Best Difficult Games on Steam
Steam currently has 7,241 Difficult games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Difficult game rankings were last updated on 12/5/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free difficult games on Steam
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1. Hades
Defy the god of the dead as you hack and slash out of the Underworld in this rogue-like dungeon crawler from the creators of Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre.
Hades holds the #1 spot for "best Difficult game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 271,503 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 266,865 positive reviews and 4,638 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $24.99 |
| Release Date | 9/17/2020 |
| Franchise | Supergiant Games |
| Developer | Supergiant Games |
| Publisher | Supergiant Games |
| Steam App Id | 1145360 |
2. Balatro
The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.
Balatro has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Difficult games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 95,232 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 93,616 positive reviews and 1,616 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $13.49 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $13.49 |
| Release Date | 2/20/2024 |
| Franchise | Playstack |
| Developer | LocalThunk |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2379780 |
3. Pizza Tower
Pizza Tower is a fast paced 2D platformer, with an emphasis on movement, exploration and score attack. Featuring highly stylized pixel art inspired by the cartoons from the '90s, and a highly energetic soundtrack.
Pizza Tower has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Difficult games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 63,129 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 62,132 positive reviews and 997 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 1/26/2023 |
| Developer | Tour De Pizza |
| Publisher | Tour De Pizza |
| Steam App Id | 2231450 |
4. Aseprite
Aseprite is a pixel-art tool to create 2D animations, sprites, and any kind of graphics for games.
Aseprite has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Difficult games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 19,867 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 19,692 positive reviews and 175 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Aseprite on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 2/22/2016 |
| Developer | David Capello |
| Publisher | Igara Studio |
| Steam App Id | 431730 |
5. Slay the Spire
We fused card games and roguelikes together to make the best single player deckbuilder we could. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, discover relics of immense power, and Slay the Spire!
Slay the Spire has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Difficult games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 169,936 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 166,257 positive reviews and 3,679 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $8.49 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $8.49 |
| Release Date | 1/23/2019 |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 646570 |
6. ULTRAKILL
ULTRAKILL is a fast-paced ultraviolent retro FPS combining the skill-based style scoring from character action games with unadulterated carnage inspired by the best shooters of the '90s. Rip apart your foes with varied destructive weapons and shower in their blood to regain your health.
ULTRAKILL has achieved a Player Score of 97, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Difficult games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 137,657 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 134,725 positive reviews and 2,932 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $24.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $24.99 |
| Release Date | 9/3/2020 |
| Franchise | New Blood Interactive |
| Developer | Arsi "Hakita" Patala |
| Publisher | New Blood Interactive |
| Steam App Id | 1229490 |
7. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a randomly generated action RPG shooter with heavy Rogue-like elements. Following Isaac on his journey players will find bizarre treasures that change Isaac’s form giving him super human abilities and enabling him to fight off droves of mysterious creatures, discover secrets and fight his way to safety.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Difficult games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 314,987 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 306,925 positive reviews and 8,062 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 11/4/2014 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Nicalis, Inc. |
| Steam App Id | 250900 |
8. Helltaker
Helltaker is a short game about sharply dressed demon girls.
Helltaker has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Difficult games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 122,282 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 119,558 positive reviews and 2,724 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Helltaker on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
9. Katana ZERO
Katana ZERO is a stylish neo-noir, action-platformer featuring breakneck action and instant-death combat. Slash, dash, and manipulate time to unravel your past in a beautifully brutal acrobatic display.
Katana ZERO has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Difficult games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 68,546 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 67,199 positive reviews and 1,347 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 4/18/2019 |
| Developer | Askiisoft |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 460950 |
10. Bloons TD 6
The Bloons are back and better than ever! Get ready for a massive 3D tower defense game designed to give you hours and hours of the best strategy gaming available.
Bloons TD 6 has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Difficult games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 338,179 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 329,098 positive reviews and 9,081 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.19 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Bloons TD 6 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $4.19 |
| Release Date | 12/18/2018 |
| Franchise | Ninja Kiwi Games |
| Developer | Ninja Kiwi |
| Publisher | Ninja Kiwi |
| Steam App Id | 960090 |
More Difficult Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Difficult games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,433 | 9/17/2020 | 97 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 10,070 | 2/20/2024 | 97 | $13.49 | Steam Charts | |
| 196 | 1/26/2023 | 97 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 3,706 | 2/22/2016 | 97 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 13,047 | 1/23/2019 | 97 | $8.49 | Steam Charts | |
| 1,144 | 9/3/2020 | 97 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 26,323 | 11/4/2014 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 61 | 5/11/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 96 | 4/18/2019 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 8,786 | 12/18/2018 | 96 | $4.19 | Steam Charts | |
 | 6,419 | 2/24/2017 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 28,295 | 5/16/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,342 | 1/25/2018 | 96 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 65 | 2/26/2021 | 96 | $15.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 67,737 | 8/20/2024 | 96 | $59.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 4,170 | 8/6/2018 | 96 | $12.49 | Steam Charts | |
 | 170 | 9/5/2023 | 96 | $12.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 150 | 10/23/2012 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,149 | 1/24/2019 | 96 | $39.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 233 | 8/8/2013 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 5). Hades on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 12). Balatro on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 11). Pizza Tower on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 10). Aseprite on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 30). Slay the Spire on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 9). ULTRAKILL on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 12). The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 5). Helltaker on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 4). Katana ZERO on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, December 12). Bloons TD 6 on Steam. Steam Store.