Top 50 Most Frustrating Video Game Levels

#50: Chemical Chaos

“Spider-Man” (2002)

Stealth missions have come a long way in games. But there was a time where they ground the momentum to a screeching halt. In the game adaptation of Spidey’s first live-action film, the hero will eventually need to sneak around Oscrop Labs. This is made frequently annoying by the multitude of cameras and lasers, which will cause alarms to blare should they spot you. There are also guards and robot soldiers patrolling every hallway, which will fill Spider-Man with bullets in mere moments. Worse, if you die or mess up the mission, you have to start from the beginning, trapping you in this nightmare of a level.

#49: Temple of Styx

“Hades” (2020)

“Hades” features its fair share of annoying enemies, but it can be satisfying to grow stronger and overpower them in subsequent runs. However, nothing will ever ease the frustration of poison, which several enemies in the Temple of Styx can dish out. While the gigantic rats can back you into a corner, the Satyrs leap around firing poison darts. Poison constantly deals damage unless you cleanse yourself at a curing pool located in each room. Better do it quick though, because it can drain your health alarmingly quickly. You have to do so while dealing with traps and enemies, and a green tint forming on the screen that obstructs your vision. Needless to say, it’s easy for the panic to set in.

#48: Proving Grounds

“BioShock” (2007)

Even more annoying than the stealth mission is the escort one, and you’ll find a few of them on our list. Towards the end of “BioShock,” you’ll be tasked with protecting a Little Sister as she guides you to the final boss. Unfortunately, she also periodically stops to siphon ADAM from bodies along the path, causing hordes of enemies to descend upon you. That’s not to mention several turrets just waiting to add to the damage. It’s understandably tense to watch the Little Sister’s health bar empty as you try to progress. If she dies, you have to backtrack to a previous checkpoint, but she is replaced. Still, it only serves to stress you out.

#47: Galen’s Escape

“World of Warcraft” (2004)

There are plenty of tough dungeons and powerful encounters throughout the history of “World of Warcraft.” Yet, one of the most frustrating things in the game will always be escorting this idiot of an NPC. Galen could be found in the Swamp of Sorrows, imprisoned by a group of monsters wishing to eat him. After setting him free, players then had to guide him to his camp. While he asked for safety, his AI seemed to want anything but that. Galen was programmed to constantly run towards any sign of danger. It didn’t matter how safe the path you were trying to walk down was; if Galen spotted enemies, he’d make sure they spotted him as well, all while screaming for help.

#46: Assault

“Hotline Miami” (2012)

In this top-down shooter, you die in one hit, which means it gets pretty tough. This reaches peak break-your-controller frustration in the thirteenth chapter, named ‘Assault.’ Players must navigate three floors of a police precinct, absolutely swarming with officers with near-perfect aim. Here, the reason the level is irritating is simple. There are just so many enemies packed into every room that the only way you can make it out alive is through trial and error, and with supreme patience. Of course, when you die, which is bound to happen a lot, you start a floor over. That can only happen so many times before you need to take a break to lower your blood pressure.

#45: Mr. Dark’s Dare

“Rayman” (1995)

Although the original “Rayman” has a cute, cartoony appearance, this is one tough platformer. And while the confrontation with the villain is disappointing, the level leading to him is an absolute chore. After a slippery ride, you have to deal with a doppelganger that follows your every move. If it touches you a single time, you instantly die and have to start over. This is made harder by the level’s layout, which features backtracking directly into the evil Rayman’s path. Then there’s the following section, with dozens of tiny platforms you’re forced to navigate with inverted controls. The game was hard enough without new, obnoxious obstacles to contend with.

#44: The Fade

“Dragon Age: Origins” (2009)

There’s a lot of elements to love in “Dragon Age: Origins,” but the Fade isn’t one of them. In this realm, players must search for the ability to turn into other forms to get past certain obstacles, which, admittedly, is a cool hook. The problem lies in its layout, which prioritizes an absurd amount of backtracking. Its design gets very repetitive, with secret doors even going back to places you’ve already been. And all of the recycled enemies don’t help. Plus, you lose access to certain mechanics of your class, with the Ranger getting the shortest end of the stick since they can’t summon animals. A ‘Skip the Fade’ mod even became popular among PC players so they wouldn’t have to deal with the tedium.

