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[oni-link]

It was hard to convey what I wanted to ask in the title so I'll try and elaborate:

Firstly I want to be clear that I don't think there is anything wrong with playing games on easy, or only/mainly enjoying easy games. I know not everyone has the time or patience to spend hours learning boss patterns and a lot of people only care about a games story

Story is all good and well, and I love a game with a compelling (or at least interesting) story, but there are certain things games can do that other mediums can't, one of them being creating challenges that need to be overcome

I love the feeling of finally toppling a difficult boss after a dozen attempts, where you go from ”how the hell is this possible?" to dodging every attack a few attempts later, or having a slither of life left and managing to make it out alive and find a save point or healing item.

If you only play easy games, or only play games on the easiest difficulty setting do you not feel like you are missing out on this element on the medium? Or do you find that the sense of frustration that often goes hand in hand with the elation of overcoming a difficult challenge enough to put you off?

Edit: To clarify as I'm not sure how well I worded the OP

I think a lot of people are looking it this differently to how I intended, which is maybe my fault for not wording it well

Challenge is something games can do that is unique to them, just as exploring huge worlds is too

If you don't like challenge that's fine, if you only want easy games then that's fine too

Maybe there are some people that don't like exploring in games at all, or dislike that element of games, but if so, I'd also say they're missing out on an aspect of the medium that games excel at

I don't think you can flip the argument because I don't think there any many people who exclusively play hard games, or only want to be challenged all the time.

Most people prefer a mix and play a variety of games that are varying in difficulty

But there are people (as you can see in this thread) that ONLY play easy games, or dislike challenge at all, and again, that is absolutely fine and more power to them. I completely understand how and why people would just want to play to relax, but at the same time, if you only ever play easy games, then you are missing out on something games are great at

Not everyone (also evidenced in this thread) likes to overcome challenge, which again is cool

If we want to flip it to another medium, I'd say people that only watch soaps are missing out on how great scripted TV can be by never watching great scripted drama or comedy, which is also fine because a lot of people love soaps and don't care about anything else

Personally this was just a subject that interested me as I enjoy all aspects of gaming, from exploring vast open worlds to getting high scores to playing something to relax. I'd just feel like I was missing out if I dropped or ignore one of those aspects and never engaged with it

 

[luffeN]

Life may be challenging enough.

 

[SDCowboy]

Life has enough challenges. I don't need overly hard ones in my video games, which I play to relax. I often play games for the adventure, or the story, etc. I don't play them to be frustrated.

edit: I took out the last part as I didn't mean it to sound snarky.

 

[Crayolan]

People on gaf constantly say they "play games to relax", so yes? I can understand why someone might not find overcoming a challenge relaxing, even if I disagree.

 

[Platy]

what is a challenge to some is a walk in the park to others.

See those threads about people saying champion road was the only hard level in 3d world, while I had some problems even unlocking champion road in the post-bowser levels =P

 

[HellforLeather]

Life may be challenging enough.

This. The older I get, the more I just play games for the experience. I have enough to "challenge" me throughout the day, I dont really need a game to bust my balls when Im at home trying to relax.

 

[MaDKaT]

Depends on the game. Heavily story driven games with vast worlds and content that are generally pretty long, I simply do not have time to trial and error so I will turn the difficulty down so that I may see the whole game. Games that are more pick up and play or simply aren't very long, I will play on recommended or harder difficulties. A long game to me is now about 10 hours. Too much longer than that and with my infrequency of play time, I will simply lose interest.

Yes, I am one of those that wan't an easy mode for the Souls games.

 

[MilkyJoe]

Some games you play on easy or you don't play...

Time is not a commodity I possess in great amounts.

 

[CecilRousso]

The problem with challenge is that it's needs to be adapted to different skill sets. I do feel that challenge is an important part of games, but it needs to be done in an entertaining way for your intended audience. I put Divinity 2 on easiest difficulty level after a few hours, because I felt I wasn't able to make any progress, without being very frustrated, with me not being familiar with what was required from me in RPG's like this.

But I do feel that the sense of challenge needs to be there. Otherwise all encounters in a game are just a waste of time, unless they're done in spectacular fashion that you enjoy watching. The impression of challenge is worthless if it doesn't actually add up to anything.

For Divinity 2, at the end of Act 1, I'm ready to put it up to Classic again, since the encounters are without any challenge at all now.

