Classic arcade games have been challenging the skills of gamers since the 1970s. For the select few that make up the most difficult games of the classic arcade era, the haven't gotten any easier even in hindsight. From limited lives to some of the steepest difficulty curves in gaming, the toughest arcade games put even the hardest modern games to shame.
Successfully beating these games is still considered an incredibly impressive feat, so gamers looking to try out these titles for themselves should be warned of the monumental challenge they represent.
Galaxian (1979)
Galaxian has a special place in arcade history as one of the first hits Namco ever produced before going on to become a titan of the industry, as well as using RGB color graphics which hadn't been widely adopted when the game first came to arcades. What many forget about the game is that it is also very difficult to beat.
The game is a fixed shooter in the style of Space Invaders, with the player destroying enemies which descend in formation from above as well as swooping down, diving and shooting at the player-controlled spaceship. Whilst the game starts off relatively tame, the difficulty soon starts to build and eventually becomes a very real challenge.
Donkey Kong (1981)
Donkey Kong, the game that started it all was also one of the most difficult in the franchise. Controlling a familiar red-hatted character, the player attempts to ascend a series of ladders and platforms as the titular villain Donkey Kong throws down barrels from above.
The game is difficult to get to grips with at first and requires the player to be a quick learner just to tackle the first level effectively. After that, things ramp up, with more obstacles and hazards introduced, some of which seem to require impossibly quick reactions to avoid. Rescuing Pauline from the ape's clutches is a daunting challenge.
Stargate (1981)
Developed as the sequel to Defender, another notoriously difficult arcade game,, Stargate is a side-scrolling shooter game that has the player pilot a spaceship through a mountainous region on an unnamed planet as aliens descend and attempt to kidnap people from the surface and destroy the player's ship.
The player has a tough job attempting to stop the aliens whilst also surviving long enough to make it to the next level. The ship moves extremely fast at just a touch and shooting accurately is hard, making the first few attempts at the game very short for most players. The player has some other tools, such as missiles and a hyperdrive button that warps them to a random location, but using them effectively takes some practice.
Tempest (1981)
A game that was oddly ahead of its time, Tempest places the player in control of a "blaster" in a 3D space that stretches into the distance. The walls of the space are segmented into individual lanes from which enemies approach fast, while the player snaps the blaster from lane to lane to destroy them using a rotary knob.
The speed with which the enemies approach is the main source of difficulty in the game, and as levels continue the game can become extremely chaotic with the number of enemies approaching at the same time from different lanes. Whilst the game is interesting to play casually, attempting to beat it all the way to level 99 is a much more serious task.
Robotron: 2084 (1982)
A tough game that requires the player to multitask between destroying waves of enemies and rescuing human survivors, Robotron: 2084 is a multidirectional shooter that is surprisingly complex in its controls as well as concept. The game makes use of two joysticks, one with which the player controls the movement of the character whilst the other is used to direct the gunfire.
Whilst not too difficult for the first couple of waves, the game quickly gets more challenging, requiring fast reflexes and decision making. It's easy to make mistakes when the difference between an enemy and a human who needs rescuing is just a few pixels, and the game takes full advantage of this fact to present the player with a real challenge.
Defender (1981)
One of the most influential side-scrollers and one of the best classic arcade games, Defender was the original extremely difficult shooter that Stargate was the sequel to. Whilst both are difficult for similar reasons, Stargate was the marginally more friendly of the two, with Defender being the first to throw the player into a spaceship on a hazardous planet and expect them to work out how to stop the aliens.
Of course, more often than not, this would end up with the ship exploding on the terrain, on an enemy, or one of the enemy projectiles, especially early on. The game has a steep learning curve and whilst it is rewarding, playing the game to completion is a thorough test of a player's instincts and luck.
Ghosts 'N Goblins (1985)
A classic arcade game still renowned for its difficulty even today, Ghosts 'N Goblins steps things up in the side-scrolling platforming genre. The game instantly tells players what they're in for, immediately surrounding them with enemies who jump out and throw difficult to dodge projectiles, and, of course, if the player gets hit twice they are sent right back to the start.
The platforming is surprisingly good and the player is able to pick up extra weapons to help, but the game seems outright unfair a lot of the time. Even when having an amazing run, it only takes one seemingly unavoidable surprise enemy for things to fall apart very fast. For the same reason, the game's SNES sequel, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, is among the hardest platformer video games of all time.
Solomon's Key (1986)
Solomon's Key is a great puzzle-based video game in which the player controls a sorcerer attempting to obtain the mythical Solomon's key by clearing 64 rooms. The player has limited tools at their disposal, and for most puzzles are forced to rely on the ability to remove and place blocks, all whilst avoiding enemies and obstacles that only need one touch to kill the player. When the player is out of lives, they are sent right back to the start of the game.
If this wasn't enough, some of the puzzles are extremely difficult and some levels require pure trial-and-error to uncover their secrets. As a result, the game can be extremely frustrating. Players who don't want to torture themselves should note that the NES port of the game is available on Switch Online, where the ability to save can make the game slightly less impossible to beat.
R-Type (1987)
Aesthetically, R-Type is one of the coolest side-scrolling shooters around, with interesting environments and terrifying abstract enemies that look straight out of a nightmare. Gameplay-wise, R-Type is also one of the best in the genre and up there with games like Gradius for sharp, intuitive action.
What sets R-Type apart is that its difficulty curve is off the charts, tricking the player into thinking it might be a tough yet reasonable arcade game at first before quickly becoming effectively impossible for all but the most skilled players. A recent 3D remake, R-Type Dimensions, has restored interest in the game and even has options to make the game a little easier, but it remains one of the most ridiculous games around.
Sinistar (1983)
A notoriously difficult multidirectional shooter with one of the best villains in gaming, Sinistar is well-deserving of the title of the most difficult arcade game. The game throws the player into the action, giving them a limited time to collect materials for "Sinibombs" that can be used to defeat the titular boss before it shows up, all while dodging enemies.
If Sinistar touches the player's craft once, they are destroyed by the game's roaring antagonist. The digitized voice of Sinistar is more than intimidating in the circumstances, and with voice lines like "Beware, I live", the player has reason to panic beyond the constant threat of annihilation. Facing off against one of the hardest video game bosses in all of gaming makes Sinistar the hardest classic arcade game.