Aug 26 2009
The 15 Toughest NES Games of All Time
Some video games today are pretty damn tough (like, for example, the Ninja Gaiden series), but most don’t hold a candle to the difficult games of my childhood. Perhaps it’s the fact that as I’ve gotten older, my eye-hand coordination has improved, but back in the day, games didn’t have different difficulty settings. Furthermore, without the Internet, walkthroughs were non-existent. Some old school games were simply relentless, and only through tears of frustration and sore eyeballs could one persevere.
I imagine a list like this has been compiled before, but as lists like this are very subjective, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to compile one of my own. Keep reading to see the 15 toughest NES games of all time. Keep in mind that they’re my toughest games and are not presented in any particular order.
Ninja Gaiden
Why it’s so tough: Countless enemies come at you, but the worst are the ones that seem to hit you right when you’re above a pit, sending you falling to your death. Also, dying on any of the three final bosses at the end of Stage 6-4 will send you all the way back…to Stage 6-1.
How far I got: I was actually able to beat this one after hours of crying, cursing, and controller-chucking.
Rygar
Why it’s so tough: It’s a long, sprawling game featuring item collection, leveling up, backtracking…and no passwords or save points! If you’re going to take on Rygar, you’ll need a few hours to kill. And oh yeah, the bosses aren’t easy.
How far I got: I managed to beat this one, too, but not until owning it for a long. long time.
Battletoads
Why it’s so tough: Where to begin? Regular enemies are difficult, the game features all different types of play, and in many levels, one wrong move and you’re toast.
How far I got: I could never pass the level in which you ride some type of scooter and have to avoid obstacles in your way. Impossible.
Ghosts N’ Goblins
Why it’s so tough: You die if you get hit twice, which isn’t a lot, especially when you consider that enemies fire projectiles and swoop directly into you.
How far I got: I can hardly remember – level 2 in and of itself was a nightmare – but I definitely got no farther than level 4.
Blaster Master
Why it’s so tough: Like Rygar, there’s weapons and upgrades to collect, tough bosses, and tons of backtracking…and like Rygar, there’s no save points or passwords. Just a few continues; that’s it. In the areas in which you exit your vehicle, every hit you take weakens the effect of your gun. It’s so frustrating.
How far I got: I always had a lot of trouble with Level 5 and the “crab boss” at the end, but I managed to beat him once or twice. I never passed Level 6.
Gauntlet
Why it’s so tough: The game seemingly has no end, and your character’s health drains down constantly, as if it’s a timer ticking down your imminent doom. Plus that black figure (Death, I assume) sometimes appears and kills you quick for no reason.
How far I got: Oh man, who knows? Not far, that I assure you.
Mega Man
Why it’s so tough: Lots of falling and lots of spikes. That’s pretty much it.
How far I got: I managed to beat Mega Man.
Silver Surfer
Why it’s so tough: Just about everything – even the level’s structures – can kill you. One hit kills you, and enemies come flying in swarms at ridiculous velocities.
How far I got: Never farther than the first couple of levels or so. Let someone else lose their mind over a lame superhero.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Why it’s so tough: Since only Donatello is worth a damn in this game, you’re pretty much finished once he dies. Jumping is a true skill in this game, and oh, did I mention the “dam” level where you have to swim around mines? I though turtles were supposed to be good swimmers.
How far I got: I was pretty decent at this game, but just not good enough. I once killed the giant Mouser boss, but died quickly in the stage that followed.
Karate Kid
Why it’s so tough: There’s this one level with a lot of “wind,” and that wind tends to push you into pits, killing you instantly.
How far I got: That level with a lot of wind.
Top Gun
Why it’s so tough: It’s tough to see the missiles enemies fire at you until the last second, but really, how many people crashed every time when trying to land at the end of the first level.
How far I got: I’m proud to say that I once made it all the way to the fourth stage.
Bionic Commando
Why it’s so tough: The controls are a bit awkward (you can’t jump), and the layout of the game is pretty confusing at first.
How far I got: I beat this game, but I had my cousin over my shoulder telling me where to go. Still, I was the one playing, so I think it counts. Not really proud of it, though.