#43: Augusta Tower

“Final Fantasy XIII-2” (2011)

From one tedious section of a fantasy RPG to another. Augusta Tower from “Final Fantasy XIII-2” is a huge pain to navigate. It isn’t just that it has way too many floors, packed with way too many enemies, although that definitely is part of the problem. It’s also a maze that you’re likely to get turned around in. And for some reason, Square Enix cranked the enemy respawn rate way up. So, when you retread areas, you’ll just be confronted by enemies you’ve already defeated. It’s likely you’ll get trapped in a loop of fighting and wandering aimlessly. To say that it’s annoying would be an understatement, and you’ll probably be driven mad from boredom.

#42: The Pagoda Realm

“Black Myth: Wukong” (2024)

This area from “Black Myth: Wukong” comes with a timed curse; every three minutes, you’ll hear strange chanting that lasts for a minute and a half. When this happens, your total health automatically lowers to half its total. While it is given back to you during the break, it’s understandably frustrating trying to survive with less health, especially since new, powerful enemies appear during the chanting period. There’s also the fact that both you and all enemies receive a damage buff. So we hope you’re as comfortable as possible in combat. It’s not as if this is a small area either. You’ve got a lot of navigating, and likely more than a few deaths, until you can finally be free.

#41: Mile High Club

“Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare” (2007)

For some, the Mile High Club is an incredible challenge to test yourself against. But for most, it’ll only make you see red. In this bonus mission, you must battle your way through an airplane full of enemies in search of a hostage. The time you have to accomplish this depends on the difficulty you choose. You have three minutes on Recruit, two on Regular, a minute and forty-five seconds on Hardened, and one minute on Veteran. Although it’s a pretty sizable plane, beating this on Recruit isn’t too bad. But everything else? Good luck. This mission on Veteran is now infamous among players, due to the pain and countless failures they endured.

#40: Animal Antics

“Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest” (1995)

This secret level is the most irritating level in an already tough game. Here, players navigate obstacles and enemies as five different animal companions. While Rambi the Rhino and Enguarde the Swordfish don’t have it too rough, Squitter the Spider gets a huge difficulty spike. You must make your own platforms, avoiding spikes and wasps in precarious locations. Squawks the Parrot has it the worst. Flying through a path surrounded by thorn vines and filled with enemies, with the ever-changing wind trying to blow you into certain doom, will forever be rage-inducing. Finally, Rattly the Rattlesnake must hop through spikes and enemies. And God help you should your timing be off. Needless to say, Animal Antics was a prime stage to get stuck on.

#39: Rug Ride

“Disney’s Aladdin” (1993)

The Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis adaptations of “Aladdin” were made by different studios. But both versions feature a section where you escape the Cave of Wonders on the magic carpet. And both are incredibly annoying, famous for racking up player deaths and earning these games a reputation. In the SNES version, you’re chased by waves of magma while boulders fall from above. The waves force you all the way to the right, giving you little room to maneuver in. Sega’s version moves at lightning speed, having you dodge upcoming rocks. While you’re given hints at where they’ll be, they eventually come so fast that you’ve got almost no time to react. Truly, we don’t know which version is worse.

#38: Level 5

“Castlevania” (1987)

We’re not saying anything new by calling the original "Castlevania" hard. But Good Lord, Level 5 is a different breed of difficult, and something that not even the rest of the game could prepare you for. It doesn’t help that enemies get a damage boost at this point, but they also each have their own annoying qualities. White skeletons toss multiple bones at you from above and red ones get back up just a moment after you put them down. The final stretch features Medusa heads flying at you from both sides, in a pathline that makes them difficult to both hit and dodge. When you finally make it through this onslaught, you’re confronted by Death, one of the hardest bosses in the game.

#37: Cathedral of the Sacred Blood

“Code Vein” (2019)

“Code Vein” is a Soulslike, meaning it gets pretty hard. But the Cathedral of Blood is the ‘just plain unfun’ kind of hard. To start, the area’s layout is labyrinthine, causing you to wander around lost and confused. That may not have been such an issue if the design wasn’t so repetitive, but most sections look exactly the same. This is definitely its biggest sin. But then there are the enemies to consider, some of which can teleport to catch you off guard. So, annoying enemies, surrounded by a dull design, and inside a layout that forces you to get lost? It’s no wonder most players found the Cathedral so maddening.

