The 10 HARDEST Hard Modes in Modern Video Games

Brutal

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection (2015)

The Uncharted series already had an extra hard mode during its initial releases called Crushing that had been challenging players for the better part of a decade. But for the trilogys re-release on the PS4, Naughty Dog didnt think that was soul-crushing enough and added Brutal mode. On top of that, Brutal can only be unlocked by beating all the games on Crushing. Brutal difficulty not only increases enemy health and aggression but also quadruples their damage, while Nate deals only half as much and gets just one-sixth of the usual ammo pickup from downed enemieswho also no longer drop weapons on stealth kills. Even all of Nates near-infinite luck isnt going to be enough to help you here.

Grandmaster+

Celeste (2018)

Celeste is already a hard gamebut not so hard that the developers didnt think they could raise the stakes even further. Even with the games near pixel-perfect platforming, players will need almost superhuman reflexes to survive the games Grandmaster Plus level of difficulty. To even unlock this mode, Celeste expects players to hone their skills through the main game, collect all the Crystal Hearts, unlock Variant Mode, and then beat Grandmaster to even be given the opportunity to challenge its deluxe version. And quite honestly, if youve managed to survive all of that just for the chance to replay the game on its hardest difficulty, you could probably play the game with your eyes closed using your newfound superhuman abilitiesand we both applaud and fear you.

Punishing

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black (2025)

A series notorious for its difficulty, the recently released Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is the ultimate testeven for the most seasoned ninja. Besides the standard Hard Mode, theres also Very Hard or The Path of the Mentor, and the newest addition: Punishing, which is only described as Only beatable by the best of the best. The base game itself is already challenging enough with its relentless and intelligent enemies, but Punishing is merciless. Enemies are even more aggressive, have more health, stronger attacks, and base enemies are replaced with stronger variants that have entirely new movesets and weaponry. Even attempting this mode would be enough to make the best ninja retreat back into the shadows.

Ultra Nightmare

Doom Eternal (2020)

The Doom series has always had a challenging difficulty called Nightmare for those who want to face down the true might of the demons of Hell, but Doom Eternal took things a step further with its Ultra Nightmare modea mode so deadly, the game even warns you multiple times not to play it. With the forces of Hell suddenly much smarter, more aggressive, and full of special abilities and attacks, Ultra Nightmare is the ultimate nightmare. While not impossible for those dedicated enough to battling Hell itself, what really affects your playthrough is the perma-death system in this mode. No checkpoints, no savingif you die, its right back to the start of the level. Doom Eternal can already be extremely challenging, but giving enemies the actual powers of Hell itself is a bit too much for everyoneexcept maybe the Doom Slayer himself.

Honour Mode

Baldurs Gate 3 (2023)

While on the surface, Honour Mode seems like your standard hard modestronger enemies, less effective items, less loot, etc.like everything else Baldurs Gate 3 does, it ups the stakes even further. Not only do you receive fewer damage multipliers, but this mode also introduces players to perma-death. However, this isnt your standard perma-death system. In a game as enormous as Baldurs Gate 3, players become accustomed to multiple save files and save scumming (the method of redoing moments or actions), and Honour Mode strips all this away. Players are restricted to only one save file that can only be loaded from the main menu. On top of this, should your entire party die in battle, the game asks if you want to delete this save and start from the very beginningor continue the game in dishonour knowing you failed. Its like rubbing salt in the wound.

Hard Mode

Final Fantasy 7 Remake (2020)

Final Fantasy VII Remake doesnt mince words when it comes to its difficulty and sticks with the traditional moniker Hard Modebut it more than lives up to the name. Hard Mode can only be unlocked after beating the base game once, allowing you the mercy of replaying the game again on New Game Plus with all your equipment and materia already leveled up. But even this is a small mercy for what this mode has in store. Alongside the tradition of bumping up enemy health and power, Hard Mode handicaps players by completely removing the ability to use items. No Phoenix Downs, no potions, nothing. And this isnt even the worst of itin Hard Mode, healing benches no longer restore the team's MP, meaning you need to strategically approach every single encounter, no matter how small. Honestly, the only reason to replay the game this way is for bragging rights.

Super Helldive

Helldivers 2 (2024)

The battle for Super Earth supremacy rages on, and much like war itself, the battles only grow more intense with Helldivers 2s Super Helldive difficulty. And considering Hard Mode is only the fifth level of difficulty in Helldivers 2, you can only imagine how much more challenging it is on Super Helldivethe tenth and final level. Super Helldive is so intense that even the most dedicated squad of players can be crushed by one simple mistake that spells doom for the entire mission. It throws multitudes of the games strongest enemies at players all at once, gives these threats more health and stronger attacks, and routinely flips the script entirely by throwing brand-new threats at players already struggling to clear out the levels even larger outposts. The fight for democracy has never been so brutal.

Hardcore Mode

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 (2025)

Now we come to a difficulty that can actually improve the experiencedepending on how much you want to become immersed in its world. Hardcore Mode is designed for exactly what it advertises: only the most hardcore of players who want to step into the Middle Ages and narrowly survive a world that has no shortage of ways to kill you. Hardcore Mode not only cripples the player right from the start with Negative Perks, but also removes combat indicators, map markers, reduces carrying capacity to realistic levels, and completely removes fast travel. Enemies are much stronger and refuse to ever surrender, while food spoils twice as fastjust like in real life! Hardcore Mode is the ultimate immersive experience, but definitely not for the faint of heart.

Mein Leben

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (2017)

Wolfenstein IIs aptly named Mein Leben difficulty translates to My Lifeand that's exactly how long it will take to beat the game on its hardest setting. While regular difficulty makes you feel like a one-man Nazi-punching army, Mein Leben will instantly humble even the most dedicated Wolfenstein fanatic. Not only is Mein Leben an even more difficult version of the games I Am Death Incarnate mode, its also a perma-death mode. There are zero checkpoints, zero saves, zero possibilities for stealth, the strongest enemies in the gameand more of themand less health, which means a single death is all it takes to send you back to the start screen. The fact that beating the game on this difficulty only rewards you with a bronze trophy is probably the most insulting part of the entire experience. At this point, itd be easier to win WWII single-handedly.

Hell & Hell

Devil May Cry 5 (2019)

Traditionally, Dante Must Die was the most difficult mode in the Devil May Cry games, but for the Son of Spardas fifth entry, the devs at Capcom thought that was too simplistic and added two additional difficulties, each harder than the last. Hell and Hell is by far the most unreasonableas unlike Heaven or Hell, Dante and company not only deal reduced damage (cut to 75%) but can also die in a single hit. Meanwhile, enemies are at their most dangerous, aggressive, and powerful. And to top it all off, there are no checkpoints, and players are only allowed three revives per stage. Every skill youve acquired will be put to the ultimate test with zero margin for error. The devils wont be the only ones crying by the end of this gauntlet of pain and misery.

Which recent difficulty level challenged you the most? Share your experiences in the comments.