Top 10 Hardest 2D Platformers of All Time

these games ain’t no hop skip and a jump

these games ain’t no hop skip and a jump welcome to watchmojo.com and she’ll be

welcome to watchmojo.com and she’ll be

welcome to watchmojo.com and she’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 hardest 2d platformers for more gaming

hardest 2d platformers for more gaming

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mojo plays for in-depth reviews thoughtful video essays detailed

thoughtful video essays detailed

thoughtful video essays detailed character origins and insightful

character origins and insightful

character origins and insightful commentary mojo plays games smarter for

commentary mojo plays games smarter for

commentary mojo plays games smarter for this list we looked at video games from

this list we looked at video games from

this list we looked at video games from the platforming genre and ranked them

the platforming genre and ranked them

the platforming genre and ranked them based on their high levels of challenge

based on their high levels of challenge

based on their high levels of challenge [Music]

whippin gamers of the NES age into shape

whippin gamers of the NES age into shape with its staggering levels comprised of

with its staggering levels comprised of

with its staggering levels comprised of jumping across the perilous terrain and

jumping across the perilous terrain and

jumping across the perilous terrain and battling terrifying if pixelated enemies

battling terrifying if pixelated enemies

battling terrifying if pixelated enemies Castlevania was and still technically is

Castlevania was and still technically is

Castlevania was and still technically is one of the hardest action side-scrollers

one of the hardest action side-scrollers

one of the hardest action side-scrollers around there are new shortage of tools

around there are new shortage of tools

around there are new shortage of tools and power-ups to aid the player along in

and power-ups to aid the player along in

and power-ups to aid the player along in their quest but the game dishes out an

their quest but the game dishes out an

their quest but the game dishes out an equal amount of punishment to constantly

equal amount of punishment to constantly

equal amount of punishment to constantly keep that player on their toes enemies

keep that player on their toes enemies

keep that player on their toes enemies and bosses can very easily deplete your

and bosses can very easily deplete your

and bosses can very easily deplete your life bar but even more or how a

life bar but even more or how a

life bar but even more or how a projectile can completely ruin an

projectile can completely ruin an

projectile can completely ruin an otherwise well time jump Castlevania

otherwise well time jump Castlevania

otherwise well time jump Castlevania will beat you down six ways from Sunday

will beat you down six ways from Sunday

will beat you down six ways from Sunday but it’s worth it in the end stay strong

but it’s worth it in the end stay strong

but it’s worth it in the end stay strong [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number 9 ninja gaiden we imagined that

number 9 ninja gaiden we imagined that

number 9 ninja gaiden we imagined that it would be tough to be as stealthy and

it would be tough to be as stealthy and

it would be tough to be as stealthy and tactical as a master ninja and somehow

tactical as a master ninja and somehow

tactical as a master ninja and somehow with the limited technology of the time

with the limited technology of the time

with the limited technology of the time the original ninja gaiden managed to

the original ninja gaiden managed to

the original ninja gaiden managed to simulate the action and acrobatics of a

simulate the action and acrobatics of a

simulate the action and acrobatics of a martial artist pretty much effortlessly

martial artist pretty much effortlessly

martial artist pretty much effortlessly however just cuz you can pull off

however just cuz you can pull off

however just cuz you can pull off dazzling jumps and flips doesn’t mean

dazzling jumps and flips doesn’t mean

dazzling jumps and flips doesn’t mean it’s gonna be an easy road to the finish

it’s gonna be an easy road to the finish

it’s gonna be an easy road to the finish line as your timing needs to be

line as your timing needs to be

line as your timing needs to be absolutely spot-on to safely land on

absolutely spot-on to safely land on

absolutely spot-on to safely land on surfaces and avoid various threats

surfaces and avoid various threats

surfaces and avoid various threats unscathed the heavy emphasis on combat

unscathed the heavy emphasis on combat

unscathed the heavy emphasis on combat in the game also means that you need to

in the game also means that you need to

in the game also means that you need to be able to gauge enemy attack patterns

be able to gauge enemy attack patterns

be able to gauge enemy attack patterns requiring an offensive prowess to couple

requiring an offensive prowess to couple

requiring an offensive prowess to couple with platforming skills honestly it

with platforming skills honestly it

with platforming skills honestly it might be easier just to be a real ninja

number eight battle kid Fortress of

number eight battle kid Fortress of payroll

we have games like Castlevania and Ninja

we have games like Castlevania and Ninja Gaiden to thank for the inception of the

