10 Challenges That Ruined Video Games

There's a simple pleasure in finishing a good game, yet sometimes we strive for more. That little extra challenge or maybe a second playthrough on a higher difficulty, it's alluring at times. Even more so if there are achievements or trophies tied to it.

What isn't fun, however, is when a game or series adds a challenge that's just too much. Whether it be an insane amount of grinding to achieve completion, or something far worse like a tacked on progression system that breaks flow.

Whilst finishing a game or level, it can be fun to push yourself to not die. But when it ruins the immersion of the game itself, that's when it becomes tiresome. Or a counterpart that needs a literal game exploit to get the upper hand on, lest players just give up trying.

It's not that the following examples are impossible, or game breaking. They are achievable, should players want to persevere. Instead it's more a case of "Can I be bothered to do this for such little reward?".

Most of the time, the answer is a firm, "Nah". What you are about to read are ten examples of added challenge and/or achievements that just suck the fun out of the game they're in.

You may even feel compelled to try them yourself. Good luck, and don't say we didn't warn you.

Trials games, in all of their iterations, have had one simple mechanic: do well, unlock more levels. As players progress, the requirements for higher medals becomes steeper, so the need to revisit old tracks and do better arises.

Which is fine, it's how you get better for the increased challenge in tracks.

Fast forward to current times and Ubisoft has, unsurprisingly, slipped some insidious mechanics in there. Like a leveling system.

Whereas before, when players unlocked new tracks based on skill, instead they're now behind level caps. So players could have gold or platinum medals up to this point, yet still need to repeat tracks for paltry experience gain.

It goes completely against the established progression pattern that made Trials great and as such, ruins the "one more go" attitude. Sitting on a bank of medals, but still not being able to progress with them, just ruins the later half of the game.

If there's ever a case example that Ubisoft's "sandbox formula" additions can be a bad thing, it's Trials Rising.