There's probably a rather simple explanation for that: If you've been gaming ever since the NES era (not the same as simply having gamed in the NES era, then quit gaming) then you are what is often reffered to as a "core" gamer, where gaming has become an important hobby for you. That would also mean that you've spent a lot more time gaming.

To further explain, my dad used to game back when he was a kid, but he doesn't game anymore, and he'd struggle if I were to give him a game of moderate difficulty today (not to mention any hard retro style platformer). Likewise, a lot of people that have only gamed since the PS360 era are likely to not end up as so called "core" gamers when they grow up, however given that they (us) aren't as far into our lives, the, ahem, let's say, wheat hasn't been separated from the chaff. While for people who have been gaming ever since the NES era they have, and you are left with the so called "core" gamers.

Of course yes, games are easier today and that will lead to a skill difference for the average gamer, but I don't think it's nearly as big as you make it out to be.

IF you were to just pick a random dude who used to play on an NES, and ask him to finish Contra, he'd likely get his ass whopped, same can be said for a random kid who plays on his PS360 or PS4/XBO.

Actually, I've found that modern games have found the right balanced between challenge and frustration. Maybe because they have more mechanical depth than older games so they wouldn't be fun or enjoyable to some people if they were as frustrating and difficult .

This thread probably wasn't srss, but it's interesting how some users did actually take it srsly. All in all, it still was a good read, so thanks everyone.

Super Meat Boy is a modern game that most consider hard to beat (really hard to 100%), and even that game pales in comparison to beating Contra without a cheat code. Why? Unlimited lives, continues and saves, that's why. In those days, the harder games punished failure. Get to stage 4 and lose that last life? Guess what? Game over bitch... back to the start for you! You had better cancel the next 4 months of your life, bunker down and learn how to lose or else you'll never beat shit.

And sure, I agree if you picked "random" people off the street that that would hold true. But take two core gamers (36/16), and you have a completely different scenario. 

My one sentence response:

Video games should not ALL be difficult.

Why? Challenging is not the only thing a video game can aspire to be, and these days may no longer even be the main thing. There is a much broader range of experience that can be had from video games than when they first appeared. If a video game aspires to someting other than a gameplay challenge then gameplay challenge may detract from the main purpose of the game. A video game should aspire to be an enjoyable experience for people who are interested in whatever the game is trying to do. Whether that's challenging gameplay or immersive experience or something else doesn't matter. The size of the audience you attract for a video game will be largely determined by what elements the developer focusses on as the main source of enjoyment. 

I think it's a really bad idea to suggest any sort of formula or standard method for how a game should or shouldn't be challenging. some people want a really tough experience, others want a largely stress free time with their games. All preferences should be catered to.

I agree. I love difficult games, but I also love easy games like Kirby and Journey. Challenge should be handled on a game by game basis. While some games should never be difficult, like Kirby, some should never be easy, like Dark Souls.

u are an @@@@@@! I don't feel like spending 80 bucks on a game that I can finish in a day or a week or that matter!!
suck it up and just stop playing them. if u can't handle it then stop playing them

Why is immersive something that exists without gameplay? Sounds like a movie to me.

Are you talking about those games that you just traverse and see what happens? I dont know. I am hard pressed to classify them as games when gameplay isnt the focus.

You want to give an example? I'm not sure what you mean.

Tropical Freeze was challenging, but not really that difficult for me. In fact, the few games you mentioned weren't all that difficult at all in my experience.

Of course challenging can be fun, I find it more fun than being able to just run through a game.

Practice often and you'll get better. As others mentioned, revisit a few of those games in a few years. You may find you'll like them more.

Imo, without difficulty, most games either A: Become repetitive, or B: Have to fall back on an engrossing storyline(few and far between). I much, much prefer hard games to easy ones, and I'm not even that hard core. I play maybe 3-7hrs a week. The satisfaction that comes from overcoming a hurdle gives my a sense of accomplishment that most of the mundane shit I spend all day doing does not, and makes all the difficulty worth it.

That said, I'm not an easily frustrated person. The only things that really get my blood boiling are cheap lvl9 Smash CPU's, and, just thist moment, this worthless freaking "EDGE" browser in Windows 10. Jesus. Typing is glitchy as all hell, and it runs worse on my i5desktop than IE10 runs on my fing atom tablet!