League of Legends Crowned Most Challenging Video Game

A recent assessment has identified League of Legends as the most difficult video game, achieving a perfect difficulty score of 10 out of 10. This evaluation, conducted by the video game asset marketplace Chicks Gold, analyzed completion times and player dropout rates to determine the games that challenge players the most. The findings highlight a trend where online multiplayer games dominate the list, reflecting the substantial time commitment required to master these titles.

The analysis utilized data from howlongtobeat.com, ranking over 7,500 games based on various factors. These included the average time needed to complete the main storyline, side quests, and achieve 100% completion. It also considered the percentage of players who began the game but ultimately did not finish. For games without traditional narratives, such as Dota 2 and League of Legends, alternative metrics like time invested in unlocking all champions or attaining high-level mastery were employed.

Top 10 Most Difficult Video Games

The analysis ranked the top ten games based on their difficulty scores, completionist hours, and player dropout rates. The results are as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The findings reveal that League of Legends demands an average of 1,144 hours for competitive play, with dedicated players spending over 3,224 hours to master the game. Despite the extensive investment of time, 34.6% of players give up before completing it.

Second on the list, Aura Kingdom requires a staggering 9,341 hours for completionists, equating to over a year of continuous gameplay. This MMORPG also experiences a high dropout rate, with 36.6% of players not finishing the game.

The competitive environment of Dota 2 ranks it third, with a difficulty score of 9.89. Players typically invest 850 hours for main objectives and 2,285 hours for completion. This title also has a significant player retirement rate of 36.8%.

The Challenge of Mastery

Among the ten games analyzed, Azur Lane recorded the highest dropout rate at 37.8%. Its difficulty score of 9.85 reflects the demands placed on players. Similarly, War Thunder, a free-to-play vehicular combat game, ranked fifth with a score of 9.82, requiring 4,627 hours to fully master.

The iconic MMORPG World of Warcraft continues to challenge players with a difficulty score of 9.81. Achieving 100% completion necessitates 5,802 hours, roughly equivalent to playing eight hours daily for almost two years.

In contrast, World of Tanks Blitz stands out with the lowest retirement rate at 23%, suggesting that its engaging gameplay sustains player interest despite a hefty 3,500-hour commitment for completionists.

The analysis concludes with three titles tied for eighth place, each with a difficulty score of 9.69. Notably, Football Manager 2015 has the highest retirement rate in the top ten at 38.4%. Following closely are NGU Idle and Team Fortress 2, completing the rankings with scores of 9.68 and 9.60, respectively.

This detailed assessment underscores the demanding nature of modern video games, revealing the time and dedication required to achieve mastery in these popular titles.