Why I Enjoy Hardcore Mode on Any Video Game
Last Updated on March 13, 2025 by Michael Brockbank
The hardcore mode of games ramps up the difficulty exponentially while contributing to a mild case of trauma. And although it can be quite nerve-wracking, it’s probably one of my favorite ways to play any video game. If it’s got a hardcore mode, I’m going to play it.
If there was a hardcore style for Elden Ring or even Ever Quest II or another RPG, I’d be on board.
No, I’m not a glutton for punishment. It’s merely the fact that hardcore difficulty vastly changes the way you play the game. Well, it does for me, anyway.
I’ll still play the normal and harder difficulties, but there’s something about hardcore that just tickles my fancy.
What is Hardcore Mode?
For most games, the hardcore difficulty essentially limits you to one-life play. This means that once your character dies, all of the progress, equipment, and treasures you collected are lost, and you have to start over from the very beginning.
For example, if a character dies in Diablo 3 while playing the hardcore mode, it is frozen behind a locked screen. Any equipment you were carrying at the time of death is then locked with that character, never to be used again. However, you still have the shared stash where other Diablo 3 hardcore characters can still access any goodies you accumulated.
Some games will then ramp up more elements to make the difficulty as hard as possible. For instance, Valheim’s hardcore mode increases mob spawns, makes the mobs tougher, and then removes your map, making the game extremely difficult to survive.
Think of it like this: When you die, you’re dead. Game over. You have to start over with a new character and play from the very beginning.
Why Would Anyone Want to Play Hardcore Mode?
Not everyone will want to play the hardcore difficulty of certain video games. Some people will get so attached to their characters that even the thought of losing one forever is devastating for them. To put all that work and effort only to die near the end can be very heart-wrenching.
So, why the hell would anyone want to subject themselves to such emotional damage?
A True Test of Skill
Turning up the difficulty in any game is a true way to test your skills at that game. The mobs get tougher, and you’re at more of a disadvantage. This is when cunning and adaptation take front and center stage.
It can take a bit of time to grasp the game mechanics, so jumping right into hardcore mode is probably not the best course of action on day one. The more you learn about the game, the better your chances of surviving a hardcore playthrough.
Nonetheless, hardcore will push you to the limits of your abilities. I’m not just talking about your prowess with the keyboard or controller. You have to pay far more attention to your surroundings as well, which I’ll go over in a moment. But every aspect of playing that particular game is dialed to eleven in most cases.
Pride and Accomplishment
There is a great deal of pride that comes with surviving a game that is doing its best to put you down. The more powerful you become, the more proud you are of the accomplishment.
For example, I was quite proud of the fact that I was able to take on a troll in Valheim with a crude bow, fire arrows, and a bow skill of about 12. I thought for sure he was going to get me, but I emerged victorious.
I know…that might not be much for some of you. But for me, it was a golden moment in my hardcore playthrough. And I’ll probably be geeking out about it until my next greatest accomplishment in the game.
My point is that it’s good to feel pride and accomplishment in your day-to-day activities. Games, in this sense, have mental health benefits ranging from improving your mood to boosting your problem-solving abilities.
The Adrenalin Rush
When you’re fully immersed in a game, it can easily tap your adrenalin when something is about to go sideways. That’s because death is permanent in hardcore mode, and you don’t want to lose all of that work. This increases the sense of urgency and preservation.
There are also games that will tap phobias you may have, which then become nightmarish in hardcore mode.
For instance, I have a touch of thalassophobia (fear of deep water). Subnautica is already a game that will trigger my fear, but then hardcore mode increases the intensity for me 10 times.
Of course, you don’t need to give yourself a heart attack to feel the adrenalin rush. Everything from a good jump scare to a troll strolling up behind you while crafting can get the heart going.
A More Immersive Experience
I find that playing the hardest difficulty creates a more immersive experience in a few different ways. For one, you’re paying more attention to your surroundings to ensure you won’t die because of something stupid. You only have one life, so you don’t want a falling tree to take you out before meeting a boss.
Secondly, depending on the game, you’re more observant for anything that will give you an advantage. For instance, leading a pack of Greydwarves to a pack of skeletons so they can duke it out in Valheim.
Hardcore game play can suck you into the landscape easily as you do what you can to survive. Even the enemies themselves can feel different when you know that you only have one life to spend. Creatures you once thought of as doorstops become something a bit more dangerous, changing how you view them overall.
Bragging Rights & Achievements
Lastly, let’s not forget bragging rights or achievements. A lot of gamers who get to a certain point in any hardcore mode of a game will tell you all about it. Look at Elon Musk and his claim of playing Path of Exile 2.
That’s probably not a very good example, thanks to the controversy surrounding Musk’s claims. It’s quite obvious that he’s not as good as he wants people to think.
Anyway, bragging rights are fun as long as you can prove without a shadow of a doubt that you’re the player. Otherwise, people will be quick to point it out, especially on social media.
As for achievements, there are quite a few games out there that have them for finishing the game in hardcore mode. It’s something more that you can share with friends or on social media to strut about your prowess.
Hardcore Mode Isn’t for Everyone
I love the challenge of surviving against maddening odds. Despite dying many times in Diablo 3, I’ll still give it a shot every season in an attempt to outdo myself.
However, hardcore difficulty is not everyone’s cup of tea. The thought of losing a character they spent so much time developing keeps them from risking it all.
There’s nothing wrong with that, really. Players can put a lot of time and effort into a character, virtually loving it as they would a family pet. And if that “pet” was to get taken out by a Creeper with an explosion from behind, it could feel quite devastating.
In this case, I can understand the reluctance for people to stay away from hardcore gameplay. I mean, I wouldn’t want to throw my cat into a woodchipper, either. And that’s how a lot of players feel.
Isn’t Hardcore Mode a Waste of Time and Effort?
The argument can be made that hardcore gameplay is a waste of time and effort as a single death can wipe it all away. Then, you’re left with nothing and have to start over.
However, I see it as an experience. The time I spend playing a hardcore game mechanic is still acting as a diversion from everyday life. That’s what video games are supposed to do, right?
It seems that a lot of players get so wrapped up in collecting in-game items and currencies that they don’t appreciate the relaxation that comes from gaming in general.
You’re still spending time immersing yourself in a fictional world while (hopefully) enjoying a good plot or storyline. That experience will stay with you regardless of how long you last in a hardcore game difficulty.
So, long story short, no. I don’t think hardcore mode is a waste of time and effort. I’m still experiencing the game in new ways, and that’s what matters to me.
How Often Do You Increase the Difficulty of Video Games?
There are times when I want a simple and normal playthrough. Mostly, this is when I just need to relax after a grueling day and just want to fish in Minecraft or perhaps build a few structures in Subnautica. However, I will always play the hardcore mode of a game if it’s available.
I love challenging myself in such a fashion, even though I don’t last long in a lot of games.
It’s all about learning from mistakes and improving the odds for the next round. No, I’m not some master gamer who pulls in a ton of viewers on Twitch. But I do enjoy pushing myself to see how far I can get toward beating the game.
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