

This difficulty has been cranked up to excruciating levels on numerous occasions, so we've decided to expand this list to shine a spotlight on a few more of the genre's most challenging adventures. One theme of the genre that differentiates it from the crowd is the level of difficulty that many of the games provide.

The gameplay formula of such titles is beginning to bleed into some of the gaming industry's most notable franchises, with The Legend of Zeldaand Assassin's Creedmost notably utilizing common RPG elements in their latest games. Updated March 29th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: The role-playing genre has recently been fired into the forefront of the gaming industry thanks to excellent RPGs like Bloodborne and The Witcher 3. Satisfying battles and plenty of deaths are a core part of these games and should be experienced by every RPG fan for the unique experience, no matter how brutal or cumbersome. All of these games bring with them some, or all, of the aspects.

Whether the game burdens players with hundreds of systems or was tuned for masochists, these brutal RPGs can offer some of the best and worst of the genre. Games similar to Darkest Dungeon would include a mix of roguelike elements, dungeon crawling, and realistic RPG elements. RELATED: 10 Cancelled RPG Games You Never Knew Existed That complexity can also mean difficulty. Their complex progression systems and intricate storylines make for an unforgettable experience that can't be found elsewhere. Role-playing games, usually referred to as RPGs, are among some of the most satisfying video games to play.
