Best Difficult Games on Steam

Steam currently has 7,333 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 1/16/2025.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

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 banner

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 274,106 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 269,366 positive reviews and 4,740 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 banner

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 118,268 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 116,105 positive reviews and 2,163 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 2/20/2024
Franchise Playstack
Developer LocalThunk
Publishers
Steam App Id 2379780

3. Aseprite

Aseprite is a pixel-art tool to create 2D animations, sprites, and any kind of graphics for games.

Aseprite banner

Aseprite 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 20,291 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 20,119 positive reviews and 172 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

4. 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 banner

Pizza Tower 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 64,113 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 63,077 positive reviews and 1,036 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

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 banner

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 173,142 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 169,383 positive reviews and 3,759 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 banner

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 143,905 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 140,813 positive reviews and 3,092 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. Helltaker

Helltaker is a short game about sharply dressed demon girls.

Helltaker banner

Helltaker 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 123,198 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 120,450 positive reviews and 2,748 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).

Release Date 5/11/2020
Developer vanripper
Publisher vanripper
Steam App Id 1289310

8. 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 banner

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth 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 324,215 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 315,801 positive reviews and 8,414 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

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 banner

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 69,190 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 67,830 positive reviews and 1,360 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $8.99 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 $8.99
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 banner

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 342,290 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 333,081 positive reviews and 9,209 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $13.99 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 $13.99
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.

ImageName
Actions
Hades steam charts
3,938
9/17/2020
97
$24.99
Steam Charts
Balatro steam charts
34,767
2/20/2024
97
$14.99
Steam Charts
Aseprite steam charts
4,726
2/22/2016
97
$19.99
Steam Charts
Pizza Tower steam charts
666
1/26/2023
97
$19.99
Steam Charts
Slay the Spire steam charts
10,562
1/23/2019
97
$8.49
Steam Charts
ULTRAKILL steam charts
3,213
9/3/2020
97
$24.99
Steam Charts
Helltaker steam charts
104
5/11/2020
96
Free
Steam Charts
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth steam charts
29,453
11/4/2014
96
$14.99
Steam Charts
Katana ZERO steam charts
125
4/18/2019
96
$8.99
Steam Charts
Bloons TD 6 steam charts
10,402
12/18/2018
96
$13.99
Steam Charts
Hollow Knight steam charts
9,992
2/24/2017
96
$14.99
Steam Charts
tModLoader steam charts
23,979
5/16/2020
96
Free
Steam Charts
Celeste steam charts
1,879
1/25/2018
96
$19.99
Steam Charts
Rhythm Doctor steam charts
54
2/26/2021
96
$15.99
Steam Charts
Black Myth: Wukong steam charts
8,684
8/19/2024
96
$59.99
Steam Charts
Chants of Sennaar steam charts
431
9/5/2023
96
$12.99
Steam Charts
Dead Cells steam charts
1,776
8/6/2018
96
$24.99
Steam Charts
Resident Evil 2 steam charts
1,309
1/25/2019
96
$39.99
Steam Charts
Hotline Miami steam charts
263
10/23/2012
96
$9.99
Steam Charts
Papers, Please steam charts
447
8/8/2013
96
$9.99
Steam Charts
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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. (2025, January 16). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, January 16). Hades on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, January 14). Balatro on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, January 12). Aseprite on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, January 13). Pizza Tower on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, January 17). Slay the Spire on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, January 11). ULTRAKILL on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, January 12). Helltaker on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, January 16). The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, December 29). Katana ZERO on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2025, January 17). Bloons TD 6 on Steam. Steam Store.

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