- 2 days ago
Get ready to relive the rage!
In this countdown, we’re diving into the Top 30 Most Frustrating Video Game Levels that tested players’ patience and pushed gamers to their limits. From impossible jumps to relentless enemies, these levels are infamous for making even the most dedicated players rage quit.
Whether you’re a casual gamer or a hardcore fan, these brutal challenges will bring back memories of hair-pulling moments and epic triumphs.
Which level frustrated you the most? Let us know in the comments!
Don’t forget to subscribe for more gaming countdowns, reviews, and epic moments!
In this countdown, we’re diving into the Top 30 Most Frustrating Video Game Levels that tested players’ patience and pushed gamers to their limits. From impossible jumps to relentless enemies, these levels are infamous for making even the most dedicated players rage quit.
Whether you’re a casual gamer or a hardcore fan, these brutal challenges will bring back memories of hair-pulling moments and epic triumphs.
Which level frustrated you the most? Let us know in the comments!
Don’t forget to subscribe for more gaming countdowns, reviews, and epic moments!
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Short filmTranscript
00:00all we had to do was follow the damn train CJ welcome to watchmojo and today we're counting
00:09down our picks for the video game levels that frustrate us beyond belief whether through
00:13their difficulty for controls and design or both we won't be including any levels
00:18that solely consist of a boss fight number 30 path of Hades god of war
00:40at a certain point in Kratos's first adventure he'll be sent to the underworld and his only
00:46means of escape is through an agonizing platform section in between groups of enemies players must
00:51jump between tiny platforms and walk precariously along spinning cylinders with giant blades sticking
00:57out of them with one misstep or a brush against a blade Kratos falls to his death which is going
01:02to happen a lot throwing in an obstacle course like this with little to no platforming
01:16in previous levels annoyed a lot of players the very worst part comes in at the end where you
01:21must make a long climb up one of those rotating blade cylinders getting knocked down to the bottom
01:26for a second is enough to make you rage
01:28number 29 fair play mafia
01:38when hanger 13 chose to remake mafia director alex cost stated one of the most prominent questions from players was whether they fixed this mission that alone should tell you just a little bit too much and a lot of
01:55should tell you just how infamous it has grown over the years.
01:59The problem comes at the end of the mission, where you must win a race. Something about
02:02the physics and handling of the 1930s cars just doesn't mesh well, and the sharp turns
02:07only add to the supreme annoyance in anyone trying to come out on top.
02:16It seems so simple, right? We've all played racing games before. Well, this isn't that,
02:23and every loading screen after every fail just let us stew in our anger.
02:33Number 28. Parking Garage Tutorial, Driver
02:43Tutorials are a necessary feature for games to teach players the basics. Some may be boring,
02:47but they're usually helpful. That is, except for the case of Driver, before you get into
02:52the story about an undercover cop in a criminal organisation, you have to pass a test to prove
02:57you can be a getaway driver. Said test takes place in a parking garage, where you must perform
03:01a series of manoeuvres in an extremely short timeframe.
03:13Some are simple, while others are more complex. Unless you're a fan of skiing, you probably
03:17won't know what a slalom is. Plus, if you damage the other cars around you too much,
03:21you have to start over.
03:26Number 27. A Cold Day in Hell, Max Payne
03:38In theory, confronting your severely damaged protagonist with haunting dream sequences of his
03:42family's demise is a fantastic idea. In execution though, it's a test in patience.
03:48Max finds himself in a nightmare where he must relive some of his troubled past,
03:52and the developers seemingly wanted to make it just as hard on us.
04:03At a certain point, he'll have to navigate a maze in a pitch black room with only a thin red line as
04:09your path. It is very easy to get turned around in here, or fall off the side and have to start over.
04:15Oh, and there's a baby crying the entire time, which doesn't exactly help you focus.
04:20No, no, please God, no.
04:24Number 26. The Underwater Base, Earthworm Jim
04:28Time limits are a natural stress causer in any video game. This level in Earthworm Jim gets
04:40frustrating when players climb into a small submarine to navigate narrow paths. There are
04:44two things that make this a pain. One is that Jim has 30 seconds of oxygen and must stop to refill at
04:50specific spots. Another is that running into walls causes the glass to crack, putting you at further
05:02risk of death. The second section is worse. While you start with 100 seconds of air, the path is
05:08significantly longer, with a hidden refill station that's easy to miss. As the time takes down and
05:13the sub cracks at every collision, it's hard not to tense up.
