Revealed: Dead Cells is the hardest video game to complete, according to players
- New research has revealed that Dead Cells has been named the most brutal video game to complete, with over 26% of players giving up on it because it is too hard
- The findings follow an analysis of the 50 most retired games and their reviews, to identify players gave up on each – and which proved the most demanding
- Disco Elysium was found to be the second most complex game, with a fifth (21%) of players throwing in their towel and calling it quits
New data has revealed the more formidable video games to complete – with Dead Cells being crowned the most challenging video game.
The research, conducted by online casino JeffBet, analysed the 50 most retired games, according to players. The study also looked at how long gamers took to complete each title on average, the typical completion rate, and how many players gave up on the games entirely – and why.
Dead Cells, released in 2018, has been deemed the most challenging game to master, with 26% of players who gave up on the game admitting to doing so due to its difficulty level.
However, the reviews show that finishing the game isn’t impossible, as only 8% of total players have given up entirely, with over a quarter (27%) of players claiming to have beaten it.
Although Dead Cells is the hardest game in the top ten, it’s also the quickest to complete for those who are skilled enough to, taking players an average of just 29 hours to gain all the achievements.
The data analysis also revealed that Disco Elysium was the second-hardest video game, causing more than 21% of players to give up, saying they were doing so because of how tough the game is.
But it’s not just its challenging nature that proves a turn off for players, as over a third (37%) reported giving up because the gameplay was not enjoyable. Additionally, 16% of players who retired the title complained that the game was too long.
Celeste, an indie game released in 2018, was the third most challenging video game. While over 19% of players felt that the game was too difficult to complete, it had the highest completion rate of all the games, with over 56% of players finishing it.
The average completion time for Celeste was 37.5 hours – making it the second shortest game after Dead Cells, and perfect for those looking to get a quick win under their belt.
The fourth most difficult game was Super Meat Boy, which was released in 2010. This game has continued to challenge new and old players. Of the players giving up on the game over 18% admitted defeat due to the game being too challenging.
| Time to Complete (Hours) | Percentage Of Comments that Mention: | ||||||
| Game | Completionist | Retired % | Beat % | Not Enjoyed | Too Long | Too Hard | |
| 1 | Dead Cells | 29.5 | 8.5% | 26.8% | 11.8% | 0.0% | 26.5% |
| 2 | Disco Elysium | 45.4 | 2.7% | 34.9% | 36.8% | 15.8% | 21.1% |
| 3 | Celeste | 37.5 | 3.0% | 56.1% | 7.0% | 0.0% | 19.3% |
| 4 | Super Meat Boy | 43.5 | 13.6% | 23.5% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 18.5% |
| 5 | Dark Souls | 105 | 4.5% | 51.9% | 4.3% | 0.0% | 17.4% |
| 6 | Don’t Starve | 103 | 20.3% | 8.9% | 6.9% | 0.0% | 17.2% |
| 7 | Hollow Knight | 62.5 | 4.4% | 40.5% | 7.3% | 1.6% | 10.6% |
| 8 | The Binding of Isaac | 139 | 19.4% | 24.4% | 4.5% | 0.0% | 9.1% |
| 9 | Left 4 Dead 2 | 54 | 15.3% | 36.7% | 9.1% | 0.0% | 9.1% |
| 10 | Vampire Survivors | 44.5 | 6.2% | 45.1% | 14.3% | 35.7% | 7.1% |
Vampire Survivors was named the least difficult title of those analyzed, with only 7% of gamers claiming the game was too tricky to complete.
The study showed that although this game may be considered the least challenging, over a third (35%) of players complained that the game was too long. However, it’s not the longest in the top ten – as Binding of Isaac took players an average of 139 hours to complete.
A JeffBet spokesperson commented on the findings saying: “Seeking help when playing a video game is nothing to be ashamed of. Many are designed to be challenging, but if you find yourself growing frustrated, remember that it’s meant to be an enjoyable experience and there are resources – like YouTube playthroughs and advice forums – that can help take the pressure off.
“It’s the perfect time of year to give a challenging or time-intensive game a go, as many of us are spending more time indoors due to unpredictable weather, so it’s worth keeping in mind your goals before selecting a title – do you want one you can complete, or just something that fills time?
“And even if you don’t need help navigating a particular game, watching walkthroughs can be helpful, not just with general guidance but also to help players obtain difficult collectibles, achievements or easily missed easter eggs.”
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