Lately, especially in the newest Gloom expeditions, I’ve noticed a lot of players jumping into Difficulty 10 missions without enough experience or prep. They end up dying repeatedly and getting frustrated. I just want to say there’s absolutely no shame in playing at lower difficulties like 7, 8, or 9—or even 3 if that’s what suits your playstyle. The game is meant to be fun, after all! If you’re not confident with your skill, level, or loadout, it’s better to pick a difficulty that’s challenging but manageable rather than forcing yourself into super tough runs and burning out. This isn’t about gatekeeping, but more a reminder especially for level 17 players who might have gotten carried before and now struggle solo at max difficulty.
5 Answers
Don’t skip difficulties when leveling up. They aren’t linear increases; each level teaches you something new like different enemy types, when to engage or retreat, and how to manage your time and resources. I once jumped from level 3 straight to 5 and got completely overwhelmed by new enemies like Chargers and Shriekers. Taking it step by step helps you adapt gradually and avoid getting crushed by surprises.
I’ve been playing at Difficulty 7 for a long time and honestly I’m happy there. It feels like a good fit for my skill level and the random groups I join. Sometimes it’s a smooth run; other times it’s chaotic but still manageable. I don’t feel the need to push to 10 just for bragging rights. Real life is stressful enough, I want to chill and enjoy the game, not sweat every moment. If you start finding 7 boring, then sure, move up, but otherwise it’s totally cool to play where you have fun. Also, the whole ‘everything has to be balanced for Difficulty 10’ mindset bugs me—no need to force everything into the hardest difficulty for balance.
100% agree with you on that. People think something is useless if it doesn’t shine on Diff 10, but that’s not fair since the hardest difficulty throws so much chaos at you. Middle difficulties should be balanced and fun too.
Exactly! Each difficulty has its own flow and learning curve, and all are valid ways to enjoy the game.
I think a good rule of thumb is if you’re dying more than 4 or 5 times per run, you should lower the difficulty until you get more comfortable. There’s no shame in that. The game’s meant to be fun, and dying 20 times just gets frustrating. I’ve had long debates with people about gatekeeping, but really it’s just about knowing your limits and playing where you can contribute without making the mission miserable for yourself or others. I personally mostly play 8 because it’s fun and balanced.
Yup, that’s exactly what I’m saying. It’s not about shunning anyone, just about being realistic with your skill level and having fun.
I’ve recently started soloing Difficulty 8 runs by myself and it’s been a blast. The difficulty feels challenging enough without being overwhelming, and it’s rewarding to know you can handle it on your own. Higher difficulties like 9 or 10 sometimes just feel too unforgiving solo unless you have a very solid strategy or a squad to back you up.
Nice! Soloing 8 is a good way to build confidence. Once you get comfortable, you can try bumping it up or playing with others at higher levels.
That solo feeling when you pull off an 8 run is so satisfying. I recommend it too for anyone looking to hone their skills.
I mostly hang out around Difficulty 8 myself. It strikes a nice balance—challenging enough to keep things exciting but pretty chill so I can enjoy the game without stressing over every encounter. Plus, the framerate is smoother for me at 8, which helps a lot! Higher difficulties tend to attract the tryhard crowd. Lower difficulties let me relax and just have fun blasting bugs without pressure.
Yeah same here. At 9 and 10 you get those sweaty players who get super competitive, but 8 and below is more about just vibing and enjoying the chaos.
Totally hear that! I wish the devs would optimize the frame rate better for PC though—those dips are rough on big fights.
Yeah, that’s a super important point. Each difficulty unlocks new challenges you need to prepare for, so going up one at a time really helps keep things manageable.