#36: Water Slums

“Jak II” (2003)

There was a major difficulty spike between the first “Jak and Daxter” and its sequel. There are a lot of levels and missions that frustrated players. But for us, the peak was having to escape the Water Slums after falling into a trap. There is an absurd amount of firepower you have to avoid should you wish to make it out alive. Unless you’re constantly moving, you’re going to get shot. While there are multiple methods and strategies, they each have drawbacks. And it’s such an overwhelming force of enemies, that most people are bound to slip up. Even worse, once you die, you start the whole thing over. But you don’t get your ammo back, likely making your next attempt even harder.

#35: Atlantica

“Kingdom Hearts” (2002)

Atlantica is often considered one of the worst worlds in the “Kingdom Hearts” series, and for good reason. In the first game, it has a confusing map that’s pulled even further into the depths by horrendous swimming controls. Add on the fact that your combat tactics are reduced due to being underwater, and there really isn’t a single fun thing about it. Things could have improved in “Kingdom Hearts II.” Instead, it was stripped down to be a series of singing mini-games and a rehash of the story in “The Little Mermaid,” making it a different type of frustrating. In a series known for letting us play through our favorite Disney adventures, Atlantica stands out as a definite low.

#34: Stage 7

“Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts” (1991)

What a shock; a series known for its high difficulty can be frustrating. But really, Stage 7 of “Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts” must be experienced to be believed. Most of it is a vertical climb, with enemies placed in just the right spots for them to be in your way, and able to easily hit you. And you only get two hits before you lose a life. Of course, it ends with a pretty tough boss fight as well, and the whole time limit doesn’t exactly help you keep your cool. Neither does the fact that this series has a tendency to make you beat a game twice before facing the final boss, a disheartening fact you learn after completing this level.

#33: King Stage 2

“Mega Man & Bass” (1998)

Another infuriating creation from Capcom, “Mega Man & Bass” puts your action platforming skills to the test. Towards the end of the game, you venture into the castle of King, the primary villain. While the first stage is hard, the second is on a whole other level. First, the sections with regular enemies pack them into tight spaces, making it easy to take damage from them. Hopefully, they don’t hurt you too much because there are also four, yes FOUR, boss fights on this level. And since this stage is at the climax, they’re naturally pretty tough. Making it through this level takes a lot of skill, not to mention patience and acceptance of death.

#32: Escorting Emma

“Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty” (2001)

By far one of the most annoying escort missions in any video game, and one of the worst parts of “Metal Gear Solid 2,” is the moment where players are made to escort Emma. There are a lot of things working against you having fun. The level is partially submerged in water, and you have to carry Emma on your back since she can’t swim. You also have to hold her hand and walk slowly in other sections, yet she’ll still freak out at the smallest hint of danger, or just some bugs. Unsurprisingly, her life and oxygen bars are much shorter than yours. But the real kicker is that, after making it through this incredibly tedious section, she ends up getting killed moments later.

#31: Death Star Escape

“Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” (1994)

Props to you if you’ve even made it far enough into this game to experience the final level. “Return of the Jedi” on Super Nintendo is an infamously challenging game, just like its predecessors. But they really saved the most aggravating level for last. After defeating the Emperor, you have to fly the Millennium Falcon out of the Death Star. Through a first person view, you must narrowly avoid running into the sides of the tunnel. This is a lot harder than you might think, since it’s near impossible to tell where your hitbox begins since you can’t actually see the ship. This sequence is also surprisingly long, making it so you crash and burn, over and over again.

#30: Path of Hades

“God of War” (2005)

At a certain point in Kratos’ first adventure, he’ll be sent to the Underworld. And his only means of escape is through an agonizing platforming section. In between groups of enemies, players must jump between tiny platforms and walk precariously across spinning cylinders with giant blades sticking out of them. With one misstep, or brush against a blade, Kratos falls to his death, which is going to happen a lot. Throwing in an obstacle course like this, with little to no platforming in previous levels, annoyed a lot of players. The very worst part comes at the end, where you make a long climb up one of those rotating blade cylinders. Getting knocked down to the bottom is enough to make you rage.

