a more linear progression and fewer challenging encounters. Venom 2 is more difficult, with a greater emphasis on keeping your team alive and navigating a more complex route. Relentless enemy waves, environmental hazards, and intense boss battles, it’s a non stop punch in the tit. Both paths culminate in a tough showdown against Andross, whose attacks require precise dodging and quick reflexes. Let’s not even split hairs, difficulty aside, he’s a true ballache.

Orld Mantell Junkyard
“Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire” (1996)

Several levels in “Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire" could rank among the hardest on the Nintendo 64, Sewers of the Imperial City can suck a bag of farts. However, Ord Mantell Junkyard stands out as perhaps the most stressful. I wish I had a more clever word. You navigate train platforms while dodging enemies and obstacles, and the time to breathe doesn’t exist, it’s just an onslaught. Just when survival seems within reach, the level throws IG-88 into the mix. That single boss fight transforms the game into Resident Evil, it sucks.

Great Bay Temple
“The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” (2000)

We never thought The Legend of Zelda could outdo themselves in terms of frustrating dungeons, but look at them go. Great Bay Temple, for some, sucks real bad. I say ‘for some’ because there’s an oddly passionate online community in support of how good this dungeon is... So who knows? Maybe I’m crazy. I think the Great Bay Temple in “Majora’s Mask" is one of the toughest dungeons in the whole series. You constantly manipulate water currents to access new areas, requiring careful planning and frequent backtracking, so much goddamn backtracking. And also the swimming controls (no matter how adept you are with the game) will drive you crazy.

The Lab
“Mischief Makers” (1997)

While “Mischief Makers" doesn't have a single universally agreed-upon hardest level, most players point to world 4, and world 5The Lab and The Factory. Sure, we could put both on this list, but I don’t want to... So, world 5The Lab it is! Any level that combines intense platforming with a CRAZY amount of enemies is always gonna ruin your day. The level demands precise jumps, quick reactions, and mastery of Marina’s grab-and-boost mechanics, which isn’t always easy to master given the controls. On top of that, the chaotic auto-scrolling make it the game’s toughest section.

Greenwood Village (Silver Coin Challenge)
“Diddy Kong Racing” (1997)

There are plenty of hard moments in “Diddy Kong Racing’s” campaign, its campaign which made it better than Mario Kart for me. While the second race against Bubbler the Octopus is a strong contender, the real difficulty comes from the Silver Coin Challenges rather than boss battles. Among them, Greenwood Village stands out as the hardest. Collecting every coin in a single lap is nearly impossible, forcing players to strategize while staying close to first place. Falling too far behind spells disaster when it's time to sprint for victory. Don’t think this is easy if you’re just watching masterful gameplay right now. Try it yourself, and enjoy the hemorrhoid you’ll grow.

Final Showdown
“Jet Force Gemini” (1999)

“Jet Force Gemini” can suck my big toe. Another game that saves its toughest moments for its ending, the final level, and specifically the final boss, Mizar, who unleashes a barrage of powerful attacks, requiring quick reflexes and precise dodging. The arena itself can be unforgiving as well, with limited space and hazards that can make it difficult to maneuver and avoid damage. Players must switch between the three Gemini characters strategically, each with unique abilities and weaknesses, to overcome the boss's attacks. But the real boss is the game's controls, which are totally functional, but can feel somewhat clunky, especially when precise and quick reactions are needed.

Maian SOS
“Perfect Dark” (2000)

Perfect Dark’s odd roguelike stage is a brutal challenge with an incredible premise - BUT WE HAVE NO TIME! Right away, you’re at a disadvantage, starting with almost no health and no weapons. Your only option is to disarm guards just to survive. Being a short Maian (an alien race) makes aiming awkward and you also will only survive a hit or two from the enemy. Ammo is scarce, mistakes are fatal, and the infamous elevator room awaits at the end. It’s f***ing tough.

Lair of The Blind Ones
“Turok 2: Seeds of Evil” (1998)

I love “Turok 2”, but this level can go right in the bin. Sometimes, it can just feel a LITTLE bit too complicated, and sure, I might be dumb, but both things can technically be true. Its repetitive environment is mostly to blame, as it makes navigation borderline impossible. Falling is far too easy, and it certainly lives up to its name ‘Lair of The Blind Ones’, because it easily simulates what it would be like to navigate a maze-like lair as a blind person - BOOM terrible joke. Welcome to MojoPlays, I’m Mat and I’m never gonna die.

