It's widely believed that Dark Souls bosses are the epitome of difficulty in video games. And not only is the plot of Dark Souls deeply convoluted, but the gameplay is exceedingly tricky. The series' boss fights are renowned for their grueling nature.
The PlayStation 4 is near the end of its lifespan, with only a handful of games yet to come. Let's go over some of the most challenging games the system has to offer. Expect to die, then die again. Each of these games is unique, but all share that they are harder than Dark Souls.
Updated August 13th, 2021, by Jack Pursey: Since Dark Souls was first released, difficult games have become far more common. In fact, the sharp growth of the gaming industry over the last decade has meant that so many indie and AAA games are releasing each month that keeping track of what to play can be difficult.
So, to help those out who are looking for their next challenge, we've expanded this list by a couple more entries and included some key information to each entry, such as available platforms and main story completion time.
16 Super Meat Boy Forever
• Release Date: 23 December 2020
• Available Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, iOS, Android, Linux
• Main Story Completion Time: 4 Hours
• Best Feature: Great level-design that demands precision platforming
Super Meat Boy Forever's December 2020 release came just over 10 years since the original Super Meat Boy. The game made a significant, divisive change from the original by implementing auto-runner gameplay.
This gameplay, understandably, put some people off, who dismissed the game as a glorified mobile game. However, this criticism largely wasn't justified, as Super Meat Boy Forever's levels are meticulously designed and provide an enjoyable yet brutally tough experience that justifies its price tag.
15 Earth Defense Force: World Brothers
• Release Date: 27 May 2021
• Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows
• Main Story Completion Time: 12.5 Hours
• Best Feature: A new art design that gives the long-running series a rejuvenated feel
The Earth Defence Force franchise began all the way back in 2003 with Monster Attack and has had a plethora of releases since. Earth Defence Force: World Brothers is a spin-off to the main series and made a surprising change with its voxel graphics that give the long-running franchise a fresh, head-turning look.
Earth Defence Force: World Brothers was relatively well-received by critics, exemplified by its 75 Metascore on PlayStation 4. The challenging shooter was praised for its new art style but criticized for a lack of variety in its gameplay.
14 Monster Hunter: World
• Release Date: 19 January 2018
• Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
• Main Story Completion Time: 47.5 Hours
• Best Feature: Fantastic multiplayer that makes the game a great choice for playing with friends
Released in 2018, Monster Hunter: World has quickly become one of the series' most beloved entries. This is not only exemplified by the game's 90 Metascore but also by the numerous accolades that it won; Monster Hunter World's most notable awards were the Best RPG prize from the D.I.C.E. Awards and The Game Awards, as well as Game of the Year from the Famitsu Awards.
Monster Hunter: World continues the series' tradition of featuring brutally difficult monsters to ensure that players aren't slacking when it comes to looting resources and upgrading armor.
13 Remnant: From The Ashes
• Release Date: 16 August 2019
• Available Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Main Story Completion Time: 13.5 Hours
• Best Feature: Intense, exhilarating boss fights
Considering that Remnant: From The Ashes has been commonly branded as "Dark Souls with guns," it should come as little surprise that the suitably named Gunfire Games didn't hold back when it came to cranking up the difficulty.
Much like Dark Souls, the game's difficulty predominantly comes from its numerous boss fights, though it differentiates itself from FromSoftware's game with its randomly generated world. The randomly generated world offers great replay value and makes its fantastic co-op feature more exciting.
12 Grim Fandango Remastered
• Release Date: 30 October 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Classic Mac OS, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One
• Main Story Completion Time: 11 Hours
• Best Feature: A memorable narrative that is wonderfully written and voiced
Fans of the point and click genre were given a few unexpected treats during the PS4 and Xbox One era, with classic titles like Grim Fandango, Day of the Tentacle, and Full Throttle receiving remastered releases.
Released at the very end of the point and click genre's popularity cycle, Grim Fandango provided a fittingly difficult challenge to cap off the painfully tricky puzzle genre. At a time without YouTube walkthroughs and IGN guides, players were left almost entirely on their own to solve the mind-boggling puzzles. The extreme difficulty wasn't just LucasArts being a bit cruel, though, as it served two significant purposes. Firstly, it elongated the game's runtime, and secondly, it encouraged people to buy guidebooks or call pay-per-minute helplines that were available to stuck players.
11 Cuphead
• Release Date: 29 September 2017
• Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Macintosh operating systems
• Main Story Completion Time: 10 Hours
• Best Feature: Beautiful art design inspired by the golden age of American animation
Studio MDHR's Cuphead didn't hold back on the nostalgia, not only with its excellent art design inspired by 1930s cartoons but also because of its brutal 80s side-scrolling difficulty.
Although the game has a few run and gun levels dotted throughout, it is predominantly a boss rush from start to finish. Studio MDHR didn't lower the challenge that the bosses posed because of this and instead ramped the difficulty up to provide one of modern gaming's toughest side-scrolling challenges.
10 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
• Release Date: 11 November 2019
• Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows
• Main Story Completion Time: 17 Hours
• Best Feature: Excellent Metroidvania level design
Respawn Entertainment and EA didn't hide their influences with their recent critically acclaimed Star Wars title, as the game essentially combined the winning formulas of the Soulsborne games with a modern take on the Metroidvania genre.
To ensure that the game appealed to Star Wars' huge audience, the game understandably had to differentiate itself from Dark Souls by adding difficulty levels, ensuring that casual gamers didn't become too frustrated. These difficulty levels weren't only geared towards players looking to make the game easier, though, as the Jedi Grandmaster difficulty provides one of the toughest challenges ever seen in a major AAA release.
