The Hardest Turn-Based Strategy Games

These are the 58 hardest turn-based strategy games as rated by the How Difficult Is It community, ordered from most to least punishing. Dragon Blaze leads the list at 8.5/10, ahead of Fear & Hunger and Caves of Qud. Every score is averaged from real player votes, and a game needs at least five ratings to qualify.

Game	Release Year	Rating	Weighted Rating	Number of Ratings
Dragon Blaze	2000	8.5	8.2	13
Fear & Hunger	2018	8.4	8.2	11
Caves of Qud	2015	8.2	8.0	13
Jupiter Hell	2021	8.2	7.9	13
Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest	2015	8.2	7.9	6
ADOM: Ancient Domains of Mystery	2015	8.1	7.9	11
Darkest Dungeon	2015	7.9	7.7	34
Final Fantasy Tactics	1997	7.6	7.4	14
Darkest Dungeon II	2021	7.4	7.3	7
Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Eternal Edition	0	7.5	7.2	24
Path of Achra	2023	7.2	6.9	11
Monster Train 2	2025	7.0	6.7	15
Slay the Spire	2019	6.7	6.5	28
Chrono Cross	1999	6.6	6.4	16
Shattered Pixel Dungeon	2014	6.5	6.3	14
Baldur's Gate 3	2020	6.5	6.2	41
Final Fantasy IX	2000	6.0	5.9	27
Final Fantasy VII	1997	5.9	5.7	31
Undertale	2015	5.9	5.6	11
Dungeons of Dredmor	2011	5.6	5.4	12
Tangledeep	2018	5.5	5.3	11
Fallout 2	1998	5.6	5.3	7
Balatro	2024	5.2	5.0	23
Persona 5 Royal	2019	5.0	4.8	29
Dragon Quest VI: Maboroshi no Daichi	1995	4.5	4.3	14
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies	2009	4.5	4.3	18
Breath of Fire IV	2000	4.5	4.3	15
Dragon Quest V: Tenkuu no Hanayome	1992	4.5	4.3	12
Pokémon Legends: Arceus	2022	4.4	4.3	10
Pokémon Black Version 2	2012	4.3	4.2	10
Pokémon White Version	2010	4.3	4.1	12
Pokémon White Version 2	2012	4.1	4.0	10
Pokémon Omega Ruby	2014	4.1	3.9	11
Pokémon Diamond Version	2006	4.0	3.9	11
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire	2014	4.0	3.8	10
Pokémon Black Version	2010	4.0	3.8	10
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age	2017	4.0	3.8	26
Pokémon Platinum Version	2008	3.8	3.6	11
Pokémon Pearl Version	2006	3.8	3.6	14
Pokémon Sun	2016	3.6	3.5	11
Pokémon Moon	2016	3.6	3.4	11
Rack and Slay	2024	3.6	3.3	5
Dragon Quest X: Mezameshi Itsutsu no Shuzoku Online	2012	3.5	3.3	17
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond	2021	3.4	3.2	11
Pokémon Red Version	1996	3.3	3.0	12
Pokémon Shining Pearl	2021	3.3	3.0	11
Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition	1998	3.2	3.0	11
Pokémon Y	2013	3.1	2.9	10
Pokémon Ruby Version	2002	3.1	2.9	12
Pokémon Emerald Version	2004	3.1	2.9	11
Pokémon Silver Version	1999	3.1	2.9	11
Pokémon Sapphire Version	2002	3.0	2.8	12
Pokémon Gold Version	1999	3.0	2.8	11
Pokémon Sword	2019	2.9	2.7	10
Pokémon X	2013	2.8	2.6	11
Pokémon Scarlet	2022	2.8	2.6	10
Pokémon Shield	2019	2.7	2.6	11
Pokémon Stadium	1999	2.4	2.2	11

Hardest games by genre

RPGs Platformers Indie Games Shooters Puzzle Games Turn-Based Strategy Games Hack-and-Slash & Beat 'em Ups Arcade Games Simulators Strategy Games

Hardest games by era

2020s 2010s 2000s 1990s 1980s

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Difficulty Rankings

Find the most difficult, or the easiest, games as rated by players. Games must have at least 5 difficulty ratings to be ranked.

Game	Release Year	Rating	Weighted Rating	Number of Ratings