The 20 HARDEST Games Based on Cartoon Shows

The 20 Hardest Games Based on Cartoon Shows

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re counting down our picks for the 20 hardest video games that are based on cartoon shows.

“Rugrats: Search for Reptar” (1998)

Tommy Pickles and pals are on a quest; a quest that sees them scour far and wide for Reptar puzzle pieces. Inspired by the antics of the popular Nickelodeon show, the cartoon babies are in for a doozy of a time as they explore myriad, confusing levels in addition to some silly mini-games like mini-golf and football with a baby bottle. At first glance, you’d think a “Rugrats” game would be pretty darn easy. However, this game is about as easy as changing a diaper with oven mitts on. If you are even able to figure out where to go and what your objective is then you will contend with a super wonky camera and janky controls. The puzzle sections might seem simple, but they are quite confounding. And, the plethora of tricky platforming sections will lead to countless retries. Perhaps it’s just better to hop into the crib and take a nice nap.

“The Flintstones: The Treasure of Sierra Madrock” (1994)

The Flintstones have sadly been underutilized in video games; which is a real bummer considering the prehistoric setting of the cartoon and the madcaps of Fred Flintstone and co. easily provide a solid blueprint for some zany good times. Well, 1994’s “The Treasure of Sierra Madrock” for the SNES, while being an enjoyable platforming romp overall, manages to test your gaming skills like no other. This stone age adventure is overflowing with challenges to attempt to conquer. The controls are easily the toughest part to deal with as Fred and Barney’s jumps feel imprecise and stiff. Landing hits on enemies is also a sore spot (and not just for the baddies) because of inconsistent hit detection. Then, of course, you are greeted with a very finite amount of lives and continues which likely spells game over after game over. It was probably easier to invent the stone wheel than to beat this game.

“Rocko’s Modern Life: Spunky’s Dangerous Day” (1994)

The lovable, quirky wallaby is back at it, this time saving his doggo pal, Spunky, from increasingly cartoony, yet dangerous scenarios in a sort of Lemmings-esque way. It’s not going to be easy to be the hero here since Rocko has his work cut out for him as he manipulates the world around the two of them to keep Spunky safe. While this game does feel like you are playing out an episode of the cartoon, it falls into the trappings of many licensed games of this era. Things like brutal hit detection, floaty controls, unclear objectives, trial-and-error environmental moments, and limited lives means getting through this game will test your patience and your resolve. Again, it’s a fun little game where Rocko’s and Spunky’s personalities shine through, but it’s gonna take some real grit to push through O-Town. Just get to that golden fire hydrant and all will be well. Good luck!

“Scooby-Doo: Night of 100 Frights” (2002)

Apart from being one of the very best “Scooby-Doo” games around, “Night of 100 Frights” is also one of the toughest. Much of this is owed to the game’s Metroidvania design elements where the game’s many stages and environments are interconnected, locked off by Scooby Snack requirement numbers. Additionally certain gadgets are needed to progress through specific gated-off areas. This Metroidvania influence does make the game feel more cohesive and engaging but often requires loads of backtracking (via warp gates) and seeking out collectibles you may have missed or forgotten to scoop up. The game really does make you feel like you are a part of the cartoon, replete with plenty of baddies and goons to contend with. Toss in some challenging platforming sections (where Scooby’s floaty controls and the often wonky camera don’t always help) in tandem with some punishing boss battles, and it’s clear this game isn’t all that easy.

“Tiny Toon Adventures” (1991)

Getting to play as a good chunk of the cast of “Tiny Toon Adventures” (including Buster, Plucky, and Furrball) is a real blast here. But, like many NES of the era, this game puts up a fight. Yes, yes, you can easily wrap up this game in under 45 minutes if you are a sheer platforming pro. However, for most of us mere mortals, it’s gonna take a lot of trial and error. This game doesn’t want you to make it to the final battle with Montana Max without first proving your skill. Each level is overflowing with baddies that seemingly pop up out of nowhere, platforming gauntlets that require pixel perfect precision, and a bit of luck as you avoid Elmyra.

“TaleSpin” (1991)

Acting as a sort of SCHMUP-lite, “TaleSpin” for the NES is a rock hard adventure. Baloo must venture through a cornucopia of levels inspired by the classic Disney cartoon, taking down goons, earning loads of money, and upgrading the Sea Duck to be more robust all around. Upgrading Baloo’s vehicle really is of the utmost importance in this game since it’s so darn easy to lose health and lives as you soar through the skies. The game generously sprinkles in bonus stages where you hop atop Kit’s ‘cloud surfer’ which essentially looks like a silver croissant. Getting to grips with Baloo’s Sea Duck and Kit’s ‘cloud surfer’ are key elements to this game since movement feels unlike any other similar game on the NES. Learning the ins and outs of each level really only happens in this game through sheer persistence and trial and error, since, like many SCHMUPs, you have to watch out for peril from every single angle on-screen.

