Developer id Software is back to making sequels significantly more difficult than their predecessors. The reboot DOOM (2016) was likely meant to draw players back to the franchise, while the sequel tests players' skill. While a series like Dark Souls is becoming progressively easier, DOOM has done the opposite. With difficulty levels called "Hurt Me Plenty" and "Ultra-Nightmare," DOOM Eternal is not meant for the faint of heart.

The following games are brutally more difficult than DOOM Eternal. It's not a question of if, but when players will die. They may as well quit while they're ahead. Some first-person shooter games harder than DOOM Eternal deserve this reputation for all the right reasons.

Updated by Ritwik Mitra on March 15, 2024: DOOM Eternal may not have hit the ground running the same way as its prequel did, but it was ultimately successful in making the franchise relevant again. Ripping and tearing through demons while listening to a metal soundtrack never ceases to be fascinating, and it's easy to see why so many players were captivated by the impressive gameplay of DOOM Eternal. Players who want to check out games that are tougher than this demon-slaying title will be surprised to know that quite a few FPS titles fit the bill.

18 Apex Legends

Battle Royale With Experienced Players

Apex Legends is the culmination of a lot of hard work for Respawn. The studio's work on Titanfall 2 was impressive but ultimately forgotten, in no small part because of the previous game's poor reception. It's a shame, since people who gave this game a shot loved the emotional single-player campaign and its amazing gameplay.

So, instead of trying to develop Titanfall 3, Respawn decided to integrate the same gameplay advancements in a battle royale that would play to their strengths. The end result is a tough and rewarding experience with a huge player base and regular updates, making it clear why Apex Legends is beloved by the masses.

17 Valorant

Hero Shooter Abilities With Tactical FPS Gameplay

The idea of combining the tactical gameplay of titles like Counter-Strike with the modern advancements in the hero shooter genre was a massive success for Valorant. The game was a huge hit upon release, and continues to wow fans to this day.

Players should expect a steep learning curve and their fair share of abuse from seasoned teammates while playing this game. It's a daunting scene to get into, but FPS veterans who don't mind a bit of challenge will find this game to be right up their alley.

16 Escape From Tarkov

A Realistic, Hardcore Multiplayer Shooter That Takes No Prisoners

Unlike other FPS games that let players enjoy a power fantasy, Escape from Tarkov will make players feel like dirt if they try to become a one-man army. Teamwork is essential to winning raids, letting players finally come to grips with how this game functions.

It's normal for players to die over and over again before they finally get the hang of things. Winning rounds in Escape from Tarkov and schooling the opposition makes for a great time that fans can't get enough of.

15 System Shock 2 (Impossible Difficulty)

Respawning Enemies And Lack Of Resources Are Huge Pains

The fact that System Shock 2 even has a difficulty setting labeled "Impossible" should be enough of an explanation as to why Electronic Arts' title earns a spot on this list.

With a Metascore of 92, System Shock 2 is one of the most critically acclaimed first-person shooters of all time. The game is reminiscent of BioShock, which was also developed by Irrational Games (2K Boston), due to the game's eery atmosphere, sense of being stranded, and innovative combat mechanics that would influence the gaming industry for years to come.

14 Duke Nukem 3D (Damn, I'm Good Difficulty)

Old-School FPS Games Are Incredibly Difficult

Understandably considered to be the most successful DOOM-clone of all time, Duke Nukem 3D was released in 1996 by the team of 3D Realms and FromGen to critical acclaim, predominantly due to its destructible environments that were unique for the time.

Duke Nukem 3D didn't hide its DOOM influences and tried to one-up id Software's original two titles with its Damn, I'm Good difficulty level that caused enemies to respawn much like DOOM's Nightmare setting.

13 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chernobyl (Master Difficulty)

Every Action Needs To Be Calculated

The first entry in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl was released in 2007 to a positive critical reception, exemplified by its 82 Metascore. The game was praised for its realistic post-apocalyptic survival gameplay and RPG mechanics that players need to pay close attention to if they want to survive Master difficulty.

A sequel, titled S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, is confirmed to be in development. Very little has been heard about the upcoming game, other than the news that it will be coming to Game Pass for the Xbox Series X|S on day one of its release.

12 Operation Flashpoint: Red River (Hardcore Difficulty)

A Single Bullet Can Be Deadly

Operation Flashpoint: Red River was released in 2011 by Codemasters, and is still one of the most realistic Tactical Shooters on the market today. The game didn't perform particularly well with critics, exemplified by its PC Metascore of 67, though it did offer a uniquely intense co-op experience.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River's difficulty comes from enemies being able to kill players with just one bullet; this may seem extreme even for hardcore mode, but believe it or not, this is the case with normal difficulty too. Hardcore mode still manages to find a way to ramp up the challenge even further, by removing the player's HUD.

11 Arma 2 (Expert Difficulty)

A Military Sim That Is As Brutal As One Could Expect

From one Tactical Shooter to another, Arma 2 was released in 2009 by Bohemia Interactive and is a successor to Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis, which is now known as ArmA: Cold War Assault. Similar to the Operation Flashpoint series, running and gunning simply isn't an option, as players must opt for careful, methodical squad tactics if they want to survive.

Much like the aforementioned Operation Flashpoint: Red River, playing on the hardest difficulty removes some of ArmA II's key features, such as the handy third-person mode.

