It's no secret that the soulslike genre produces some of the toughest games in the industry, but that's exactly what its die-hard (literally) fans are looking for. 2023 has been full of great titles of this persuasion, and Hexworks' Lords of the Fallen looks to establish itself among the best of the year. We'll explain to you right here if Lords of the Fallen has difficulty settings.
As you embark on your journey through Mournstead as one of the fabled Dark Crusaders, you'll encounter a wealth of enemies and tough boss battles as you cross between the realms of the living and the dead. Featuring a combat system that leaves little room for error, players will be eager to know how much they can tweak the game's difficulty.
We're your one-stop shop for all things Lords of the Fallen at our dedicated guides hub! It's got a wealth of knowledge about the game including if it includes crossplay, multiplayer, and PvP features. Additionally, we've got you covered on the finer details of Lords of the Fallen, such as withered health and the Umbral dread meter.
Does Lords of the Fallen have an easy mode?
A dedicated soulslike fan would consider this to be a ridiculous, bordering offensive question, as the genre is notorious for bullying its players mentally and their characters physically. Sorry to say to the rooks out there (us included), but Lords of the Fallen doesn't have an easy mode.
It will come as no surprise to fans of the genre, but Lords of the Fallen doesn't actually have any difficulty settings. What you see is what you get, so it's either adapt and overcome or perish and it very well could determine how long it takes you to complete the game. So brutal. With that said, there are a few ways that the game allows you to adjust how tough it is. The bad news is, however, none of them will make your journey through the semi-open world of Mournstead any easier.
click to enlargeHow Lords of the Fallen's difficulty can be changed
While there isn't a standard difficulty settings menu in Lords of the Fallen, the team at HexWorks has implemented a few in-game options that allow the die-hard (literally, those who die the hardest) fans to turn the difficulty up to a Satanic level. These options come in two forms: New Game Plus and Class selection.
Naturally, as is the case with pretty much any title out there with New Game Plus, the extension on the original story mode will be even tougher for fans who really want to get the most out of the game in front of them. Expect enemies to hit harder and be tougher to beat, even with a significantly more powerful Dark Crusader than your first playthrough.
Selecting your class in Lords of the Fallen is also a more subtle way for players to make the game even tougher, even if you're just starting out. A number of classes in the character customisation part of the game are marked as "Advanced" classes due to the fact that their build requires a more skilled hand to use effectively. The Advanced classes in Lords of the Fallen are as follows:
- Exiled Stalker
- Orian Preacher
- Pyric Cultist
For those who are true gluttons for punishment, there is also the Condemned class, which is flagged as "PICK AT YOUR OWN RISK." Given your starting weapon is a broken bucket, it's safe to say that you know what to expect if you pick this one.
That's all you need to know about Lords of the Fallen's difficulty settings! For more intel and tips on the game, take a look at how to soul flay, level up and heal. We'll also let you know if the game will be included in Xbox Game Pass!
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Lords of the Fallen page.