Most Played Difficult Games on Steam
Take a look at the top difficult games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of July 30th 2025. Want to explore even more difficult titles available on Steam? Explore the complete list of the best difficult games.
Lists & Categories
1. ELDEN RING
THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FANTASY ACTION RPG. Rise, Tarnished, and be guided by grace to brandish the power of the Elden Ring and become an Elden Lord in the Lands Between. ELDEN RING is a game developed and published by . Released on February 24th 2022 has received 1,056,677 reviews of which 981,540 were positive and 75,137 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played difficult game, thanks to its 27,961 peak concurrent players over the last day.
9.2
981,540
75,137
27,961
players
2. Geometry Dash
Jump and fly your way through danger in this rhythm-based action platformer! Geometry Dash is a game developed and published by . Released on December 22nd 2014 has received 429,921 reviews of which 401,026 were positive and 28,895 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. While seeing 26,408 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among difficult games based on player count.
9.2
401,026
28,895
26,408
players
3. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a randomly generated action RPG shooter with heavy Rogue-like elements. Following Isaac on his journey players will find bizarre treasures that change Isaac’s form giving him super human abilities and enabling him to fight off droves of mysterious creatures, discover secrets and fight his way to safety. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a game developed and published by . Released on November 04th 2014 has received 343,420 reviews of which 334,165 were positive and 9,255 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 15,517 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among difficult games based on player count.
9.6
334,165
9,255
15,517
players
4. DARK SOULS™ III
Dark Souls continues to push the boundaries with the latest, ambitious chapter in the critically-acclaimed and genre-defining series. Prepare yourself and Embrace The Darkness! DARK SOULS™ III is a game developed and published by . Released on April 11th 2016 has received 413,775 reviews of which 390,326 were positive and 23,449 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. With 3,919 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played difficult games.
9.3
390,326
23,449
3,919
players
5. DARK SOULS™: REMASTERED
Then, there was fire. Re-experience the critically acclaimed, genre-defining game that started it all. Beautifully remastered, return to Lordran in stunning high-definition detail running at 60fps. DARK SOULS™: REMASTERED is a game developed and published by . Released on May 23rd 2018 has received 129,299 reviews of which 119,152 were positive and 10,147 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. With 2,580 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played difficult games.
9.1
119,152
10,147
2,580
players
6. Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition
Game of the Year - The Game Awards 2019 Best Action Game of 2019 - IGN Carve your own clever path to vengeance in the award winning adventure from developer FromSoftware, creators of Bloodborne and the Dark Souls series. Take Revenge. Restore Your Honor. Kill Ingeniously. Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition is a game developed and published by . Released on March 21st 2019 has received 322,234 reviews of which 307,041 were positive and 15,193 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 2,458 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played difficult games.
9.4
307,041
15,193
2,458
players
7. Noita
Noita is a magical action roguelite set in a world where every pixel is physically simulated. Fight, explore, melt, burn, freeze and evaporate your way through the procedurally generated world using spells you've created yourself. Noita is a game developed and published by . Released on October 15th 2020 has received 78,477 reviews of which 74,759 were positive and 3,718 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 2,272 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played difficult games.
9.4
74,759
3,718
2,272
players
8. Cuphead
Cuphead is a classic run and gun action game heavily focused on boss battles. Inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, the visuals and audio are painstakingly created with the same techniques of the era, i.e. traditional hand drawn cel animation, watercolor backgrounds, and original jazz recordings. Cuphead is a game developed and published by . Released on September 29th 2017 has received 186,835 reviews of which 179,894 were positive and 6,941 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. With 2,110 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played difficult games.
9.5
179,894
6,941
2,110
players
9. Celeste
Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight platformer from the creators of TowerFall. Brave hundreds of hand-crafted challenges, uncover devious secrets, and piece together the mystery of the mountain. Celeste is a game developed and published by . Released on January 25th 2018 has received 120,602 reviews of which 117,545 were positive and 3,057 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. With 1,755 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played difficult games.
9.6
117,545
3,057
1,755
players
10. DARK SOULS™ II: Scholar of the First Sin
DARK SOULS™ II: Scholar of the First Sin brings the franchise’s renowned obscurity & gripping gameplay to a new level. Join the dark journey and experience overwhelming enemy encounters, diabolical hazards, and unrelenting challenge. DARK SOULS™ II: Scholar of the First Sin is a game developed and published by . Released on April 01st 2015 has received 116,710 reviews of which 98,052 were positive and 18,658 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. With 1,711 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played difficult games.
8.3
98,052
18,658
1,711
players
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