#29: Fair Play

“Mafia” (2002)

When Hangar 13 chose to remake “Mafia,” director Alex Cox stated one of the most prominent questions from players was whether they fixed this mission. That alone should tell you how infamous it has grown over the years. The problem comes at the end of the mission, where you must win a race. Something about the physics and handling of the 1930s cars just doesn’t mesh well, and the sharp turns only add to the supreme annoyance in anyone trying to come out on top. It seems so simple, right? We’ve all played racing games before. Well, this isn’t that. And every loading screen after every fail just let us stew in our anger.

#28: Parking Garage Tutorial

“Driver” (1999)

Tutorials are a necessary feature for games to teach the player the basics. Some may be boring, but they’re usually helpful. That is, except for the case of “Driver.” Before you get into the story about an undercover cop in a criminal organization, you have to pass a test to prove you can be a getaway driver. Said test takes place in a parking garage, where you must perform a series of maneuvers in an extremely short time frame. Some are simple, while others are complex; unless you’re a fan of skiing, you probably won’t know what a slalom is. Plus, if you damage the other cars around you too much, you have to start over.

#27: A Cold Day in Hell

“Max Payne” (2001)

In theory, confronting your severely damaged protagonist with haunting dream sequences of his family’s demise is a fantastic idea. In execution, though, it’s a test in patience. Max finds himself in a nightmare where he must relive some of his troubled past, and the developers seemingly wanted to make it just as hard on us. At a certain point, he’ll have to navigate a maze in a pitch black room, with only a thin red line as your path. It is very easy to get turned around in here or fall off the side and have to start over. Oh, and there’s a baby crying the entire time, which doesn’t exactly help you focus.

#26: The Underwater Base

“Earthworm Jim” (1994)

Time limits are natural stress causers in any video game. This level in “Earthworm Jim” gets frustrating when players climb into a small submarine to navigate narrow paths. There are two things that make this a pain. One is that Jim has 30 seconds of oxygen, and must stop to refill at specific spots. Another is that running into walls causes the glass to crack, putting you at further risk of death. The second section is worse. While you start with 100 seconds of air, the path is significantly longer, with a hidden refill station that’s easy to miss. As the time ticks down and the sub cracks at every collision, it’s hard not to tense up.

#25: Mugged

“Conker’s Bad Fur Day” (2001)

When it comes to “Conker’s Bad Fur Day,” most are quick to praise it for its over-the-top humor and violence. What can be frustrating, however, is how it switches gameplay styles or mechanics for individual sections. During the prehistoric level, Conker will be mugged by a group of cavemen. In order to reclaim his hard-earned cash, he’ll have to chase after them on a hoverboard. This race can be infuriating, primarily because you have to hit each individual racer to get some money back. There’s also a dinosaur crossing the track that’s easy to run into. And on top of them being fast, knocking out a couple racers causes the track to change. Get ready to crash a lot.

#24: Path of Pain

“Hollow Knight” (2017)

Pretty accurate name, that one. In general, “Hollow Knight” is a challenging game. But the Path of Pain will make you miss the rest of it. Added in the Grimm Troupe DLC, the level can be found in the White Palace, itself famous among players for its difficulty. It requires the most precise platforming you can muster. There are a ton of spinning blades and most walls and floors are covered in prickly vines. You’ll also have to dash through several tricky spots, and bounce off enemies and spikes using your weapon. Simply put, there’s no way to make it through this without a lot of trial, error, and anger.

#23: The Alchemist

“Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage!” (1999)

Ask any player their least favorite type of level and there’s a good chance ‘escort mission’ will be their answer. “Spyro 2” may be a wonderful sequel, but it still features one of gaming’s most enraging escort missions. In Fracture Hills, Hunter will ask Spyro to bring him the alchemist who accidentally encased his feet in stone. Said alchemist actually isn’t far away, yet he takes the longest possible path, and one that’s full of enemies. He’ll run straight for them, too, instead of just letting you handle them until the coast is clear. It only takes a single hit before you have to start over, easily making it the worst part of the game.

#22: The Impossible Lair

“Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair” (2019)

It may not be as famous as other levels on our list. But trust us that it deserves its inclusion. The plot of this platformer has you freeing members of the ‘Beetalion’ in every level, each of which give you an extra hit point for use in the Impossible Lair, available to take on whenever you want. We know the name should tip us off, but the difficulty spike here is so far beyond anything the rest of the game prepares you for. Even with every single Bee, there are no checkpoints and it goes on for an absurdly long time. Plus, a lot of the traps require perfect timing that you have to wait for, adding tedium to an already maddening level.

