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Modern games might not be as hard as the games of the '80s and '90s, but there are still options for players looking for a challenge, especially on the PlayStation 5. Many of the best PS5 games have difficulty modes that will push players to their limits, and even titles like Astro Bot are much harder than they might seem.
Games like Demon’s Souls are so difficult that they pushed developers to make harder games. While some PS5 games might be too easy, there are still plenty of titles out there that will truly test a player's skills.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure Has Brutal Boss Fights
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a 2020 platformer that stars Sackboy of LittleBigPlanet fame. In what would ultimately be his only full-fledged platforming outing, Sackboy has to stop the nefarious Vex from enslaving all the Sackpeople.
While Sackboy: A Big Adventure might look and sound easy, the game is much harder than it looks. This specifically manifests in the game's final set of bosses, which are so hard that they may leave players wanting to break everything in sight.
Astro Bot Is Harder Than the Average Game of the Year
Astro Bot is a 2024 platformer that features Astro Bot, a PlayStation enthusiast robot embarking on a journey to rescue his robot friends from the evil Space Bully Nebulax. Players search the game's worlds for VIP robots from all the best PlayStation games, like God of War and Uncharted.
Even though it's a whimsical game, Astro Bot can be downright nasty in some areas. This is true of Astro Bot's challenge levels, which will put any player's platforming skills to the test.
Death Stranding 2 Is Even Harder Than the Original Was
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a 2025 action-adventure game that takes place eleven months after the first game. Here, protagonist Sam Porter Bridges has to trek through Australia in order to save humanity from extinction.
The first Death Stranding game wasn't exactly known for being forgiving, and Death Stranding 2 is even harder. This is especially the case with the cargo missions, which are punishing enough to test the patience of any player.
The Demon’s Souls Remake Didn't Make Things Easier for Players
Demon's Souls is the 2020 remake of the original 2009 game. FromSoftware games are famous for their difficulty, and neither version of Demon's Souls is meant for novice gamers.
Players need top-tier reflexes to defeat enemies in Demon's Souls, and healing items are hard to come by. Not helping is the World Tendency system, which can increase the difficulty of certain enemies.
Pacific Drive Is One of the Best Survival Games On PS5
Pacific Drive is a 2024 survival game that has players driving along the Olympic Peninsula. Along the way, players must avoid both natural and supernatural disasters, all the while conserving their car's fuel.
Even though it has survival mechanics, Pacific Drive may not seem like a hard game at first. However, since the car the player drives isn't very reliable, things can get tricky, especially when players encounter radiation or other threats.
Stellar Blade Is Stylish and Tough
Stellar Blade is a 2024 hack-and-slash game set in the 22nd century. Earth is largely devoid of humanity after a catastrophic invasion. Eve, one of the remaining humans, must fight to ensure that the planet isn't wiped out. It was one of 2024's most popular action games, but that doesn't mean it's easy.
Aside from the usual hack-and-slash shenanigans, players must also perfect Stellar Blade's style of combat to survive the game's threats. This involves being as frame-perfect with combos as possible, which is far easier said than done. The game is known for its costumes, but it's no slouch on the difficulty front.
Rise of the Rōnin Is Historically Hard
Rise of the Rōnin is an Action RPG set during the waning days of Japan's Edo period of relative isolation. The game sees a duo known as the Blade Twins on a mission to overthrow the Shogunate.
It's based on a real-world period in Japan that was hard on everyone, so it's no surprise that Rise of the Rōnin is hard on players too. Players must time their attacks perfectly, even when swarms of enemies are coming straight at them.
Baby Steps Makes Players Start From Square One
Baby Steps is a 2025 game made by Bennett Foddy, the creator of famously difficult physics-based games QWOP and Getting Over It. In Baby Steps, players control someone who is essentially an adult baby and must manually lift their legs to make them walk.
Nate, the game's protagonist, can't die, but he will lose progress on his journey if players aren't careful. Not only is he a wobbly walker, but Baby Steps is filled with rough terrain, which makes it even harder for players to reach their destination.
Horizon Forbidden West Is Packed With Overpowered Enemies
Horizon Forbidden West is a 2022 Action RPG that takes place six months after the previous game, Horizon Zero Dawn. This time, protagonist Aloy has to intercept a deadly virus that kills humans shortly after they are infected.
The hardest thing about Horizon Forbidden West is its incredibly overpowered enemies. Many of the game's machines, like the Shellsnapper, have powerful defenses that can only be broken by intricate chain attacks.
Returnal Is Officially the Hardest Game On PS5
Returnal is a third-person shooter with roguelike and bullet hell elements. It follows an astronaut who finds herself trapped in a time loop after attempting to land on a mysterious planet. Returnal has one of the best stories in a PS5 game, but due to its difficulty, players might have a hard time experiencing it.
The hardest thing about Returnal is that players have to start from scratch if they die even once. Bullet hell segments make staying alive tough, and there are no difficulty settings that could make things easier.