Contra (with no Konami code)
Why it’s so tough: Because with just three lives – instead of 30 – simple, fluke mistakes can end your game quickly. No matter what it is, it just takes one hit to kill you.
How far I got: I actually managed to get up to Stage 6 in this one. I couldn’t beat it without the code.
The Adventures of Bayou Billy
Why it’s so tough: This may actually be the toughest game on this list. The fighting is tough enough, but try the shooting levels without an NES Advantage and the Turbo buttons. The hardest, though, are levels 4 and 5 – the driving levels. Simply hitting a post on the side of the road kills you, but you can’t take your time – if you take too long, your game is over.
How far I got: Once – just once – I made it all the way to the final boss(es). I did alright, but they killed me, and I never made it back to that spot again.
Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!
Why it’s so tough: The game wouldn’t be that bad if Tyson wasn’t so ridiculously hard. One punch during the first 1:30 of Round 1 and you’re knocked to the ground. As with a lot of games, though, pattern recognition is involved, and figuring out Mike is no different than figuring out the patterns of anyone else; there’s just much less margin for error.
How far I got: I actually got pretty good at fighting Tyson (and everyone before him) and have beaten him about a dozen times. I’m just used to it.
Any NES games that gave you fits that you think should be on this list? Let me know in the comments section! Also, I listed only games that I’ve actually played. For example, a lot of people tell me that Bart vs. The Space Mutants is very difficult, but since I’ve never played it, I felt it would be a bit disingenuous to include it.
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You couldn’t be more spot on with Battletoads. I don’t know how many times I played that level with the scooters and appearing walls. It wasn’t exactly easy getting to that part either. My friends and I did manage to beat it once but I’ll be damned if I can remember what is on the other side.
Great list! Brings back some great memories…No wait it brings back some painful memories! Mega Man and the damn ice stage with the dissapearing bricks! I’m pretty sure that I still haven’t recovered from the endless torture of that.
Oh and a game I would add to this list is Link. Wandering around the world the grass kills you as walk through it. One hit and your sword becomes pretty much useless. Gah.
Kid Icarus
Great list Madison. Battle Toads is pretty universally accepted as THE hardest NES game ever made. That game was damn near impossible.
I will never ever forget the day I beat Mike Tyson…one of my greatest childhood memories.
Oh, and the mine stage on Ninja Turtles was stupid hard. I almost busted the controller on a few occasions playing that level.
Megaman 2, if you want another MM. Quickman’s level by itself was perhaps the hardest thing I ever played – timing had to be within 1/10 of a second.
Oh man, the boss in MM1 that changes into bricks and flys across the screen. The one that’s super-ridiculously easy with the “Select Trick”. Yeah that guy? Bane of my childhood right there. I can recall countless Saturday mornings and nights (after Snick of course!) spent trying to memorize his pattern.
Years later I learnt that you can tap select over and over and over and over and over to make beating him almost.. humorous.
BTW a lot of these games have been covered, in hilarious fashion, by the Angry Video Game Nerd. Just google it if you haven’t seen them. Easily one of the best video series on the intarwebs.
I actually still have TMNT…it was one of the few games I just could not beat.
@ Dave
You actually beat Battletoads? Jesus. That must have taken forever. No one I know has ever been able to do it. Nice work.
@ ComfortableMadness
Yes, the Iceman stage with the disapperaing blocks and then the hovering platforms is perhaps the toughest. It helps if you get the beam that shoots out little platforms, I found out later, but it’s still tough nevertheless. Damn flying penguins always knocking you to the ground.
As far as Link goes, yes, VERY difficult game. That could have easily been on this list. I managed to get to the final boss a couple of times, but that’s it.
@ Lance
Kid Icarus was tough, but I was able to beat it consistently. The hardest parts were when you got turned into a damn eggplant.
@ IcemanD
I rank beating Tyson right there with losing my V-card. Well, not really, but I remember it just as well. I was jumping around and cheering like an idiot.
@ Byrd
MM2 was tough – all the games had difficult aspects – but I felt like the original was the toughest of all.
