10 Most Difficult Arcade Games In History

Geek Vibes Nation

15 hours ago

If you think modern microtransactions are bad, try playing some classic arcade games sometime. Sure, the game might only cost a quarter or 50 cents, but that's just the starting price. Once you run out of lives, you'll have to refill the machine. In theory, you could complete an arcade game for just a quarter. In reality, it would take weeks or months of practice.
It was not uncommon to spend £20, £50 or even more to see the ending of some old arcade games. And, of course, that was just for one playthrough. Yes, classic games were very different from what we have in the 21st century with its multitude of mods and options. But even considering that these games were designed to squeeze as much money out of you as possible, some of them.
10. Robotron: 2084
Smash TV is a notoriously tough game, and it becomes even more difficult when using two joysticks — a setup popularized by its spiritual predecessor Robotron: 2084, developed by the same Eugene Jarvis. From the moment you start, Robotron throws waves of enemies at you from all directions, filling the screen with chaos and projectiles.
Combine that relentless action with 40-year-old visuals that can blur what's actually happening, and you've got a game that was punishing back then — and nearly impossible for modern players used to cleaner design. The controls are complex, and in many emulated versions or console ports, they become even trickier to handle.
Still, for those who enjoy pure arcade challenges, it's a nostalgic masterpiece. And for gamers seeking instant thrills and fast-paced action, there are modern alternatives too — from twin-stick shooters to bonus-based online games like those found at Richard Casino app download, which deliver quick, rewarding gameplay in a very different (but equally addictive) form. 9. Defender
Side-scrolling shooters have always been known for their high difficulty. This was true of the very first game in the genre, Defender. In theory, it should have been a simple mission. Shoot the alien invaders and save the astronauts. But the enemies attack quickly and become increasingly unpredictable. And the hyperspace function does not guarantee safety. It can move you to a more advantageous part of the screen or lead to instant death.
But for the most part, Defender is at least honest. Your first few attempts will most likely result in a quick defeat, but practice can lead to pretty good results. And death is usually the result of your own stupid mistakes, not unfair AI—kind of like playing a kenku DnD, where creative limitations force you to think more carefully rather than rely on brute force. 8. Zaxxon
As we've seen, when games start experimenting with new ideas, they tend to become much more difficult than the games that inspired them. Zaxxon is actually one of the first games with an isometric perspective. This gave it a truly unique look that helped it stand out in crowded arcades (and which is still relevant today), but it also meant that players now had to keep track of their height and position to avoid certain obstacles.
Add to that the fact that your ship is constantly moving forward at a speed that is impossible for you to comprehend (and that you can run out of fuel), and it's easy to see why so many playthroughs quickly end in disaster. Nevertheless, it's still a very fun and unusual game. 7. Storm
Storm remains one of the most unique games ever offered by arcade machines. At a time when most developers were trying to replicate the success of Pac-Man or Space Invaders, its joystick controller and vector graphics (an early attempt at first-person gameplay) stood out as something completely new for the era. 'Storm' is more like a psychedelic experience than a traditional arcade game.
The unique gameplay is one source of difficulty, but there is also a lot of content here, and it's easy to get lost if you try to complete all 99 levels (and even more). Of course, you can choose which level to start with, but that won't help much if you don't have the skills to take on the game's ruthless enemies. 6. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
Fighting games have always been known for their short story modes. If you're good at them, you can get through most of them in 10-15 minutes. Therefore, early arcade fighting games had a solution that ensured most players would continue playing: absolutely brutal, blatantly unfair difficulty. Playing Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 is like playing a slot machine. You only win when the AI randomly decides it's time for you to win.
To be honest, you'll probably defeat the first couple of opponents without much trouble, but around the third match, the computer will turn into Agent Smith from The Matrix and resist everything you throw at it as soon as you make a move. It's silly and manipulative. Fortunately, such tricks are much less common now that fighting games have left arcades. 5. Missile Command
Missile Command remains one of the most intense games despite its apparent simplicity. You control three anti-missile batteries. But the incoming missiles are unstoppable, and your ammunition is limited. Of course, you can stop some of these missiles, but not all of them. You will never be able to stop them all. A devastating defeat is inevitable. The only question is how soon it will come.
A handful of experienced players have completed all 256 levels of Missile Command; it takes hours (a lifetime in arcade game terms). Most players don't even come close. After all, the goal of Missile Command is not to win, but to resist the inevitable for as long as possible. 4. Stargate
Stargate is a sequel to Defender, also known as Defender II in some versions, so that should give you some idea of the difficulty level. While the basic gameplay remains the same, everything now happens even faster, and new enemies have more chaotic attack patterns and even homing attacks.
But what really makes Stargate such a challenging game is that no matter how much time you spend learning the game, pattern recognition will only help you so much. This is one of those games that tries its hardest to push your hand-eye coordination to the limit. If you lack skills in this area, you will always struggle to get a high score. 3. Ghosts 'n Goblins
What list of difficult games would be complete without Ghosts 'n Goblins? The NES port may be more well-known these days, but the franchise actually began with arcade machines. The original arcade game is just as incredibly difficult as its console version. In fact, it may even be more difficult, as there were no cheats for this version of the game back in the day. You were either good enough to beat the game or you died. A lot. And you just kept paying to keep playing.
Although this game is more 'fair' than other arcade games, it is still designed to make you spend as much money as possible. Two hits kill you. Enemies appear randomly from all sides. Projectiles can fill the entire screen, and you have to perform many difficult jumps. And you have to go through all of this twice to see the real ending of the game. Good luck. 2. Gravitar
The lead developers of Gravitar have publicly admitted that they cannot complete even the most difficult levels and certainly did not expect players to be able to do so. That alone should tell you almost everything you need to know about the incredibly high level of difficulty.
Everything in this game is designed to test your patience. First, there's the engine controls. Yes, Asteroids was a pioneer in this area, and many gamers were familiar with this type of control when Gravitar came out, but it's still considered very sensitive. Then you have to consider how important gravity is to the gameplay. Wherever you go, it always pulls you somewhere, so you have to take that into account. But then Gravitar starts to mock you by adding reverse gravity and, eventually, invisible landscapes. In the end, you will experience the joys of reverse gravity in invisible landscapes. If it had a controller that could be thrown across the room, most players would have done so by that point. 1. Sinister
'Beware, I am alive.' These iconic words from Sinister have meant almost instant death for countless gamers over the years. In terms of gameplay, Sinister is actually one of the most innovative games of its time, although these innovations are what make it so challenging. You find yourself in an open space arena and must start collecting 'Sinibombs' by shooting at planetoid-like objects. This is the only weapon that can defeat Sinister when he awakens. Oh, and if you don't destroy it quickly enough, its minions will be able to regenerate.
Although Sinister isn't actually on the playing field at the start of each level, it quickly assembles itself. When he's ready, he charges at you with the fury of an enraged grizzly bear. One hit and your ship is destroyed. Basically, everything works against you from the start to keep your score low and you keep putting quarters into the game. Rarely does a game last more than a few minutes.