Top 10 Hardest Crash Bandicoot Levels

Crash Bandicoot, over the years, has given us a lot of memorable and fun levels. But it's also given us some of the most frustrating levels that really test your platforming skills.

The Top Ten

Slippery Climb (Crash Bandicoot)

There are hardly any checkpoints in this one. It requires incredibly precise jumps, and there is no trick like jumping on top of the ropes.

This is a very hard level with so many tricky jumps and awkward enemies. This level is like The High Road too. I called this level Slippery Crap.

Your timing in this level needs to be perfect. The level really intensifies near the end.
The High Road (Crash Bandicoot)

Getting the Gold Relic Time is basically impossible without abusing the rope mechanics and putting in at least 5-8 hours.

Road to Nowhere was hard enough. This level takes that challenge and doubles the madness.

There are a lot of tricky jumps in this level.
Stormy Ascent (Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy)

The level was so hard it was removed from the original Crash Bandicoot game, only accessible by a GameShark, and later became available as DLC for the remake.

When I first played through the remake, I started with 50 lives. By the time I finally finished the level, I was down to 2 lives.

This is the hardest level in the game, so you will need 99 lives to beat it. The last part is extremely hard. No part of this level is easy.
Native Fortress (Crash Bandicoot)

It was hard when I was a kid, and now it's still just as hard!

Native Fortress was very hard for me. I was so glad when I finally passed it.
Piston It Away (Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back)

If going for 100%, getting every crate requires not dying throughout the level, along with backtracking. This is easily the level that took me the longest to get every crate in all the games.

It's a very frustrating level and is considered the hardest for breaking all the crates in the game. To get the clear gem, you'll have to do some backtracking to collect every crate.

Those goddamn shrink rays and starfish robots. Sacrificing Aku Aku masks...
Totally Bear (Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back)

What makes this level hard is that you not only ride the polar bear, but it's also very dark, making it difficult to see where you're going or how far you need to jump. Getting through to the end gives you no reward, so you must break all the crates to get the gem, which is easier said than done.

I died so many times because I missed at least two or more crates while trying to get the gem.

This level was hell the first time I played through it.
Fumbling in the Dark (Crash Bandicoot)

Another dark level. You need your mask just to see where you're going. If you lose it, then you're screwed. Plus, there are so many obstacles in the level.

Lose your only light source, and you're literally left fumbling in the dark - no pun intended.
Area 51? (Crash Bandicoot: Warped)

The first time I played this level, I kept falling into the pits and smashing into the police cars. Those UFOs are super cheap.

THOSE UFOs knock you off the road, and the countless bottomless pits in the road guarantee that you will have a hard time going for the relics.

In this level, you race spaceships while in the dark. It's very hard to see, and too many times you will find yourself falling down pits.
Sunset Vista (Crash Bandicoot)

The hardest and longest level to get the key and the gem in the original first version.
Cold Hard Crash (Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back)

Especially since one box in the bonus stage is well-hidden and very easy to miss, making the gem for breaking all the boxes incredibly frustrating to obtain.

Getting through the level is okay, but getting the box gem is the hardest in the game.

The Newcomers

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Castle Machinery (Crash Bandicoot)
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Diggin' It (Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back)

The Contenders

Road to Nowhere (Crash Bandicoot)

That pig always throws me off, and I keep falling on the dark board I'm supposed to jump off of.
Mad Bombers (Crash Bandicoot: Warped)

A lot harder than the first flying stage due to the fact that it takes a lot more to take down each plane. It's even more difficult in the time trial.
Night Fight (Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back)

It's another dark level where you need the light. The most frustrating part is the backtracking in the dark.
That Sinking Feeling (Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex)

One of the hardest flying stages in Crash. The vehicle you control, the firefly, is difficult to handle.
Spaced Out (Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back)
Toxic Waste (Crash Bandicoot)
Tomb Wader (Crash Bandicoot: Warped)

This level has rising water, so you have to time it to avoid drowning. It's especially harder during the time trial run.
Totally Fly (Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back)

I really hate these dark stages.
Un-Bearable (Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back)

In this level, you are pursued by a giant polar bear. It can be very difficult to tell when you're supposed to jump.

This took me tons of tries. You either need to memorize this level to beat it or have very fast reflexes.
Hog Wild (Crash Bandicoot)

Why is this still an honorable mention? It's harder than Slippery Climb, dude! It definitely should already be on this list. Without this, it's worse, you guys!

This is like High Road, even harder than Slippery Climb. What is number two?

Very hard and definitely the most frustrating level in all the games.
The Lab (Crash Bandicoot)
The Lost City (Crash Bandicoot)
Rings of Power (Crash Bandicoot: Warped)

This should be higher on the list!
Crate Balls of Fire (Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex)
High Seas Hi-Jinks (Crash Twinsanity)