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.
Filters & Lists
I Wanna Maker
I Wanna Maker is a precision platformer with a robust level editor and online level sharing, based on I Wanna Be The Guy fangames. Create complex levels using a variety of objects, a powerful events system, and customizable visuals. Browse levels online, take on challenge modes, and more!
Hans
Hans is a physics-driven, parkour adventure. Ascend to the sky with our lonely watermelon hero. Navigate treacherous platforms, defy physics by slowing down time, try not to fall and chase the dream of reuniting with humanity. No saves. Bounce, fail, adapt, and bounce again.
Alien Hominid HD
The 2D side-scrolling shooter from The Behemoth is back! With your mighty blaster and a group of mysterious kids by your side, destroy the agency and reclaim your spaceship!
Phantom Rose 2 Sapphire
Phantom Rose 2 is a roguelike deckbuilding game. Fight and collect powerful cards as Aria, trying to survive in her cherished school that’s being ravaged by evil creatures.
Sands of Aura
Sands of Aura is an open-world action adventure with a fantasy setting of a realm in its twilight--a world buried beneath a sea of sand. Sail across the sandseas to return life to a dying world in an unforgettable experience that is equal parts engaging story and unrelenting, souls-like combat.
Ghostrunner 2
Blood will run in Ghostrunner 2, a hardcore FPP slasher set in a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk future. Become the ultimate cyber ninja and prepare for epic boss fights, improved skills, an interactive story, new game modes, and captivating synthwave soundtrack.
Peaks of Yore
Travel around The Great Gales to climb challenging peaks in this physics-based climbing adventure set in 1887. Meet like-minded mountaineers, unlock helpful climbing gear, and become a pioneer of mountaineering.
The Unliving
Raise the dead as a fearsome Necromancer in the dark world of The Unliving! Lead your undead armies into the endless fight in this rogue-lite action RPG game. Burn cities to ash with devastating magic spells, slay epic bosses and turn your enemies into morbid servants.
Scene Investigators
Scene Investigators is a hardcore deductive reasoning game for fans of the "true crime" genre. Step into re-created crime scenes, observe closely for pieces of evidence, analyze possible motives behind the crimes, and uncover what truly happened.
Topple Tactics
Topple Tactics is a physics-based multiplayer tower defense game where one huge player controls the map by placing towers and using abilities, whilst the little players level up their stats and equipment to reach the end of the map and defeat the huge player!
Laika: Aged Through Blood
Laika: Aged Through Blood is an action-adventure Metroidvania set in a post-apocalyptic western world. Play as Laika, a coyote mother and fierce warrior, and carve your motorbike through a land ravaged by betrayal and loss as you uncover dark secrets in the pursuit of vengeance against oppression.
Heads Will Roll: Reforged
Hardcore survival RPG with non-linear story that lets you play as a young medieval soldier who over the course of battles and adventures becomes the most formidable and respected knight of his era. Or, if he’s not lucky enough, perishes in the chaos of the Hundred Years' War.
dotAGE
Village elder, help us! The Apocalypse is approaching, and we need your guidance to survive. Assign your workers and build a thriving village against the pending doom. DotAGE is the merciless survival roguelite turn-based city builder. Will you fulfill the Prophecy?
The Fabulous Fear Machine
The Fabulous Fear Machine is a narrative-driven strategy game with a pulp horror style. As the Machine's new Master, you must sow fear and expand your influence by creating Legends, harvesting resources, manipulating events, and spying on your enemies.
Quasimorph
Take on a role of a hardened PMC fighter in a dark turn-based extraction RPG. Engage in unforgiving combat, manage your ship and pile up the bodies of your clones to unravel the dark mystery behind threat to all life.
LIZARDS MUST DIE
The great exploits of the Ancient Rus in the war with the lizards. Immerse yourself in the world of Hyperborea and defeat hordes of Lizards and other unholy who encroached on holy places Ancestors. Choose a blessed hero and go save the world from the green plague.
Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles
Astrea is a DICE-deck-building roguelike that flips the script on deckbuilders by using dice instead of cards and a unique dual “damage” system: Purification vs Corruption. Build a dice pool strong enough to purify Astrea's out-of-control corruption and save the Star System.
BIT.TRIP RERUNNER
The classic rhythm platformer is back as BIT.TRIP RERUNNER + RUNNER MAKER! The fun of the original now sports fresh mechanics, art, and soundtrack – plus RUNNER MAKER, which allows you to create custom levels. A must-play for rhythm newbies, experts, and everyone in between.
AK-xolotl: Together
The cutest, deadliest top-down roguelike shooter featuring AK-wielding Axolotls. Blast your way through the animal kingdom with an arsenal of kick-ass guns, mighty power-ups and even raise an army of trigger-happy baby axolotls. 🔫🔫 Double the firepower! Local co-op update now live!
Summum Aeterna
Summum Aeterna is a fast-paced Roguelite inspired by the Metroidvania Aeterna Noctis. Create your own worlds, challenges, difficulty and influences in each new run. Die, learn, become stronger, and achieve victory. Death is inevitable, but glory is only for the chosen.
The Hardest Game Ever
An insanely difficult precision platformer