Video games are a popular form of entertainment because they’re enjoyable to play, but they can tackle so many different genres in a way that exceeds television or film, which is also a big deal. The science-fiction genre can mesh together naturally with video games and it’s led to some extremely satisfying titles.
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At the same time, there are also some games that find a level of pride inhow punishingly difficultthey are to beat. A high difficulty level can often accompany the sci-fi genre, and it’s a strong way to make a player’sexperience in spaceeven more stressful. There are a lot of great science fiction games out there, but many of them aren’t easy.
10Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
TheOddworldserieshas been able to find an audience over the years, but the first entry in the unconventional platformer series makes for a very difficult entry point into the franchise.Abe’s Oddyseethrows a lot of mechanics at the player and even incorporates stealth aspects into the platforming. In addition to the complicated gameplay, it’s also just unforgiving with its use of enemies and level design. It’s a lofty task to simply completeOddworld: Abe’s Oddysee,but those that want to rescue all 99 of the Mudokons in the game have an extremely difficult task ahead of them.
9Alien: Isolation
TheAlienserieshas made its mark on cinema and for decades video games have been trying to properly translate the tense films over to their medium.Alien: Isolationisn’t just by the far the scariest entry in the series, but it’s also incredibly difficult. The game’s difficulty largely stems over the game’s most impressive feature, which is the complex AI that’s present in the marauding Xenomorph. It’s possible for some players to possibly run throughAlien: Isolationand get the minimum experience, but the strong mix of science fiction aesthetics with horror mechanics results in the game’s challenging difficulty.
8Control
Controlis a third-person shooter that definitely leans into the action genre, but its premise which involves an increase in cases of phenomenon that defy the laws of reality is science fiction at its best. The game’s use of supernatural abilities is a fresh change of pace for a shooter and the increasing tears in reality are fascinating.
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Controlboaststons of creativity, but it’s also very punishing with its difficulty and the onslaught of enemies that it can throw at the audience. Players have intense powers inControl, but they’ll still feel weak and small at times.
7X-COM: UFO Defense
Big fans of the strategy genre know thattheXCOMfranchiseis one of its most groundbreaking series. For over two decades theXCOMgames have been blending together strategy gameplay with science fiction that actually creates a sense of dread. All of the games in the franchise are strong, but the first title,X-COM: UFO Defense(also calledUFO: Enemy Unknown), is also the most difficult.UFO Defensehas very high expectations of its players and it’s incredibly easy to get a game over. Victory here is only slightly less difficult than against an actual alien invasion.
For a while theDead Spacefranchise was positioned to take over the survival horror genre, but not the games have died off and chances ofanother entry in the seriesseem grim. The games do an excellent job with finding the terror and isolation in outer space and it’s approach to enemy dismemberment with the Necromorphs is a creative twist.Dead Space 3’score gameplay isn’t too difficult, but it’s the Hardcore Mode that’s the challenge. Checkpoints are removed and death means a return to the game’s very beginning, which adds a whole new level of strategy and difficulty.
5Fade To Black
Fade to Blackis a more obscure science fiction series from the ’90s that came out for both PlayStation and PC. It features a renegade alien species known as Morphs and the protagonist’s escape from a space prison to overpower this growing danger.
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Fade to Blackconjures a tense environment and it effectively balances sci-fi with action staples.Fade to Blackcontains enemies that will come out of nowhere and instantly kill the player, whereas other Super Morphs are invincible. It’s a game where the enemies actually feel dangerous.
4Mega Man 3
Capcom’sMega Manserieshas become one of the biggest successes in gaming, but the first entries in the franchise are a reminder of how difficult video games used to be back in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Any of the earliestMega Mangames could appropriately qualify here, butMega Man 3is an extra pain because it makes the player face off against every Robot Master from the first two games, in addition to the new ones. It tests the player’s limits, and patience, more than any otherMega Mangame.
3Silver Surfer
The Silver Surfer is a cosmic superhero that hasn’t become a mainstream success in either film or video games, but there havestill been attemptsto do something with the character. 1990’sSilver Surferfor the NES is notoriously one of the most difficult games on the console. It takes a side-scrolling shoot-‘em-up approach to the character and it doesn’t allow for a single moment where the superhero isn’t getting blasted by intergalactic enemies. The extreme difficulty inSilver Surferfeels especially unfair since it’s likely a game that a lot of children will play.
2Contra
Contrais one ofKonami’s most beloved franchisesand even though it may seem like it’s more representative of the action genre or films likeRambo,it’s easy to forget that theContragames are about an alien invasion and that there’s a very science fiction-based threat here, which only becomes more pronounced in later games in the series.Contrathrows relentless waves of enemies and bullets at the player and it never slows down. Tactics like the Konami Code were specifically created to reward extra lives in games likeContrabecause they’re just too hard without extra help.
1Battletoads
Battletoadsis a franchise that premiered on theoriginal Nintendo systemthat’s practically made a reputation based off of how difficult the games are. There are plenty of NES titles that are frustrating because of their older gaming sensibilities, butBattletoadsis one of the few that feels designed to create anger. The amount of enemies and the level of life that the player has are completely skewed and the title is quite long for what it expects from the audience. The beat-‘em-up segments are difficult enough, but the fast-paced vehicle segments feel like they’re practically impossible.