 

[Hispanic! At the Disco]

My wife gets no joy out of finally beating a scenario that was a struggle. If she has to repeat an area she’ll just drop the game. Right now shes into animal crossing because you dont really lose anything, theres nothing to create repercussions. Well except losing villagers but she thinks theyre all annoying lol

 

[Aaron D.]

Depends on game balance and how invested I am in mastering systems.

I play Crusader Kings 2 on Easy.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 as well.

No regrets.

However, after over-leveling a 200+ hour save in Fallout 4, I actually bumped the difficulty up to Very Hard 'cause there was no longer a challenge in the combat encounters.

Guess it's case by case, but I have no shame in playing on Easy if I just want to "Tourist Mode" a game and enjoy it in a relaxed manner.

 

[rochellepaws]

Some people see games as a time waster and like the feel good cycle of rewards and progression to flow rather than enjoy them as means of challenging themselves. I can understand the mindset but it's not for me and I think it's a bit disparaging to the medium to only treat it as such.

 

[MrHoot]

People enjoy different things in game. Myself enjoy the challenge of games like bloodborne immensely. But sometimes i wanna sit down and enjoy a Rime. Or be able to break a game like in Binding of Isaac. Hard challenges can't really be applied to everything anyway.

That, and some people just do not have the necessary skills, or have real life impediments. Now i'm usually more on the side that the value of a game gives you the game, not the right to finish it. But I can also understand how frustrating it can be for certain games to be really challenging for no other reason than they are. Like I enjoy the challenge of Bloodborne or Souls because it's woven in the game. I enjoy it less on other games because it feels mostly obnoxious or padding (like for instance I won't get much joy, comparatively, in playing an RPG like persona on super hard mode) . And I can only imagine how it can get to other people who just want to enjoy the game for its story, setting, themes and such

 

[ViolentP]

People play games for different reasons. One of those reasons is to relax. Personally, I love the challenge, but I get it if someone wasn't in it for the same reason.

 

[PushingButtons]

I have a friend who plays through all games on easy. He doesn't really care about challenge or anything - just wants a quick jolt of fun and spectacle.

 

[Thud]

Challenge and relaxation can go hand in hand. It just depends on the type of game.

Proof: completed Picross 3D Round 2 on Hard.

 

[family_guy]

I think it largely depends on the game's design and whether it respects the player's time. For example, my experience with Bloodborne. I kept dying at bosses regularly and didn't have much trouble with the regular enemies. However to get back to the boss it often felt like too much of your time was required. The loading screens, going back to the dream world, more loading screens, running through the level, avoiding enemies, etc. This can easily take 5+ minutes, then you die in 2 minutes at the boss, and you have to do it all over again. It's a bit infuriating. As opposed to another difficult game like Cuphead where it loads almost instantly and I'm back in the fight and not having to fight my way back to the boss.

 

[Nowise10]

I legitimately feel bad for people who play on easy mode in games.

 

[sheaaaa]

I wouldn't say I'm a fan of difficult games but it's really a case-by-case thing. I really liked Diablo 3 on PS4 on its default difficulty, because it was great to turn my brain off and just kill things without having to seriously worry about overcoming any challenge. On the other hand, I enjoy stuff like Bloodborne and Cuphead, where both the peaks and troughs are more pronounced. Maybe it comes down to how a game is designed - I've not ratcheted up the difficulty on a game intentionally just for the sake of challenge.

 

[ninecubed]

I think it obviously depends on the particular game and person. For me, timing is really crucial, though; getting home from a long day of work - I just want to play something relaxing without dying / trial and error. However, on weekends or days off, diving into a challenging game is just what I'm looking for.

I don't think people that prefer easy mode have an aversion to success or accomplishment, but more so don't like repeating sections, dying a ton, or struggling through particular games.

 

[Azuardo]

I legitimately feel bad for people who play on easy mode in games.

I feel bad that you feel bad about that.

Continue to find it strange why some people care how others enjoy their games.

 

[Beth Cyra]

I play mainly on easy these days.

Between a full time job, family, school and gym I have very little time and I want to experience a games content to see the world and what they can offer in a variety of ways to play.

The only time I can think of turning up the difficulty is in Devil May Cry and it’s not even so it’s hard, it’s so I can have more enemies and extended the amazing combat system.

I’m also a person who has played all the Souls games and beat them (well not DLC in 2) and even there the world and adventure through it is what I enjoy; Iwould totally choose an easy mode to be added.