Gaiden to thank for the inception of the

Gaiden to thank for the inception of the cruel harsh experience that is battle

cruel harsh experience that is battle

cruel harsh experience that is battle kid to show a quote appreciation for the

kid to show a quote appreciation for the

kid to show a quote appreciation for the unforgiving titles of days gone by this

unforgiving titles of days gone by this

unforgiving titles of days gone by this indie game aimed to recapture the

indie game aimed to recapture the

indie game aimed to recapture the intensity of old-school gaming but in a

intensity of old-school gaming but in a

intensity of old-school gaming but in a way it actually kind of exceeds it

way it actually kind of exceeds it

way it actually kind of exceeds it battle kid is infamous for its inclusion

battle kid is infamous for its inclusion

battle kid is infamous for its inclusion of one-hit kills you see sure there are

of one-hit kills you see sure there are

of one-hit kills you see sure there are infinite continues but when you’ve

infinite continues but when you’ve

infinite continues but when you’ve replayed the same sequence only to die

replayed the same sequence only to die

replayed the same sequence only to die dozens of times in a row right the

dozens of times in a row right the

dozens of times in a row right the repetition may spark some outbursts of

repetition may spark some outbursts of

repetition may spark some outbursts of unparalleled gamer rage

unparalleled gamer rage

unparalleled gamer rage [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number seven Mega Man 9

number seven Mega Man 9

number seven Mega Man 9 [Music]

[Music]

[Music] remember how hard old NES Mega Man games

remember how hard old NES Mega Man games

remember how hard old NES Mega Man games work Capcom remembers that’s why while

work Capcom remembers that’s why while

work Capcom remembers that’s why while producing yet another entry in the

producing yet another entry in the

producing yet another entry in the series the devs decided to stick with

series the devs decided to stick with

series the devs decided to stick with tradition and make this ninth

tradition and make this ninth

tradition and make this ninth installment mega friggin hard all of the

installment mega friggin hard all of the

installment mega friggin hard all of the usual suspects are here hard to land

usual suspects are here hard to land

usual suspects are here hard to land jumping sections unforgiving boss

jumping sections unforgiving boss

jumping sections unforgiving boss battles and deadly enemies scattered

battles and deadly enemies scattered

battles and deadly enemies scattered around every nook and cranny especially

around every nook and cranny especially

around every nook and cranny especially considering that this was released in

considering that this was released in

considering that this was released in the modern landscape of 2008 where we’ve

the modern landscape of 2008 where we’ve

the modern landscape of 2008 where we’ve become accustomed to games holding your

become accustomed to games holding your

become accustomed to games holding your hand Mega Man 9 was a wake-up call and a

hand Mega Man 9 was a wake-up call and a

hand Mega Man 9 was a wake-up call and a serious challenge it’s satisfying if you

serious challenge it’s satisfying if you

serious challenge it’s satisfying if you actually beat it but big emphasis on the

actually beat it but big emphasis on the

actually beat it but big emphasis on the fifth part

fifth part

fifth part [Music]

number six Super Mario Brothers the Lost

number six Super Mario Brothers the Lost Levels the original Super Mario Brothers

