Cuphead stuns with its 1930s cartoon aesthetic despite the crushing game difficulty it offers. Definitely, this is one of the run-and-gun masterpieces you can play in the scene right now. However, there are also hardcore platformer games like Cuphead that will offer you intense difficulty with twists.
Hollow Knight
If you’re searching for a challenging yet rewarding platformer ever created, then Team Cherry’s masterpiece Hollow Knight is the answer. This game’s art style differs from the vintage animation of Cuphead by bringing in a haunting hand-drawn style. However, they both have precise controls and demanding boss battles to challenge players.
In Hollow Knight, players must navigate the kingdom of Hallownest and master tight platforming sequences as well as intense combat encounters. What makes this game better is that the difficulty is not only just from the fights. The exploration and failure consequences alone make the game hard.
Spelunky
Now, Spelunky is one of the hardcore platformer games like Cuphead that you might enjoy. Unlike Cuphead with predetermined challenges, the stakes get high here in Spelunky with the changing generated levels at every attempt. With this roguelike platformer, players have to master the core mechanics rather than memorize level layouts.
Also, it uses a permadeath system where players are sent back to the beginning once they fail. So, you’ll really have to be cautious every step you make to ensure you’ll survive throughout.
Celeste
On the other hand, Celeste is another charming hardcore platformer game like Cuphead. While its pixel art made it look like an easy game to you. It is as challenging as Cuphead in every way possible. It requires perfect timing and quick reflexes from players to complete the challenge. They don’t focus much on boss battles as a platformer game. Yet, it is accessible and has heartfelt storytelling to give emotional depth to the game.
Super Meat Boy
This is one of the great hardcore platformer games like Cuphead that you can play. Team Meat’s Super Meat Boy is brutal, as they say, for its pixel-perfect precision and lightning-fast reflexes requirements. However, it has a quick respawn system and is intended to do short levels to create an addictive loop for players. It’ll be “just one more try” all over again for players to keep coming back for attempts.
Ghost ‘n Goblins Resurrection
Meanwhile, this one hardcore platformer game is reimagined of a classic series with distinct visuals like Cuphead. It is notoriously difficult and punishing boss battles that can dishearten any player. Plus, this has multiple difficulty options to make the game more accessible than the original. However, it’ll still be filled with brutal challenges that any old player can recognize.
Metal Slug
This time, Metal Slug shares Cuphead’s focus on tight controls and pattern recognition as a run-and-gun classic. Compared to other platformer games like Cuphead in this list, this has less punishing challenges. Although this still calls for split-second timing and resource management to survive through the levels. But it has detailed sprite work and animation quality that can beat the likes of Cuphead.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Another classic gets revived and it’s Donkey Kong Country Returns. This hardcore platformer game utilized expert mode like Cuphead to add more game difficulty. At early levels, the game seems manageable to accomplish and only gets progressively harder in later stages. However, it still requires skills from players to complete the game.
N++
This one strays away from the traditional formula of movement and momentum. Instead, N++ maximized their cleverly designed levels for players to use both physical skill and strategy. Yet, this game lacks the visual flair that Cuphead provides and has a clean aesthetic. It made sure that players only focused on the demanding gameplay.
Rayman
It may seem an odd entry to the hardcore platformer games like Cuphead list but it really belongs here. This infamous difficulty spike halfway through the game makes it one of the most challenging platformers to exist. Plus, it is in contrast with Cuphead’s consistent challenge curve, since Rayman may surprise players with sudden difficulty increases. But this was unintentional though as it was caused by limited playtesting.
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
The last entry for the hardcore platformer games like Cuphead in this list is the Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. Perhaps this is one of Nintendo’s unforgiving games for its extreme difficulty. While this does not focus on boss challenges, players have to perfectly execute movements and recognize patterns. Every level has new challenges that players with mastery of Mario’s movement mechanics can pass.
Conclusion
All these titles for hardcore platformer games like Cuphead on the list should be worth your time. These games will really challenge your skill level and crush your spirit before you can complete the gameplay. Also, this list has everything that may suit your preferences from its differing art style to playstyle. So, which game are you willing to try out first?
