Are you the kind of person who must complete a video game, or else it keeps bothering you? Whether you’re chasing your next challenge or just checking if you’ve completed an achievement, some games push you to the breaking point. It’s almost as if they don’t want you to finish them!
These are the hardest achievements in video games. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the toughest achievements ever seen in gaming history.
What Are the Hardest Video Game Achievements of All Time?
- Gears of War
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
- Halo: Master Chief Collection
- Outlast 2
- Mortal Kombat
- Rock Band 2
In the world of video games, achievements create thrilling challenges for players. Some are easy to unlock, but others require immense skill, patience, and a lot of time. The hardest achievements usually involve tasks like completing a game without dying, defeating incredibly strong bosses, or reaching rare online rankings.
This article covers some of the toughest and most legendary achievements in gaming history—challenges that only the most determined and skilled players have managed to conquer.
The Thrilling Third-Person Shooter: Gears of War
Gears of War is a third-person shooter franchise that was originally released for Xbox 360. Each game in the series features increasingly difficult achievements, making it harder to complete with every new installment.
The Hardest Achievement in Gears 5
To unlock one of its most challenging achievements, you must:
- Complete the campaign on the highest difficulty
- Finish Master Horde and Escape Launch Maps
- Reach Re-Up 20
- Get to the General rank in Tour of Duty
Earning this achievement could take months or even a full year, requiring daily dedication to the game.
The Impossible Mission: Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is one of the toughest tactical shooters ever made. This game features three of the hardest achievements in gaming history.
What Makes It So Difficult?
To unlock these achievements, players must reach the top of the online leaderboards, meaning you have to be the absolute best among all other players.
While it may not have been as difficult at launch, achieving this rank today requires an insane amount of time and effort.
The Hardest Achievement in Halo: Master Chief Collection
Halo is one of the most influential first-person shooters, shaping modern gaming culture. Originally released for Xbox, Halo is recognized worldwide.
The Ultimate Challenge: LASO Master
To unlock this infamously hard achievement, players must:
- Complete all four main Halo games
- Play on Legendary difficulty
- Activate all skull modifiers (which introduce extreme gameplay changes)
This achievement not only takes a long time to earn but also requires insane skill to complete.
The Horror Challenge: Outlast 2
Outlast 2, a first-person psychological horror game released in 2017, features one of the most punishing difficulty levels ever seen.
The Insane Messiah Achievement
- Players must finish the game without saving or using checkpoints
- On top of that, they cannot change the camera battery
- This means that players must survive, memorize the entire game, and speed-run it flawlessly
This challenge is so brutal that only a handful of players have ever completed it.
The Fan-Favorite Fighting Game: Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat is one of the most iconic fighting game franchises in gaming history. Developed by Midway Games, it has consistently delivered some of the best and most high-quality fighting experiences.
The Brutal “My Kung Fu Is Stronger” Achievement
While not the hardest in terms of skill, this achievement is incredibly time-consuming. To earn it, players must:
- Play each character for 24 hours (including DLC and console-exclusive fighters)
- Win 100 matches
- Perform 100 Fatalities
- Execute 150 X-Ray hits
- Spill 10,000 liters of blood per character
This means dozens, if not hundreds, of hours grinding through fights, which most players simply don’t have the patience for.
The Ultimate Music Game Challenge: Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2, a 2008 rhythm game, is the sequel to the original Rock Band (2007). It features one of the hardest achievements in gaming history—Bladder of Steel.
What Makes It So Difficult?
- Players must complete the Endless Setlist 2 (which consists of 84 songs)
- They cannot fail a single song
- No pausing is allowed
- This means playing for over six hours straight without a single mistake
This challenge tests not only your gaming skills but also your patience, endurance, and focus.
Which One Do You Think Is the Hardest?
This article explored some of the most difficult achievements in gaming history. From grueling challenges in Gears of War and Halo to tests of patience and skill in Mortal Kombat and Rock Band 2, these accomplishments are reserved for only the most dedicated and skilled players.
Many of these achievements require exceptional skill, endless hours of practice, and unwavering determination. In the end, these challenges are what make gaming even more exciting, keeping players engaged and pushing them to their limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is unlocking these achievements worth it?
If you love challenges and competition, then yes! But be prepared to invest a huge amount of time and effort.
Can I earn achievements without being highly skilled?
Some achievements only require time and grinding, but many of the hardest ones demand serious skill and practice.
What is the hardest achievement in horror games?
The Messiah achievement in Outlast 2 is considered one of the toughest, as it requires completing the game without saving and without changing the camera battery.
