I don't think games got harder. They just got more advanced. With the advancements came new ways to play. As games have more, more, more to do, we tend to overlook actual gameplay over the game features. I used to complete every single game I owned back then, but now? The last game I ever completed recently was Halo 2 and Ninja Gaiden back in 2005. I have never completed a game ever since (fighting games don't count). Attention span waning. Man, I'm old

As for hard games, I think the 8-bit and 16-bit days contained among the most difficult games for the time, if not ever. I don't think I ever completed a Contra, Shinobi or Ninja Gaiden back in the day. Surprisingly, I used to remember trying endlessly to complete a particular level (just one more level...). Now, old guy that I am, I can say with certainty that I don' have the time or patience to complete a game any longer. Which brings back the statement that games are harder...