It goes without saying that video games are for all ages. However, there are still people unfamiliar with the medium who think it is exclusively for children. Little do they know how wonderful this interactive art form is and how fulfilling some of the experiences can be. In fact, there are plenty of titles that children couldn't even begin to understand. This doesn't refer to the extreme violence of titles like Grand Theft Auto, but to the complex narratives found in games like Metal Gear Solid, Red Dead Redemption, and The Witcher 3.

That's not to say, however, that there aren't plenty of games for kids. Minors deserve experiences tailored towards their tastes just as much as adults. Non-violent games, typically featuring adorable mascots, also deserve the same respect and admiration as mature titles.

Some of these games are hiding a dark secret — they are too hard for children to play. Heck, most older, more experienced gamers will have trouble going through some of them. This list will take a look at these deceptive titles that seem harmless on the surface but are frustrating enough to make someone pull their hair out.

10 Crash Bandicoot

Crash Bandicoot one 1996
Crash Bandicoot one 1996

This entry is specifically discussing the franchise's debut, because the two sequels have perfect learning curves. The 1996 title immediately throws players into the deep end without a life jacket, expecting them to have already mastered the platforming mechanics.

RELATED: Ranking Every Crash Bandicoot Game From Worst To Best

It also doesn't help that Crash's jumping and animations aren't as tight as they would be in the future. Naughty Dog themselves admit that the game is too hard, and were fearful of the public's reaction to the extreme difficulty. The game is still a classic, and they, fortunately, got the chance to rectify their mistake in the next two Crash Bandicoot games.

9 Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Brothers Virtual Console
Super Mario Brothers Virtual Console

Super Mario Bros. helped revive the medium as a whole after the industry crashed in the early 1980s. Shigeru Miyamoto's creation was masterfully designed, teaching players all the mechanics organically through the first level. The simple act of moving Mario around feels good. What doesn't feel good are the numerous game-overs piled up from trying to save Princess Peach from Bowser's clutches. At least it will give kids plenty of replay value, because there is no way they are beating these eight worlds in a week, even if they do find the warp tubes.

8 Super Star Wars

Super Star Wars
Super Star Wars

Star Wars is considered sacred by many, but a huge part of its fandom are children. The grown-ups who adore it so strongly mostly fell for it in their childhood as well. Why, then, did they make Super Star Wars impossible to beat? The levels are long, filled with enemies that don't make sense nor fit the lore, and the bosses are bullet sponges that deal devastating attacks.

7 The Lion King

The Lion King video game adult simba
The Lion King video game adult simba

The adaptation of the legendary Disney film was not meant to be so challenging. Late in the development, the studio was told to make the game harder after research showed that most people would beat a game from a five-day rental and not purchase it afterward.

RELATED: Disney: 25 Ridiculous Things About The Lion King That Make No Sense

Because of how late the change came, the difficulty wasn't integrated in a proper or fair way.

6 Rayman

Rayman standing in a jungle in Rayman 1.

Michel Ancel's unique character burst onto the scene in 1995. The side-scrolling title boasted a gorgeous aesthetic and levels that would test the sanity of even the most strong-willed people. Rayman Origins and Legends have a similar level of difficulty, but a more forgiving checkpoint system and co-op gameplay that allows for instant revives. Rayman 2: The Great Escape offers a more stable challenge.

5 Punch Out

Mike Tyson's Punchout NES
Mike Tyson's Punchout NES

What kid wouldn't want to take the role of an aspiring boxer slowly rising up the ranks? That rise will only come if said child can recognize intense patterns and execute them with the proper timing. If not, good luck getting anywhere near Mike Tyson or—as he's known as in later versions—Mr. Dream.

4 Castlevania

Castlevania NES
Castlevania NES

This game is spookier than others on the list, but older gamers will fondly recall playing it in their youth. They'll also recall the number of times they lost count of their game overs.

RELATED: Konami Announces 3 Anniversary Collections - Arcade Classics, Castlevania, & Contra

The original titles for the NES were particularly unforgiving. Super Castlevania IV  is considered the easy one, but still takes a master gamer to beat. The recently released Castlevania Collection gives modern players the chance to relive these impossible classics for themselves.

3 Ghosts 'n Goblins

Ghosts 'n goblins nes
Ghosts 'n goblins nes

This side-scrolling series has earned infamy for its difficulty. The horde of supernatural beasts never ceases their attack on the player. The only saving grace is the fact that enemies don't respawn. What makes it even harder is lack of a health bar; two hits and it's game over. Once the game's six stages are conquered, the journey is only half over. The levels must be played again at a higher difficulty to get the true ending.

2 The Legend Of Zelda

Zelda NES
Zelda NES

It would be more than enough for kids to handle if The Legend of Zelda's combat was all they had to deal with. In reality, that's only half the challenge. Figuring out where to go and how to access all the dungeons is the other half. It is virtually impossible to figure out all the game's secrets on one's own, except for getting extremely lucky. Before the Internet, children had to rely on lunchroom talk or a subscription to Nintendo Power in order to beat this classic title.

1 E.T.

E.T. Atari 2600 game
E.T. Atari 2600 game

What is there to say about this game that hasn't already been said? E.T. was developed at an insanely fast pace to meet the holiday shopping season. As a result, the final product is confusing and nearly impossible to play.

NEXT: 10 Best PS4 Games For Boys Under 10 Years Old

It had ambition and ideas that were arguably ahead of its time, but the execution fell flat on its face. Not only is it super hard, but it is also considered one of the worst games ever made.