“The Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout” (1990)

It’s interesting; watching gameplay for this game instantly reminds me of those uber-challenging run-and-gun platforming stages from “Cuphead.” There’s just so much happening on screen any given time that Bugs needs to contend with that it seems like death can come at any moment, and it often does. And what the heck is with all the sentient alarm clocks? Hmmm…we may never know. Bugs is just trying to get to his birthday celebration but everything and everyone wants to stop him. Brutal platforming, relentless baddies, oodles of hazards, tricky traps, and more await our eponymous rabbit. Plus, the game’s ending is so wacky because Bugs does eventually make it to his birthday, only to be greeted by his “friends” (something we very much say in quotes) because just a few stages earlier, they were each trying to send him to his early grave in the form of boss battles. Very odd indeed!

“Batman: Vengeance” (2001)

“Batman: Vengeance” is one heck of a devious game. The cartoon-esque art style belies the heavy challenge level that the Caped Crusader has to face in this game. As usual, Batman must deal with the menacing machinations of Joker, something that leaves Batman with many, many surprises over the course of this adventure. “Vengeance” can really feel unforgiving at times. The combat encounters are downright brutal, with Batman never quite feeling as powerful as he should. The finicky platforming sections don’t help either, especially with a wonky camera. Oh, and don’t even get us started on those gosh darn stealth segments that never really work as they should. “Batman: Vengeance” certainly oozes a moody style, but it’s hampered by too much trial and error, especially in the boss battles and vehicle sections.

“The Ren & Stimpy Show Presents: Stimpy’s Invention” (1993)

The Mutate-o-Matic: an invention that seeks to turn garbage into delicious food because…reasons. But, after an overload of the device, the important pieces scatter all over the place, willy-nilly. Now, our titular duo must seek high and low in this fever dream of a game to gather up the pieces, because again…reasons. I’m gonna risk sounding like a broken record here but this might as well be called trial and error: the game. While a super duper short game overall, it’s so heavily reliant on guessing what’s gonna come next that you never feel safe or prepared, which, as you might have guessed, can lead to a really tough challenge for our wacky duo. And, can I just say…that juxtaposition between the derpy giraffes just lollygagging around in the zoo level to then showing their true menacing visages is straight up pure nightmare fuel.

“Animaniacs” (1994)

This is a safe space, right? Because I need to admit something pathetic when it comes to my experience with “Animaniacs,” specifically for the Sega Genesis. You see, when I was a kid, I never once got past the very start of this game. Yes, the initial opening stage of this game. Right at the start of the game, you must use Dot’s charm ability to charm the dog who is blocking access to the movie studio. Ya, well, my tiny feeble-minded kid brain never once figured that out so I only ever enjoyed the first few minutes of this game. Good times. But, you see, each of the Animaniacs’ unique, character-specific skills/abilities are actually what makes this game super tough all around. You must know when, where, and how to use them if you hope to proceed through the unique Warner Bros. movie studio lot sound stage-inspired levels. Plus, the actual platforming with all three characters can also be a real doozy. Best of luck!

“Darkwing Duck” (1992)

“Darkwing Duck” is more or less a Disney-fied “Mega Man”-lite game. What’s cool here is that you can tackle the stages in any order you’d like. This non-linear structure means, should you find a level too challenging, simply tackle another one first and then come back to it when your skills improve. Darkwing’s weapon doesn’t fire very far which can often lead to challenging battles with the game’s various cartoony baddies. Add to that some truly sadistic platforming sections and some sporadic difficulty spikes. Once you do (hopefully) make it to the various level bosses, you better be ready for some tough-as-nails fights where pattern recognition and memorization are keys to survival.

“Road Runner’s Death Valley Rally” (1992)

The “Looney Tunes” question to end all “Looney Tunes” questions: who is the real villain – Wile E. Coyote or Road Runner? It’s hard to say, right? It really depends on how you look at each episode of the beloved cartoons. Well, in the case of 1992’s “Death Valley Rally,” it’s clear Wile E. Coyote will stop at nothing to flatten, pummel, or otherwise take down Road Runner for good. But, the crafty Road Runner will, of course, never let that happen. Poor Wile E. Coyote. Good luck trying to escape Wile’s traps and hazards in this game, however. While Road Runner is blazingly fast, more so after some bird seed, the floaty controls, slippery feeling movement, and surprise traps will almost always get you. Seriously, sometimes you won’t even know there’s a hazard until you are basically on top of it. Oh, and those maze-like levels don’t boost things in your favor.

“Goof Troop” (1993)

“Goof Troop” for Super Nintendo is actually one of the more unique games on this entire list since it’s, first and foremost, a puzzle game, not a platformer or action-adventure game. This solo or local co-op game is a real treat, especially for fans of the cartoon. However, make no mistake about it, the puzzles in this game are often maddening and will break your brain more often than not. Spatial, environmental puzzles are the name of the game here as you try to solve them from a top-down view. Goofy and Max do have means to defend themselves from the game’s enemies but it’s more reliant on objects found in the environment. Using various objects like grappling hooks and candles are also necessary if you hope to proceed to later, tougher stages. You best get your thinking cap on if you want to solve the game’s many, many devious conundrums.

