Best Difficult Games on Steam

Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated difficult games. For those who prefer not to search, check out lists of the most played, top deals and best free to play Difficult games on Steam.

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Source Filmmaker The Source Filmmaker (SFM) is the movie-making tool built and used by us here at Valve to make movies inside the Source game engine. Because the SFM uses the same assets as the game, anything that exists in the game can be used in the movie, and vice versa.

Price Free to play
Rating 9.1
Release 10 Jul 2012
Tribes: Ascend This edition packages weapon DLC from ten previous expansions as well new featured content.

Price Free to play
Rating 7.9
Release 27 Jun 2012
Quantum Conundrum Find and rescue your uncle by using his newest invention to work your way through a crazy complex mansion as you switch between dimensions and solve puzzles!

Price -95% 0.50€
Rating 8.1
Release 21 Jun 2012
Ys Origin The perfect mix of action, exploration and story with screen-filling bosses, unique platforming elements, and innovative puzzles.

Price -95% 0.80€
Rating 8.9
Release 31 May 2012
Blades of Time Ayumi, the gorgeous gun and sword-wielding treasure hunter, sets out on a journey to an ancient island in search of new adventures. While rich in bounty, the island is also filled with the magic of Chaos, being at the same time home to blood thirsty monsters.

Price -92% 0.78€
Rating 7.6
Release 20 Apr 2012
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition A time of untold chaos has come. Mighty forces clash behind the scenes in a struggle for power and influence. The Northern Kingdoms mobilize for war. But armies on the march are not enough to stop a bloody conspiracy...

Price -67% 6.64€
Rating 8.8
Release 16 Apr 2012
Legend of Grimrock Use the Dungeon Editor to build entirely new adventures and challenges for other players to solve.

Price -83% 2.59€
Rating 9.1
Release 11 Apr 2012
Lunar Flight A modern take on the classic arcade game, Lunar Lander, Lunar Flight extends the experience to a fully fictionalized and accessible lunar module simulator

Price -50% 7.55€
Rating 7.7
Release 10 Apr 2012
Rayman® Origins Experience the magical universe of Rayman with legendary 2D gameplay that has captured the hearts of millions of fans!

Price 9.99€
Rating 9.1
Release 29 Mar 2012
Waveform Navigate the beauty and hazards of the solar system while riding a wave of light through 100+ levels in this innovative action-puzzle game!

Price 0.99€
Rating 8.0
Release 20 Mar 2012
Ys: The Oath in Felghana An Action RPG driven by fast-paced combat and paired with an intricate puzzle-filled world.

Price 11.99€
Rating 9.0
Release 19 Mar 2012
iBomber Defense Pacific iBomber moves to the Pacific as you fight a whole new enemy across the Pacific rim to regain freedom.

Price 5.89€
Rating 7.8
Release 01 Mar 2012
Realm of the Mad God Exalt Embark on an exhilarating journey into the pixelated Realm of the Mad God! Join, an action-packed, free-to-play MMO bullet hell game. Discover a world with danger, challenges, and hidden treasures as you battle through waves of enemies. Team up with players and conquer dungeons to become a legend!

Price Free to play
Rating 8.2
Release 20 Feb 2012
Shank 2 The fan-favorite 2D brawler is back as ex-mob hit man Shank returns to action in Shank 2. With those closest to him under attack, Shank is once again forced on the offensive. Now he must put his trusty arsenal of handguns, shotguns, automatic weapons, chainsaws, machetes, grenades, plus all-new weaponry and moves to use in order to...

Price -75% 2.59€
Rating 8.0
Release 07 Feb 2012
Titan Attacks! As the last surviving tank commander on Earth, single-handedly turn back the evil invading alien army, drive back the Titans across the Solar System, and defeat them on their homeworld... Titan Attacks has the same easy-to-learn and addictive gameplay of the classic arcade shoot 'em up, but is packed full of extras - new features, new...

Price -89% 1.19€
Rating 8.6
Release 03 Feb 2012
Serious Sam 2 Serious Sam 2 is a shot of adrenaline to the hearts of first-person shooter fans across the world. This is serious!

Price -73% 2.69€
Rating 8.7
Release 31 Jan 2012
Fortune Summoners A massive gameworld to explore with nearly a dozen dungeons to delve into.

Price 14.99€
Rating 8.0
Release 30 Jan 2012
Dustforce DX Take control of a nimble janitor to rid the world of dust and debris.

Price -90% 0.99€
Rating 8.4
Release 17 Jan 2012
Serious Sam 3: BFE Serious Sam 3: BFE is a prequel to the original indie fast action FPS and Game of the Year sensation - Serious Sam: The First Encounter!

Price -90% 2.96€
Rating 8.7
Release 22 Nov 2011
Cave Story+ Run, jump, shoot, fly and explore your way through a massive action-adventure reminiscent of classic 8- and 16-bit games.

Price -72% 4.33€
Rating 9.0
Release 22 Nov 2011
PAYDAY™ The Heist Take on the role of a hardened career criminal executing intense, dynamic heists in constant pursuit of the next “big score”

Price 14.99€
Rating 9.2
Release 20 Oct 2011
The Binding of Isaac Now 20% More Evil with the Free Halloween update!

Price 4.99€
Rating 9.3
Release 28 Sep 2011
Cossacks: Art of War Cossacks: The Art of War continues the history of the great battles of XVII–XVIII centuries

Price -84% 0.80€
Rating 7.5
Release 26 Aug 2011
Blocks That Matter When indie game developers Alexey and Markus are in trouble, their only hope comes from their creation.

Price 4.99€
Rating 7.4
Release 19 Aug 2011