League of Legends Tops List of Most Challenging Video Games

A new assessment has ranked video games based on their difficulty, with League of Legends emerging as the most challenging title. The game received a perfect difficulty score of 10 out of 10, reflecting both player dropout rates and the time needed to achieve mastery. According to the analysis by the video game asset marketplace Chicks Gold, online multiplayer games dominate the list, with eight of the top ten requiring thousands of hours to master.

The study utilized data from howlongtobeat.com, evaluating over 7,500 games based on various metrics. These metrics included the time needed to complete the main story, side quests, and overall completion percentages. Games lacking traditional storylines, such as League of Legends and Dota 2, were assessed based on different criteria, such as unlocking all champions or attaining high-level mastery.

Top 10 Most Difficult Video Games

The following games were identified as the hardest based on the analysis:

1. **League of Legends** (2009) – Difficulty Score: 10.00
Completionist Hours: 3,224.91
Percentage Retired: 34.6%

2. **Aura Kingdom** (2014) – Difficulty Score: 9.97
Completionist Hours: 9,341.75
Percentage Retired: 36.6%

3. **Dota 2** (2013) – Difficulty Score: 9.89
Completionist Hours: 2,285.63
Percentage Retired: 36.8%

4. **Azur Lane** (2018) – Difficulty Score: 9.85
Completionist Hours: 3,170.63
Percentage Retired: 37.8%

5. **War Thunder** (2012) – Difficulty Score: 9.82
Completionist Hours: 4,627.70
Percentage Retired: 31.1%

6. **World of Warcraft** (2004) – Difficulty Score: 9.81
Completionist Hours: 5,802.32
Percentage Retired: 31.6%

7. **World of Tanks Blitz** (2016) – Difficulty Score: 9.78
Completionist Hours: 3,500
Percentage Retired: 23.0%

8. **Football Manager 2015** (2014) – Difficulty Score: 9.69
Completionist Hours: 902.53
Percentage Retired: 38.4%

8. **Clicker Heroes** (2015) – Difficulty Score: 9.69
Completionist Hours: 1,111.10
Percentage Retired: 37.4%

8. **osu!** (2007) – Difficulty Score: 9.69
Completionist Hours: 3,431.64
Percentage Retired: 32.0%

9. **NGU Idle** (2019) – Difficulty Score: 9.68
Completionist Hours: 4,548.76
Percentage Retired: 15.0%

10. **Team Fortress 2** (2007) – Difficulty Score: 9.60
Completionist Hours: 2,880.56
Percentage Retired: 31.5%

League of Legends stands out with players averaging 1,144 hours of competitive play. Highly committed players often exceed 3,224 hours dedicated to mastering the game. Despite this significant time investment, 34.6% of players who start the game ultimately abandon it.

Following closely, Aura Kingdom demands over 9,341 hours for completion, equating to more than a year of continuous gameplay. Its dropout rate is also notable, with 36.6% of players not reaching completion. In third, Dota 2 requires around 2,285 hours to master, with a similar dropout rate of 36.8%.

The mobile naval warfare game Azur Lane has the highest dropout rate among the top ten at 37.8%. Meanwhile, War Thunder, a free-to-play vehicular combat game, comes in fifth with a completion time of nearly 4,628 hours.

Notably, World of Warcraft, despite being launched in 2004, continues to provide a challenging experience, requiring 5,802 hours for full completion. Players must commit to nearly two years of daily eight-hour sessions to achieve this.

Interestingly, World of Tanks Blitz features the lowest retirement rate in the top ten at 23%, indicating that its gameplay loop effectively retains player engagement despite the substantial 3,500-hour investment needed for completion.

The games tied for eighth place, including Football Manager 2015, Clicker Heroes, and osu!, all scored 9.69 out of 10 in difficulty. Football Manager 2015 notably has the highest dropout rate in the top ten, with 38.4% of players retiring before completion.

In conclusion, this analysis sheds light on the immense time and dedication required to master some of the most challenging video games in the market today. The findings highlight the ongoing evolution of gaming, where complexity and player commitment remain key factors in the gaming experience.