GamingPickz
Theme · ranked

Top 25 Difficult Games for 2026

Which games are genuinely hard?

Games that expect to beat you repeatedly before you beat them.

395 catalogued, top 25 ranked below

The difficult games on a map

Compare the whole catalogue

The same 25 games, plotted rather than listed. The two axes below are the ones the ranking is built from, so a game sitting high and right is a game the formula placed near the top. Change either axis to see the field a different way. Where we hold a publisher wordmark, the game is drawn as its mark rather than a dot.

25 games have both

8410064100Players →Popularity →

Axes are fitted to these 25 games rather than the full 0 to 100 scale, because a filtered list shares a narrow band and would otherwise sit in one corner. End values are marked. A point on the left edge is the lowest of thesegames, not a low score.

Players. The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.

Popularity. A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.

  • Multi-platform
  • PC
  • PlayStation

Every point links to that game's entry. The value map and the reception map are fixed views of the same data.

How positions are decided

No paid placement, no favouritism, live third-party data
  • Placed by the published method, not by us. Every coordinate is computed from the axis definitions and weights printed on this site. Nobody moves a point. See the axes.
  • Nothing here is paid for. No sponsored placements, no promoted slots, no arrangement of any kind affects a position. If that ever changes it will be labelled and sit outside the ranking.
  • No favouritism, including our own. The 16 games we have written full reviews of are scored by exactly the same formula as the other 1,510, from the same third-party inputs, and they land where it puts them. Our own opinion of a game does not enter its coordinates.
  • A position is not an endorsement. It says how a game was received and what it costs, not that we recommend it. Where we do recommend something, it carries a written review with a name on it.
  • Fetched from live third-party data. Player sentiment from Steam, critic aggregates as published on store pages, prices checked hourly, attention from Wikipedia. Each figure carries its source and the date it was read, and we do not adjust any of them.

How to choose between these

25 entries, six things that separate them

The ranking answers "which is best received". It cannot answer "which is best for you", because that depends on things no formula knows. Here is what actually separates these 25 difficult games, in the order worth thinking about it.

  1. Check the sample size before the score

    A score is only as good as the evidence under it. 24 of these have more than 50,000 player reviews, which makes their number very hard to move.

  2. Look at where critics and players disagree

    The widest gap here is Vampire Survivors, where players sit above critics by 12 points. A gap that size usually means the game changed after launch, or that it does something critics undervalue. It is worth reading why before deciding which number you trust. The disagreement map plots this across the catalogue.

  3. Decide what you are actually willing to spend

    The median here is $19.99, and the cheapest paid entry is Vampire Survivors at $3.74. Prices move constantly, so a game a place or two down the list is often the better buy this week. Filter by price below rather than assuming the top pick is the right purchase.

  4. Match it to the hardware you own

    17 of these are Steam Deck Verified by Valve's own testing, and install sizes vary by more than an order of magnitude. If you are choosing for a handheld or a drive that is nearly full, that narrows the field faster than any score.

  5. Check it supports how you want to play

    Solo, with a friend online, or two people on one sofa are different requirements, and a well-reviewed game that does not support yours is the wrong game. The filters below answer this directly.

  6. Look for the things a score hides

    6 declare six or more accessibility features, and 2 carry in-game purchases. Neither shows up in a review score, and both change the experience substantially. Each entry lists its own.

Choose one if…

Tick what matters to you. This filters the ranking above rather than reordering it, so the order you see is still the order the formula produced, minus the games that do not fit. Every filter reads a field from the game's own store listing.

Nothing selected, so all 25 difficult games are shown below. Pick one or more above to narrow it.

Still to come

13 unreleased difficult games are on the way. They carry no score, because nothing has been received yet, only a note of how many people have wishlisted them.

Upcoming difficult games

difficult games by the numbers

The figures below describe all 25 entries on this page together, not the top pick. They are recomputed on every build, most recently on 2 September 2026, from 16,334,589 player reviews.

