Some video games are difficult throughout, while others feature challenging bosses. But then there are those games with single levels that crank up the difficulty to nearly impossible levels. It’s natural for games to become progressively harder, but sometimes the difficulty curve isn’t smooth. Occasionally, a game might abruptly change its gameplay for a single level. For whatever reason, certain levels remain notoriously difficult, even if technically fair, demanding an unrealistic level of perfection. Here are some of the hardest levels in video game history, which many players would prefer never to revisit.
Simpsons Hit & Run’s “Auto”topsy Part 3
alt text: Homer driving erratically amidst a chaotic scene in Simpsons Hit & Run, with a nuclear waste barrel in his car.
It’s painful to include a level from the otherwise excellent Simpsons Hit & Run on this list, but the final level, “Auto”topsy Part 3, combines all the ingredients for a frustrating experience. The objective is to collect nuclear waste barrels and deliver them to the alien spaceship for detonation. You drive a fast but unresponsive car, and colliding with almost anything while carrying a barrel causes it to explode, forcing a restart. To add to the pressure, the mission is timed. Unless you memorize the optimal routes and get incredibly lucky with traffic and car control, completing this level is nearly impossible. This final hurdle is the primary reason many players never finished this otherwise fantastic game.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ The Dam
alt text: Underwater view of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles navigating the treacherous Dam level in the NES game.
Even if you haven’t played it, you’ve likely heard of the infamous Dam level from the NES Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game. While other levels are challenging, they’re mostly straightforward 2D beat-’em-up stages with decent controls. The Dam is a different beast altogether. It introduces new swimming mechanics within tight, electrified corridors, leaving little room for error. Adding insult to injury, this level is also timed. Any one of these elements would be challenging enough, but the combination makes this level notoriously frustrating.
Driver’s Tutorial
alt text: A screenshot of the challenging tutorial level in Driver, showing a car in a parking garage.
Does a tutorial qualify as a level? In Driver‘s case, it does, as it’s the furthest many players ever progressed. Tutorials are meant to teach controls and basic mechanics, but Driver‘s tutorial feels like a final exam. You’re given 60 seconds in a parking garage to execute a series of driving maneuvers. There’s no time to think, no control explanations, and no way to skip it. Failure to complete all objectives within the time limit results in game over.
Battletoads’ Turbo Tunnel
alt text: Screenshot from Battletoads' Turbo Tunnel level, depicting the speeding hoverbikes and treacherous obstacles.
Alongside the Dam level, Battletoads’ Turbo Tunnel is arguably the most infamous level in gaming history. Its reputation is well-deserved. The first stages of Battletoads are brawlers with basic platforming. This changes dramatically in the third level, the Turbo Tunnel, a fast-paced, auto-scrolling hoverbike section. You must constantly dodge incoming walls by moving up, down, or jumping. The slippery controls and breakneck speed demand near-clairvoyant reflexes. Two-player mode only exacerbates the difficulty, as a single death resets the level for both players.
Super Meat Boy’s The Kid
alt text: Screenshot of 'The Kid' level in Super Meat Boy, showcasing the intricate spike mazes and challenging platforming.
Even the easier levels in Super Meat Boy are challenging. Thankfully, the game’s most difficult levels are hidden as secrets, sparing those aiming for a simple playthrough. “The Kid” consists of three levels, each demanding pixel-perfect precision. The slightest miscalculation in jump timing or double-jump usage leads to a gruesome demise. The first level involves falling and climbing through a spike-filled maze. The second requires riding elevators while dodging spikes, and the third throws waves of spikes as you navigate tunnels. These levels have driven countless players to near madness.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare’s Mile High Club
alt text: A soldier rappelling down from an exploding plane in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare's Mile High Club mission.
This bonus level in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is notorious for its difficulty, especially on Veteran. This timed mission involves raiding a plane full of enemies to rescue a VIP. The narrow corridors make avoiding damage near impossible, compounded by a strict time limit. Success requires memorizing enemy positions, flashbang placements, and a considerable amount of luck. Even reaching the end doesn’t guarantee victory, as a final, precise shot is needed to save the VIP.
Dark Souls’ Blighttown
alt text: A knight cautiously enters the toxic and treacherous environment of Blighttown in Dark Souls.
Blighttown is infamous in Dark Souls lore. This isn’t just a poisonous swamp; it’s one of the most punishing areas in the game. Navigating this vertical level involves traversing thin, winding planks, often leading to dead ends. The confusing layout, combined with poison, aggressive mosquitoes, and toxic-dart-wielding enemies, creates a constant threat of being knocked off into the toxic depths below. The single bonfire offers little respite, as reaching it requires skillful maneuvering and a bit of luck.