05:24Number 25. Mugged, Conker's Bad Fur Day
05:35When it comes to Conker's Bad Fur Day, most are quick to praise it for its over-the-top humor and
05:39violence. What can be frustrating, however, is how it switches gameplay styles or mechanics for
05:44individual sections. During the prehistoric level, Conker will be mugged by a group of cavemen.
05:50In order to reclaim his hard-earned cash, they'll have to chase after them on a hoverboard. This
05:54race can be infuriating, primarily because you have to hit each individual racer to get some money back.
06:00There's also a dinosaur crossing the track that's easy to run into, and on top of them being fast,
06:10knocking out a couple of racers causes the track to change. Get ready to crash a lot.
06:15Number 24. Path of Pain, Hollow Knight
06:35Pretty accurate name, that one. In general, Hollow Knight is a challenging game, but the Path of
06:40Pain will make you miss the rest of it. Added in the Grim Troop DLC, this level can be found in the
06:45White Palace, itself infamous among players for its difficulty.
06:56It requires the most precise platforming you can muster. There are a ton of spinning blades,
07:02and most walls and floors are covered in prickly vines. You'll also have to dash through several
07:06tricky spots, and bounce off enemies and spikes using your weapon. Simply put, there's no way to
07:11make it through this without a lot of trial, error, and anger.
07:22Number 23. The Alchemist, Spyro 2, Rito's Rage
07:26Ask any player their least favourite type of level, and there's a good chance Escort Mission will be
07:39their answer. Spyro 2 may be a wonderful sequel, but it still features one of gaming's most enraging
07:44Escort Missions. In Fracture Hills, Hunter will ask Spyro to bring in the Alchemist who accidentally
07:49encased his feet in stone. Said Alchemist actually isn't that far away, yet he takes the longest
07:55possible path, and one that's filled with enemies. Will you escort me past those Earthshapers?
08:02They'll run straight into them too, instead of just letting you handle them until the coast is clear.
08:07It only takes a single hit before you have to start over, easily making it the worst part of the game.
08:19Number 22. The Impossible Lair, Ukulele and the Impossible Lair
08:32It may not be as famous as other levels on our list, but trust us that it deserves its inclusion.
08:37The plot of this platformer has you freeing members of the beta line in every level,
08:41each of which give you an extra hit point for use in the Impossible Lair, available to take on whenever
08:46you want. We know the name should tip us off, but the difficulty spike here is so far beyond
08:59anything the rest of the game prepares you for. Even with every single B, there are no checkpoints
09:04and it goes on for an absurdly long time. Plus, a lot of the traps require perfect timing that you
09:09have to wait for, adding tedium to an already maddening level.
09:19Number 21. Wrong Side of the Tracks, Grand Theft Auto, San Andreas
09:33All we had to do was follow the train, but sometimes things aren't so easy, big smoke!
09:38In this mission, CJ must chase after a train in which a group of Vagos members are riding on top of.
09:44Unfortunately, you have to do it on a dirt bike and rely on big smoke's aim in order to take them out.
09:49You have to balance your distance from the train car so that smoke can actually hit them,
09:53made harder by later turns and obstacles like cars and other trains.
09:56If you fail, which many of us did frequently, the mission isn't reloaded. Unless you had the
10:12foresight to save right beforehand, you have to backtrack all the way across town in order to try
10:17again.
10:20All we had to do was follow the damn train, CJ!
10:24Number 20. The Guy, Super Meat Boy
10:38There are understandably a lot of rage inducing levels in Super Meat Boy, that's kind of the point.
10:43However, the one that will make you feel more anger than most is a hidden level in Chapter 5.
10:49Inspired by the near impossible freeware game, I Wanna Be The Guy, these spike filled sections,
10:54three in total, are sure to up your blood pressure.
10:57They seem so simple to look at, but actually playing through them is a nightmare.
11:09If one of your jumps is even a hair off at its precision, you'll go careening straight into a
11:14spike and have to start that part of the level over. The third section is obviously the toughest,
11:19those high speed spike walls are brutal!