$19.99Median price3 free · $3.74 to $59.99
96%Median player sentiment12 pts above the catalogue average
13 ptsSpread, best to worst24 at 90% or better · 0 under 70%
2019Median release year8 from the last five years · oldest 1998
4Discounted right nowaveraging 47% off list
17Steam Deck Verified20 GB average install

What the pricing looks like

22 of the 25 carry a listed US price, with a median of $19.99 and a mean of $23.24. The mean sitting above the median tells you the field is pulled up by a few expensive outliers. The cheapest is Vampire Survivors at $3.74, the most expensive Black Myth: Wukong at $59.99. 3 are free to download. 2 carry in-game purchases on top of whatever they cost. Prices are read hourly from the US Steam storefront and move constantly.

How much this field agrees with itself

Player sentiment spans 13 points across these 25 entries. That is a narrow band, which means the ranking is separating good from good, and the entries below the top few are not meaningfully worse. 16 carry a critic aggregate, averaging 89 out of 100. Players rate this field 7 points higher than critics on average, which is worth knowing before you weigh either number. See where the two diverge.

Who makes them, and what they overlap with

The studios appearing most often here are Supergiant Games (2), Valve (2), 8-4 (1), Arsi "Hakita" Patala (1) and Blobfish (1). The genres these entries also sit in are rpg (8), strategy (2), fps (1), horror (1) and puzzle (1), which is a fair map of what you are actually choosing between.

Update history 1
  1. First published with 25 entries ranked.

Common questions

What is the best difficult game in 2026?

Black Myth: Wukong ranks first, with a GamingPickz Score of 9.7 out of 10. That score is computed from player sentiment adjusted for sample size, critic reception and popularity, using the weights published on this page.

How many difficult games are there?

We track 395 difficult games. Games with fewer than 50 player reviews are excluded from the ranking, because a percentage with no sample behind it is not a measurement.

How is this list ranked?

By a published formula, not by editorial preference. Player sentiment is pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it, then weighted against critic scores and popularity. Nothing on this page is paid for and no placement can be bought.

How often is this updated?

Recomputed on every build from data read on a stated date. Player review counts move daily, so positions in the middle of the list shift more than the top or bottom.

Reader comments

Comments are not switched on yet. When they are, they will be moderated before they appear: an unmoderated thread on a page carrying advertising is a policy problem as well as a reading problem.

25 best difficult games, ranked

Ordered by GamingPickz Score. Every figure links back to the source that produced it.

Sort by
  1. 1Black Myth: Wukong logo

    Black Myth: Wukong

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.7GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Black Myth: Wukong at a glance
    Released2024StudioGame Science
    Player sentiment96% positive of 1,209,348CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$59.99Steam Deckunsupported
    Install size130 GBAccessibility4 declared features

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 1,209,348 reviews, giving 9.7. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 1,209,348 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.
    • Valve rates it Unsupported on the Steam Deck.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  2. 2Bloons TD 6 logo

    Bloons TD 6

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.5GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Bloons TD 6 at a glance
    Released2018StudioNinja Kiwi
    Player sentiment97% positive of 394,354CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$13.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install size2 GBAccessibility0 declared features

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 394,354 reviews, giving 9.5. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 394,354 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Small install at 2 GB.
    Worth checking first
    • Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  3. 3Hades logo

    Hades

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.4GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Hades at a glance
    Released2020StudioSupergiant Games
    Player sentiment98% positive of 308,085Critics93/100
    Price$24.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size15 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 308,085 reviews, then blends with the 93 critic aggregate, giving 9.4.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 308,085 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  4. 4ULTRAKILL logo

    ULTRAKILL

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.4GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    ULTRAKILL at a glance
    Released2020StudioArsi "Hakita" Patala
    Player sentiment97% positive of 242,150CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$29.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size3 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 242,150 reviews, giving 9.4. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 242,150 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 3 GB.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  5. 5Half-Life logo

    Half-Life

    Best for: Playing with other people

    9.4GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Half-Life at a glance
    Released1998StudioNot recorded
    Player sentiment96% positive of 163,786Critics96/100
    Price$9.99Steam Deckverified
    Install sizeNot statedAccessibility8 declared features