@ SirEdward
That boss was SO tough. The timing on the jumps has to be perfect, and then you get just a split second to hit the monster in the eye before he turns back into bricks. I wish I had known about the “select” trick back in the day, but I guess it’s more satifying to have beaten it without.
@ Soromonu
Like Battletoads, I don’t know anyone who has beaten TMNT.
when i was a kid, me and my friend always tried to beat battletoads when we got the chance.
we managed to get the scooter zone down to a science. but let me tell you…that is not even the hardest level.
level 11 where you’re on some unicycle and a energy blob is chasing you…now THAT is the hardest level, i made it that far in all my years of trying.
Im gonna have to put Actraiser 2 on the list…easily the most frustrating game this side different difficulty levels.
@ Prof. Fink: Actraiser 2 was an SNES game.
HEHE i beat contra WITHOUT a cheat code, (though probably about 10 years after you did as i stay in india and had to play it on one of those famicom knock-off’s), so in (pathetic) way i OWN YOU!!!
[...] I ran down what I thought were the 15 toughest NES games of time. Although I had beaten several of them, there were many of which the endings were a mystery to [...]
@ Siddesh SL
So long as you acknowledge that you own me in a pathetic way, we’re all good. Nice work.
[...] I ran down what I thought were the 15 toughest NES games of time. Although I had beaten several of them, there were many of which the endings were a mystery to [...]
Great list!
I agree that Ghosts and Goblins is one of the hardest games ever made. In fact, I hate that game’s guts. Why? Because I tried to beat it recently playing it on the NES emulator, and with being able to save the game at any time I still couldn’t beat it. Damn that game!
Oh, I almost forgot. I know this is not a NES game, but if you want a truly frustrating SNES game to play, try playing Last Action Hero.
I wish you luck…
@ Patrick Williamson
I never had the SNES; I was a Genesis guy.
Ghosts N Goblin, though, was just impossible. Gettng past the little red devil in stage 1 was in and of itself quite an accomplishment. I hated that dude.
Such fond memories…and what a generation it was!
I agree with this list wholeheartedly. Several of these I got near the end, but I didn’t beat any of them on the list. Of course I beat Contra with the code, but I could only get to the last stage without it. That was tough, but I’d always die there. Same way with Tyson, though at least I could use the password to try him over and over.
Dino-Riki was a really hard game, too. I don’t know of many other people who played that game, though. It was another one that I could get to the final stage on and not finish, though. Maybe I just gave up too easily as a kid.
I can actually beat Battletoads, it only took me playing around 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, for about 2 and a half months, and I have to use the warps, but I can beat it like that!
And Ninja Gaiden is soooo damn hard, I can get to the last boss, I beat his first form once, and was killed really quick after that, that game makes me want to cry at times
@ Ben
Weird – I’ve beaten Ninja Gaiden several times, but never, ever beat Battletoads. Good work.
Final Fantasy
Try the Adventures of LOLO, the series of 3 games are all very though. Probably the best NES game noone knows about. It is a puzzle game, and if you give it a chance and learn it, you will be addicted
I just bought my 5 year old a brand new NES for her 5th birthday, she will be complaining the same way we are today, I love it. The hardest game I ever played on NES was Friday The 13th…. Jason WOULD NOT DIE! The game itself was easy but just like the movies, Jason would pop up randomly and he was so slow you could beat him around easily and then he would vanish right before he died and reappear stronger later on, I never beat it and never had a problem on level one. Tyson was hard but after learning the code from an older kid on how to get straight to tyson, I got alot of practice and got the timing down and dominated him into biting people
Awesome list, brings back alot of memories… good and bad.
Most of the games you picked are not that though to win. Mikes punch out is easy to beat and contra is a cake walk, and top gun is easy as pie once you get the landings down… reading this post without laughing was “thoughest” of all, you half arse gamer LOL
Battletoads was one of my favorite games as I was a kid. Luckily for me I had the Nintendo Power with all the stages in it to go along with as I was playing the game. There was a lot of memorization involved, but once I got it down I was able to beat that game at will. Just by knowing exactly what to do.
