Best Unforgiving Games on Steam

Steam currently has 180 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 5/4/2024.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

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? banner

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 2,556 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,498 positive reviews and 58 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 banner

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 33,987 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 32,159 positive reviews and 1,828 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 banner

XCOM: Enemy Unknown has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 53,871 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 50,827 positive reviews and 3,044 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $29.99 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 $29.99
Release Date 10/11/2012
Franchise XCOM Franchise
Developers
Publishers
Steam App Id 200510

4. 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 banner

X-COM: UFO Defense has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,591 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,401 positive reviews and 190 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $4.99 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 $4.99
Release Date 9/4/2008
Franchise XCOM Franchise
Developer MicroProse Software, Inc
Publisher 2K
Steam App Id 7760

5. 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 banner

Blasphemous 2 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 8,890 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,297 positive reviews and 593 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $17.99 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 $17.99
Release Date 8/24/2023
Franchise Team17 Digital
Developer The Game Kitchen
Publisher Team17
Steam App Id 2114740

6. WORLD OF HORROR

Experience the quiet terror of this 1-bit love letter to Junji Ito and H.P. Lovecraft. Navigate a hellish roguelite reality with turn-based combat and unforgiving choices. Experiment with your deck of event cards to discover new forms of cosmic horror in every playthrough. The inevitable awaits...

WORLD OF HORROR banner

WORLD OF HORROR has achieved a Player Score of 90, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,791 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,153 positive reviews and 638 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 10/19/2023
Franchise PLAYISM
Developer panstasz
Publishers
Steam App Id 913740

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 banner

XENOTILT: HOSTILE PINBALL ACTION has achieved a Player Score of 89, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 346 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 337 positive reviews and 9 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.99 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 $14.99
Release Date 8/18/2023
Developers
Publisher FLARB LLC
Steam App Id 2008980

8. 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 banner

DEMON'S TILT has achieved a Player Score of 89, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 821 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 776 positive reviews and 45 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

9. Boson X

Boson X is a fast-paced rotational runner set in a particle accelerator.

Boson X banner

Boson X has achieved a Player Score of 88, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,559 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,443 positive reviews and 116 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $2.49 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Boson X on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $2.49
Release Date 9/15/2014
Developers
Publisher Shape Shop
Steam App Id 302610

10. Red Comrades Save the Galaxy: Reloaded

Vasily Ivanovich Chapaev and his fellow aide Petka realize that someone has stolen the Red banner from the HQ. Although it's not the end of the story yet! Somewhere on the moon, legions of alien invaders prepare to conquer Earth. But could such a little thing really give a scare to the Red Army heroes?

Red Comrades Save the Galaxy: Reloaded banner

Red Comrades Save the Galaxy: Reloaded has achieved a Player Score of 87, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Unforgiving games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 769 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 715 positive reviews and 54 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $3.99 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 $3.99
Release Date 2/18/2016
Developer Buka Development
Publisher ESDigital Games
Steam App Id 415610

More Unforgiving Games

Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Unforgiving games available on Steam.

ImageName
Actions
Will You Snail? steam charts
6
3/9/2022
93
$10.99
Steam Charts
Super Meat Boy steam charts
67
11/30/2010
93
$14.99
Steam Charts
XCOM: Enemy Unknown steam charts
493
10/11/2012
93
$29.99
Steam Charts
X-COM: UFO Defense steam charts
36
9/4/2008
91
$4.99
Steam Charts
Blasphemous 2 steam charts
324
8/24/2023
91
$17.99
Steam Charts
WORLD OF HORROR steam charts
47
10/19/2023
90
$19.99
Steam Charts
XENOTILT: HOSTILE PINBALL ACTION steam charts
3
8/18/2023
89
$14.99
Steam Charts
DEMON'S TILT steam charts
2
12/13/2019
89
$19.99
Steam Charts
Boson X steam charts
6
9/15/2014
88
$2.49
Steam Charts
Red Comrades Save the Galaxy: Reloaded steam charts
5
2/18/2016
87
$3.99
Steam Charts
DARK SOULS™ II steam charts
173
4/25/2014
87
$39.99
Steam Charts
The Pale Beyond steam charts
4
2/24/2023
85
$19.99
Steam Charts
Exodus Borealis steam charts
1
11/18/2021
85
$19.99
Steam Charts
Ingression steam charts
1
5/3/2024
85
$8.99
Steam Charts
Last Train Home steam charts
104
11/28/2023
84
$39.99
Steam Charts
Sunblaze steam charts
2
6/3/2021
84
$3.74
Steam Charts
Rustled Pete steam charts
1
2/28/2023
84
$2.99
Steam Charts
Knight And Mourning steam charts
1
4/11/2023
84
$3.99
Steam Charts
Dead steam charts
1
4/6/2018
83
$4.99
Steam Charts
Sockventure steam charts
2
5/11/2021
83
$14.99
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. (2024, May 4). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 4). Will You Snail? on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, April 22). Super Meat Boy on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, April 22). XCOM: Enemy Unknown on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, March 22). X-COM: UFO Defense on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 8). Blasphemous 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). WORLD OF HORROR on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, April 5). XENOTILT: HOSTILE PINBALL ACTION on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, May 8). DEMON'S TILT on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, January 29). Boson X on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2024, April 9). Red Comrades Save the Galaxy: Reloaded on Steam. Steam Store.

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