Harder!: On Fetishizing Difficult Games

As I've gotten back into more regular gaming, I have come to notice a somewhat vexing trend: the fetishization of difficulty in video games. There is, of course, nothing wrong with enjoying games that are hard. Dark Souls II is bringing joy to countless gamers right now as I type.

But I'm tired of getting the impression that gamers who don't permanently exist on the brink of rage quitting (or allegedly breeze through the hardest of difficulties) are somehow inferior. This drove me crazy in the weeks leading up to Thief's release—no one wanted to talk about the game itself, only how hard gamers could make it for themselves. And of course, the harder you made it, the more "real" your experience was. When I read reviews of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, the game's atmosphere and fun factor sometimes seem to take a backseat to discussions of how hard the game is. IGN's Jose Otero praises the game for creating challenging yet achievable levels, but also can't resist an extra claim to badassery: 

To help welcome novice players, there’s a helpful item shop in each stage where you can purchase potions, balloons, and shields that will keep you alive longer. These items help alot, but I made a conscious effort not to use them. I challenged myself to finish Tropical Freeze on my own terms.

Way to make people feel judged for liking the balloon store. I remember seeing similar attitudes about Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS—the first half of the game is nothing, that half is for babies, the special levels are where the real game begins. Recently, I've seen several tweets and articles that ask the question, "What's the hardest game you've ever played?"

Games are for fun, no matter what level of difficulty you prefer. If harder games mean more fun for you, that's great. But that's not the be all and end all of gaming. I love to play games, but I am not exceptionally skilled. I like a challenge, but I often start games on easy because it takes time for me to adjust to new controls. I don't even know how many times I have died playing Super Mario 3D Land, and sometimes I was relieved to see that Super Tanooki suit. Why do I constantly get the impression that I'm supposed to feel bad about that?

For every gamer who wants a brutal experience, there is a gamer like me—probably several more gamers like me. I just want to unwind and have a good time, or maybe have some friendly competition if I'm in the mood. I'd rather connect with a game emotionally without fretting about the difficulty level. There are many ways to love gaming, all of them true and pure.