The hardest game to platinum is generally considered to be Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, due to its demanding combat and specific trophy requirements.
Gamers often debate which title claims the crown for the most difficult platinum trophy. Many factors play into this discussion, from punishing gameplay to obscure challenges. So, what is the hardest game to platinum? It’s a question that sparks intense debates within the gaming community.
Some games demand near-perfect execution, requiring countless hours of practice. Others feature convoluted objectives, testing players’ patience. Every gamer experiences different levels of difficulty, making this quite a subjective topic.
What is the Hardest Game to Platinum?
So, you’re a trophy hunter, huh? You love that satisfying ding when you earn a shiny new platinum trophy. But some games just don’t want to give up that ultimate prize easily. They put up a serious fight! We’re diving deep into the world of challenging games, trying to figure out: what is the hardest game to platinum?
The Hunt for the Platinum: What Makes a Game Difficult?
It’s not just about high difficulty settings in a game, it’s more than that when we talk about platinum trophies. Several factors contribute to a game earning the title of “hardest to platinum.” Let’s look at them:
Skill-Based Challenges
Many games require players to have top-notch skills. These aren’t just about button-mashing. They might include:
- Perfect Combat Timing: You need to time your attacks, dodges, and parries perfectly to survive. Think games with tough enemies and very little room for error.
- Platforming Prowess: Some games demand pixel-perfect jumps, wall slides, and precise movement through tricky levels. One wrong move and it is game over.
- Speedrunning Requirements: Completing some levels or the whole game within a strict time limit can be incredibly difficult, especially if you have to play perfectly.
Time Commitment
Some platinums are not just hard but are also enormous time sinks. These games often require:
- Grinding: Spending countless hours performing repetitive actions (like farming for specific items or leveling up) to obtain trophies.
- Multiple Playthroughs: You might need to finish the game more than once, sometimes with different choices or on different difficulty levels, to collect all the trophies.
- Collectible Hunting: Tracking down hundreds of hidden items scattered across large maps, which sometimes require a guide.
RNG and Unpredictability
Random Number Generation (RNG) can be frustrating for trophy hunters. This means the game uses random chances, and it often makes certain trophies very challenging:
- Rare Drops: Some trophies depend on very rare items dropping from enemies, which means you could spend hours trying to get them.
- Unpredictable Events: Trophies that require specific events to happen are also annoying. You could be waiting a long time for the right thing to occur.
Specific Challenges
This involves unique trophy requirements that test your skill and patience.
- No-Death Runs: Completing the whole game, or long parts of it, without dying once!
- Specific Playstyle Trophies: Requiring you to complete the game using a certain weapon or only using a certain set of moves.
Notable Contenders for the “Hardest Platinum” Crown
Okay, let’s look at a few of the toughest games out there. These have earned a reputation for being extremely difficult to platinum:
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
This action-adventure from FromSoftware is known for its punishing combat and precise parrying system. The trophies are very skill-based, demanding mastery of the game’s unique combat system. Players must learn enemy attack patterns perfectly, especially when facing the intense boss battles. There are no difficulty settings in this game, so you can’t try again by picking a lower difficulty. To make matters worse, the player must play the game multiple times for all the endings.
Cuphead
This run-and-gun indie title is famous for its difficult boss battles. It’s like a vintage cartoon with a very hardcore difficulty level. The platinum trophy asks players to complete the game on Expert difficulty, which requires pinpoint accuracy and pattern recognition.
Elden Ring
Another masterpiece from FromSoftware, Elden Ring offers a massive open world full of very powerful bosses and challenging encounters. This game tests your skills from start to finish. Though it’s more open-ended than Sekiro, it is no less challenging, with the platinum requiring you to explore the whole world and defeat all optional bosses. There are also multiple endings, so you must play the game several times to see everything.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma and Ninja Gaiden Black
These action games from Team Ninja require players to master a fast and challenging combat system. These games punish mistakes very severely. The games are notorious for their difficulty and the platinum trophy requires you to complete all levels on the hardest difficulty, meaning hours of practice to even hope of succeeding.
Super Meat Boy
This platformer tests your reflexes and precision with very challenging levels. The platinum trophy requires you to complete each level without making a single error, with the game being designed to push the player to their limits. Players will often find themselves dying a lot, and they will need patience and persistence to earn the trophy.