11:29Number 19. Blighttown, Dark Souls
11:38Along with most of From Software's catalogue, there are a lot of sections in Dark Souls that are going
11:43to cause frustration. The one that scarred players the most was Blighttown, a gigantic poisonous swamp.
11:49The upper area can be confusing with its multitude of moving bridges,
11:53easily turning you around. The actual swamp lower down, on the other hand, is even worse.
11:57There are plenty of tough enemies prowling around, many of which will inflict poison damage,
12:09and some of which will be able to do so from afar. Traversing this hellhole eventually leads you to
12:14Queelag's domain, where you'll have to fight the titular witch. Just like every other enemy in this
12:19game, that isn't exactly easy.
12:29Number 18. Labyrinth Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog
12:39Water levels are usually some of the most notoriously frustrating stages developers can
12:43include in their games. Sonic can't swim, so his immense speed doesn't help him when it comes to
12:48the Labyrinth Zone, the fourth level in the game. Even if you're managing things,
12:52you won't be able to escape the infamous drowning theme, which originated here, and can cause stress
12:57in even the surest of players. Combined with traps and enemies, the slowed movement and panic
13:07inducing music will ensure Sonic's watery grave at least a few times. The level's third act is
13:12naturally the hardest. On top of worrying about drowning, the game throws seemingly endless spikes
13:17and exploding enemies at you.
13:27Number 17. Waterfall, Contra
13:35This classic action platformer epitomised the phrase, Nintendo hard, by flooding your screen with enemies
13:41and giving you a single hit health bar. It likely caused many players to memorise the Konami code
13:46and start with 30 lives rather than 3. However, that probably still didn't help much when it came to
13:51the third level. As the only stage in the game that scrolls vertically, you have to ascend through a hail of
13:57gunfire. The layout certainly takes some getting used to, but it's far harder in co-op. If one player moves up too quickly,
14:11it will cause the screen to move and kill the other. It makes you communicate about movement,
14:15but that's a lot easier without a horde of enemies trying to murder you.
14:24Number 16. The Library, Halo Combat Evolved
14:32Of all the enemies in Halo, the flood still terrifies us. But being trapped in a restrictive library while
14:38they're swarming all over the place will do that to you. During the campaign's seventh mission,
14:42Master Chief is confronted by the aptly named parasites on a near constant basis. What makes
14:47the level so frustrating is how quickly they move and how slowly you're forced to progress.
15:01You'll be following 343 Guilty Spark around, who isn't exactly nimble,
15:06and who must pause to slowly override locked doors. And at every one of them,
15:10players will have to unload all their weapons just to keep the flood at bay.
15:14The ones with rocket launchers are a particular pain.
15:24Number 15. The Snowstorm, Resident Evil 6.
15:28There are a lot of frustrating things about Resident Evil 6, but in terms of gameplay,
15:38Chapter 2 in the story of new protagonist Jake takes the cake. It sees him and ally Sherry beset
15:43by several types of enemies at once. But what makes it unbearably difficult is the fact it all
15:49takes place in the middle of a blizzard. Good luck trying to line your shots up with
16:02constant snowfall covering the screen. The enemies themselves are, of course, more annoying because
16:07of this. Some of them are quick moving flyers, while others take pot shots with sniper rifles.
16:12And the snow doesn't seem to hinder their sight. It's all an annoying mess.
16:24Number 14. The High Road, Crash Bandicoot.
16:35One of the hardest 3D platforming stages in existence,
16:38the high road from Crash Bandicoot can make you want to snap a controller into.
16:42The late game level features all the worst types of platforms. Narrow ones with little space to
16:47stand, ones that break after just a moment of standing on them, and ones made of ice that
16:51sends you sliding over the edge. Some of its jumps are excruciating as well, requiring Crash to hop onto a
17:04turtle to gain enough momentum. It was made even more frustrating in the remake since,
17:09while physics and controls were updated, stage layout wasn't. There's no room for errors,
17:14and the high road eats more lives than any other in the game.
17:17Number 13. Welcome to the Machine, Echo the Dolphin.
17:36One might expect a game where you play as a dolphin to be pleasant, but that is definitely not the case
17:41with Echo. Players must combat an invasive alien army throughout the game, culminating when Echo
17:46visits their home planet.
