CD Projekt Redhas gradually become one of the biggest names in the industry over the years thanks to their amazing work in bringing theWitcheruniverse to life through their games. While the first game in the series was released back in 2007, CD Projekt Red has gone on to create a plethora of sequels and spin-offs, before eventually switching their focus to an entirely new IP known asCyberpunk, which has also received critical acclaim and popularity.
When it comes to difficulty, while most of their games are very manageable and easy to jump into, actually making it through to the end can be very challenging, especially since so many of them follow the classic RPG formula whichemphasizes powerful enemiesand building a character in specific ways. Still, a lot of people love it when a game experience is a little on the harder side, and anyone who feels this way should definitely try out these excellent titles listed below. It should be noted that althoughPhantom LibertyandBlood and Wineare technically DLC expansions, they will be treated as individual entries since they still present their own lengthy story and experience which is separate from the base games.
When it was first released, a lot of players were having trouble completingCyberpunkbecause ofthe unintentional technical issues that plagued the game, and while these have thankfully all been cleaned out, they still present a pretty formidable challenge. Because the game allows a massive amount of freedom in regard to building a character, it does mean that players can end up making the game harder for themselves by picking Cyberware and Skills that are much less efficient than others.
This has ultimately come as a result of the brand-new Skill tree which, while being a massive improvement over the original system, also messes around with the balancing quite a bit, with some being very overpowered and others a little lackluster. With that being said though, all the enemies and bosses never feel too easy, and the game does a good job of encouraging players to be smart with their character upgrades to make it out of encounters in one piece.
Phantom Libertygives players a break from Night City andplaces them right in the middle of Dogtown, a crime-ridden combat zone that is full of dangerous individuals who are constantly trying to get something out of V, sometimes through words, most of the time through violence. Because the expansion expects players to be at a reasonably high level by the time they reach it, it means that enemies feel much more challenging than the base game, especially because of how fast and deadly they are thanks to their enhancements.
The expansion has also bulked up its bosses which can be incredibly tricky to take down, especially the Chimera, which takes barely any damage until the player takes the time to scan for its weak points and vulnerabilities. It’s definitely harder than the originalCyberpunk 2077, but the gameplay never becomes too difficult to where it gets in the way ofPhantom Liberty’sphenomenal spy-thriller storyline.
CD Projekt Red made their mark on the industry when they came out with an ambitious debut title in 2007 which just so happened to bea video game adaptation of the belovedWitchernovelsby Andrzej Sapkowski. While the protagonist of the game, Geralt, is an incredibly powerful individual who can make use of a multitude of unique spells and abilities, he certainly has his work cut out for him with the sheer amount of enemies that get thrown his way throughout this game.
Because the game is firmly rooted in the retro RPG genre, it means that grinding out levels and completing as many side quests as possible to earn EXP is pretty much required to survive the late-game encounters. Being able to master the Alchemy system is also extremely valuable as it can allow the player to create some incredibly powerful potions and buffs which can be real life-savers during an intense battle.
Blood and Wineis a massive expansion forThe Witcher 3that many people consider to be an entirely different game due to its size, and while it’s just a little shorter than the main game, it’s still a relatively hard challenge to overcome. There are a few very tricky enemies who will test the player’s expertise with the combat system, such as the Giant Centipedes which will randomly pop up to attack Geralt with no warning, orthe winged Slyzards, which can be incredibly difficult to hit because of their quick movements.
Players are advised to have at least reached level 35 before jumping intoBlood and Wine, but even then, it can still feel brutally challenging, and therefore a lot of players advise grinding out a few extra experience points before taking it on. The expansion also includes what many consider to be the hardest boss in all ofWitcher 3, especially his second form where he summons a giant swarm of bats to overwhelm Geralt, just as the fight is nearing its end.
The Witcher 3has been championed for its compelling story, engaging open world, and lovable cast of characters, and while it’s undoubtedlya fantastic RPG title, one area where it can feel a little clunky and unresponsive is the combat. Actually moving Geralt around when he’s face to face with an enemy takes a lot of practice to avoid jumping into enemy attacks, and when the game includes gimmick sections such as where Geralt must remain within Keira’s forcefield, it can make combat very hard to control.
The monsters in general can also be downright brutal if the player doesn’t take the time to read up on them in the bestiary to learn more about their weaknesses, though this does encourage players to constantly switch around their playstyle which does keep things fresh. It can definitely be a little overwhelming, especially for newcomers to the action RPG genre, but with a bit of practice and quick reflexes,The Witcher 3becomes far more fun and enjoyable while still offering a hearty challenge in the process.
2Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.44
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Talestakes a pretty unique approach to its combat system, witheach player using their own deck of cards to call out soldiers, equipment, and spellsto overwhelm the opponent with. These encounters can already be very challenging on their own, but they become especially unforgiving when they feature a special rule set that adds on extra objectives that the player must fulfill to avoid seeing a Game Over screen.
In terms of the gameplay outside the battles, the game takes an isometric view where the player must make certain decisions and moral choices that can severely impact their total resources. There are even a few dilemmas that can greatly reduce the player’s overall resources by a massive amount as part of a story event, which means things can go wrong very quickly, so keeping a few backup saves is always a smart decision.
WhileThe Witcher 3was the game that really shot the series into the mainstream for video game fans, a big reason why this didn’t happen for the second game was because of just how relentless it was in terms of difficulty. As soon as players load up the game, they’ll be dropped into an intense battle with a large swarm of enemies, while vague tutorial prompts show up for no more than a few seconds. It’s an incredibly jarring sequence that does a poor job of explaining the core mechanics like parrying, switching weapons, and using Signs, which are all needed to overcome pretty much every enemy in the game.
The game also includes some drastic difficulty spikes, such as with the Operator boss who’s incredibly powerful and summons multiple gargoyles around him who can quickly drain Geralt’s health with only a handful of attacks. The game was actually so hard in certain spots that CD Projekt Red even had to tone them down inthe Enhanced Edition, but even then, the game is still very unforgiving, which is either a curse or a blessing depending on the person.
