Field note · 5 sections
Assist modes and difficulty: a quick map
Which adventures let you change the difficulty, and how.
§1 Why assist modes matter
Assist modes let more people finish a game and see its story. Using them is not cheating; they are part of the design.
§2 Generous options
Celeste lets you change game speed, add dashes or turn on invincibility. Hades has God Mode. Ori lets you switch difficulty at any time. Tunic has a no-fail option.
§3 Survival tweaks
Subnautica's Freedom mode removes hunger and thirst, turning it into a pure exploration game.
§4 No options at all
Hollow Knight and Sekiro have no difficulty settings. If you get stuck, exploring elsewhere and coming back stronger is the way forward.
§5 Look after yourself
Long sessions of hard games can be tiring. Stretch, rest your hands and eyes, and stop if it stops being fun.
Last updated 27 October 2026