Skip to main content
Video Game Difficulty Can Never Be Perfect

Video Game Difficulty Can Never Be Perfect

Can we design a game that’s perfectly difficult for everyone?

Watch On Patreon   Music Used

 

References
#

Someone beating 2 Malenias with a dancepad
MissMikkaa. “2x MALENIA Defeated AT ONCE in the ULTIMATE Elden Ring Challenge Run.” YouTube. Jan 5, 2023. https://youtu.be/kjdK44BXHD4

Atari Basketball manual
“Basketball - Atari - Atari 2600.” AtariAge. Accessed Aug 16, 2023. https://atariage.com/manual_thumbs.php?SystemID=2600&SoftwareID=854&itemTypeID=MANUAL

Difficulty in Uncharted, as an example of classic damage scaling
“Difficulty.” Uncharted Wiki. Accessed Aug 16, 2023. https://uncharted.fandom.com/wiki/Difficulty

Difficulty in Kingdom Hearts
“Difficulty Level.” Kingdom Hearts Wiki. Accessed Aug 16, 2023. https://kingdomhearts.fandom.com/wiki/Difficulty_Level

Difficulty in Ghost of Tsushima
“Difficulty Level.” Ghost Franchise Wiki. Accessed Aug 16, 2023. https://ghostoftsushima.fandom.com/wiki/Difficulty_level

Difficulty in Devil May Cry franchise
“Difficulty Mode.” Devil May Cry Wiki. Accessed Aug 16, 2023. https://devilmaycry.fandom.com/wiki/Difficulty_Mode

Difficulty in Shadow of the Tomb Raider
“Difficulty.” Tomb Raider Wiki. Accessed Aug 16, 2023. https://tombraider.fandom.com/wiki/Difficulty

Difficulty in Resident Evil 4
“Main game (RE4).” Resident Evil Wiki. Accessed Aug 16, 2023. https://residentevil.fandom.com/wiki/Main_game_(RE4)#Difficulty

Left 4 Dead AI Director and how it influences difficulty
“The Director.” Left 4 Dead Wiki. Accessed Aug 16, 2023. https://left4dead.fandom.com/wiki/The_Director

DUSK’s Accessible mode
“Difficulty.” Dusk Wiki. Accessed Aug 16, 2023. https://dusk.fandom.com/wiki/Difficulty

Hades God Mode Difficulty
“God Mode.” Hades Wiki. Accessed Aug 16, 2023. https://hades.fandom.com/wiki/God_Mode

Blind Gamer playing TLOU with accessibility settings
Ross Minor. “Totally Blind Gamer Plays The Last of Us Part 1 for the First time \ Accessibility Impressions.” YouTube. Sep 26, 2022. https://youtu.be/qqNuOjQUZ88

Video about gaming difficulty and accessibility that somewhat inspired me to make this one
Frogwater. “What I Learned About Accessibility and Difficulty in Games.” YouTube. Mar 7, 2023. https://youtu.be/f9UVGNOqVdI

Video reviewing the accessibility of TLOU
LauraKBuzz. “The Last of Us: Part 1 PS5 Remake Accessibility Review - Access-Ability.” YouTube. Aug 31, 2022. https://youtu.be/hFkIPiif4-w

Interview with FromSoft’s Miyazaki about difficulty Turi, Tim. “An interview with FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki.” PlayStation Blog. Jan 28, 2022. https://blog.playstation.com/2022/01/28/an-interview-with-fromsoftwares-hidetaka-miyazki/

DUSKdev tweet about making difficulty settings for accessibility
@DUSKdev. “Since today is Dusk Thread Day, lemme post a little something about this.” Twitter. Dec 10, 2019. https://twitter.com/DUSKdev/status/1204618265290522624

Further Reading
#

Adam Millard video on difficulty
Adam Millard - The Architect of Games. “Why Perfect Difficulty Is Impossible.” YouTube. Aug 25, 2018. https://youtu.be/ktrn3azLmbQ

Frogwater’s Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@bigfreakinfrog

LauraKBuzz’s Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@LauraKBuzz

Lextorias
Author
Lextorias

Related

100 YouTubers You Should Watch