15 Brutally Difficult Video Games That Totally Broke You

By Connor Bennett /

9. Castlevania (1987)

Castlevania was one of the first games to truly become a controller-smasher, driving fans nuts with its level of difficulty and constant barrage of enemies, animals and undead monsters. The game's typically retro and clunky mechanics made life truly difficult, including the inability to change direction when you jump. With enemies frequently coming out of nowhere, players were tasked with running and jumping their way past all sorts of obstacles that have no right being as difficult as they are, as you navigated your way to the final battle with Dracula. Truly a game before it's time, Castlevania was insanely difficult but thoroughly rewarding when, or if, you finished it.