In today’s gaming landscape, most games come with difficulty sliders—options like easy, normal, hard, or extreme. But then there are the games that don’t care about making things easy for you. Games like Elden Ring and Black Myth Wukong go beyond the norm, offering players a challenge that borders on brutal, with no easy mode to soften the blows.

To be fair, not everyone wants to face down a near-impossible boss battle at midnight, dripping in sweat and frustration. Some players just want to vibe, enjoy the story, and immerse themselves in the game’s world without the pressure of relentless enemies. But when it comes to titles like Elden Ring or Black Myth Wukong… (cue clips of repeated character deaths in Wukong/Elden Ring), they’re not for the faint of heart. And that’s exactly the point.

The Philosophy Behind Difficulty

Developers like From Software (Elden Ring) and Game Science (Black Myth Wukong) design their games around a philosophy that difficulty is an essential part of the experience. For these developers, the goal isn’t just about reaching the end of the game; it’s about the journey of mastering complex mechanics, and yes, dying—a lot. The sense of accomplishment that comes from mastering these games and overcoming impossible odds is what makes the experience so special for many players.

Take Black Myth Wukong, for example—you’re almost guaranteed to fail repeatedly when facing certain bosses. You’ll feel the frustration of losing to the same enemy for the 20th time. But, when you finally manage to pull off that flawless combo and defeat them? The euphoria is on another level. The fact that you couldn’t just dial down the difficulty adds to that moment of triumph, making victory feel so much sweeter.

Not Punishment, But Persistence

It’s easy to think that games like Elden Ring or Black Myth Wukong are punishing players on purpose, but in reality, they’re rewarding persistence. Their brutally tough design forces players to think, adapt, and sharpen their skills. Overcoming these challenges becomes an integral part of the journey, and while the experience is far from easy, it’s rewarding in a way that few other games are.

What’s surprising is how popular these difficult games have become. Despite—or perhaps because of—their punishing difficulty, Elden Ring and Black Myth Wukong have sold millions of copies worldwide and racked up numerous awards. Their fan bases are massive, filled with players who relish the high level of difficulty.

Should These Games Offer Difficulty Options?

But this popularity leads to an important question: Should games like Elden Ring or Black Myth Wukong include difficulty options to make them accessible to a wider audience?

On one hand, adding difficulty settings could open the door for more players to experience the rich worlds and intricate stories these games offer. It could allow those who prefer a more relaxed gameplay style to still enjoy the game without the stress of relentless combat. After all, not everyone enjoys the frustration of spending hours stuck on a single boss.

On the other hand, changing the core difficulty of these games could risk losing what makes them so unique. The soul-crushing difficulty is a part of their identity, and for many players, the challenge is the reason they keep coming back. The sense of achievement that comes from conquering these games wouldn’t be the same if players could just tone down the difficulty whenever they hit a rough patch.

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