16 Hardest Video Games Of The Decade (So Far)

Step inside, and watch out for the swinging axe to your left.

As the industry grows and more people get acquainted with gaming as a worthwhile form of entertainment on par with film, it makes less sense business-wise to 'restrict' content from willing players through difficulty alone - as if someone can't experience the full product they've paid top dollar for, it's going to create some very disgruntled future purchasers. Obviously that's why we have difficulty sliders and settings, but it remains that gaming as a medium started out on coin-sucking arcade cabinets purpose-built with enough difficulty in mind to make it a true achievement when you win - but not simple enough that you wouldn't burn through your allowance in the process. Cut to 2015 and it's extremely rare you'll get a big-budget title with a suitably hefty production team behind it actively willing to take a loss on sales and overall reputation for the sake of delivering a game that asks something more of the player. That's what makes Bloodborne so spectacular if you can be bothered to have your backside handed to you on a regular basis, but it also contrasts to something like The Order: 1886's "Push X to win" approach to combat and overall design - the best games are those that walk the perfect line between challenge and reward. That said, these next 16 candidates weren't going to give up their end credits without a fight, and that's if you even made it past the first level in some cases.
Gaming Editor
Gaming Editor

WhatCulture's Head of Gaming.