Levels the original Super Mario Brothers

Levels the original Super Mario Brothers was a juggernaut and single-handedly

was a juggernaut and single-handedly

was a juggernaut and single-handedly revitalized interest in the medium of

revitalized interest in the medium of

revitalized interest in the medium of video games while it was a pretty hefty

video games while it was a pretty hefty

video games while it was a pretty hefty challenge but once Japanese exclusive

challenge but once Japanese exclusive

challenge but once Japanese exclusive Lost Levels aka Super Mario Brothers –

Lost Levels aka Super Mario Brothers –

Lost Levels aka Super Mario Brothers – the real version must have had people

the real version must have had people

the real version must have had people tearing their hair out in aggravation by

tearing their hair out in aggravation by

tearing their hair out in aggravation by comparison the difficulty level here

comparison the difficulty level here

comparison the difficulty level here picks up right where the original game

picks up right where the original game

picks up right where the original game left off and only escalates from there

left off and only escalates from there

left off and only escalates from there alongside the more understandable

alongside the more understandable

alongside the more understandable obstacles like tough areas to navigate

obstacles like tough areas to navigate

obstacles like tough areas to navigate and tons of bad guys and Ando felt

and tons of bad guys and Ando felt

and tons of bad guys and Ando felt compelled to throw in irritating roblox

compelled to throw in irritating roblox

compelled to throw in irritating roblox such as poison mushrooms warp zones can

such as poison mushrooms warp zones can

such as poison mushrooms warp zones can send you backwards instead of forwards

send you backwards instead of forwards

send you backwards instead of forwards and gusts of wind that affect the

and gusts of wind that affect the

and gusts of wind that affect the trajectory of your jumps Nintendo

trajectory of your jumps Nintendo

trajectory of your jumps Nintendo you know it’s for kids number 5 Donkey

you know it’s for kids number 5 Donkey

you know it’s for kids number 5 Donkey Kong Country Returns

when retro studios revealed that they

when retro studios revealed that they were bringing back the side-scrolling

were bringing back the side-scrolling

were bringing back the side-scrolling style of the Donkey Kong Country Games

style of the Donkey Kong Country Games

style of the Donkey Kong Country Games fans everywhere awaited eagerly with

fans everywhere awaited eagerly with

fans everywhere awaited eagerly with fierce anticipation all of the DK

fierce anticipation all of the DK

fierce anticipation all of the DK trademarks were their colorful visuals

trademarks were their colorful visuals

trademarks were their colorful visuals fantastic music and of course that’s

fantastic music and of course that’s

fantastic music and of course that’s strenuously Hard difficulty whether it’s

strenuously Hard difficulty whether it’s

strenuously Hard difficulty whether it’s the boss battles environmental hazards

the boss battles environmental hazards

the boss battles environmental hazards or one of those damn minecart stages

or one of those damn minecart stages

or one of those damn minecart stages returns is a consistently relentless

returns is a consistently relentless

returns is a consistently relentless throwback to a time when video games

throwback to a time when video games

throwback to a time when video games were all at once simple but incredibly

were all at once simple but incredibly

were all at once simple but incredibly demanding requiring the player to get

demanding requiring the player to get

demanding requiring the player to get good in order to see an adventure

good in order to see an adventure

good in order to see an adventure through number four cop had what do you

through number four cop had what do you

through number four cop had what do you get when you match style with substance

get when you match style with substance

get when you match style with substance well in this case a freakin insanely

well in this case a freakin insanely

well in this case a freakin insanely difficult game cop head is the newest

difficult game cop head is the newest

difficult game cop head is the newest entry on our list the brainchild of

entry on our list the brainchild of

entry on our list the brainchild of developers Chad and Jared moldenhauer a

developers Chad and Jared moldenhauer a

developers Chad and Jared moldenhauer a throwback to the 1980s and 90s in terms

throwback to the 1980s and 90s in terms

throwback to the 1980s and 90s in terms of run and gun gameplay and a throwback

of run and gun gameplay and a throwback

of run and gun gameplay and a throwback to the 1930s in terms of art style you’d

to the 1930s in terms of art style you’d

to the 1930s in terms of art style you’d be forgiven if you thought that all the

be forgiven if you thought that all the

be forgiven if you thought that all the fun to be had here was in the visuals

fun to be had here was in the visuals

fun to be had here was in the visuals alone but alas you’ll need those

alone but alas you’ll need those

alone but alas you’ll need those cheerful visuals to stop you from

cheerful visuals to stop you from

cheerful visuals to stop you from falling into a pit of despair since

falling into a pit of despair since

falling into a pit of despair since you’ll be dying over and over and over

you’ll be dying over and over and over

you’ll be dying over and over and over again trying to memorize the attack

again trying to memorize the attack

again trying to memorize the attack patterns of the various bosses or maybe

patterns of the various bosses or maybe

patterns of the various bosses or maybe just trying to get past the tutorial not

just trying to get past the tutorial not

just trying to get past the tutorial not naming any names here

number three I want to be the guy the

number three I want to be the guy the movie the game

maybe by an indie developer with a big

maybe by an indie developer with a big old love for the old days of platformers

old love for the old days of platformers

old love for the old days of platformers I want to be the guy harkens back to the