10 Metro 2033 (Hardcore Difficulty)

A Single Missed Shot Can Spell Doom

Metro 2033 seems to be more difficult than its successor, Metro: Last Light. There aren't very many people who would recommend diving into the hardest difficulty right away.

If players purchase the DLC, they can unlock two more difficulty modes that are even more demanding. The three standard difficulty modes should be enough for them to question their gaming skill. However, players will have to be hard as nails to get through Metro 2033 on Hardcore difficulty.

9 GoldenEye 007 (00 Agent Difficulty)

A Perfect Example Of What 'Nintendo Hard' Means

Not only is it difficult to defend against tumultuous enemies with an array of weapons, but players must also achieve a list of objectives to beat any given level. This list of mission objectives grows with each difficulty increase. Finally, there's 00 Agent, the hardest difficulty in GoldenEye 007 (aside from the 007 customizable difficulty).

Most players probably resorted to using cheat codes to progress. Even on Agent difficulty, many players will find levels like Frigate, Complex, Jungle, and Caverns an arduous experience.

8 Halo 2 (Legendary Difficulty)

A Single Misstep Can Lead To The Master Chief Breathing His Last

Some would argue that Halo: Combat Evolved is the most challenging Halo game to date. Grenades that detonate in succession can make Halo: Combat Evolved a tough game.

However, with enemies that can one-shot kill Master Chief, Halo 2 is unquestionably the most difficult game in the series. Anyone who tries playing it on Legendary with a friend on co-op will find it quite challenging to survive. Halo 2 is long and tedious. If players can beat the first level alone, they'll boast FPS skills that few others possess.

7 Metro Exodus (Hardcore Ranger Difficulty)

Stealth Is Downright Mandatory

If the original Metro games weren't difficult enough, the newest entry added a new difficulty level. As players may have guessed, it's harder than all previous difficulty levels in the series. It's called Hardcore Ranger, and it disables the HUD.

Players will have to rely on stealth to progress through the game on Hardcore Ranger since bullets can kill them in one shot! This is the ultimate challenge for Metro Exodus players.

6 Counter-Strike 2

Seasoned Players Frequent This Game

Although many would agree that Counter-Strike 2 isn't the most difficult game to pick up, it is tremendously hard to master. As a game with an online focus, its most elite players will lay beginners to waste with certainty.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive uses a keyboard and a mouse with many players utilizing different mouse sensitivities. A player could be moving at a laser pace while players are on the default setting. Moreover, veterans have been playing the game for years, so there's no shame in learning the ropes and slowly developing the skills needed to survive.

5 Far Cry (Realistic Mode)

Enemies Have Excellent Vision and Pinpoint Accuracy

The original Far Cry was not as accessible to gamers as the newer games are. However, Far Cry 5 can also be a challenging game. The consensus is that Far Cry 5's first level is next to impossible, but the rest of the game is doable.

The original Far Cry is a gong show and a nightmare from which there is no waking. It's possible to beat this game on Realistic Mode; it's just highly unlikely they'll survive.

4 Star Wars: Dark Forces (Hard Difficulty)

A Player's Reflexes Need To Be Perfect

Star Wars: Dark Forces is a masterpiece, but the hard difficulty takes things to a whole new level. The shooting mechanics aren't the most developed. Essentially, Star Wars: Dark Forces is the Star Wars version of Doom. Both games are from the MS-DOS era and feature similar gameplay. It's almost like the developers designed the hard difficulty without the intention of people beating it.

Star Wars: Dark Forces loosely inspired the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Anyone who plays the game will understand what this statement implies.

3 Doom (Nightmare! Difficulty)

Enemies Hit Like A Truck And Swarm The Player

The original Doom released in 1993 is a different game than the new reimagined DOOM and DOOM Eternal. Since they both come from the same series, it's only natural to try to compare them. It can be said with certainty that the original Doom is harder than DOOM Eternal.

In an era where FPS gameplay mechanics were being developed, MS-DOS games were influenced by the arcade era. Arcade-era games were designed to suck as many quarters out of players as possible, which is one reason why they were so tricky. It wasn't until years later that games became appealing to a broader player base.

2 Call Of Duty: World At War (Veteran Difficulty)

A Single Hit Can End The Player's Run

Call of Duty: World at War pushes players to their limits by having a tremendously difficult Veteran difficulty. While other games are demanding for their sophisticated A.I., Call of Duty: World at War gets nitty-gritty by significantly increasing enemy damage.

Grenades are tossed into the battlefield, making every step like walking into a minefield. This game is almost impossible on Veteran difficulty. The bullets fly and players hit the floor, hoping that they can live to fight another day.

1 Doom 2: Hell On Earth (Nightmare! Difficulty)

No Punches Are Pulled On The Hardest Setting

The debate continues to go on about which Doom is the most difficult. Some of the top contenders are Final Doom, DOOM Eternal, and Doom 64. Developer id Software played it conservatively with the first Doom to establish a fan base, yet they were relentless in creating the sequel.

As a series renowned for unforgiving gameplay, it poses a challenge, especially for those born in the '90s and onward. '80s gamers are cut from a different cloth. They can progress through games like Doom 2: Hell on Earth because it's second nature to them. Doom 2: Hell on Earth's name is descriptive of its difficulty. The first game gives players chances to defeat enemies, but the second Doom is too hard.