Summary
- RPGs like Dark Souls and Elden Ring offer challenging combat scenarios that can be stressful to navigate.
- Players must carefully strategize and optimize their approach to avoid dire consequences in these RPGs.
- The pressure of losing progress and facing tough encounters makes these RPGs both daunting and rewarding.
Role-playing games appeal to a broad audience, which is why these titles need to be welcoming. However, that shouldn't stop some RPGs from making players face challenging combat scenarios that they will only be able to overcome by the skin of their teeth.
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This can make for some stressful moments, with players doing everything in their power not to lose hard-earned progress. A single misstep can be dire in these RPGs, forcing players to endure humiliating losses that are often quite hard to digest. For those brave enough to dive in, here's a look at some of the most stressful RPGs that gamers can check out.
8 Final Fantasy Tactics
Spending A Ton Of Time On A Battle Only To Lose Is A Horrible Feeling
Final Fantasy Tactics
- Released
- June 20, 1997
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
With The Ivalice Chronicles coming sooner rather than later, a new batch of gamers will soon realize why this title is hailed as one of the hardest Final Fantasy games ever made. In Final Fantasy Tactics, players must ensure that everything, from their positioning to their jobs, is top-notch in order to deal with the game's toughest encounters.
Multiple saves are a must; otherwise, players might corner themselves at a point where they will face one of the most infamous difficulty spikes in gaming history. The worst part is that battles can take a long time, and a single mistake will force players to start from the very beginning.
7 Elden Ring
One Of The Easier FromSoftware Games, But It Can Still Be Pretty Stressful When The Difficulty Spike Kicks In
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Elden Ring is one of the greatest video games ever made, with its focus on an open world allowing players to find numerous avenues to get stronger and tackle bosses without giving up. However, the pressure of losing Runes is persistent and can make the game feel pretty stressful.
The first thing most players do when they die is head back to the point of their death to get their Runes back. Until they recover these precious resources, they will operate in a state of limbo and be constantly stressed out until this goal is achieved.
6 Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne
The SMT Mechanics Will Be Beaten Into Players Until They Can Finally Beat The Bosses Wearing Them Down
Shin Megami Tensei 3
- Released
- October 12, 2004
- ESRB
- M // Blood, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
The Press Turn system was simple yet groundbreaking when it was introduced in Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne. All of a sudden, players had to avoid any susceptibility to weaknesses and improve their agility to dodge enemy blows.
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This was easier said than done in Nocturne, where players could be obliterated by bosses even after making sure that their party is tailored for the encounter. A single mistake in this title can have dire consequences for the player and force them to lose precious progress, which can be pretty stressful.
5 Dark Souls
Combat Is Challenging, And Some Bosses Can Be Downright Harrowing To Deal With
Dark Souls
- Released
- September 22, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike, Adventure
Dark Souls is one of the hardest video games ever made, with players starting out with little to nothing before eventually learning how the game works. Slowly, they'll discover how to craft a good build that can help them take out bosses who are giving them a tough time, which can make progressing feel a lot less daunting.
However, all the preparation in the world won't stop the wave of panic and stress that crashes over players when they take on a boss that's incredibly challenging and causes them to die over and over again. The worst part is that players must always acquire their Souls after death, making the moments after one's demise feel all the more harrowing.
4 Divinity: Original Sin 2
Physical And Magical Armor Makes Combat Stressful When Party Members Don't Have Great Equipment
Divinity: Original Sin 2
- Released
- September 14, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The shift to Physical and Magical Armor made combat more tactical in Divinity: Original Sin 2 than ever before. However, it also caused players to stay in alert mode whenever the equipment their party members wore wasn't up to snuff.
Even with their Physical and Magical Armor values at reasonable levels, players need to be on their toes in every combat encounter. The turn economy must be shifted in the player's direction by preventing enemies from taking moves. If players fail to optimize their approach here, then watching numerous foes wear down on vulnerable party members can make for a painful sight.
3 Bloodborne
The Swift Combat And Nightmarish Bosses Can Make For Some Stressful Battles
Bloodborne
- Released
- March 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The swift combat in Bloodborne makes it a huge departure from the slow and plodding combat of Dark Souls. Players must adjust to this unreal pace and use a mix of melee weapons and firearms to take out their foes.
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The oppressive atmosphere of this game adds to the tension of every encounter, with some enemies and bosses being so scary that many players will be thrown into a state of panic. Keeping a cool head and not getting frustrated after every death is a must for those who want to conquer this incredible action RPG.
2 Darkest Dungeon
A Gothic Horror RPG That Is Ridiculously Difficult
Darkest Dungeon
- Released
- January 19, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Alcohol Reference, Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The turn-based combat in Darkest Dungeon is extremely challenging and not to be taken lightly. From the very first expedition the party makes in a dungeon, they'll realize just how out of their depth they are.
It's hard not to let panic take over when the best members of the party end up succumbing to the dark forces in each dungeon. Players should ideally measure their approach and retreat if things get too harrowing, but most will naturally want to press on further, only to end up in a bad spot as their heroes are taken down by a ridiculously tough encounter that was impossible to see coming.
1 UnderRail
An Old-School CRPG Where Combat Is A Nightmare To Deal With
UnderRail
- Released
- December 18, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Those who want to check out a modern take on classic CRPGs like the first two Fallout games will likely love what UnderRail brings to the table. However, this title is not for impatient gamers, especially once they see how hard the combat is.
Without proper knowledge of how systems interact in this title, it's easy to die against basic enemies or veer into an area where death is a certainty. This can make every combat encounter feel daunting, and players must keep a cool head to ensure their survival in these hard battles.
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