“Garfield: Caught in the Act” (1995)

I never would have thought that the lasagna-loving, Monday-hating cat would feature in such a downright punishing game. Yet, here we are. “Garfield: Caught in the Act” sees your oddball feline getting stuck inside the TV after things quickly go awry with him and Odie. The TV premise works great here because it separates levels into various television show-themed levels, with each one testing your platforming skills. As you might have gleaned from Garfield’s hefty size as a house cat, he isn’t exactly nimble, which equates to some cumbersome and sluggish platforming. The game also feels like it sort of pays homage (lovingly or otherwise) to games like "Ghouls ‘n Ghosts,” with the tricky traps and hectic hazards that seem to pop up out of nowhere. It can be a short and relatively smooth game for some, but for many of us (myself very much included), this game can feel like clamoring your way through a busy Monday afternoon, with nary a break in sight.

“X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse” (1994)

“X-Men” games really do run the difficulty gamut (or Gambit if we want to get punny about…). Some are rock-hard arcade-like experiences (like this very game) and others feel more like a breeze, like enjoying an episode of the classic Saturday morning cartoon with your favorite breakfast cereal. “Mutant Apocalypse” isn’t here to hide the fact that it’s incredibly tough. Stepping into the superpowered boots of Cyclops, Gambit, Wolverine, Beast, and Psylocke is a real treat, but each character takes some getting used to since they each have their own character-specific movements, attacks, and abilities. If you are hoping to have plenty of lives to try out each level and character then you aren’t in luck here, not at all. Mix in some complex mutant powers, devious and relentless baddies to deal with, difficulty spikes when it comes to some platforming, and the fact that you can only play this in single-player, and we can easily see why this “X-Men” game isn’t for the faint of heart.

“DuckTales” (1989)

Apart from being a super iconic classic Disney game with some downright incredible chiptune music, “DuckTales’” awesomely fun pogo-stick mechanic where you use Scrooge McDuck’s cane to bound around each level like a madman is equally as hard to get used to. We love the way movement works in this game where basic platforming and the cane-hopping mechanic work synergistically to get through each level unscathed…hopefully. So long as you can get the rhythm and momentum down pat then you may not have as much of a hard time with this game. But, for many a gamer out there, it was a tricky feat to get good at. Good thing the game has oodles of collectibles to seek out which motivates you to get the most out of this fun, yet challenging ability for Scrooge McDuck.

“Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse” (1994)

Good golly, “Mickey Mania” truly does feel and play like a classic Mickey Mouse cartoon. The art style is sublime, the animations are on point, and the music is the chef’s kiss to top it all off. But, my goodness, this game’s lovely presentation belies a deeply punishing gameplay experience that rewards patience, persistence, and maybe a thrown controller or two…or three. Each cartoony stage is littered with challenging goons to fend off, obstacles and hazards that you don’t often see until you are about to get hit by them, and some tight platforming that requires pixel perfect precision. While the marbles (for attacking) and the stars (for extra health) might seem abundant at first glance, you quickly realize you run out much faster than you acquire them. “Mickey Mania” is designed with arcade sensibilities through and through.

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

There are actually a handful of pretty darn tough “Simpsons” games out there; but for our money, it’s “Bart vs. the Space Mutants” that really takes the stale cake here. A fun game? Yes, for the most part. Super duper tough? Absolutely. Bart has the ability to see space mutants that are disguised as humans using some specialized x-ray glasses, something that comes into play when encountering characters in each level, be they friend or foe. The thing with this game is that your objectives in each level are so obtuse. For example: needing to take down exit signs in the museum level to progress. Oh, and take two hits and it’s back to the start for Bart. The controls are also a contentious area since they don’t always respond how you would hope they would. And, let’s not forget the loads of backtracking, repetition sections, and odd puzzle elements.

“Gargoyles” (1995)

The chunky art style and hefty movements and abilities for Goliath all work wonders to sell the fact that this is a “Gargoyles” game through and through. But, even with the game’s fire and brimstone levels, moody cityscapes, and often mature overtones, it still manages to be even harder than you’d initially think. You’d think that a gargoyle named Goliath would be near invincible. However…spoiler alert…he’s not. Momentum and inertia are things to consider when moving Goliath around each atmospheric stage, which can sometimes spell disaster if you aren’t precise and careful. “Gargoyles” also just has one of those difficulty curves that’s more like a 2x4 than curved rail. It’s never quite clear what Goliath can climb or land on, and many of the game’s enemies are complete damage sponges. This is a rock-hard, stone-cold game that will consistently test your gaming resolve.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (1989)

Five words (otherwise known as two very specific levels) are all that is needed to sum up this infamously challenging and notoriously punishing NES game: the Dam and the Technodrome. Yep…good luck! You will most certainly need it.

So, do you agree with our picks for this list? What are some of the hardest games you’ve played that are based on cartoons? Let us know in the comments.