What are PlayStation's most difficult games?

From action RPGs to side-scrolling shooters, PlayStation has plenty of games that will put you through your paces. If you're looking for the ultimate gaming challenge, then step right up.

You against the world

From slick sci-fi horror to bold new twists on literary classics, get ready for the fight of your life.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Ustvarjalci Ninja Gaiden in Nioh iger predstavljajo Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty – zahtevno akcijsko pustolovščino, ki se odvija v temačni viziji poznega obdobja dinastije Han v treh kraljestvih. Igrajte kot neimenovan junak, ki se bojuje proti človeškim in demonskim grožnjam. Ohraniti morate stopnjo morale, če boste želeli biti uspešni v boju proti mogočnim sovražnikom in brutalnim šefom.

Vsi, ki so že igrali prejšnje Team Ninja igre, dobro vedo, da radi preizkušajo svoje igralce, in tudi Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty pri tem ni nobena izjema. Igra je težavna, vendar pravična. Poleg tega vas opozori pred spopadi z izjemno težavnimi sovražniki.

Vadite Deflect (odvijanje) sposobnost, ker vam omogoča ohranjanje zagona med bojem. Bolj kot ste agresivni, večja bo vaša stopnja morale in hitreje boste premagovali sovražnike. Če umrete, se vrnite in ubijte sovražnika, ki vas je premagal, da si povrnete izgubljeni Genuine Qi, saj ga potrebujete za pridobivanje nivojev.

Returnal

A novel evolution of its arcade shoot 'em up legacy, Housemarque's PS5 exclusive pulls no punches. Designed to intensify the main character Selene's ongoing struggle for freedom, Returnal's world and enemies transform every encounter into a desperate, fast-paced fight for survival. 

Returnal is definitely out to challenge the player. Some of its tougher segments will see the play area absolutely filled with dangerous projectiles, brutal teleporting enemies, and environmental traps. Staying alive requires concentration and finesse.

As a roguelike, perseverance is baked into the design. The cyclical nature of the game welcomes experimentation: play around with different weapons, tackle objectives in different orders and build your familiarity with how all the games different interlocking systems can work to help or to hinder you.

Lies of P

Lies of P is a brutally challenging, but exquisitely executed action adventure that celebrates the very best of the genre. Fast-paced, precision combat, colossal boss battles and sprawling interconnected environments strewn with hidden secrets and deadly traps lie in wait for all who dare enter.

There's no doubt about it: Lies of P is a tough cookie, with a particular emphasis on the multi-phase boss fights. These encounters will test your ability to dodge, parry and attack fiercely aggressive enemies with huge health pools and devasting attacks.

Paying careful attention to your build is key to victory: each of your main components can be swapped out to improve your resistance to varying damage types, weapons have their own unique damage types and combat styles and amulets offer additional perks that can very much even the odds. If you're struggling, then careful planning can often trump bloody-minded determination.

Nioh 2

The sequel to Team Ninja’s ruthless samurai adventure ups the ante in every department, featuring enormous bosses, fiendish level design, and nuanced combat that offers a wealth of options depending on your playstyle. You’ll need to hone your skills if you’re going to see the end credits – prepare for the fight of your life.

Team Ninja deliberately design their games to push players and Nioh 2 is no exception. Its most basic enemies can easily cut you down, while its bosses can often flatten you in a single hit. Though the challenge is never unreasonable, it's often considerable.  

There's a dizzying amount of variety in Nioh 2 and as much of the game's mastery comes from outside of combat as in it. Regularly review your weapons and armor. Take full advantage of the blacksmith to forge new equipment and alter equipment attributes - also, pay attention to the benefits added by Soul Cores and Guardian Spirits - everything adds up!  

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Ta osupljiva nova vizija legendarnega Prince of Persia niza igralcem predstavlja pogumno 2.5D podobo in povsem novega princa, s katerim lahko igrajo. Svoje neverjetne časovne moči združite s prinčevim akrobatskim slogom bojevanja ter se borite proti izprijenim sovražnikom in mitološkim zverem po čudovitih, vendar nevarnih nivojih.

Izziva ne predstavljajo zgolj težavnejši sovražniki v igri, The Lost Crown vključuje tudi pogoste uganke v okolju, za premagovanje pa bo princ potreboval kar nekaj iznajdljivosti, hitrih reakcij in natančnega nadzora.

Brezglavo napadanje sovražnikov vas ne bo pripeljalo daleč. Delajte na obvladovanju prinčevih sposobnosti odbijanja in navala ter jih uporabljajte v kombinaciji z dobro usklajenimi udarci njegovih dveh mečev, hkrati pa poskušajte ostati na varni razdalji od največjih in najbolj smrtonosnih nasprotnikov.

Veterans of hardcore action

The Tokyo-based developer behind the 'Souls' series has forged a fearsome reputation for itself amongst gamers - it's time to 'get good'. 

