Top 10 Most Absurd / Sadistic Gaming Achievements

Gaming culture is in kind of a strange spot right now. We're in love with achievements. That sense of artificial accomplishment, that warm glow we get when we hear the distinctive "ding" of a new achievement, the bragging rights they give us… they're pretty awesome, right? 

We love them to the point of obsession. I count among my friends several achievement junkies who refuse to set down a game until they've gathered every trophy, gained every achievement, accomplished every menial task set to them by the developer. Sometimes, that's easier said than done.

See, occasionally, a developer will saddle their game with an achievement that is quite literally designed to be nigh impossible to gain. Maybe they're trying to artificially increase playtime. Perhaps they didn't realize it'd be so difficult. Or maybe, just maybe, they're subtly letting their fans know that they hate them. 

Either way, the achievements on this list are some of the most downright sadistic I've ever seen. 

10. Mega Man 10 - Mr. Perfect

When you consider the phrase "Nintendo Hard", one of the first titles that often comes to mind is the original Mega Man series of games, particularly the first. While they were certainly brilliant and enjoyable platformers, they were also among the most difficult games on the console at that time. Mega Man 9 and Mega Man 10 are two games which attempt to recapture the spirit and feel of the old franchise. That includes difficulty. 

With that in mind, just why "Mr. Perfect" made this list becomes immediately clear: in order to gain this achievement, you're expected to beat the entire game without getting hit. Once. Even if the final boss should strike a glancing blow, you lose... achievement failed. Want to know what's even worse? This isn't even the hardest achievement here.

9. War of the Worlds - I am Arthur Clark

Released in 2011 for the Xbox LIVE Arcade, The War of the Worlds was a side-scrolling platformer which attempted to introduce a new generation to the H.G. Wells classic, emphasizing reflexes and timing above all else. It puts players into the shoes of the British Everyman, Arthur Clark, who is attempting to escape the Martian invasion and reunite with his family. It was actually pretty difficult at certain points, and you were more or less guaranteed to die at least once.

Unless you were trying to go for this nasty piece of work, which requires you to beat the entire game in one sitting without dying. Yeah. 

8. Super Meat Boy - Impossible Boy

Super Meat Boy has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the most difficult games currently available on Steam. The puzzle-platformer requires lightning reflexes, perfect timing, and incredible co-ordination just to beat the game, let alone beat it without dying. 

Impossible Boy and its sister achievements expect you to do just that. Each one requires you to beat an entire chapter in one go, without dying once. Impossible Boy made the list, and not any of the others, because it's linked to one of the most difficult chapters in the game.

To date, Steam lists the percentage of its community who've obtained this one at a tidy 0.7%. 

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