Ghosts and Goblins- only 4th level
Megaman- beat it over a weekend renting it, played it now and still don’t know how I even got past that yellow devil fairly when I was 12
Marble madness is the hardest consel game in the world.
[...] an exhilarating feeling of accomplishment when I beat a Nintendo game, especially when the game was notorious for being difficult. After all, a grizzly bear’s head looks a lot more impressive on a hunter’s wall [...]
I beat Top Gun, Bionic Commando and Punch Out.
Mostly the list of games I beat was the list of games I had.
Some friends had all the others, like Contra, BattleToads, we would play those but I never beat them.
Bionic Commando starts out really tough, but once you get the hang of swinging around you are ok, plus if you spend like an hour grinding and collecting those little power ups then your health is way higher and it’s not so hard.
I will admit I never beat TMNT and I had that game. Pretty surprised that I never broke the TV or NES for the number of times I threw the controller in anger. I got pretty far though, just never all the way to shredder.
God damn TMNT. I think it took me years of frustration before I could beat that mine level. I considered that just as good as beating the game.
TMNT 2 on the other hand I think took all of a Saturday afternoon.
And yes, I also managed to crash just about every time in Top Gun.
That level in Battletoads was ridiculous and I only beat it once, but didn’t beat the game. And I’m glad to hear someone else say that TMNT was really hard.
While I do agree with some of these games. I think you missed a few.
Snake Rattle’n Roll:
- This game was insanely hard. Trying playing the last two levels with no emulator and see if you can even beat it. It’s insanely difficult.
Marble Madness:
- Another controller movement difficult game like SRnR.
Slalom:
- I don’t think I ever actually beat this game. Almost zero room for error.
* Bionic Commando doesn’t deserve to be on the list. Just rack up 7 or 8 hit points and the game was a joke.
i think the hardest game i ever played for the N.E.S. is Ghostbusters…. and i never beat it… the stairs were never ending and f that game, im going to go beat it with a meat cleaver, then ship piece by piece back to nintendo or whoever made it with a note saying “this game is the reason i beat my wife”
Some of these games are very difficult, but not impossible.
For instance, I practised Battletoads, over and over and over until I practically had it memorized. Now I can easily make it to the Rat Race without dying.
10 Hardest NES games:
Silver Surfer
Battletoads
Ghouls and Ghosts
Fester’s Quest
Contra
TMNT
Bayou Billy
Bionic Commando
Tyson’s Punchout
Mega Man
Favourite Game – Legend of Zelda II
(I beat it on one life… The main screen now has 000 and the Triforce on it)
Rush N’ Attack is pretty damn hard
how about ninja gaiden 3? the other two give you unlimited continues, but this guy has only 5…and is much harder than the first two games. dying at any point places you to the beginning of the level section, enemies are smart and plentiful, plus there are a ton of pits, platforms, etc…
I was able to beat Rygar, Gauntlet, and Ghost N’ Goblins but my best game was no doubt Contra. Back in the day I could play through that game multiple times without continuing or using codes. My game scores were so high I’d scoff at the ones printed in Nintendo Power magazine. However, I was never able to get past Super Macho Man in Mike Tyson’s Punch Out, nor was able to best Battletoads.
For suggestions on games that were/are difficult, I’d like to mention a little shooter called Zanac. First NES game I ever owned and a motherfucker to play.
One of the most underrated games and without doubt, the hardest game on NES is Arkanoid. I have only beat it with cheating and continuing from where you die. I believe they have 36 levels and you have 3 guys to beat all the levels without dying. You can earn extra powerups and all that stuff but it is the only nintendo game I could not beat without cheating. I actually don’t think it is possible to beat this game.
Battle Toads is a close #2. It took me about 2 years of playing it to beat it when I was young. The key to beating this game is on the 2nd level you have to get 50 extra free guys by kicking the birds against the wall. The vehicle level is one of the easier levels in the game. Mentioned earlier hardest level is the unicycle level where the wheel chases you, can’t make any mistakes or you die.
[...] you’re around my age, you probably remember being blown away by the graphics for Nintendo games like Ninja Gaiden, Super Mario Bros. 2, and Battletoads. Now, of course, they’re crude and [...]