 

[Wyndstryker]

Depends on the game. I know I don't have that much time to actually try to brute force my way through some games and a more casual experience us preferred

 

[Tareskog]

Depends on the game. Heavily story driven games with vast worlds and content that are generally pretty long, I simply do not have time to trial and error so I will turn the difficulty down so that I may see the whole game. Games that are more pick up and play or simply aren't very long, I will play on recommended or harder difficulties. A long game to me is now about 10 hours. Too much longer than that and with my infrequency of play time, I will simply lose interest.

Yes, I am one of those that wan't an easy mode for the Souls games.

This. I have 2 free days every 14th day. I refuse to spend those two days (if I spend them on gaming) on getting stuck on a boss or something similar just because I need to prove something to myself or even less important, someone else.

But it depends on the game ofc. Binding of Isaac, hard all the way, same with first person shotters.

 

[Cipher Peon]

For me personally, it depends on the type of difficulty. The "I know what the challenge is and I need to execute my strategy or gameplay better until I nail it" is fine! The "I'm stuck/lost/have no idea where to go and I'm running in circles!" is not.

For the latter, there is no satisfaction of surpassing a challenge. Just a feeling of time wasted, usually accompanied by a feeling of "how was I supposed to know that??" The sentiment is common when I play Metroid or traditional 3D Zelda games.

I have a taste for difficulty, but I don't have patience for being clueless and having my time wasted.

 

[BiggNife]

Sometimes people just want to turn their brain off and relax, or focus more on the story than the gameplay. Not everyone wants challenging experiences.

I legitimately feel bad for people who play on easy mode in games.

I don't really think you should feel pity for people who like to play a certain way out of their own volition???????

 

[magnetic]

It really depends on the mood I am.

If Cuphead was any easier I woulnd´t enjoy it nearly as much, but I also love just wasting time in open world titles, soaking in the atmosphere and just generally hang out.

Challenge is only one part of gaming these days. Back when games were more primitive, there was basically nothing else to offer other than the "gamey" part - but these days can deliever a ton of different experiences.

 

[ISee]

Depends on the game. Xcom2, total war, civ etc. I will play those on the hardest difficulties. I will also play souls and beat every boss solo etc.

Shooters, third person open world games and rpgs... I couldn't care less. I'm there for the story or because I like the setting. Game play is mostly bad or boring there anyway.

 

[tsundoku]

People who take their dissatisfaction with the rest of their life out on their hobby of gaming.

Just go watch a movie or TV or something.

I'd suggest doing chores or cleaning or exercising or going for a walk but clearly their brain shut off the part where it wants to exchange effort for reward

 

[lyrick]

Video games are a hobby

A hobby is something one does in their free time

Whether or not one chooses to challenge themselves in their free time doesn't matter at all.

 

[BumRush]

I'm married with two kids, a job that requires me to be "on" in front of clients all the time, etc. I play games to relax, not to be challenged.

 

[SDCowboy]

I feel like the OP was even-handed and pretty fair about things, so this snarky shit is a bit uncalled for.

Anyway, I wouldn't say I'm a fan of difficult games but it's really a case-by-case thing. I really liked Diablo 3 on PS4 on its default difficulty, because it was great to turn my brain off and just kill things without having to seriously worry about overcoming any challenge. On the other hand, I enjoy stuff like Bloodborne and Cuphead, where both the peaks and troughs are more pronounced. Maybe it comes down to how a game is designed - I've not ratcheted up the difficulty on a game intentionally just for the sake of challenge.

I edited that part out as no snark was intended.

 

[oni-link]

Life has enough challenges. I don't need overly hard ones in my video games, which I play to relax. I often play games for the adventure, or the story, etc. I don't play them to be frustrated.

And this may come as a surprise, but many don't view challenges in a videogame as some kind of life achievement.

People also play sport to relax, but that doesn't mean they don't like a challenge, and I don't think anyone views challenges in a videogame as some kind of life achievement

I don't think there is anything wrong with only playing easy games or playing to relax, I'd say most of the games I play are easy, but I also enjoy overcoming harder games and love the feeling of making progress in harder games

 

[Nowise10]

I feel bad that you feel bad about that.

Continue to find it strange why some people care how others enjoy their games.

I feel bad that you feel bad for me feeling bad for people who play games on easy.

They miss out on the thrill and rush and adrenaline of a challenge

 

[george_us]

Video games in general, as much as I love them, are a waste of time to most people. Repeating the same content over and over because of difficulty is an even bigger waste of time, especially for zero tangible reward. People got other shit to do.

