Best Unforgiving Games on Steam
Steam currently has 259 Unforgiving 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. Unforgiving game rankings were last updated on 1/16/2026.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
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1. Will You Snail?
A unique platformer where an evil AI predicts your movement. Dodge AI-spawned traps, solve optional puzzles and uncover the dark secrets of the simulation. Now with a level editor and infinite community-made content!
Will You Snail? holds the #1 spot for "best Unforgiving game on Steam" with a Player Score of 93. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,775 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,700 positive reviews and 75 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $10.99 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 | $10.99 |
| Release Date | 3/9/2022 |
| Developer | Jonas Tyroller |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1115050 |
2. Super Meat Boy
The infamous, tough-as-nails platformer comes to Steam with a playable Head Crab character (Steam-exclusive)!
Super Meat Boy has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 36,568 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 34,562 positive reviews and 2,006 negative reviews — making it "Very 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 | 11/30/2010 |
| Developer | Team Meat |
| Steam App Id | 40800 |
3. XCOM: Enemy Unknown
The XCOM: Enemy Unknown - Slingshot Pack is Now Available!
XCOM: Enemy Unknown has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 57,719 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 53,783 positive reviews and 3,936 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $5.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play XCOM: Enemy Unknown on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $5.99 |
| Release Date | 10/11/2012 |
| Franchise | XCOM Franchise |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 200510 |
4. Cairn
Reach a summit never climbed before in this survival-climber from the creators of Furi and Haven. Climb anywhere and plan your route carefully, managing pitons and resources to survive unforgiving Mount Kami. Discover what Aava is willing to sacrifice to achieve the ascent of a lifetime.
Cairn has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,284 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,759 positive reviews and 525 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $26.99 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 | $26.99 |
| Release Date | 1/29/2026 |
| Franchise | The Game Bakers |
| Developer | The Game Bakers |
| Publisher | The Game Bakers |
| Steam App Id | 1588550 |
5. X-COM: UFO Defense
You are in control of X-COM: an organization formed by the world's governments to fight the ever-increasing alien menace.
X-COM: UFO Defense has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,913 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,713 positive reviews and 200 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $1.24 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run X-COM: UFO Defense on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $1.24 |
| Release Date | 9/4/2008 |
| Franchise | XCOM Franchise |
| Developer | MicroProse Software, Inc |
| Publisher | 2K |
| Steam App Id | 7760 |
6. SNØ: Ultimate Freeriding
SNØ is a minimalistic freeriding game. Push your limits for the high score, or simply enjoy the unforgiving procedural wilderness.
SNØ: Ultimate Freeriding has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 658 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 640 positive reviews and 18 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $11.99 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 | $11.99 |
| Release Date | 2/17/2025 |
| Developer | Studio Gauntlet |
| Publisher | Studio Gauntlet |
| Steam App Id | 2943150 |
7. XENOTILT: HOSTILE PINBALL ACTION
LIGHTNING STRIKES AGAIN!! XENOTILT, the sequel to the cult hit, DEMON'S TILT. Get ready for another PINBALL FANTASY. XENOTILT shreds the envelope with face-melting gameplay & graphics.
XENOTILT: HOSTILE PINBALL ACTION has achieved a Player Score of 90, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 717 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 695 positive reviews and 22 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 | 11/12/2024 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | FLARB LLC |
| Steam App Id | 2008980 |
8. DARK SOULS™: Prepare To Die™ Edition
Dark Souls will be the most deeply challenging game you play this year. Can you live through a million deaths and earn your legacy?
DARK SOULS™: Prepare To Die™ Edition has achieved a Player Score of 90, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 78,388 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 71,710 positive reviews and 6,678 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $0.00 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run DARK SOULS™: Prepare To Die™ Edition on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 8/24/2012 |
| Developer | FromSoftware Inc. |
| Publisher | BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment |
| Steam App Id | 211420 |
9. DEMON'S TILT
TURBO CHARGED PINBALL RETURNS! Now with bigger sprites, more baddies, more secrets & MORE BULLETS! Demon's Tilt pushes the limits of the Video Pinball genre with SHMUP & Hack N' Slash elements.
DEMON'S TILT has achieved a Player Score of 89, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 979 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 926 positive reviews and 53 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 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 | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 12/13/2019 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | FLARB LLC |
| Steam App Id | 422510 |
10. Blasphemous 2
The Penitent One awakens as Blasphemous 2 joins him once again in an endless struggle against The Miracle. Dive into a perilous new world filled with mysteries and secrets to discover, and tear your way through monstrous foes that stand between you and your quest to end the cycle once and for all.
Blasphemous 2 has achieved a Player Score of 88, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 17,086 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,477 positive reviews and 1,609 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.89 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 | $9.89 |
| Release Date | 8/24/2023 |
| Franchise | Team17 Digital |
| Developer | The Game Kitchen |
| Publisher | Team17 |
| Steam App Id | 2114740 |
More Unforgiving Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Unforgiving games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3/9/2022 | 93 | $10.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 74 | 11/30/2010 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 1,048 | 10/11/2012 | 92 | $5.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 5,185 | 1/29/2026 | 92 | $26.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 27 | 9/4/2008 | 91 | $1.24 | Steam Charts | |
| 9 | 2/17/2025 | 91 | $11.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 4 | 11/12/2024 | 90 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 105 | 8/24/2012 | 90 | ??? | Steam Charts | |
| 6 | 12/13/2019 | 89 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 479 | 8/24/2023 | 88 | $9.89 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 9/15/2014 | 88 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 8 | 2/18/2016 | 87 | $3.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 12 | 10/19/2023 | 87 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 126 | 4/25/2014 | 87 | $39.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 12/11/2024 | 87 | $0.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 14 | 2/24/2023 | 85 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 67 | 10/3/2024 | 85 | $11.04 | Steam Charts | |
 | 175 | 11/28/2023 | 84 | $15.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 4/11/2023 | 84 | $0.67 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 6/3/2021 | 84 | $14.99 | 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. (2026, January 16). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 16). Will You Snail? on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 13). Super Meat Boy on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 5). XCOM: Enemy Unknown on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 10). Cairn on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 5). X-COM: UFO Defense on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 10). SNØ: Ultimate Freeriding on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 8). XENOTILT: HOSTILE PINBALL ACTION on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, May 7). DARK SOULS™: Prepare To Die™ Edition on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, January 11). DEMON'S TILT on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, February 10). Blasphemous 2 on Steam. Steam Store.