# 5 Hardest Platformers Ever Made, Ranked by Difficulty

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/5-hardest-platformers-ever-made-ranked-by-difficulty/
- Published: 2026-10-24T16:01:20+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-24T16:13:54+00:00
- Original publisher: Polygon
- Original article: https://www.polygon.com/5-hardest-platformers-ever-ranked/
- Topics: Gaming

## Key points

- The article ranks five especially difficult platformers.
- *Castlevania* and *Crash Bandicoot 4* feature demanding hazards and mechanics.
- The supplied excerpt ends partway through its discussion of *Sonic the Hedgehog*.

## Summary

The article ranks five platformers by difficulty, arguing that games built around familiar run and jump mechanics can become unforgiving tests of precision and persistence. It highlights how hazards, enemies and demanding mechanics can make progress punishing, while also motivating players to keep trying.

The excerpt describes the original *Castlevania* (1986), where Simon Belmont faces pits and enemies despite limited movement and attack options, and *Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time* (2020), which layers precise platforming with powers from the Quantum Masks. It also begins discussing the original *Sonic the Hedgehog* (1991), but the supplied text ends before completing that entry or naming the full ranking.

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