This article is written by guest contributor Kyle Lantion. Kyle is an avid comic fan and loves all things comic-related. So much so that his favorite tabletop hobby is painting minis for Marvel Crisis Protocol and other miniatures. When he’s not painting, he’s probably playing in or Judging Flesh and Blood TCG Tournaments all around the city.

When the topic of hard video games is brought up, gamers are almost always inclined to mention FromSoftware games like Dark Souls, Sekiro, and the latest installment, Elden Ring. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a new player, soulsborne games are hard for anybody (say what you will, but I know you died hundreds of times to Ornstein and Smough). The simple fact that these games are kept at a uniform difficulty throughout their entirety allows players to grow and learn the gameplay without being afforded an “easy” way out. Simply put, the game is permanently kept on hard mode, so players have to work on becoming better at the game and don’t have the option of changing to an easier mode. In lieu of this, we want to talk about games that are hard by design and what that entails for the gameplay experience. In this article, we also want to answer the question: when is hard mode no longer fun?

Why Make Hard Video Games Anyway?

Before anything else, we have to understand what hard mode is for and why it is included in games in the first place. The difficulty modes of games afford players different experiences and playthroughs. Hard mode is usually there for gamers who want to challenge themselves a little more and only have fun when the game is exceptionally challenging. That doesn’t mean that players who play normal and easy mode are less than those who play hard mode. They have different goals going into the games. Players who want to enjoy the story and not focus on min-maxing can freely enjoy Easy and normal mode.  

Hard Video Games – The Difficulty Slider

In most games, difficulty is often set by selecting a mode or by sliding a difficulty slider from easy to hard. This means that from the get-go, players are able to set the pace and mood of the game: easy mode for casual enjoyment and hard mode for a sweatier run-through. The difference between easy mode and hard mode varies from game to game and is arbitrary. For some games, the developers increase the difficulty by increasing the spawn rate of mobs or by increasing the base stats of bosses, but it does not necessarily increase the player’s in-game growth rate. All this does is increase the play-time a player must commit to the game rather than actually force them to improve. If a game makes a boss fight longer because they have more HP in hard mode compared to the regular mode, but their attack pattern and movement stay the same, then all the game is doing is asking for more time from the player. Longer fights and play-time don’t automatically mean harder. One example of a game that implements a real-time difficulty slider is Hades, which has a heat system. Hades is a roguelike that throws varying runs at the player and constantly requires them to make in-game decisions that affect their runs. As the game progresses, the player is asked to choose additional challenges or “Heats” for their current run-through. This can range from more enemies all the way to new boss fight experiences. This is an instance wherein adding more mobs and increasing HP is a genuine growth opportunity for the player and offers more skill development due to the game’s design.

Are Hard Video Games Not Fun?

With all that in mind, when is a game on hard mode no longer fun? You may think to yourself that Souls games and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree are examples of games being too difficult and no longer fun because you’re constantly dying and not given any breathing room. This is only true if the player is not using all the resources given by the game. Is a boss too hard? You can change your equipment and skill lineup to make the fight easier while also noting how the fight progresses. A game is only too hard if a player is not given any resources or opportunities to overcome the fights or challenges in the game but expects the player to win over the level regardless, be it by pure brute strength or by dedicating hours to grinding levels and gameplay. Personally, I think a game that requires a player to spend countless hours in it as the bare minimum is poor game design and does not automatically equate to rewarding gameplay. If a game is hard by design and finds balance in offering the player the opportunity and resources to improve in a game without requiring a tedious grind, then that game has the potential to be genuinely fun.

Hard Video Games Are Not For Everyone

At the end of the day, a game is only fun if the player is having fun. Play what you like and like what you play. If you aren’t having fun and the game doesn’t seem to be giving you enough resources or opportunities to beat a boss, then maybe the game isn’t fun in the first place. Ultimately, games aren’t intrinsically meant to be played in one specific way, so just have fun, play how you want, and explore all your options.

In case you want to play those hard video games handheld, check out our article below!

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