Some games win countless awards or amass cult followings that can be baffling to outsiders. Games that many players begin and quit twenty minutes later in frustration, still wondering what the fuss was about. However, there's rarely smoke without fire, and some perseverance or even a little research can pay off with a slow-kindling 'ah-ha' realization.
If a game fails significantly in the tutorial department, a quick YouTube walk-through can go a long way. Many players will be glad they made that extra effort when rewarded with a new all-time favorite. When they understand the acclaim and become the newest member of a dedicated cult following. Some games turn out to be more than worth the grind.
5 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Though it may not necessarily be the hardest action RPG out there or even the hardest Witcher title, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be no walk in the park for newcomers to the series or the genre. It may, however, be the game that pays off the most. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has won literally hundreds of Game of the Year awards and has been regarded by many as one of the greatest video games of all time.
The game manages to weave an incredible story, extensive RPG elements, great graphics, and fantastic gameplay action all into one. The player follows Geralt of Rivia on an epic quest to find his adoptive daughter, Ciri. The characters and narrative are rich, based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, and give great depth and immersion to the story. Players also choose what to say and determine how certain aspects of the story will develop. What arguably makes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt more fun, however, is its many side quests and opportunities to hunt monsters (as is Geralt’s profession) and encounter all sorts of interesting and unique creatures from Slavic folklore and mythology.
The obstructions to all this for some, lie in the complexity of gameplay. Not only will newcomers to the series and the genre be thrown into a world that’s been developed in previous titles, but they’ll also have to learn to use a wide variety of weapons, abilities, and equipment for different situations and enemies. Not to mention Geralt’s skill tree and genetic mutagens that develop the player’s abilities, or the vast, vast map to travel.
4 Minecraft
One of the best-selling video games in history manages to still be one of the least intuitive to use as a beginner. Minecraft is one of the biggest, if not the biggest gaming sensation of all time. It has become such a unique giant in gaming for some of the very same reasons it’s off-putting to many others: its overwhelming freedom and scope.
Minecraft doesn’t offer much at all in terms of tutorials, despite the fact it has so very many elements, game modes, and worlds to choose from before players even start. It is advisable for absolute beginners with no concept of Minecraft at all to watch beginner’s guides on YouTube. Otherwise, new players can easily be turned away before even beginning to glimpse what Minecraft is all about, and what wonders it holds.
Minecraft is about freedom, community, adventure, exploration, crafting, fighting, questing, pixel art, and more. It’s about anything the player wants it to be about. The blocky graphics, unclear interface, endless modes, and endless worlds can overwhelm initially, but players will soon realize the procedurally generated, boundless lands are breathtaking, immersive, and literally an endless sandbox of fun.
3 Soulsborne Titles
FromSoftware’s line of Soulsborne games are notorious for their difficulty, but perhaps also owe their success to it. ‘Soulsborne’ games started with less widely known titles such as Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls in 2009 and 2011. FromSoftware games continued to improve and evolve, however, garnering them increasing accolades and popularity with such titles as Dark Souls 3, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring. As a result, ‘Soulsborne’ has become an increasingly popular term to define the developer’s games with similar gameplay styles.
In an age of action-adventure games and RPGs that are usually fairly forgiving, Soulsborne titles demand players become skilled in their combat to progress. Players are punished for missteps or for panic-spamming buttons, whether attacks or dodges. The only option is to ‘git gud’, as fans are fond of saying.
It can be off-putting for new players to be slaughtered over and over again by a game’s first boss (or even first adversary), losing all of their held experience points in the process. Any who persevere to develop their gameplay, however, and learn the combat systems to defeat that first boss in a scream of glory and relief, will experience the profound sense of achievement that keeps players hopelessly hooked until they complete the game. Perhaps even two or three times.
2 Farming Simulator 22
The Farming Simulator titles are well-loved by fans due to the simple satisfaction of building a successful, rural business, whilst unobstructed by the drama and noise of other genres. However, despite being relaxing games known for their easy pace and immersive simulation of the agricultural trade, they are not known for their simplicity. After all, these games strive to be as true to life as possible. It’s no simple matter of whacking a hoe around a few times and throwing some seeds down.
In Farming Simulator 22, the player will need to manage and operate a wide range of different farming vehicles, learning the controls and necessary equipment to use for each particular task, attaching or detaching cultivators, sowing machines, and so on. More than that, farmers need to be aware of the seasons, crops, livestock, vehicle maintenance, vehicle specs, finances, and so on, just as farmers do in real life.
The farming terminology alone can be enough to subdue those without any prior knowledge. Farming Simulator 22, being the recent title in a long, established list of them, can be a lot for new players who don’t know the trade or the series. However, there are tutorials to follow and as ever, guides and walkthroughs on YouTube. It can be worth the effort to delve into this recent title, however, rated highly among fans and newcomers alike for its superb graphics, realism, and ever that rustic, rural way of life while players develop their agricultural empire.
1 Cuphead
Though Cuphead may not be the hardest platforming side-scroller or run-and-gun out there, it is one of the most popular, best-looking, and still tough for players unused to such gameplay. Cuphead is a feast for the eyes and appears even child-friendly, but is actually a little dark in its tongue-in-cheek, irreverent humor and much more unforgiving and nail-biting than many 2D platformers.
It can be enough to deter players when they can’t get past the first level despite dozens and dozens of attempts. Cuphead requires fast reflexes and a certain amount of dedication to learn how the multitude of enemies move and attack. There are no checkpoints and Cuphead or Mugman can only take three hits before getting a game over and having to restart the level. It can make players howl with frustration upon their fiftieth attempt, inches from the finish line.
However, it’s worth persevering. The controls are simple so getting good enough to complete each level is a matter of rinse and repeat. It’s such a beautifully charismatic and jaunty game that experiencing each and every level and boss design, plus the immense satisfaction of beating them, makes the grind oh-so-worth-it. It’s an experience like no other. Original jazz recordings bounce along with the movements of the characters, the bosses are bizarre and captivating, and every character design is crystal clear and perfect, making the player feel as if they are inside a watchable cartoon from the 1930s.