Frustration is a natural part of any hobby, however Video games can often be more stressful than any other fun endeavor. For many players, a large part of the fun of gaming is completing the toughest challenges imaginable, rather than enjoying a relaxing experience. It’s a big part of why speedruns exist and why players compare trophies or achievements, because reaching those milestones and breaking those records is part of the hobby.
Nintendo have long been known as the developer and publisher who manages to hit both ends of the hobby brilliantly. They produce cozy games on the one hand and deliver some of them on the other most punishing and stressful experiences on the other.
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10/10 Warioware: Get It Together forces players to adapt quickly
There aren’t many things more stressful than having just a handful of seconds to figure out the goal and get to work. That’s the point Warioware series for the players, and although the microgames are always easy, the stress comes from trying to see the answer before the time runs out.
Warioware: Get it together brought something new to the franchise by adding a huge roster of playable characters and giving players a random character from their chosen team. While that added variety to the game, it also increased the stress by forcing players to remember how each character works.
9/10 Super Mario Bros is still stressful decades later
There are many hard platformers out there, but the original entry into the Super Mario Series is one of the most difficult. When it was released on the NES in 1985, Super Mario Bros was groundbreaking. Although Mario had played in well over a dozen games, Super Mario Bros. was one of the first times that Luigi was a playable character.
Previous entries too Super Mario Series were difficult, but Super Mario Bros increased and became more and more difficult as the game progressed.
8/10 Mario Kart 8: Deluxe brings the hardest the series has to offer
The whole Mario Kart series is both fun and stressful thanks to a combination of the game’s competitive nature and the chaotic items that are constantly in play. It’s somehow both a great game for kids and parents to play together, and the kind of game that can instantly ruin friendships.
The reason Mario Kart is one of the most stressful Nintendo games, it often comes down to the other players as opposed to the titles themselves Mario Kart 8, Nintendo brought together various tracks from throughout the history of the series; even the most stressful.
7/10 Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong’s Quest might be the hardest
That Donkey Kong country series is known for punishing levels that can induce tantrums even for the calmest of players. The original trilogy was released in 1981-83 and took a hiatus before the second trilogy was released in 1994-96. It came back later Donkey Kong Country returns and Tropical Frostwhich makes the series one of the most difficult platformers.
While it’s hard to say which is the most stressful entry into the series, Nintendo has outdone itself Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong’s Quest. The minecart levels are often considered by fans to be the toughest in the series.
6/10 Super Smash Bros Ultimate is non-stop pressure
Super Smash Bros is one of the most popular crossover fighting series and several of its editions are among the top rated fighting games as well. Both melee for the GameCube and brawl for the Wii were fantastic games in their own right, but by bringing together all the playable characters from the series’ history, Super Smash Bros Ultimate gave players even more options.
Each installment in the series gives players split seconds to take action, and suddenly dying with the screen rapidly zoomed out is one of the most stressful experiences Nintendo has ever given players.
5/10 Punch out!!! Thanks to Mike Tyson or Mr Dream
Punch out!!! was originally released in 1987 as Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!!! before Nintendo’s license with the boxing legend expired. When that happened, his name was removed from the title, but the game remained functionally the same. Tyson originally served as the final boss, and a simple cosmetic change turned him into Mr. Dream instead.
Regardless of which version the players faced, the challenge was just as stressful. A boxing match featuring one of the toughest opponents in any fighting game, capable of finishing the entire run in a single punch.
4/10 Mario Golf: Super Rush gives players a slowly building frustration
Mario Golf: Super Rush brought a fan-favorite sports game back to the Nintendo Switch and reminded players why golf can be so stressful. Mario Golf: Super Rush features the same sand traps and lakes that fans of other golf games will be familiar with, but thanks to the Mario There are many other dangers in the area.
With danger everywhere and the ever-present hazard of simply having a bad shot, it’s easy for players to get wildly off course at a moment. When the shots pile up without even getting close to the hole, frustration quickly builds.
3/10 Super Mario Maker 2 shows the dark side of gamers
Super Mario Maker 2 allows players to create their own levels, and of course, some of them are among the most difficult Mario levels ever. Players’ creativity can border on the wicked at times, and they are totally unconstrained by the need to create levels that are accessible to the average player.
For some, putting together levels that are almost impossible is the best thing about level makers in games. For others, the fun is experiencing the stress of enduring the worst that people can throw at you.
2/10 Metroid Dread does exactly what it promises
Samus Aran is one of the strongest female characters Nintendo has developed, and she has a place as one of the most iconic in her stable. Part of what made her so lovable is that the Metroid The games were incredibly difficult and presented challenges that were guaranteed to stress out any player.
With the release of Metroid: Fear 2021 saw the series see some of its toughest enemies ever. The main antagonist, Raven Beak, really stands out, however, as various stages present players with more problems than most can handle in a single session.
1/10 Super Mario Bros 2: The Lost Levels took it to the extreme
Super Mario Bros 2: The Lost Levels was released in Japan in 1986 and peaked at No Mario Game has before or since. It is often considered the most difficult Mario Game is loved by fans as some of the levels are designed to break the spirit of even the most die-hard gamer.
Toadstools and Wind Gusts were introduced to increase the game’s difficulty, while Luigi is much more difficult to control than Mario. These factors, along with the level design itself, create one of the most stressful experiences in Nintendo history.