17:56Welcome to the Machine is an auto-scroller with an abundance of paths, giving it a maze-like quality,
18:01as well as a plethora of ways to kill you. Unless you're able to memorise the exact routes,
18:06Echo is going to get crushed. If he's not, it'll be the drones that dive in from off screen that do
18:11you in. All of this is plenty awful, but it's compounded by the fact that there are
18:16no checkpoints.
18:23Number 12. Can't wait to be king, The Lion King.
18:32Even if you haven't played this tie-in, there's a good chance you've heard about its ridiculously high
18:37difficulty for a children's game. The second level, which recreates the I just can't wait to be king,
18:43is far less enjoyable to play through than it is to watch. Simba uses a variety of animals to get
18:49through different platforming sections. Riding an ostrich and jumping over quick incoming hazards is
18:54certainly tricky. However, the most irksome sections deal with monkeys that toss Simba between them.
19:08You can roar to make pink monkeys change their directions, but with most hidden off screen,
19:12there's still no telling where you'll end up without a lot of trial and error. It takes the
19:17utmost patience to make it through.
19:24Number 11. The Great Maze. Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
19:35Super Smash Bros. Brawl is often considered one of the weaker entries. Something it has above all
19:40others though, is the Subspace Emissary. A grand story mode that brings in all characters. However,
19:46right before you reach the final boss, you're hit with a level that is both boring and frustrating.
19:57Not only does The Great Maze recycle all the level environments you've already played through,
20:01but also many of the boss and mini boss fights. The layout is exceptionally annoying,
20:06since you'll often reach a dead end and have to work your way back. It's meant to act as a penultimate
20:11challenge, but all it manages to do is suck out all the fun the story mode had managed to build up.
20:16It's good to see that From Software has never lost its edge amidst the pleas for an easy mode,
20:34but that doesn't mean we can't get frustrated when its games pummel us into the ground. As an optional
20:39dungeon found during the end game, Elphiel is reserved for the most hearty of players. It's a massive castle,
20:45filled with plenty of branching paths, so there's a lot to uncover here.
20:58Unfortunately, exploring means encountering the toughest enemies the game has to offer.
21:02Given the studio's reputation, that's saying a lot. It's an onslaught of damage that you'll likely be
21:07unprepared for no matter what. It ends with a fight against Millenia, who quickly became known as the
21:12most gruelling boss in the game.
21:18Number 9. The Great Palace. Zelda 2 The Adventure of Link.
21:22The second Zelda game is probably the hardest in the whole series, so it shouldn't come as a surprise
21:34to learn that its final level is a doozy. The Great Palace has a lot of factors that can cause
21:39irritation. There are a literal ton of enemies, most of which are excessively powerful, some of which
21:45shoot fireballs from afar, and others that are so intimidating, they only show up here.
21:56Add on an absurd amount of floors to backtrack through, and plenty of traps to fall into,
22:00and navigating this gauntlet is sure to make you suffer. That's not to mention two bosses instead
22:05of one. The Thunderbird and Dark Link, both of which are naturally pretty tough.
22:16Number 8. Stage 6-2. Ninja Gaiden.
22:24Ninja Gaiden shows players how deadly the life of a ninja can be, especially in this infamous level.
22:30The objective here is as simple as it is in all the rest. Reach the end without dying too much.
22:35What makes this near impossible however, is the onslaught of enemies.
22:47Some of them are placed in cheap locations, while others dive bomb you from the side of the screen.
22:52And since any step in either direction, no matter how slight, causes those off-screen enemies to
22:56respawn, you'll have your work cut out for you. It's also a pretty lengthy stage. Considering each level
23:02has a time limit, there will be no moments of peace here.
23:12Number 7. Aztec. GoldenEye 007.
23:20We all have fond memories of pouring hours into GoldenEye, whether it be the iconic multiplayer,
23:25or the campaign recreated from the movie. But none of our fond memories are of this place.
23:30The Aztec level is unlocked after completing the story on normal difficulty, and it is much harder
23:36than the game will have prepared you for. Every enemy, including the powerful jaws, will have high
23:41powered weapons on top of improved accuracy and reaction time. Which is to say they're going to hit you,
23:47and it is going to hurt.
23:55If you die, sorry, when you die, you'll be forced to start the level over. This is where your skills
24:01as an agent are really put to the test.
24:07Number 6. The Meat Circus. Psychonauts.
24:11How did you get in my happy meadow? Nobody's supposed to know about it.