#21: Wrong Side of the Tracks

“Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” (2004)

All we had to do was follow the train, but sometimes things aren’t so easy, Big Smoke! In this mission, CJ must chase after a train in which a group of Vagos gang members are riding on the top of. Unfortunately, you have to do it on a dirtbike and rely on Big Smoke’s aim to take them out. You have to balance your distance from their train car so that Smoke can actually hit them, made harder by later turns and obstacles like cars and other trains. If you fail, which many of us did, frequently, the mission isn’t reloaded. Unless you had the foresight to save right beforehand, you have to backtrack all the way across town in order to try again.

#20: The Guy!

“Super Meat Boy” (2010)

There are understandably a lot of rage-inducing levels in “Super Meat Boy.” That’s kind of the point. However, the one that will make you feel more anger than most is a hidden level in Chapter 5. Inspired by the near-impossible freeware game, “I Wanna Be the Guy,” these spike-filled sections, three in total, are sure to up your blood pressure. They seem so simple to look at, but actually playing through them is a nightmare. If one of your jumps is even a hair off in its precision, you’ll go careening straight into a spike and have to start that part of the level over. The third section is obviously the toughest; those high-speed spike walls are brutal.

#19: Blighttown

“Dark Souls” (2011)

Along with most of FromSoftware’s catalog, there are a lot of sections in “Dark Souls” that are going to cause frustration. The one that scarred players the most was Blighttown, a gigantic poisonous swamp. The upper area can be confusing with its multitude of moving bridges, easily turning you around. The actual swamp lower down, on the other hand, is even worse. There are plenty of tough enemies prowling around, many of which will inflict Poison damage and some of which will be able to do so from afar. Traversing this hell hole eventually leads you to Quelaag's Domain, where you’ll have to fight the titular witch. Just like every other enemy in this game, that isn’t exactly easy.

#18: Labyrinth Zone

“Sonic the Hedgehog” (1991)

Water levels are usually some of the most notoriously frustrating stages developers can include in their games. Sonic can’t swim, so his immense speed doesn’t help him when it comes to the Labyrinth Zone, the fourth level in the game. Even if you’re managing things, you won’t be able to escape the infamous drowning theme, which originated here and can cause stress in even the surest of players. Combined with traps and enemies, the slowed movement and panic-inducing music will ensure Sonic’s watery grave at least a few times. The level’s third act is naturally the hardest; on top of worrying about drowning, the game throws seemingly endless spikes and exploding enemies at you.

#17: Waterfall

“Contra” (1987)

This classic action platformer epitomized the phrase ‘Nintendo Hard’ by flooding your screen with enemies and giving you a single-hit health bar. It likely caused many players to memorize the Konami Code to start with 30 lives rather than 3. However, that probably still didn’t help much when it came to the third level. As the only stage in the game that scrolls vertically, you have to ascend through the hail of gunfire. The layout certainly takes some getting used to, but it’s far harder in co-op. If one player moves up too quickly, it will cause the screen to move and kill the other. It makes you communicate about movement, but that’s a lot easier without a horde of enemies trying to murder you.

#16: The Library

“Halo: Combat Evolved” (2001)

Of all the enemies in “Halo,” the Flood still terrifies us. But being trapped in a restrictive library while they’re swarming all over the place will do that to you. During the campaign’s seventh mission, Master Chief is confronted by the aptly-named parasites on a near-constant basis. What makes the level so frustrating is how quickly they move and how slowly you’re forced to progress. You’ll be following 343 Guilty Spark around, who isn’t exactly nimble and who must pause to slowly override locked doors. And at every one of them, players will have to unload all their weapons just to keep the Flood at bay. The ones with rocket launchers are a particular pain.

#15: The Snowstorm

“Resident Evil 6” (2012)

There are a lot of frustrating things about “Resident Evil 6.” But in terms of gameplay, Chapter 2 in the story of new protagonist Jake Muller takes the cake. It sees him and ally Sherry beset by several types of enemies at once. But what makes it unbearably difficult is the fact that it all takes place in the middle of a blizzard. Good luck trying to line your shots up with constant snowfall covering the screen. The enemies themselves are, of course, more annoying because of this. Some of them are quick-moving fliers while others take pot shots with sniper rifles, and the snow doesn’t seem to hinder their sight. It’s all an annoying mess.

