10 Hardest Video Game Challenges (That Aren't Worth The Effort)

1. Ironman Impossible Difficulty - XCOM

Max Payne 3
Firaxis Games

Much like Max Payne 3's New York Minute Hardcore mode, you'll want to pray to "RNGesus" if you even consider tackling the XCOM series' Ironman mode on Impossible difficulty.

Ironman mode can only be recommended to true gluttons for punishment, because by preventing players from having multiple save files and also saving the game after every turn is completed, there's no way for then to "save scum" - that is, revert to an earlier save - if things go horribly wrong.

As such, every single turn becomes a gut-wrenching exercise in anxiety as you pray that the game's RNG won't screw over your entire run.

Combine this with playing on the unforgiving Impossible difficulty, where resources are scarce and the statistical odds are stacked against you every which way, and you've got perhaps the single-most infuriating minute-to-minute experience that a gamer can willingly put themselves through.

When success or failure is down to a literal dice roll, and your subsequent survival options are so extremely limited by the punishing difficulty, you're gonna have a bad time.

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Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.