Chapter 8: It’s War
“Conker’s Bad Fur Day” (2001)

“Conker’s Bad Fur Day” is as good as a game gets, but it’s easy to forget just how many oddly tough moments there are in this funny game. While it might seem silly on the surface, it’s anything but. Rare clearly aimed to provide a more serious challenge for their mature audience to truly appreciate this abnormal treat of a game. Chapter 8: It’s War, is the perfect culmination of all the difficulty you’ve experienced throughout the game. In a Saving Private Ryan parody, players reenact D-Day, and the gunplay requires a serious understanding of gaming mechanics, mechanics that haven’t appeared up until this point to SUCH a degree.

Click Clock Wood
“Banjo Kazooie” (1998)

Click Clock Wood in Banjo-Kazooie is notoriously difficult. We don't even need to finish the entry, I’m sure 80% of you are going “OH DON’T EVEN GET ME F***ING STARTED”. The worst part of the level is its unique season mechanics, making the environment constantly change. Players must revisit the level four times, once in each season, unlocking different paths and obstacles with each cycle. The need to master intricate platforming across large, vertical environments is compounded by tough enemies, including aggressive bees and the challenging final climb to the top of the tree. That damn tree!

Out of This World 3
“Glover” (1998)

The only thing more frustrating than “Glover”, would be a game called de-glover. Glover is a frustrating platformer with a unique premise. Rolling around on a ball as an anthropomorphic glove isn't for everyone, especially when the controls feel awkward and difficult. The challenge isn’t limited to just the controls; the game includes a collecting element that can drive players mad as they tackle increasingly tricky levels. By the time players reach the final realm, Out of This World, the difficulty ramps up to frustrating levels. Just avoid this game, you’re just asking for pain.

MAP32: Hectic
“Doom 64” (1997)

"Congratulations, you've found... Hectic. Only the best will reap its rewards." And guess what, you probably aren’t the best. MAP32: Hectic is the first secret level that can be found in Doom 64 and is considered to be the most difficult level in the game. A virtual Easter egg, finding it requires execution of an obscure procedure on MAP01: Staging Area. And that’s not even the hard part. The level is packed with powerful enemies, including demons, revenants, and cacodemons, all while you navigate tight, maze-like corridors. Ammo and health are limited, forcing players to carefully manage resources while dealing with more waves than they’re used to. It truly has to be experienced to understand.

The Water Temple
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)

Heeeey who didn’t see this coming? It’s the most infamous temple in The Legend of Zelda series, and for very good reason, it SUCKS. This place isn’t just challenging; it can be downright tedious. While there are certainly players who can breeze through it effortlessly, for most, no amount of experience seems to prevent the temple from twisting their minds into knots. The constant need to adjust water levels only adds to the frustration, leaving players trapped in an endless cycle of trial and error as they desperately try to avoid descending into madness.

Fungi Forest
“Donkey Kong 64” (1999)

When players think of the hardest moment from “Donkey Kong 64”, what springs to mind usually? Chunky Kong’s Mine Cart race? The hardest of all the mine cart races. Maybe the Owl Ride? Guess what, they’re both in Fungi Forest. When it comes to the mine cart races, Diddy’s one practically hands the coins to you, and in Donkey’s you get to go back! But in Chunky’s, the timing ramps up by probably, oh let’s pick a fair number, 10,000 times? And speaking of tight timing, narrow, winding paths, and the need for precise control. Enter the Owl Race. Why was this game good again?

Alien Comet 2016
“Body Harvest” (1998)

Fans of Body Harvest tend to appreciate a tough challenge, and this game certainly delivers. It was Dark Souls, before Dark Souls... Not in terms of style, more in terms of hospital admissions. From the start, players face a relentless wave of alien insects with very few save points to offer any relief. Reaching the final level is already a brutal feat, but completing it is even more grueling. The rare save points are a constant struggle, but the real difficulty in Alien Comet 2016 lies in the number of enemies that must be defeated to progress. Knowing where they appear and where they don’t is just the beginning. Things only get tougher from there.