Elden Ring

Studio FromSoft, ki že več kot desetletje razvija brezkompromisne izkušnje fantazijskega igranja vlog, se v sodelovanju s pisateljem Igre prestolov (najbolje prodajana fantazijska serija na lestvici New York Timesa), George R. R. Martinom, vrača z obsežno pustolovščino v fantastičnem novem svetu Lands Between. Elden Ring združuje prikrivanje, akcijo, gradnjo lika in premikanje po odprtem svetu ter tako ustvarja svojo najbolj ambiciozno igro doslej – in to v svojem značilnem slogu brutalne težavnosti. Prenesite Shadow of the Erdtree razširitev za igro, da nadaljujete svoje pustolovščine v tem očarljivem svetu.

Čeprav verjetno ni najzahtevnejša igra podjetja FromSoftware, nikakor ni enostavna. While Elden Ring's open-world design does make it a little easier to pick your fights, you'll eventually have to face down some daunting enemies.

There's a lot to be said for taking your time in Elden Ring. It's a huge game and while you can follow Sites of Grace directly from one boss to the next, you're far better served exploring the world. There are dozens of armor sets, unique weapons and amulets to acquire that will improve your chances - and a great deal of practice to be had!

Bloodborne

Bloodborne is a stand-out among the studio's celebrated output, trading dark fantasy settings for a more modern, gothic feel. Taking on the role of a lone hunter in foreign garb, you must explore the blighted town of Yharnam and its surrounding locales in search of the cure to a terrible blood curse. Filled to bursting with grisly body horror and monstrous foes, Bloodborne is every bit as challenging as its siblings. 

For sure. Its fast-paced combat and huge enemy variety drive a much more aggressive style of play that will be a difficult adjustment for Dark Souls veterans. Beyond the many encounters and bosses around Yharnam, there are still more to conquer in Bloodborne's Chalice Dungeons: fiendish labyrinths filled with traps, unpredictable enemies and intimidating bosses.

The trick is to be aggressive. Bloodborne employs a special mechanic known as 'rallying' that means if you retaliate quickly enough after taking damage, you'll regain some of your lost health. The side-step maneuver (replacing Dark Souls' dodge-roll) also means that you're more mobile and can benefit from moving quickly around enemies and landing hits from all angles. 

Sekiro Shadows Die Twice

Od iste neusmiljene ekipe, ki je ustvarila igre Bloodborne and Dark Souls, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice je natančno izdelana ninja pustolovščina, ki zahteva koncentracijo, potrpežljivost in natančnost. Poleg tega boste trpeli sami – za razliko od njenih predhodnic ne morete poklicati drugih igralcev, da vam pomagajo premagati glavne zlikovce. Vendar so nagrade vredne tega; neverjeten boj, izjemna zasnova sovražnikov in ogromen svet, ki ga je treba raziskati.

Mnogi trdijo, da je Sekiro najtežja igra podjetja FromSoftware do zdaj, in to trditev lahko v veliki meri potrdijo. While the world does have challenging moments, Sekiro's duel-style boss encounters demand a level of concentration and finesse not often seen in games.  

Don't play it like other FromSoftware games. Sekiro's unique combat puts a strong emphasis on blocking and deflections. Whilst some attacks have to be dodged, there's much more to be gained by deflecting - done repeatedly it will push the enemy off balance, leaving them vulnerable to devastating Death Blows. 

Dark Souls III

Devotees can argue for days over which is the most challenging entry in the groundbreaking Dark Souls series, but the third installment makes a very convincing claim for itself, featuring some of the series' most complex environments and demanding boss encounters. An unapologetic celebration of the influential series, Dark Souls III features a huge array of build and weapon choices, some truly enormous areas to navigate and more than a few familiar faces.

As the third title in FromSoftware's notorious Dark Souls series, it should come as no surprise that Dark Souls III is a challenging game, though perhaps not as difficult as some others on this list. The combat is finely tuned and excellently paced throughout, making for an experience that avoids excessive difficulty spikes.

Keep an eye on your weight. While donning a suit of inch-thick steel plate might seem appealing, it'll severely hamper your combat options. Don't be afraid to ditch a helmet or pair of gloves and gain back a little mobility - armor can only reduce the damage from a blow, getting out of harm's way lets you avoid it altogether.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon

The first new entry in the long-running Armored Core series in over a decade, Armored Core VI reunites the veteran developer and franchise in a brutal, brilliant combination of classic mech combat and modern production values. Igralci kot plačanci nadzorujejo oklepno jedro »AC« (Armored Core), ki ga lahko prilagodijo po lastnih željah, tako da ga sestavijo iz najrazličnejših okvirov in orožja, prebarvajo posamezne dele in se vključijo v hitre bitke na bojišču.

Čeprav je Armored Core VI precej daleč od formule »souls« iger, ostaja velik izziv. Povsem tridimenzionalen pristop k boju (ki vključuje tako taktiko na tleh kot v zraku) poleg velikega števila možnosti orožja, množice letečih izstrelkov in hitro premikajočih se sovražnikov predstavlja dodatno zahtevnost za večino igralcev. 

Your Armored Core (or AC) is almost infinitely flexible and there's a huge variety of options in how it's built and outfitted. If you're riding the same loadout into every mission you're likely making life harder than it needs to be. Consider the challenges of each mission, the types of enemies you'll be up against and outfit your AC to give you the advantage.