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 163,786 reviews, then blends with the 96 critic aggregate, giving 9.4.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 163,786 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 8 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PCPlayStation 2Steam Deck

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  6. 6Hollow Knight logo

    Hollow Knight

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.3GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Hollow Knight at a glance
    Released2017StudioTeam Cherry
    Player sentiment97% positive of 559,290Critics87/100
    Price$14.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size9 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 559,290 reviews, then blends with the 87 critic aggregate, giving 9.3.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 559,290 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 9 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  7. 7DELTARUNE logo

    DELTARUNE

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.3GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    DELTARUNE at a glance
    Released2025Studiotobyfox
    Player sentiment98% positive of 133,535CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$24.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size1 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 133,535 reviews, giving 9.3. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 133,535 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 1 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  8. 8Helltaker logo

    Helltaker

    Best for: Trying the genre without spending anything

    9.3GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Helltaker at a glance
    Released2020Studiovanripper
    Player sentiment98% positive of 128,069CriticsNo aggregate
    PriceFreeSteam Deckplayable
    Install size0.34 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 128,069 reviews, giving 9.3. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 128,069 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Free to download, so trying it costs only time.
    • Small install at 0.34 GB.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  9. 9Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition logo

    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition at a glance
    Released2019StudioFromSoftware, Inc.
    Player sentiment95% positive of 354,898Critics88/100
    Price$59.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size25 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 95% shrinks to 95.0 on 354,898 reviews, then blends with the 88 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 95% positive across 354,898 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  10. 10Undertale logo

    Undertale

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Undertale at a glance
    Released2015Studio8-4
    Player sentiment96% positive of 338,731Critics92/100
    Price$9.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install size0.2 GBAccessibility0 declared features

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 338,731 reviews, then blends with the 92 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 338,731 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Small install at 0.2 GB.

    PlayStation VitaPCPlayStation 4Xbox OneXbox Series X and Series SNintendo Switch

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  11. 11Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 logo

    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at a glance
    Released2025StudioSandfall Interactive
    Player sentiment95% positive of 277,064Critics91/100
    Price$47.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size55 GBAccessibility6 declared features

    Raw 95% shrinks to 95.0 on 277,064 reviews, then blends with the 91 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 95% positive across 277,064 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  12. 12Vampire Survivors logo

    Vampire Survivors

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Vampire Survivors at a glance
    Released2022Studioponcle
    Player sentiment98% positive of 265,103Critics86/100
    Price$3.74Steam Deckverified
    Install size2.44 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 265,103 reviews, then blends with the 86 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 265,103 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 2.44 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  13. 13Slay the Spire logo

    Slay the Spire

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Slay the Spire at a glance
    Released2019StudioMega Crit
    Player sentiment97% positive of 217,947Critics89/100
    Price$24.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size1 GBAccessibility6 declared features

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 217,947 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 217,947 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 1 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  14. 14Dead Cells logo

    Dead Cells

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Dead Cells at a glance
    Released2018StudioMotion Twin
    Player sentiment97% positive of 183,007Critics89/100
    Price$24.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size0.49 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 183,007 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 183,007 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 0.49 GB.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  15. 15Hades II logo

    Hades II

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Hades II at a glance
    Released2025StudioSupergiant Games
    Player sentiment96% positive of 122,855Critics94/100
    Price$29.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size11 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 122,855 reviews, then blends with the 94 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 122,855 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 11 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  16. 16Resident Evil 2 logo

    Resident Evil 2

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Resident Evil 2 at a glance
    Released1998StudioCapcom
    Player sentiment97% positive of 221,677Critics89/100
    Price$39.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size26 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 221,677 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 9.1.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 221,677 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    Nintendo 64Nintendo GameCubePCPlayStationSteam Deck

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  17. 17DOOM logo

    DOOM

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    DOOM at a glance
    Released2016Studioid Software
    Player sentiment96% positive of 221,344Critics85/100
    Price$19.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size55 GBAccessibility4 declared features

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 221,344 reviews, then blends with the 85 critic aggregate, giving 9.1.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 221,344 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  18. 18Counter-Strike: Source logo

