Before we get into the specifics, let’s discuss what constitutes a “hardcore” game. We’ll identify a few games on this list that, while they may seem casual at first glance, have a ton of complexity. This list will touch on many different genres, each tough in its own way, from shoot-em-ups that are notoriously difficult and test every piece of your reflexes to JRPGs with gobs of material that will need a lot of grinding and devotion.
Whether you’re searching for a game to devote hundreds of hours to or merely want to have your abilities and wits taxed at every step, these entries will all be just up your alley for the die-hard gamer. Several games that fall under this category are available on Apple Arcade’s marketplace, although many of them require you to look beyond the more approachable and casual options. Fortunately, we’re here to reveal a few to you that could have passed under your notice and will provide a respectable challenge to put your abilities to the test. Before you give them a go, make sure you’re prepared to overcome some significant obstacles and play through challenging levels that will have you tearing out your hair!
Fantasian
First and foremost, let us discuss what is, in my humble opinion, the finest JRPG on mobile. Fantasian is the ideal hardcore game for anybody searching for a deep RPG with story and perhaps hundreds of hours of gameplay. It was created by Mistwalker, a firm led by Hironobu Sakaguchi. You know, the man who created the whole Final Fantasy series?!
Fantasian is not a hardcore game in the classic sense, but it is one of the most immersive and fascinating experiences you can have on your phone. There are optional bosses that need you to fine-tune your party in order to defeat them, a massive open world that demands you to spend weeks, if not months, exploring all of its material, and fascinating and deep turn-based combat full of intriguing concepts. If you like RPGs, this is the most intense experience you’ll find on mobile, much alone Apple Arcade.
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DoDonPachi Resurrection HD+
DoDonPachi will strike dread into your heart instantly if you have any familiarity with shoot-em-ups. This top-down 2D shooter is the oldest on our list, though technically it is a re-release, and it shows in every aspect of the difficulty DoDonPachi provides.
Shoot-em-ups evolved from ancient arcade machines, which means they were intended to drain all of your cash. To make it happen, they had to be really challenging, as DoDonPachi demonstrates. There are no dull moments in this game, as you continually bob and weave amongst billions of bullets surrounding you at all times. DoDonPachi Resurrection HD is just for the most skillful and nimble gamers, and it will put your talents to the ultimate test.
Grindstone
Grindstone is an intriguing option for this list. Although it seems to be a simple match-3 puzzler, there is so much more to it that it deserves to be termed tough. Although the first few levels may ease you in, Grindstone will soon grab you by the ear and drive you to be very alert if you want to beat the required number of enemies to pass each level.
Also, there is a lot of complexity with a gear system and unique mechanisms throughout problems that demand you to plan quite far ahead. Every step matters in Grindstone, and progress is difficult, so this one is exclusively for the most ardent puzzle aficionados out there.
Bloons TD 6
Bloons Tower Defense is a legendary game series. It’s been around for a long time, and the recipe seldom changes. Bloons are familiar to everyone who has played tower defense. Given that description, you may be wondering what makes Bloons so much more difficult than other tower defense games.
Its solution may be found in the newest game Bloons TD 6+. Over time, you’ll unlock increasingly tougher stages and difficulty settings, until you’re fighting against nearly a thousand troops at once at the final game. We’re talking about your whole screen being filled with balloon foes as you frantically try to dump down monkeys in the hopes of thinning the onslaught. I can’t emphasize how tough the final game of Bloons TD 6+ becomes, so if you’re ready for a genuinely impossible task, check out some of these latter levels and see if you can make it through.
Bleak Sword
Bleak Sword is the list’s surprise hit. Although the other games on the list are fairly well-known, it seems that few have heard of Bleak Sword, which is surprising given that it incorporates many features from the famous Souls-like genre. With Souls-like influence, it’s easy to understand how this one becomes difficult to learn, much alone defeat.
You’ll fight stamina-based combat in miniature diorama venues, and everything is systematic and very difficult to master. Control your stamina, evade several opponent assaults at once, and be sure to block the three or four hefty hits coming in behind you all at the same time!
