From CBR · Shawn Wilken · · 1m 30s
10 Hardest '80s Platformers Ranked
10 brutal 1980s platformers that tested players' skills to the limit.
In brief
10 brutal 1980s platformers that tested players' skills to the limit. The 1980s produced platformers with extreme difficulty that required precise timing and perfect execution to overcome. Originally reported by CBR.
Donkey Kong's Later Levels
Donkey Kong's later levels demanded precise timing to avoid fireballs and moving rivets that caused immediate failure.
Adventure Island's Stamina Timer
Adventure Island punished players with a timer and depleting stamina bar that required constant fruit collection to avoid starvation.
Prince of Persia's 60-Minute Countdown
Prince of Persia featured a real-time 60-minute countdown timer that demanded perfect movement to avoid death.
Zelda II's Death Mountain Challenge
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link's Death Mountain required precise jumps to avoid lava pits and aggressive Ironknuckle knights.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Team Loss
Losing a turtle in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles drained team resources, making every mistake brutally costly.
Super Mario Bros: Lost Levels
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels used poison mushrooms and backward warp zones to create immediate failure conditions.
Castlevania III's Boss Fights
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse featured stiff jump controls that required careful foresight to avoid instant death.
Ninja Gaiden's Final Boss
Ninja Gaiden's final boss forced players back several stages after a single loss.
Ghosts 'n Goblins' Infinite Replay
Ghosts 'n Goblins required players to restart from the beginning after beating the game once.
Holy Diver's Unforgiving Design
Holy Diver's tiny platforms and strict magic reserves made every mistake instantly fatal.
What to remember
The 1980s produced platformers with extreme difficulty that required precise timing and perfect execution to overcome.