Big challenges from small teams

As one of the most diverse spaces in gaming, indie development has something to offer everyone - including those looking to test themselves.

Blasphemous 2

Nadaljevanje zanimive akcijske ploščadne igre podjetja Game Kitchen razširja in izboljšuje vse, zaradi česar je bil izvirnik v času izida takšna uspešnica. Likovna podoba je vzvišeno groteskna, bojevanje premišljeno in razburljivo, oblikovanje ravni pa resnično mojstrsko. Moreover, it packs a real punch when it comes to difficulty, building an atmosphere of dread that perfectly complements the world's characters and setting.

Featuring a cavalcade of challenging enemies, tough platforming puzzles and some fearsome boss fights, Blasphemous 2 is without a doubt a tough game. Morda ni najbolj brutalna na tem seznamu, zagotovo pa vam bo predstavljala hud izziv. 

Ne bojte se raziskovanja. Skozi Blasphemous 2 lahko uberete več različnih poti. Če imate težave na enem področju, je včasih bolje poskusiti srečo drugje. You might find additional weapons and items, or unlock new abilities that will come in handy in overcoming earlier difficulties.

Cuphead

Despite deriving its striking art style from 20th-century children's cartoons, Cuphead is anything but child's play. Beyond the colorful, characterful facade is a brutally challenging bullet-hell shooter. Potrebovali boste potrpežljivost, časovno usklajenost in spretne prste, če boste želeli premagati številne šefe z več stopnjami, nekateri celo sami predstavljajo celoten nivo.

Starošolski boj v Cuphead igri spominja na težke strelske arkadne igralne avtomate. Če bi to igrali na igralnem avtomatu, bi za dokončanje igre potrebovali kovancev.

Če si želite olajšati življenje, si vzemite čas in osvojite mehaniko »Parry Slap« v igri Cuphead. S to izjemno uporabno in razmeroma preprosto sposobnostjo se lahko izognete poškodbam cele vrste izstrelkov (vendar pazite na vse rožnate) ter hkrati napolnite svoj Super Meter. 

Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition

Beware the stylish presentation here - the denizens of Hallownest might not look all that threatening, but don't let that fool you. An award-winning action platformer, Hollow Knight is famed as much for its high level of difficulty as it is for its outstanding art direction, brilliant level design and snappy combat. There are cunning bosses and hidden challenges everywhere and your primary means of defence is a nail - best of luck!

Cutesy though some of the design might be, make no mistake, Hollow Knight is a genuinely uncompromising game. From tight, perilous platforming to brutal bosses, the developers at Team Cherry have crafted an experience designed to put the player through their paces.

Don't sweat the little things. Trying to collect and conserve every piece of Geo you come across can be exhausting and you might find you end up with more than you need. Prava nagrada v igri Hollow Knight je igra sama. Odkritje je vaš največji zaklad in resnično dragocenih stvari, ki jih najdete v Hallownestu, ne morete izpustiti ali izgubiti.

Darkest Dungeon II

Zberite druščino, opremite kočijo in se po razpadajoči pokrajini odpravite na pot v tem nadaljevanju kritično priznane Darkest Dungeon igre. Preprečite apokalipso z roguelike igranjem, pri čemer eksperimentirajte s taktikami, da premagate nezaslišano grozo in se povežete s svojimi spremljevalci.

Vsaka misija ali ekspedicija ima lastne izzive, zato so nekatere lažje kot druge. Za najbolj zahtevne boste potrebovali največ koncentracije in pravo mero priprave, saj ustrezna uporaba omejenih surovin lahko pomeni razliko med življenjem in smrtjo v tej igri.

Oblikovanje prijateljskih vezi s člani druščine je ključno, če boste druščino želeli ohraniti skupaj med bitko. Affinity sistem igre določa, na kakšen način posamezniki sodelujejo med seboj ter omogoča in ohranja harmonijo v ekipi, da boste pridobili prednost proti nočnim moram pred vami.

Animal Well

Raziščite nadrealni labirint v nelinearnem, medsebojno povezanem svetu v tej zagonetni izkušnji v slogu Metroidvanie, ki ne vključuje boja. Manipulirajte pikslaste podobe v svoji okolici, srečujte nenavadna bitja in se zanašajte na lastno pamet, da preživite, kar preži v temi.

Če boste želeli rešiti niz ugank v Animal Well igri boste resno delati, nadaljevanje poti pa ne bo vedno tako očitno. Vaša uspešnost bo odvisna od tega, kako ustvarjalni ste lahko z orodji, ki jih imate na voljo. Na vas prežijo različna lačna bitja, ki vas bodo z veseljem pohrustala, zato se držite stran od njihovih kljunov in krempljev.

Vaš zemljevid je najbolj pomemben del te igre, zato označite vse zanimivosti, ki jih še ne morete uporabljati. Uporabite stare dobre metode: vzemite pisalo in beležko ter si beležite med igranjem. Če res obtičite, poglejte, kje še niste bili – tam boste morda našli, kar potrebujete.