15 Hard, Frustrating and Addictive games on Switch – We list some of the hardest most frustrating and addictive games on the Nintendo Switch right now
I have been meaning to write this article for a while now. If you follow us on Youtube or our site, you will probably be aware that I have reviewed most of the hard games on the Nintendo Switch. This excludes a few which James and Jordan reviewed for Youtube and some reviews which Brian and Lachlan wrote for the website. Now I will tell you the most probable reason that this is; it’s because the team knows that I tend to have a slight temper when it comes to some of these games, and I honestly believe that they are waiting for the point where I end up with a mangled, broken Switch.
I have written this article for a bit of fun and even added a rage bar. It will show how likely it is that the game is going to induce a rage in you. There is nothing scientific about this as everyone has a different tolerance, but this is my take on it.
Juan breaks Switch due to hard game!
I am sure that the Switchwatch team will want to make a video or write an article about it when it happens so they can have a great laugh about it. I can see the title now: “Juan breaks Switch due to hard game“. Well, I have proved them wrong. I have proved I can handle the tough games, the frustrating games and the games which want me to give it that one more go so I can get as far as possible. The game that I will beat and not let it beat me.
I grew up playing some of the hardest games in the 80s and 90s, and now we have this amazing influx of difficult retro games which I love. My controllers in the 80s and 90s may not have made it out alive, but I am older, wiser and calmer now and can control the red mist. Here is our list of the hardest, most frustrating and addictive games on the Nintendo Switch! (In no particular order)
15: Thumper
Wow! This game is tough! It’s one of the best rhythm games on the Switch and was a game which was one of the first reviews we did here at SwitchWatch. This is one of those games which is high on the frustration scale but is also really addictive. The game has you as a silver beetle hurtling at great speeds along a track where you will have to press buttons in time with the rhythm to stay alive. Breakneck speeds, lanes splitting, jumps, corners all add to the difficulty. It was one of the early tough games on the Switch but one which was also an essential purchase.
Frustration 7/10
How hard 9/10
Addictiveness 8/10
Rage Bar
14: Wulverblade
We scored this game a 9/10 on our website upon release, and Jordan made a video review of this on his channel at the end of 2017. He has since joined us here at Switchwatch which of course is fantastic news!
Wulverblade is a visceral, cinematic, side scrolling beat-em-up bringing a modern twist to the classic gameplay style of the 1990’s arcade scene. There’s no hand holding in Wulverblade; it’s straight into the action, old-school style. Wulverblade skips the starter and tucks straight into the meat! This was so hard it needed a patch to allow more casual players to play! The only way to play this is in hard mode. Be aware that it may be the end of your Switch if you have a temper, so those with short fuses need not apply.
Frustration 9/10
How hard 9/10
Addictiveness 7/10
Rage Bar13: GoNNER
GoNNER is a tough-as-hell, procedurally-generated, 2D platformer with roguelike elements. The story follows the largely misunderstood and altruistic Ikk on a journey to cheer up his only friend in this world: a giant land-bound whale named Sally. Determination is key here. You will die repeatedly, but you will also keep learning how to play the game well as you progress. The further you get into Gonner, the more weapons you will be able to unlock until you stumble on your perfect playstyle and build. Until that point though be prepared to be a GoNNER a lot, and with that comes a temper inducing rage!
Frustration 9/10
How hard 9/10
Addictiveness 7/10
Rage Bar12: Death Squared
This little puzzler is great to play with a friend or partner, but the later levels are super hard. The frustration can really build up because of it. Try to not take it out on your playing partner. I have seen some very heated arguments form because of this game! For those that are amazing at solving puzzles, there are insanely hard ones to master in this as well. How about a group of four of you working together? Could be an absolute disaster or bring you closer together!
Frustration 7/10
How hard 8/10
Addictiveness 6/10
Rage Bar11: Neon Chrome
This procedurally-generated, top-down shooter is a huge amount of fun, but one death and you are having to restart a large chunk of the game. Patience is required so you can build up your arsenal, but for those with a short fuse, this game can induce some profanities. Play with a friend who is not as equally skilled and wave that friendship goodbye at least for a few days because of this game!
Frustration 6/10
How hard 7/10
Addictiveness 7/10
Rage Bar10: Spelunker Party
Oh man, this one really gives me the feeling of the red mist coming over me. Its clumsy collision detection means you will die in mid-air if you don’t make the perfect jump or if you jump from a height which is deemed to high. This game is sure to drive you nuts. The worst thing is that it’s charming, so it will grab you to keep you playing. However, I feel the frustration will be too much for many. Unfortunately, it does hinder the game from reaching that perfect combination of hard and addictive. This is one where rage quit can be common due to the mechanics.
Frustration 8.5/10
How hard 8/10
Addictiveness 5/10
Rage Bar9: Binding of Isaac Afterbirth +
This is one super addictive game, but it’s also quite difficult if you don’t have that bit of luck. This one is a procedurally generated, top-down, twin stick shooter, and the frustration comes in when you just don’t get the items you require to get deeper into the dungeon. The balance is pretty much spot on though. It is a fantastic game and one that everybody who likes these types of games should try.