 

[Ever]

People who don't play games on hard aren't real gamers

 

[Haunted]

This. The older I get, the more I just play games for the experience. I have enough to "challenge" me throughout the day, I dont really need a game to bust my balls when Im at home trying to relax.

no lies detected

 

[Skronk]

I legitimately feel bad for people who play on easy mode in games.

Get over yourself

 

[Jawmuncher]

For some people, playing on easy is challenging enough for them due to their skill level.
Easy mode doesn't always equate to "baby mode". Since disabilities, age, and other factors can play into it.

 

[snausagesUK]

This. The older I get, the more I just play games for the experience. I have enough to "challenge" me throughout the day, I dont really need a game to bust my balls when Im at home trying to relax.

Yeah man. Those minutes and hours are precious. I find it hard now to see the value in playing anything other than very rail-roaded experiences.

That said I would buy and beat DMC5 on all difficulties if they would just release the fukin thing.

 

[Twilight Princess]

I don’t need a game to challenge me, games to me are supposed to be entertaining and fun. Im also not interested in practicing gaming “skills” which is repetitive, boring, pointless and nontransferable. It’s not that I can’t do it, I just don’t want to waste my time.

 

[Azuardo]

I feel bad that you feel bad for me feeling bad for people who play games on easy.

They miss out on the thrill and rush and adrenaline of a challenge

How do you know they get a thrill or adrenaline from challenges? Their thrills could come from being able to complete the game without any major difficulty.

 

[hiten]

And this may come as a surprise, but many don't view challenges in a videogame as some kind of life achievement.

So you're saying all my Platinum Trophy won't impress the HR? Dang it

 

[GHG]

Video games in general, as much as I love them, are a waste of time to most people. Repeating the same content over and over because of difficulty is an even bigger waste of time, especially for zero tangible reward. People got other shit to do.

If that's the attitude then why bother at all?

Is the destination that great that it warrants rushing through the journey?

 

[MadLaughter]

I imagine every person has a different level of joy they get from beating a tough thing, and they all have a different level of frustration that occurs during the attempts.

It's math at that point, whether the joy of the triumph will be greater than the frustration of the struggle, and that math is different for every person.

 

[dubq]

Some people don't always want a challenge and just want to experience story or some mindless gameplay. Don't know why this bothers anyone else as it only effects the experience person who is playing. Then again, we are on the internet....

 

[redcrayon]

Much like if you reversed it as 'do people who only play hard games only care about overcoming challenge?', it's a bit reductionist.

People play easier games for all kinds of reasons. Some want interactive entertainment but only care about story and don't want to be slowed down by repeating a skill check to reach the next plot beat, which is a bit like having a test before you're allowed to read the next chapter in a book.
Some want an easy feedback loop to relax to, something they can play to unwind while barely engaging at all- my wife plays Plants vs Zombies and it offers zero challenge or story, she just finds it cute and relaxing to make order out of chaos, a lot of puzzle games are like that too.

I think there's an element of self-selection too, where games we describe as 'hard' focus heavily on action, tight mechanics and fast reactions, and there are certainly easier games of that type, they don't always interest people looking for different loops that aren't about constant kill-or-be-killed combat. Stuff like Animal Crossing, puzzle games, adventure games aim to meet different ideas of what players want, whether that's organising stuff, neatly constructing stuff, solving problems etc.

 

[Eumi]

I will never understand why anyone who isn’t developing a game cares what difficulty other people play on.

 

[RockmanBN]

Don't find games without reprecutions all too fun when you steamroll through it without thinking. No drawbacks what so ever like a checkpoint in the last few seconds completely changes the way I play compared to a game that punishes you for failure

 

[oon]

I think enjoying something for the spectacle or story is a fundamentally different (but not better or worse) way of engaging with the medium than playing it for the challenge.

I play chess against similarly matched humans or bots because it's intellectually stimulating - I wouldn't want to play chess against a braindead AI. Same goes for sports - it's necessary that it retains some degree of challenge and room to grow as a player, or else there's no point.

Video games are a bit different and consequently a bit of a misnomer. Interactive experiences can be perfectly engaging and needn't have any real challenge (or even fail state) to be appreciated by some folks, but I know that it's just plain different compared to playing something like Dark Souls that fundamentally depends on its difficulty and very real possibility for the player to regularly lose. Losing doesn't diminish the experience anymore than regularly losing at chess - you have to "get good" at that too, and that isn't a bad thing.