It is no secret that games are just not as difficult as they used to be. Part of it is a mixture of numerous conveniences and quality-of-life improvements every genre has seen through the years, but another part of it comes from the games simply being easier. That is not to say there are not some brutally difficult new games for you to engage with.
The titles listed below are all extremely difficult and came out in 2021. FromSoftware did not put out a game this year — Elden Ring is coming out in early 2022 — but plenty of other games came to pick up the slack. While it is easy to think games are no longer challenging, there are so many new titles each year you should have no problem finding something to suit your search for a hardcore challenge.
7 Bravely Default 2
Bravely Default 2 won't have you pulling your hair out, but there is an element of strategy here you have to understand to make the title more manageable. You will probably have to grind to make it past some of the more challenging parts of the game, true to the JRPG genre.
There are three difficulty modes in Bravely Default 2, but even the casual mode will prove challenging for those less experienced with RPGs. All the same, many found it worth it and wholly appropriate for a game that harkens back to the old days of JRPGs.
6 Cyber Shadow
One trend on this list is the difficult games being a throwback to an older genre. Cyber Shadow is a brutally difficult side-scroller taking cues from games like Metroid, Mega Man, Ninja Gaiden, and Castlevania.
Like those old games, you are liable to throw your controller in frustration at the extreme difficulty. The graphics are also a total homage to the 8-bit era, though the gameplay is thankfully more smooth and up to modern standards.
5 Shin Megami Tensei 5
This franchise is notorious for its extreme difficulty, and the fifth numbered entry continues this trend. It is made a little more accessible by coming with multiple difficulty modes. The gameplay will be familiar to fans of the series, though this game is probably a first for many who have been introduced to its through its connection to the Persona series.
Shin Megami Tensei 5 is not the only difficult release in the franchise from 2021. The third game also saw a re-release in the same year and is arguably harder. In fact, some would say it goes too far. These two games alone will probably be enough when it comes to difficult JRPGs of the year.
4 Metroid Dread
It had been a long time since a proper 2D Metroid game came out before Metroid Dread. There was a remake of Metroid 2 on the Nintendo 3DS, but it did not receive as high praise as the other games in the franchise and was released when the Nintendo Switch was already out.
This made Metroid Dread's release so special. Not only is it a return to form for the franchise, but it also brings back the original difficulty for which the series is known. Metroid Dread is not a long game, but the challenge will extend the runtime. The bosses in particular will take certain players many tries.
3 The Binding Of Isaac: Repentance
The Binding of Isaac came out in 2011 and made its mark on the gaming industry. The aesthetic, Zelda-like action and roguelike structure struck a chord with gamers who spent countless hours in its world.
The modding community kept the game alive all these years along with numerous official expansions. The story received a proper conclusion in 2021 with The Binding of Isaac: Repentance, which is even harder than the main game. The expansion received a polarizing reception, with some thinking it did not live up to the original game's legacy.
2 Ghosts 'N Goblins: Resurrection
This game is a remake of a classic side-scrolling platformer renowned and loathed for its brutal challenge. Ghosts 'n Goblins is hard even by the standards of games released at a similar time. A couple of mechanics thankfully make the adventure a little easier than in the original release.
You are given an option to lower the difficulty after several deaths and co-op means a friend can help out. Those interested in retro gaming would be doing themselves a disservice by skipping this remake, even if they are not interested in intense difficulty.
1 Returnal
House Marque is notable for bullet hell games like Resogun and Super Stardust. Returnal is the studio's first Triple-A title with a larger budget and scope. Even though the game has better graphics and a more involved narrative, it is still incredibly difficult, perhaps more challenging than anything else the developer has done.
Returnal is a roguelike, so death sends you back to the beginning. The challenge also means one mistake can mean hours of progress reset. One cannot be blamed for finding this too punishing, but fans appreciate the structure and find it rewarding.