    Counter-Strike: Source

    Best for: Playing with other people

    9.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Counter-Strike: Source at a glance
    Released2004StudioValve
    Player sentiment96% positive of 193,040Critics88/100
    Price$9.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install sizeNot statedAccessibility6 declared features

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 193,040 reviews, then blends with the 88 critic aggregate, giving 9.1.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 193,040 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Cloud saves and cross-platform play, so progress follows you between machines.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.
    • Multiplayer only. There is no solo mode to fall back on.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  19. 19Devil May Cry 5 logo

    Devil May Cry 5

    Best for: Playing through with a friend online

    9.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Devil May Cry 5 at a glance
    Released2019StudioCAPCOM Co., Ltd.
    Player sentiment96% positive of 170,072Critics89/100
    Price$7.49Steam Deckverified
    Install size35 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 170,072 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 9.1.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 170,072 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  20. 20Brotato logo

    Brotato

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.1GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Brotato at a glance
    Released2023StudioBlobfish
    Player sentiment96% positive of 118,244CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$4.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size0.2 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 118,244 reviews, giving 9.1. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 118,244 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 0.2 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  21. 21Pizza Tower logo

    Pizza Tower

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.1GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Pizza Tower at a glance
    Released2023StudioTour De Pizza
    Player sentiment98% positive of 72,574CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$19.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size0.29 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 98% shrinks to 97.9 on 72,574 reviews, giving 9.1. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 0.29 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  22. 22HoloCure - Save the Fans! logo

    HoloCure - Save the Fans!

    Best for: Trying the genre without spending anything

    9.1GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    HoloCure - Save the Fans! at a glance
    Released2023StudioKayAnimate
    Player sentiment99% positive of 40,697CriticsNo aggregate
    PriceFreeSteam Deckplayable
    Install size0.24 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 99% shrinks to 98.9 on 40,697 reviews, giving 9.1. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • Free to download, so trying it costs only time.
    • Small install at 0.24 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  23. 23Counter-Strike: Global Offensive logo

    Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

    Best for: Trying the genre without spending anything

    9.0GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Counter-Strike: Global Offensive at a glance
    Released2012StudioValve
    Player sentiment86% positive of 9,826,211CriticsNo aggregate
    PriceFreeSteam Deckplayable
    Install size85 GBAccessibility6 declared features

    Raw 86% shrinks to 86.0 on 9,826,211 reviews, giving 9.0. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • Free to download, so trying it costs only time.
    Worth checking first
    • Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.
    • Multiplayer only. There is no solo mode to fall back on.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  24. 24Risk of Rain 2 logo

    Risk of Rain 2

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.0GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Risk of Rain 2 at a glance
    Released2020StudioHopoo Games
    Player sentiment94% positive of 352,120Critics85/100
    Price$8.24Steam Deckplayable
    Install size4 GBAccessibility6 declared features

    Raw 94% shrinks to 94.0 on 352,120 reviews, then blends with the 85 critic aggregate, giving 9.0.

    What the data supports
    • 94% positive across 352,120 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Small install at 4 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  25. 25Cuphead logo

    Cuphead

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.0GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Cuphead at a glance
    Released2017StudioStudio MDHR
    Player sentiment96% positive of 220,388Critics88/100
    Price$19.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size4 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 220,388 reviews, then blends with the 88 critic aggregate, giving 9.0.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 220,388 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 4 GB.

    PCPlayStation 4Xbox OneNintendo SwitchSteam Deck

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

Also catalogued

370 more difficult games, not yet reviewed

None of these carry a review yet. The rest are catalogue records: title, year, studio and platforms, sourced from Wikidata. They are not indexed by search engines, because a record is not a review.

345 not shown

Other themes

See all
Zombie gamesWhich games are about the undead?Post-apocalyptic gamesWhich games are set after the end of the world?Open world gamesWhich games let you go anywhere?Survival gamesWhich games are about staying alive?Horror gamesWhich games are actually frightening?Psychological gamesWhich games get inside your head?Stealth gamesWhich games reward not being seen?Western gamesWhich games are set in the Old West?