#14: The High Road

“Crash Bandicoot” (1996)

One of the hardest 3D platforming stages in existence, the High Road from “Crash Bandicoot” can make you want to snap a controller in two. The late-game level features all of the worst types of platforms. Narrow ones with little space to stand, ones that break after just a moment of standing on them, and ones made of ice to send you sliding over the edge. Some of its jumps are excruciating as well, requiring Crash to hop onto a turtle to gain enough momentum. It was made even more frustrating in the remake since, while physics and controls were updated, stage layout wasn’t. There’s no room for error and the High Road eats more lives than any other in the game.

#13: Welcome to the Machine

“Ecco the Dolphin” (1992)

One might expect a game where you play as a dolphin to be pleasant. But that is definitely not the case with “Ecco.” Players must combat an invasive alien race throughout the game, culminating when Ecco visits their home planet. ‘Welcome to the Machine’ is an auto-scroller with an abundance of paths, giving it a maze-like quality as well as a plethora of ways to kill you. Unless you’re able to memorize the exact routes, Ecco is going to get crushed. If he’s not, it’ll be the drones that dive in from off-screen that do you in. All of this is plenty awful, but it’s compounded by the fact that there are no checkpoints.

#12: Can’t Wait to Be King

“The Lion King” (1994)

Even if you haven’t played this tie-in, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about its ridiculously high difficulty for a children's game. The second level, which recreates the “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” sequence, is far less enjoyable to play through than it is to watch. Simba uses a variety of animals to get through different platforming sections. Riding an ostrich and jumping over quick-coming hazards is certainly tricky. However, the most irksome sections deal with monkeys that toss Simba between them. You can roar to make pink monkeys change their direction. But with most hidden off-screen, there’s still no telling where you’ll end up without a lot of trial and error. It takes the utmost patience to make it through.

#11: The Great Maze

“Super Smash Bros. Brawl” (2008)

“Super Smash Bros. Brawl” is often considered one of the weaker entries. Something it has above all others, though, is the Subspace Emissary, a grand story mode that brings in all characters. However, right before you reach the final boss, you’re hit with a level that is both boring and frustrating. Not only does the Great Maze recycle all of the level environments you’ve already played through, but also many of the boss and mini-boss fights. The layout is exceptionally annoying since you’ll often reach a dead end and have to work your way back. It’s meant to act as a penultimate challenge, but all it manages to do is suck out all the fun the story mode had managed to build up.

#10: Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree

“Elden Ring” (2022)

It’s good to see that FromSoftware has never lost its edge amidst the pleas for an Easy mode. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get frustrated when its games pummel us into the ground. As an optional dungeon found during the endgame, Elphael is reserved for the most hearty of players. It’s a massive castle with plenty of branching paths, so there’s a lot to uncover here. Unfortunately, exploring means encountering the toughest enemies the game has to offer. Given the studio’s reputation, that’s saying a lot. It’s an onslaught of damage that you’ll likely be unprepared for, no matter what. It ends with a fight against Malenia, who quickly became known as the most grueling boss in the game.

#9: The Great Palace

“Zelda II: The Adventure of Link” (1988)

The second “Zelda” game is probably the hardest in the whole series. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that its final level is a doozy. The Great Palace has a lot of factors that can cause irritation. There are a literal ton of enemies, most of which are excessively powerful, some of which shoot fireballs from afar and others that are so intimidating, they only show up here. Add on an absurd amount of floors to backtrack through and plenty of traps to fall into, and navigating this gauntlet is sure to make you suffer. That’s not to mention two bosses instead of one, the Thunderbird and Dark Link, both of which are naturally pretty tough.

#8: Stage 6-2

“Ninja Gaiden” (1988)

“Ninja Gaiden” shows players how deadly the life of a ninja can be, especially in this infamous level. The objective here is as simple as it is in all the rest: reach the end without dying too much. What makes this near impossible, however, is the onslaught of enemies. Some of them are placed in cheap locations while others divebomb you from the side of the screen. And since any step in either direction, no matter how slight, causes those off-screen enemies to respawn, you’ll have your work cut out for you. It’s also a pretty lengthy stage. Considering each level has a time limit, there will be no moments of peace here.

