30. "Dark Souls" (franchise)
Release date: October 4, 2011
Platform: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
A spiritual successor to the game "Demon's Souls," "Dark Souls" is easily one of the most difficult games ever made, but also one of the most rewarding. There's not much of a plot to speak of — it's mostly left up to the player to piece together various clues — but you basically play as a "cursed undead" who resurrects every time you die. By the end of the game, you can "link the flame" to preserve the Age of Fire and start the game over again essentially, or you can end the cycle by letting the flame die, thus beginning the Age of Dark. The "Dark Souls" games take you through various open worlds as you fight off impossibly tough monsters and get killed again, and again, and again, and again, and again. And then a few more times after that. But it's punishing without being unfair, and thus, each of your lone victories will taste all too sweet.