Mastering Remnant 2: Unraveling the Best Difficulty Choice for Epic Adventures!

With the release of Remnant II, both newcomers and fans of the first game, Remnant: From the Ashes, are questioning the game's quality and difficulty. The difficulty level of Soulslike games is often a topic of discussion among players when a new title is released. Additionally, the first Remnant was regarded as relatively easy until reaching a specific difficulty level or point in the main campaign.

Considering this, we will analyze the four difficulty options available in Remnant II, explain their differences, and provide recommendations for players based on their familiarity with the franchise or other games.

The Four Difficulty Options

To simplify, Remnant II offers four difficulty options. By default, players can choose from three difficulties, while the toughest option (Apocalypse) is unlocked only after completing the game on any difficulty. Each difficulty level grants bonus experience per kill, while the loot drops are generally consistent. However, the enemies and bosses become increasingly challenging in higher difficulties.

Again, for those familiar with Remnant: From the Ashes, these difficulty modifiers are essentially identical to the difficulty options from the first Remnant game, except for a slight change in names. The 'Hard' difficulty is now referred to as 'Veteran', and 'Normal' has been renamed as 'Survivor'. However, it is important to note that this does not imply equal difficulty between the two games. Early feedback from players of all levels attest to the fact that this game is generally more challenging than the original Remnant.

Which One Should Players Choose?

When selecting a difficulty option in Remnant II, it is important to consider individual preferences and past gaming experiences. However, the following serves as a helpful guide for making this decision:

Survivor: For Soulslike newcomers and those that didn't play Remnant: From the Ashes.

Veteran: For Remnant: From the Ashes players and Soulslike veterans.

Nightmare: Designed for experienced Remnant: From the Ashes players and seasoned Soulslike game enthusiasts who enjoy the challenge of facing difficult bosses multiple times during their second or subsequent playthroughs.

Apocalypse: Tailored exclusively for hardcore gaming veterans who relish in the relentless nature of games that push them to their limits. Intended for those who find immense satisfaction in conquering seemingly unfair obstacles or have successfully completed Remnant II on Nightmare difficulty.

That said, let's go a bit more into each option to talk about how exactly they're different from each other.

Survivor

The Survivor difficulty is ideal for players new to the first Remnant game and those who aren't too familiar with Soulslike games in general. It serves as an excellent starting point, offering a balance between accessibility and challenge. Although players will face numerous deaths on this difficulty, it remains both rewarding and engaging.

Veteran

Veteran difficulty has been specifically tailored as the optimal choice for Soulslike enthusiasts and experienced players of Remnant: From the Ashes. By opting for this level, players can expect accelerated leveling compared to Survivor difficulty. However, this advantage comes at a price - enemies become more resilient, deal increased damage, require additional effort to vanquish, and bosses become even more formidable. For those who found the Normal difficulty in Remnant: From the Ashes a tad too effortless, selecting Veteran in the sequel is definitely a commendable option.

Nightmare

If Remnant: From the Ashes players found Normal difficulty too easy, they should definitely give Nightmare difficulty a try in Remnant II. While some might assume that Nightmare difficulty would only be slightly harder than Veteran difficulty, the reality is quite different. The increase in difficulty between Survivor and Veteran ranges from about 50-65 percent, but the jump from Veteran to Nightmare is much steeper, ranging between 100-185 percent for the same 15 percent increase in EXP.

Additionally, in the description of this difficulty alone, it mentions that this is specifically tailored to individuals who already possess formidable physical prowess, strongly insinuating that Gunfire Games deliberately constructed Nightmare mode with the intention of players gradually progressing with a meticulously crafted character by means of multiple Campaign/Adventure Mode playthroughs. This is to be expected as this game apparently boasts a substantial reservoir of captivating content waiting to be discovered.

Apocalypse

In the original Remnant game, the option of Apocolypse was not available at launch. It was later introduced as an extra challenge for players, similar to Hardcore Mode. The same concept seems to apply in Remnant II, but this time players only need to complete the Campaign once, regardless of the difficulty, to unlock Apocalypse instead of waiting for Gunfire Games to implement it.

The developers deliberately chose to make the difficulty spike in Apocalypse mode outweigh the benefits players gain from playing on this level. This is evident from the description 'Good Luck,' which clearly indicates that this option is meant for players seeking a greater challenge rather than those content with a harder game and additional rewards.

It doesn't make sense to only receive 20 percent more EXP than Nightmare difficulty when dealing with mobs and bosses that are significantly tougher than they would be on Survivor difficulty. This is why the higher difficulty is designed for players who find satisfaction in the challenge rather than feeling penalized by it. In this difficulty, certain co-op Classes like Medic will be even more essential.

Remnant 2 will be released on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on July 25, 2023.