I want to be the guy harkens back to the

I want to be the guy harkens back to the old school gameplay designs and concepts

old school gameplay designs and concepts

old school gameplay designs and concepts which if you’ve been paying attention

which if you’ve been paying attention

which if you’ve been paying attention it’s just a fancy way of saying it’s

it’s just a fancy way of saying it’s

it’s just a fancy way of saying it’s really really friggin hard inspired by

really really friggin hard inspired by

really really friggin hard inspired by previously mentioned games such as

previously mentioned games such as

previously mentioned games such as Megaman and Mario Brothers this game

Megaman and Mario Brothers this game

Megaman and Mario Brothers this game actually decides to ramp up the

actually decides to ramp up the

actually decides to ramp up the difficulty on purpose exaggerating the

difficulty on purpose exaggerating the

difficulty on purpose exaggerating the challenge – what can occasionally feel

challenge – what can occasionally feel

challenge – what can occasionally feel like a borderline impossible level there

like a borderline impossible level there

like a borderline impossible level there are moments that are legitimately tough

are moments that are legitimately tough

are moments that are legitimately tough to complete but then there are others

to complete but then there are others

to complete but then there are others that are intentionally made to just mess

that are intentionally made to just mess

that are intentionally made to just mess with your head well mission accomplished

with your head well mission accomplished

with your head well mission accomplished I guess

number two super meatboy this game will

number two super meatboy this game will make mincemeat out of you quite

make mincemeat out of you quite

make mincemeat out of you quite literally as you control a wad of meat

literally as you control a wad of meat

literally as you control a wad of meat jumping across various hazardous

jumping across various hazardous

jumping across various hazardous terrains to save your girlfriend you’ll

terrains to save your girlfriend you’ll

terrains to save your girlfriend you’ll come to realize that just what anybody

come to realize that just what anybody

come to realize that just what anybody bad move will result in instant death

bad move will result in instant death

bad move will result in instant death considering that your character is made

considering that your character is made

considering that your character is made up of meat and nearly every obstacle in

up of meat and nearly every obstacle in

up of meat and nearly every obstacle in the environment is a sharp object it’s

the environment is a sharp object it’s

the environment is a sharp object it’s almost as if the game is taunting you

almost as if the game is taunting you

almost as if the game is taunting you with a looming possibility that your

with a looming possibility that your

with a looming possibility that your doom could come at any moment it can of

doom could come at any moment it can of

doom could come at any moment it can of course be done but Super Meat Boy is one

course be done but Super Meat Boy is one

course be done but Super Meat Boy is one of those trial and error experiences so

of those trial and error experiences so

of those trial and error experiences so you’re ready to die over and over until

you’re ready to die over and over until

you’re ready to die over and over until you time that jump just right

before we reveal our top pick here a few

before we reveal our top pick here a few honorable mentions

honorable mentions

honorable mentions [Music]

number one ghosts and goblins

number one ghosts and goblins [Music]

[Music]

[Music] if there’s any game that causes

if there’s any game that causes

if there’s any game that causes breakdowns and post-traumatic stress

breakdowns and post-traumatic stress

breakdowns and post-traumatic stress it’s definitely ghosts and goblins as we

it’s definitely ghosts and goblins as we

it’s definitely ghosts and goblins as we mentioned a few times already video

mentioned a few times already video

mentioned a few times already video games on the NES were balls to the wall

games on the NES were balls to the wall

games on the NES were balls to the wall hard but this one kicks it up a notch

hard but this one kicks it up a notch

hard but this one kicks it up a notch even by that standard with a two hits

even by that standard with a two hits

even by that standard with a two hits and you’re dead philosophy a ridiculous

and you’re dead philosophy a ridiculous

and you’re dead philosophy a ridiculous abundance of enemies on screen and some

abundance of enemies on screen and some

abundance of enemies on screen and some nearly impossible jumps to pull off

nearly impossible jumps to pull off

nearly impossible jumps to pull off you’ll need the patience of a monk and

you’ll need the patience of a monk and

you’ll need the patience of a monk and reflexes of a ninja to make it out alive

reflexes of a ninja to make it out alive

reflexes of a ninja to make it out alive oh and you need to do it all twice to

oh and you need to do it all twice to

oh and you need to do it all twice to see the real ending and truly beat the

see the real ending and truly beat the

see the real ending and truly beat the game for additional masochistic fun

game for additional masochistic fun

game for additional masochistic fun check out the sequel ghouls and ghosts

check out the sequel ghouls and ghosts

check out the sequel ghouls and ghosts it’s just about as brutal though

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