[...] do flips, and fight the Foot Clan, but I’m cool with anything that makes things easier in the impossible TMNT game for the NES. Pizza wasn’t used to heal in only the original NES TMNT game; it became a [...]
Mike Tyson’s punch out isn’t difficult at all. It is even possible to beat Tyson in the first round if you get the right set of circumstances.
TMNT is notorious for that swimming level but it’s really easy if you’re patient. After all, you can switch turtles at any point. Up until the last level, it is a fairly simple game.. the last level is a bit more of a chore.
Ninja Gaiden can be beaten with 1 life… The 2nd and 3rd games are more difficult but still far from impossible.
I never managed to land the plane in Top Gun but that is probably because I was busy paying attention to the instructions given rather than just watch my speed and altitude. I just cannot be bothered to play it again.
You must be damn good at NES games.
Actually you have some good games in that list. Some of those games were indeed really hard, i manage to beat Ninja Gayden, Blaster Master, TMNT, Mega Man, Contra and Puch Out. Some of the other games i din’t like or never played. Once you beat these game they’re not that difficult.
I’d say that the top 2 hardest NES games ever were Battletoads and Silver Surfer.
I remember waisting hours on Battletoads, i got to the 12 level a couple of times… i hated Rare games, but i loved this one, my friends and i thought nobody cound beat this game.
Now Silver Surfer is out of the question….
Kid Icarus, Kid Icarus, Kid Icarus…
I could never beat TMNT either. I did finally beat Mike Tyson Punchout after what felt like a thousand tries at beating Mike, and a few (or maybe more) busted controllers that got chunked around in anger.
Ghost and Goblins, now that one almost send me to the house with rubber walls trying to get anywhere in that game…
I have beaten every game on this list, as well as Wizardry, Legacy of the Wizard, and several other impossibly hard games, but I’d have to say Karnov was the worst of all time. Not only was it hard, the ending made it even worse. Just a black screen that says “Congratulations The End”
Evander Holyfield: Evander HOlyfields REAL DEAL Boxing for Sega Genesis.
My friend owned the game and had never beaten Holyfield. I took him on and decided to go to the body. It was a long, LONG fight and eventually I scored a stoppage by destroying his midsection. It took so long and I was so close to losing. Very stressful esperience especially towards the end.
Also, SEWER SHARK for Sega CD…basic concept insane to finish back in the day. I remember a genuine feeling of accomplishment having beaten it quite a few times. One of the few games to do FMV correctly.
Legacy of the wizard is the hardest nintendo game ever u dummies people don’t know about it and mega man 5 and 6 is way harder than the first I don’t know what’s that idiot that said the first one was hardest was thinking and blaster master too that was my favorite along with zelda
Ha, do you guys know that silver surfer actually has cheats to it? And when you use them turns it into the easiest game to NES ever.
Dragon’s Lair is tougher than all of these but the difference there is it’s not any fun. All the games on this list are a blast.
great list and I’m glad you added Rygar one of my favorite games but Golgo 13 needs to be considered.
You did a pretty good job of mentioning the extreme…ghost n goblins..ninja gaiden..ninja turtles.. bayou billy… all crazy tough games… no of which i ever beat
Some of my favorite game but never beaten are R.C. Pro A.M. ( i think i made it to like level 17 or something out of 30) Castlevania (never made it past the grim reaper) Golgo 13 (never really understood that game enough to play it right) The Goonies i never Beat either
And last but not least Ninja Kid and honestly Im not so sure if that game had an ending or not. Seem to go on and on and on forever
I did finish TMNT after a long bunch of attempts but I couldn’t finish Zanac.
Athena!!!
Back in the 80′s/90′s, I finished over 200 games. By far, Athena was THE most difficult for me to finish. I rarely see it included in lists of difficult games. My guess for the reason is that it wasn’t a very popular game, even when the NES was at its zenith.
Bokosuka Wars? NARC? These games are downright impossible to beat. (Bokosuka Wars is actually luck based.) And NARCs last boss will never die unless you shoot it five thousand times. I dare anyone to try those games out
You missed Adventure Island 1. That’s a really hard game.