Devil May Cry 5
Known for its complex combat system and stylish action, Devil May Cry 5 asks for a lot of time to get comfortable with the gameplay. The platinum trophy needs players to complete the game on the hardest difficulty setting, ‘Dante Must Die’ mode, in which one mistake can be very punishing. The player needs to be able to play perfectly to win, and it often requires a ton of practice.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
This first-person shooter requires players to complete the game on the hardest difficulty setting, “Mein Leben,” which means no checkpoints at all. If you die, it is back to the beginning of the game. Players need to be incredibly skilled and play the game perfectly to have any chance of getting the platinum trophy.
Trackmania Turbo
This racing game demands absolute perfection, with some levels requiring you to finish in very specific times. The game punishes mistakes and demands you master the tracks. The platinum requires hours of practice and very precise driving, making it one of the hardest platinums.
Dark Souls Series (Especially Dark Souls II)
The Dark Souls series is famous for its challenging gameplay, tough enemies, and massive bosses. While all games are tough, Dark Souls II is often considered to be the most challenging. These games require players to master the combat and explore a very difficult and rewarding world.
The Witness
This puzzle game requires a deep understanding of its mechanics, and some puzzles will leave you puzzled for days or even weeks. It pushes your logical thinking skills to the limit. The platinum requires you to complete a series of hidden puzzles which is very hard to do, so many players need to look online for help.
Comparing The Difficulty
Let’s take a closer look at why some of these games are harder than others.
Skill vs. Time
Games like Cuphead and Super Meat Boy demand high levels of player skill, while games like Elden Ring or Dark Souls II require a significant time investment, as well as skill. Some games combine both. Devil May Cry 5 and Ninja Gaiden require the player to have fast reflexes and a good understanding of the game, and they require a lot of playtime. For Sekiro and Wolfenstein II, one mistake can mean hours of lost time, as they have a very punishing penalty for death.
The ‘Fun’ Factor
Even though they are tough, some players find the challenge of these games very rewarding. Elden Ring and Sekiro, for instance, offer such an engaging experience that players often do not mind playing through them multiple times. But games with a lot of grinding, like some RPG games, might feel more like a chore than a joy for some players.
Tips for Tackling Hard Platinum Trophies
So, you are willing to try these games and get the platinum trophy? Here are some tips to help you:
- Practice Makes Perfect: Don’t get frustrated if you fail a lot. Repetition and learning from mistakes are key to getting better.
- Use Guides Wisely: If you are stuck, don’t be afraid to look up some tips online. Guides can help you with tough sections or hidden items.
- Take Breaks: Don’t get burnt out by playing the same hard game for hours. Taking regular breaks can help you come back with a fresh mind.
- Join Communities: There are other players who love the same games. Talking with others can provide motivation and ideas for strategies.
The Hardest Platinum: A Matter of Opinion?
Ultimately, what makes a game the hardest to platinum is somewhat subjective. What one player finds difficult, another might find manageable. It’s also about preference. Someone who enjoys challenging combat might find Sekiro or Devil May Cry 5 fun, while someone who enjoys puzzle-solving might prefer The Witness. But some titles consistently come up when people talk about the toughest platinums, indicating they pose the biggest challenge to most players.
The journey of getting a platinum trophy is different for everyone. Some players just want to have fun and do what they can. Some want to push themselves and their gaming skills to the limit. Whatever the reason, the hunt for the platinum trophy is definitely a very rewarding experience.
Whether you’re aiming for that elusive Sekiro platinum or just trying to get all the trophies in your favorite game, remember it’s all about the challenge and the journey. The “hardest” platinum is often just the one that pushes you the most, making that victory all the more sweet when you finally earn it. So, grab your controller, and go for it!
Top 5 hardest platinum trophies ever
Final Thoughts
The pursuit of platinum trophies often leads to intense challenges. Some games demand skill beyond most players’ capabilities. Achieving platinum in these titles requires immense patience and dedication.
Ultimately, determining what is the hardest game to platinum is subjective. However, titles with extreme difficulty, multiple playthroughs, or highly specific requirements often top the list. The specific game truly depends on the individual’s skill set and tolerance for pain.