24:16You know things are bad when later releases have to fix a level's difficulty. Psychonauts task players
24:21with platforming through the minds of its various zany characters. The final level, Meat Circus, is the
24:26product of two psyches brought together. However, it also brings elements that are exceedingly maddening.
24:33One section has you escort a character with little health, while others are comprised of unforgiving
24:38platforming. You have little lives, very few checkpoints, and some of your objectives are
24:51simply unclear. It has a reputation for its massive spike in difficulty, making it an unbalanced
24:56nightmare in an otherwise extremely enjoyable game. We're grateful it was scaled back so that future
25:01players could actually end on a positive note.
25:09Number 5. Farewell. Celeste.
25:19Even some of the most beautiful, emotionally fulfilling games can have levels that make you
25:23want to rip your hair out. Celeste is one of those games. Following its release, the developers issued a
25:29free DLC titled Farewell. To say it made every other level look like a cakewalk would be an understatement,
25:35which is saying a lot considering how tough the majority of the game is.
25:47Farewell was designed with the hardcore in mind. It's incredibly long, and some areas are mostly
25:52hazards with a small save path, and with no spots to rest. It also enforces techniques you'd really only
25:58need beforehand if you were speedrunning. The temptation to turn on any of its assist modes will be strong.
26:11Number 4. Through the Fire and Flames. Guitar Hero 3. Legends of Rock.
26:22You may scoff to find a Guitar Hero track so high, but that must mean you've never tried to make it
26:27through Dragon Forces Through the Fire and the Flames. One of the shreddiest metal songs in existence,
26:32this track will have your fingers stumbling all over the keys, even on the lowest difficulty.
26:37You won't even have time to register what's happening before you're at least another dozen
26:41notes behind. And at that point, you might as well start over.
26:44That was the pain many of us felt when attempting to conquer this track. Only those who practiced
26:59over and over could perfect the timing. With songs like this, Legends of Rock was a suitable name.
27:04Number 3. The Dam. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
27:20In the late 80s, the Ninja Turtles were everywhere. Kids may have been excited to get an NES game with
27:26the heroes in a half shell, but that excitement turned sour almost immediately, with one of the most
27:31famously unfair levels in gaming history. This underwater section has you defuse 8 bombs as
27:36one of the turtles. The swimming controls are pretty poor, but that's not the worst part.
27:42There's also electric seaweed surrounding pretty much everything, leaving you little room for error.
27:47Still, maybe players could have done this slowly, if not for the time limit of 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
28:02It basically forces you to act quickly, ensuring you'll get killed in the process.
28:09Number 2. The Perfect Run. Super Mario Galaxy 2.
28:17Super Mario Galaxy 2's Grand Master Galaxy is a gauntlet, bringing together many of the mechanics,
28:26enemies and platforming elements seen across the game. It's the final level you unlock,
28:30so it naturally poses a pretty big challenge. But after you've beaten it, you then have the option
28:35to do it again. Only this time, you die in one hit, and there are no checkpoints. With so many different
28:42ways to die here, it's probable you'll experience all of them during the perfect run.
28:55It'll take everything in you not to snap your Wiimote in half once you reach the double digits.
29:00Anyone can play Mario, but only the strongest can reach this level's end.
29:04Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about
29:12our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos, or all of them.
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29:23Number 1. Turbo Tunnel. Battletoads.
29:27Battletoads is one of the most challenging, frustrating games ever created. It's even
29:36harder in co-op, since there's no way to turn off friendly fire. It reaches peak difficulty,
29:41and as a result, iconism during the Turbo Tunnel level.
29:52Following some standard beat em up gameplay, you'll be forced to make it the rest of the
29:55way on bike. The bike speed is so immense you'll barely have time to think before you crash into
30:01one of the many, many walls. But that's only the first section. As it goes on, you'll also need to
30:07hit ramps, dodge holes and other hazards, all of which come at you with lightning fast speed.
30:12This level will likely remain in infamy for all time.
30:21What's the most frustrating level you've ever conquered? How about one that made you give up
30:25completely? Share your thoughts in the comments and be sure to subscribe for more great videos every day.
30:37In the mood for more awesome gaming content? Be sure to check out this video here on MojoPlays.
30:42And don't forget to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
30:55We'll see you next time.
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