Random Most Punishing Video Games (22 items)

(#22) The Walking Dead
- 2012
This Telltale zombie game based off the TV series is punishing in one very important way: your emotions. Unexpected outcomes, no-win situations, and the feeling that the worst things to happen to you are inevitable all play on that sense of despair you have while playing the game.
(#12) Hotline Miami
- Oct 23 2012
Hotline Miami is all about being bold -- in fact, it actually scores you in how bold you are. And one hit from any enemy means you are dead. Being seen by enemies sends everyone collapsing on you, so you have to be bold, quick and stealthy all at once as you mow down enemy after enemy. And when you aren't -- bad for you. And it will go bad for you, again and again.
(#15) S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
- Mar 20 2007
Here's thing about S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl: You will be afraid of a bush. That's right. Your Geiger counter's going off and you know if you walk in the wrong direction, you're going to get more irradiated than ever, and you probably have to walk toward a bush where a bandit is definitely ready to pump you full of holes. Oh! And you have maybe ten bullets in a realistic (read: inaccurate) shooting system. You're going to die, but you can't stay where you are. Enjoy!
(#7) Super Meat Boy
- Oct 20 2010
This indie gem will provide you with hours of the most challenging platforming you've ever experienced in your life, so be prepared to pull most of your hair out before completing the game 100%.
(#16) Eve Online
- May 06 2003
EVE Online doesn't let up. No matter what you're doing or where you're going, there is going to be a bigger, better player, and they are definitely trying to kill you. If you're planning to be a miner, to basically chalk up one expensive destroyed ship a day minimum as acceptable loss, you know you're in the jungle and everyone's a tiger. Even when you're with a solid group of players, the possibility for everyone dying in a fire is guaranteed.
(#2) Battletoads
- Jan 01 1991
Before modern platformers like Super Meat Boy and Cloudberry Kingdom, there was Battletoads. This game is infamously known as one of the hardest games to beat, and retains that difficulty curve today. If you own an Xbox One you can replay Battletoads on the Rare Replay game that came out earlier this year.