9 Nioh 2
• Release Date: 12 March 2020
• Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows
• Main Story Completion Time: 45.5 Hours
• Best Feature: Great level variety makes the game consistently engrossing despite its long runtime
Albeit the consensus is that Nioh 2 is more relaxed than its predecessor, it is a difficult game. Nioh 2 has one of the best (if not the best) co-op systems we've seen in a Souls-like thus far. Playing the game entirely in co-op might be easier than Dark Souls, even if the difference is close.
Fighting bosses like the poisonous snake boss Yatsu-no-Kami solo is painstaking. Nioh 2 is harder than Dark Souls if played solo.
8 Devil May Cry 5
• Release Date: 8 March 2019
• Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
• Main Story Completion Time: 11 Hours
• Best Feature: Enjoyable, brutal hack and slash combat
Devil May Cry 5 may not have launched as a PlayStation exclusive like many of its predecessors, yet it's hard to deny that it's a heart-racing, action-packed game. There is a steep learning curve for Devil May Cry 5, which is considered harder than Dark Souls.
The first Dark Souls has a comparable learning curve. Hands down, Devil May Cry V, is more difficult than Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3 if gamers already played the first Dark Souls. Playing previous Devil May Cry games doesn't make this game any easier.
7 Super Meat Boy
• Release Date: 20 October 2010
• Available Platforms: Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Nintendo Switch
• Main Story Completion Time: 10 Hours
• Best Feature: Fast-paced gameplay that constantly tests the player's platforming skills
There is nothing ordinary about Super Meat Boy. The player plays as a Head Crab character who has a mighty fist. They'll have to be tough as nails to get through this arduous 2D platformer.
It requires quick reflexes, tenacity, and advanced gaming tactics. Super Meat Boy is available on PlayStation 4, and many would agree it's way harder than Dark Souls.
6 Bloodborne
• Release Date: 24 March 2015
• Available Platforms: PlayStation 4
• Main Story Completion Time: 34 Hours
• Best Feature: Attack-centric combat that rewards aggression
Bloodborne is like the second cousin twice removed of Dark Souls. It takes on more horrific themes than Dark Souls, which is also a gloomy game. Bloodborne was released after Dark Souls 2 and is considered more difficult than Dark Souls. Finding Blood Vials (healing potions) is not as easy as it is in Dark Souls. Dark Souls' Estus Flasks return every time players rest at a Bonfire, whereas they have to find Blood Vials in Bloodborne.
The pacing of Bloodborne makes it feel like it is harder than Dark Souls. Both are from the action role-playing genre, but the grim nature of Bloodborne and its tedious boss fights make it more of a challenge.
5 The Messenger
• Release Date: 30 August 2018
• Available Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Main Story Completion Time: 11.5 Hours
• Best Feature: Well-written and humorous dialogue
This hidden PlayStation 4 gem is a must-play for fans of the Metroidvania sub-genre. It's an indie title, but there was a tremendous amount of effort that went into bringing a spectacular experience.
Made by a small group of developers, the game places players on a time-traveling adventure. Just be warned, The Messenger is way harder than Dark Souls. It will bring the most experienced Soulsborne players to a grinding halt mid-game because of its difficulty.
4 Titan Souls
• Release Date: 14 April 2015
• Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Android, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Macintosh operating systems, PlayStation Vita
• Main Story Completion Time: 3 Hours
• Best Feature: Great range of tricky boss fights
Dark Souls was a rough game, but taking a crack at Titan Souls is even tougher. Like Dark Souls, dying is commonplace in this game. It's a rinse and repeat type of game where players have to learn from mistakes or give up, whichever comes first.
The game's colossal boss fights make it exceptional. Players study the movements of the bosses, much like in Dark Souls. This game is much like a 2D version of Dark Souls—but way harder!
3 The Witness
• Release Date: 26 January 2016
• Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nvidia Shield TV, Classic Mac OS, Xbox One
• Main Story Completion Time: 17.5 Hours
• Best Feature: A meticulously designed open world that is packed with secrets
Comparing The Witness and Dark Souls is like comparing apples to oranges. However, with both games being some of the most difficult of their genre, it makes sense to include The Witness.
The Witness is a first-person puzzle game with a vibrant, beautiful environment to explore. Solving puzzles unlocks new areas of this open-world island. The game is mystifying and filled with content to keep players engaged for hours on end. All the Dark Souls experience in the world won't help anyone beat this near-impossible game.
2 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
• Release Date: 22 March 2019
• Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows
• Main Story Completion Time: 29 Hours
• Best Feature: Fast-paced combat that offers adrenaline-pumping fights
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a spiritual successor to Dark Souls. Made by the same developer, the game was lauded for its challenging gameplay, among other reasons.
Facing a grueling boss like Lady Butterfly is a monumental task on its own. It was really difficult when players had to face the Guardian Ape, but it's even more baffling when players had to face two. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is one of the most excellent current-gen games, even if it's harder than Dark Souls.
1 Nioh
• Release Date: 7 February 2017
• Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows
• Main Story Completion Time: 35.5 Hours
• Best Feature: Rewarding exploration
The difficulty of Nioh's sequel is obvious, but what about the original? Like the Dark Souls series, Nioh's sequel is easier. Why the trend for Souls-likes is gravitating towards easier to beat games is unknown.
Perhaps developers like Team Ninja and FromSoftware are trying to appeal to a broader player base. Nevertheless, Nioh is a more challenging game than Dark Souls. It's a game that players will probably quit before finishing.