The Best Community-Made Game Challenges to Try

14 January 2026

Let’s face it: gaming is more fun when there’s a twist. Sure, you can beat the final boss, complete the story, or 100% every achievement—but what happens when you’ve done all that, and you're still itching for something new?

Enter: community-made challenges.

These aren't just your average "play the game with your feet" kind of dares. These are cleverly crafted, sometimes slightly unhinged, and often unbelievably fun rule sets created by fans who couldn’t just leave well enough alone. Whether it's Pokémon, The Sims, or even Breath of the Wild, gamers out there have cooked up challenges that’ll make you laugh, cry, rage... and then laugh again.

Ready to spice up your game nights? Let’s dive headfirst into some of the best community-made game challenges out there. And no, not all of them require you to suffer. Just most of them.

Why Community-Made Challenges Are So Addictive

Before we jump into our list, let’s talk about why these challenges hit differently.

When developers make a game, they have one main goal: make it enjoyable. But once you beat the intended difficulty, you’re left wondering… is there more?

Gamers love pushing boundaries. So naturally, when someone says, “Hey, what if we played Minecraft but can’t touch grass?”, others go, “Heck yeah!” These challenges breathe new life into tired games. They force you to think differently, play creatively, and sometimes question your life choices.

Alright, now onto the fun stuff. Bring your energy drinks and patience—some of these are intense.

1. The Nuzlocke Challenge – Pokémon

Ah, the classic. If you’ve ever wanted your adorable team of Pokémon to feel more like a band of brothers heading to war—this is it.

Rules Recap:

- If a Pokémon faints, it’s considered dead. You must release it. Yes, even that shiny.
- You can only catch the first Pokémon you encounter in each area.
- All caught Pokémon must be nicknamed. It builds emotional attachment. Just to make it hurt more when they die.

Why It’s Awesome:

The Nuzlocke adds stakes. Suddenly, every wild encounter is a heart-pounding moment of strategy rather than a throwaway fight. You’ll scream. You'll cry. You’ll mourn your Butterfree like a fallen soldier.

2. The 100 Baby Challenge – The Sims

Why limit chaos to one baby when you could have ONE HUNDRED?

Rules Recap:

- One matriarch must have 100 babies in as few generations as possible.
- No repeat "donors".
- No cheats. Not even to pay for diapers.

Why It’s Awesome:

This challenge is the definition of organized chaos. Managing toddlers while juggling romantic prospects and keeping your electricity on—this is real-life multitasking, but with far more fire hazards and fewer consequences. If you like drama, soap operas, and virtual babies screaming at you at 3 a.m.—this one’s for you.

3. The No-Hit Run – Dark Souls Series

Feeling confident? Arrogant, even? Let’s fix that with a no-hit run.

Rules Recap:

- Beat the entire game without taking a single hit. Yep. Even environmental damage counts.
- Ranged attacks? Sure. Cheese strats? Of course. But get hit once—you start over.

Why It’s Awesome:

This is the peak performance of masochism and skill. You’ll learn enemy patterns like you’re studying for the SATs. You’ll fear rats. You’ll hate ledges. And when you finally nail it? You’ll feel like an absolute god.

4. Minecraft Hardcore Mode – Permadeath + Survival

What’s better than building a house in Minecraft? Building one knowing that one creeper could end your existence.

Rules Recap:

- One life only.
- When you die, that world is gone. Poof.
- Maximum difficulty.

Why It’s Awesome:

There's nothing like the dread of exploring a dark cave at 3 hearts, praying you don’t run into a Skelly with bad intentions. This mode forces you to strategize. To play cautiously. To care. And let's be real—Minecraft needs a little danger every now and then.

5. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Master Mode Underwear Run

Yes, it’s as ridiculous as it sounds—and we love it.

Rules Recap:

- Use Master Mode (harder enemies, more danger).
- Never equip armor. Run around in Link’s undies only.
- Beat the game.

