Can a Game's Brutal Difficulty Put You Off Playing It? | Push Square

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Good news everyone, the difficulty discourse is back! It's a topic that seems to explode into life pretty much every time FromSoftware releases something new, and it's happening yet again with the launch of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

In case you don't already know, there's currently a heated debate going on that revolves around the DLC's overall difficulty level. Some believe that it's just too damn high, while others claim that this is simply the Souls formula at work. Even FromSoftware boss Hidetaka Miyazaki has felt the need to wade into the conversation, stating that the studio's games simply must push players to overcome often brutal challenges, because that's just how they're designed.

Unable to progress, they have nothing left

Git gud, officially

Updated with Shadow of the Erdtree DLC guides

But we're not here to ask whether you think Shadow of the Erdtree is too hard. Instead, we want to take a broader approach, and ask if you genuinely enjoy intentionally difficult video games. So, vote in our poll, and then take all the time you need to explain yourself in the comments section below.

Robert (or Rob if you're lazy) has been a fan of PlayStation since the 90s, when Tekken 2 introduced him to the incredible world of video games. He still takes his fighting games seriously, but RPGs are his true passion. The Witcher, Persona, Dragon Quest, Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, Trails, Tales — he's played 'em all. A little too much, some might say.

I bounced off Nioh for this reason. Harder than any FromSoft game I've played.

Back when I had more free time I would tough it through a game. Now, I’ll play on Normal or hard until it annoys me and then I’ll turn down the difficulty and rush through the game.

Yes for me. I just don't have the time to dedicate to mastering a single game's brutal difficulty. In my opinion, difficulty settings should always be there for those who need/want them. Most games that do this will even state which difficulty setting is the