#7: Aztec

“GoldenEye 007” (1997)

We all have fond memories of pouring hours into “GoldenEye,” whether it be the iconic multiplayer or the campaign recreated from the movie. But none of our fond memories are of this place. The Aztec level is unlocked after completing the story on Normal difficulty. And it is much harder than the game will have prepared you for. Every enemy, including the powerful Jaws, will have high-powered weapons on top of improved accuracy and reaction time. Which is to say they’re going to hit you and it is going to hurt. If you die…sorry, when you die, you’ll be forced to start the level over. This is where your skills as an agent are really put to the test.

#6: The Meat Circus

“Psychonauts” (2005)

You know things are bad when later releases have to fix a level’s difficulty. “Psychonauts” tasks players with platforming through the minds of its various zany characters. The final level, “Meat Circus,” is the product of two psyches brought together. However, it also brings elements that are exceedingly maddening. One section has you escort a character with little health, while others are comprised of unforgiving platforming. You have little lives, very few checkpoints, and some of your objectives are simply unclear. It has a reputation for its massive spike in difficulty, making it an unbalanced nightmare in an otherwise extremely enjoyable game. We’re grateful it was scaled back so that future players could actually end on a positive note.

#5: Farewell

“Celeste” (2018)

Even some of the most beautiful, emotionally fulfilling games can have levels that make you want to rip your hair out. “Celeste” is one of those games. Following its release, the developers issued a free DLC titled “Farewell.” To say that it made every other level look like a cakewalk would be an understatement, which is saying a lot considering how tough the majority of the game is. “Farewell” was designed with the hardcore in mind. It’s incredibly long and some areas are mostly hazards with a small safe path and no spots to rest. It also enforces techniques you’d really only need beforehand if you were speedrunning. The temptation to turn on any of its Assist Modes will be strong.

#4: “Through the Fire and Flames”

“Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” (2007)

You may scoff to find a “Guitar Hero” track so high. But that must mean you’ve never tried to make it through Dragonforce’s “Through the Fire and the Flames.” One of the most shreddiest metal songs in existence, this track will have your fingers stumbling over the keys even on the lowest difficulty. You won’t even have time to register what’s happening before you’re at least a dozen notes behind. And at that point, you may as well start over. That was the pain many of us faced when attempting to conquer this track. Only those who practiced over and over could perfect the timing. With songs like this, “Legends of Rock” was a suitable name.

#3: The Dam

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (1989)

In the late 80s, the Ninja Turtles were everywhere. Kids may have been excited to get an NES game with the heroes in a half shell. But that excitement turned sour almost immediately with one of the most famously unfair levels in gaming history. This underwater section has you diffuse eight bombs as one of the turtles. The swimming controls are pretty poor, but that’s not the worst part. There’s also electric seaweed surrounding pretty much everything, leaving you little room for error. Still, maybe players could’ve done this slowly if not for the time limit of 2 minutes and 20 seconds. It basically forces you to act quickly, ensuring you’ll get killed in the process.

#2: The Perfect Run

“Super Mario Galaxy 2” (2010)

“Super Mario Galaxy 2’s” Grandmaster Galaxy is a gauntlet bringing together many of the mechanics, enemies, and platforming elements seen across the game. It’s the final level you unlock, and so it naturally poses a pretty big challenge. But after you’ve beaten it, you then have the option to do it again. Only this time, you die in one hit and there are no checkpoints. With so many different ways to die here, it’s probable you’ll experience all of them during the Perfect Run. It’ll take everything in you not to snap your Wiimote in half once you reach the double digits. Anyone can play Mario, but only the strongest can reach this level’s end.

#1: Turbo Tunnel

“Battletoads” (1991)

“Battletoads” is one of the most challenging, frustrating games ever created. It’s even harder in co-op since there’s no way to turn off friendly fire! It reaches peak difficulty (and, as a result, iconism) during the Turbo Tunnel level. Following some standard beat ‘em up gameplay, you’ll be forced to make it the rest of the way on bike. The bike’s speed is so immense, you’ll barely have time to think before you crash into one of the many, many walls. But that’s only the first section. As it goes on, you’ll also need to hit ramps, dodge holes and other hazards, all of which come at you with lightning-fast speed. This level will likely remain in infamy for all time.

Did we leave off a level that infuriated you? Share your painful memories with us in the comments!