Frustration 6/10
How hard 8/10
Addictiveness 9/10
Rage Bar8: Enter the Gungeon
Much like Binding of Isaac, this is a top-down, twin stick shooter with procedurally generated levels. Again, it is very difficult because if you die, you are having to start again. This is one of the best and most addictive twin stick shooters on the Nintendo Switch but also one of the most challenging. Reaching far into the Gungeon only to get killed because of a lack of concentration can make it hard to take in. James loved this game!
Frustration 6/10
How hard 8/10
Addictiveness 9/10
RAGE likeihood7: Slime San
This is a charming little platformer where you have to manoeuver our little slimeball through all manner of traps and things which are going to kill you. Just look at some of these features!
- Incredibly fast-paced and twitch-timing platforming madness!
- No time to stay still as you are chased by a wall of acid at every corner! Run, run, run!
- Being a slime has its perks. Slime your way through cracked walls and surfaces!
- Bust through brittle obstacles or tense situations with a speedy dash move.
- Slime to slow time, dash to speed it up. Feel like an absolute badass with pixel-precise manoeuvres!
It all sounds delightful, doesn’t it? Well, be prepared to bite the dust more often than not in this challenging platformer which will see you blowing a gasket from time to time. Calm down, take a walk and get a cup of tea before coming back for yet another go! Yes, it’s also incredibly addictive.
Frustration 8/10
How hard 8/10
Addictiveness 8/10
Rage Bar6: Butcher
This 2D side-scroller is meant to be played on hard. It’s one of the hardest games you will play on the Switch. It’s also so rage-inducing that you will need to cool down often. This is like Doom in 2D. Don’t wimp out and play through this on easy as it will not be as satisfying, but if it stops you from pulling your hair out, then it may be the best thing to do!
Frustration 9/10
How hard 9/10
Addictiveness 7/10
RAGE likeihood5: Celeste
One of the best 2D platformers on the Switch, and one which we rated a 9.5. This game respects your time and is challenging enough for both casuals and hardcore gamers. Please don’t use the assist mode though as that really takes away from the accomplishment. For those that want an even bigger challenge, get those Strawberries and try those B Side levels which are incredibly difficult. This game for me has the perfect balance between its challenge, frustration levels and how addictive it is.
Frustration 6/10
How hard 7/10
Addictiveness 10/10
Rage Bar4: Super Meat Boy
Super Meat Boy is a tough as nails platformer where you play as an animated cube of meat who’s trying to save his girlfriend (who happens to be made of bandages) from an evil fetus in a jar wearing a tux. This game was released back in 2010 and still holds up today. On the Switch, it has been given a new lease of life, and a bunch of new players will no doubt scream at their TV or Switch. For an extra challenge, try to collect all of the bandages to be crowned King of Platformers! I made that bit up, but if you do manage it, I will call you the King. This one should come with a rage-inducing warning though.
Frustration 9/10
How hard 9/10
Addictiveness 9/10
Rage Bar3: The End is Nigh
Another game designed by Edmund Macmillan which is frustrating and as hard as nails. It’s a 2D platformer which just never let’s up. Some levels will take you a crazy amount of concentration and dedication to complete and the game will require you to take a break quite often.This is a game which will make you think about throwing your TV out of the window or your Switch against a wall. For James, it didn’t quite have that balance between the challenge and how frustrating it can be. This one is probably for your more hardcore players. Those who want to collect the tumours will see red quite often!
Frustration 9/10
How hard 9/10
Addictiveness 7/10
Rage Bar2: Slain: Back from Hell
What can I say about Slain. This is a game which is a 2D, hack and slash platformer, and it is one which almost had me beaten on many occasions. With its mini-bosses, bosses, big bosses and all types of in-betweens, this game will have you raging. I stuck with it as I am a sucker for punishment, but it’s one of the hardest and most frustrating games I have played to date on the Switch. With no other difficulty modes, this is one for hardcore gamers only. Casuals will not be able to live with the constant deaths.
Frustration 10/10
How hard 10/10
Addictiveness 6/10
Rage Bar1: Furi
This is another game which after a while had me squeezing my Switch a little tighter than I should have been. The Mrs. had to have a word with me a few times because of the profanities coming out of my mouth which she could hear from the other room.
Furi starts off telling you that you should only be playing this game in hard mode. Otherwise, you are punished and will not get any of the unlockables in easy mode. Not one to bow down, I played this how the devs wanted me to play it: on hard! It is a bullet-hell shooter and a fighter all in one game! Yes please! Give me more but oh boy it gets hard quickly.
By the time you reach the fight in the sewers, you will wish for the game to have a little mercy on you but no! It will drag you kicking and screaming to your death over and over again until you learn it’s mechanics and the patterns. Unless you have the dedication to do that, you may as well not bother. This is one of the hardest games I have ever played period and one which induced my Furi on many occasions!
Frustration 10/10
How hard 10/10
Addictiveness 7/10
I am sure there are games which have not made this list that you believe would have been worthy additions so let me know in the comment section below. I would like to also find out which games on this list you have played and if they caused you to boil over! See you on the next Juan!
Rage Bar