Why It’s Awesome:

Think of it like a fitness challenge for Link. No defense means every enemy encounter is a dance with death. You’ll need to rely on dodging, sneaky tactics, and every exploit in the book. Plus, Link in his boxers is... objectively hilarious.

6. Skyrim Survival Mode – No Fast Travel, No Cheats

Gone are the days of fast-traveling from Whiterun to Solitude. Welcome to Skyrim: Hike Simulator.

Rules Recap:

- No fast travel.
- Play on survival mode (hunger, cold, fatigue).
- Roleplay it. Meaning? Walk. Everywhere.

Why It’s Awesome:

You appreciate the beauty of Skyrim so much more when you have to walk through a blizzard just to buy some damn cheese. Every encounter feels more precious. And when you're freezing to death on the side of a mountain because you forgot your cloak? Immersion, baby.

7. Animal Crossing: The One Character Challenge

Make your island totally customized… with extreme constraints.

Rules Recap:

- Only one villager allowed on your island.
- Everything has to revolve around them.
- No time traveling. That’s cheating, Karen.

Why It’s Awesome:

This one’s oddly... wholesome? You build an island paradise for your bestie and no one else. It becomes a weird buddy comedy where you and, say, Raymond, are just vibing in an ocean of solitude. Surprisingly therapeutic.

8. Fallout: New Vegas – Hardcore Ironman Run

Desert wasteland, brutal mechanics, and no second chances. Sounds like a fun weekend, right?

Rules Recap:

- Hardcore mode ON (ammo has weight, sleep is necessary, dehydration kills).
- Ironman rules (if you die, delete the save).
- No companions unless you're okay with babysitting.

Why It’s Awesome:

It turns Fallout into a gritty survival experience. You become hyper-aware of resources. That can of pork n' beans? Gold. That slightly radiated puddle? Lifesaving. Every shot you fire feels meaningful. And every choice? Potentially fatal.

9. Stardew Valley: Minimalist Run

Who needs money, relationships, or success when you can live the simple farm life... on hard mode?

Rules Recap:

- No selling anything except crops.
- No marriage. No JojaMart devil deals.
- No upgrades unless absolutely necessary.

Why It’s Awesome:

It’s cozy but brutal. You’ll learn to appreciate the art of budgeting like a broke college student. Every tool you upgrade is a tiny victory. It’s capitalism-free self-care (sort of)—with the occasional rogue bat attack.

10. GTA V: Pacifist Run

Yup. That’s right. Play GTA... peacefully.

Rules Recap:

- Avoid hurting or killing anyone.
- Use stealth, speed, and wit to complete missions.
- Don’t use weapons unless the plot absolutely demands it.

Why It’s Awesome:

It’s absurd. It’s beautiful. It’s chaos avoidance in a game that thrives on chaos. Can you actually finish GTA without turning into a rampaging lunatic? Probably. Will it be incredibly hard and hilarious? Absolutely.

How to Create Your Own Gaming Challenge

Feeling inspired? Want to start the next big trend on Reddit or YouTube? You can!

Just follow these steps:

1. Pick a Game You Love – You’re going to spend hours on this. Might as well enjoy it.
2. Find the Pain Point – What’s too easy? What can you restrict?
3. Add a Funny Twist – Can’t use your hands? Only left turns allowed? Let your weird flag fly.
4. Test It Out – If it makes you laugh... or cry... or question your choices, you’re on the right track.
5. Share It! – Twitch. TikTok. Reddit. Twitter. Your mom's Facebook group. Wherever.

Final Thoughts

Community-made challenges are where creativity meets chaos. They push the boundaries of what's possible—or even reasonable—in your favorite games. Whether you're looking to laugh until you cry or just want a fresh experience out of a game you’ve already played to death, these challenges are your ticket to a whole new level of fun.

So go ahead—release your Pokémon, make 100 babies, run across Skyrim with frostbite, or try to turn Trevor into a pacifist. Trust me: You’ll have stories to tell, and probably a few rage quits along the way.

Game on, you legend.