Summary

Games have a habit of determining our mood.Cozy games can comfort uson our worst days, while fast-paced shooters can get us in the zone for beating up competitors. So, what about those games that pull you to the end of your tether, but you just can’t seem to give up?

Many developers take pride in pulling you into their games, hooking you in with beautiful environments and thrilling stories. Rage games have the special ability to drive you away, either through difficult controls, long levels, or enraging teammates. But, even when you’re ready to throw away your controller or smash your keyboard, you just can’t help going back to have one more go.

Cuphead fighting against The Root Pack boss in Cuphead

Cuphead is notorious for getting under your skin. Its cute art style just isn’t enough to save you from feeling that frustration when your last life is taken away. There are many levels to traverse through, all with unique bosses and interesting NPCs.

Even though enjoying Cuphead comes naturally to those who like learning new strategies, there are always moments of anger.Cuphead’s bosses are ruthless, no matter whether you’re a brand-new player or a seasoned veteran. Simple movements or a mistimed jump can force you to start all over again, so you have to make sure you’ve got the patience and willingness to see those levels through.

A man inside a couldron holding a hammer in Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy.

If you feel your patience running thin with Cuphead, you can always phone a friend to join you and help. Be aware that the wrong person may make you angrier than before, so choose someone good (without hurting everyone else’s feelings).

7Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy

Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy is a game that can send you to rock bottom with the snap of the fingers. There’s nothing more infuriating than watching all your progress deplete in front of you with no way to stop it.

Not to say it’s not fun. Getting Over It is a rewarding experience; nothing feels better than the satisfaction of finally reaching the top. You should probably get comfy for a game like this, though; you may be at it for a long while.

Octodad The Dadliest Catch, Octodad holding a family picture.

The play style and story of Octodad are hilariously captivating. It’s difficult to pass for a normal human while controlling erratic tentacles, but completing interesting puzzles and traversing its environment makes it worth it. All these puzzles have to be done as naturally as possible, or you run the risk of revealing your true identity.

As lovely as the game can be, controlling tentacles with no opposable thumbs is enough to make anyone contemplate quitting. Octodad, while being a fun way to spend the day, has no fear of making you lose your mind over the movements of a sea creature on land.

Bread and Fred, one player dangling from a platform in an icy level.

You’d expect a feeling of safety when tied to your friend, someone to catch you if you fall… or to drag you down when they misjudge a jump and leap off the edge. It’s tempting to dig into your friends for simple mistakes like that, but always bear in mind that you’ll be doing the same thing sooner or later.

The cute platformer game is a great team exercise to help you build communication between you and your friends. But, with its lengthy levels and unforgiving nature for even the slightest mistake, don’t be surprised when that healthy communication turns into a lot of screaming and shouting.

Counter-Strike 2 shooting an AK-47 down banana on Inferno at a CT, but the gun is on the left-hand side

Counter-Strike is a classic game that famously runs your patience into the ground. As fun as it can be, there’s no denying how infuriating the lack of communication can be in a game centered around teamwork. Whether you’re attacking or defending, an unbalanced team can descend the game into chaos, and nothing can be quite as infuriating as that.

Even with good communication, no amount of careful movement or strategic planning can prepare you for a well-timed grenade or unfortunate timing when peaking around the corner. Many rounds may end in shouts through the in-game voice chat, but the satisfaction of clutching a round will drag you back into playing for a few more hours.

Geometry dash level

3Geometry Dash

Geometry Dash is a simple mobile game that draws you in to its earlier levels, only to keep you playing, no matter how much you lose your patience later on. With a brightly colored art style, Geometry Dash takes you through various levels with splashes of color and a fun beat to keep you interested.

Eventually, that fun beat might be the only thing you hear for the next few days, as dying can become an unfortunate habit, especially if you can’t get past a difficult section. Trying out different levels can quell the rage you feel, but it’s only a matter of time before it happens again.

Dark Souls Chosen Undead

The Dark Souls franchise is famous for its unforgiving nature. No matter how many bosses you defeat and how many areas you clear, one poorly timed swipe or too many steps to one side can send you far back in progress.

Every Dark Souls game comes with a captivating environment sprinkled with deadly enemies and lots of powerful gear to discover and collect. When you think you’re ready to call it a day, the call of that next campfire is just too tempting to ignore, no matter what stands in your way.

Bowser, Peach and Mario having fun on Rainbow Road In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart may be the most famous rage-inducing game of all time. It doesn’t matter whether you’re racing against friends, family, or NPCs; if a race goes badly, it’s going to put you in a sour mood for a long while.

The game haslots of different tracks to race across. Each map is unique and lets you travel through beautiful environments, listening to upbeat music while using various items to spice up the games. Most of the time, these items are what make or break a game and can cause quite a few problems in friendships. Even if you’ve been in first place for the whole race, that blue shell will send you all the way to the back. It’s a humbling experience, but that won’t stop you from nearly throwing your controller at the screen.