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Which Soulslike Games Have Adjustable Difficulty, Assist Modes, or Easy Builds?

By Freedom251 Team · · 9 min read

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Yes—several Soulslike games now offer a genuine easy mode, selectable difficulty levels or optional assists. The clearest choices are Lies of P, The First Berserker: Khazan, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Another Crab’s Treasure is the best fit if you want individual assist toggles instead of one global setting. Elden Ring has no conventional easy-mode menu, but its open world, builds, stealth, exploration order and multiplayer tools can substantially reduce the pressure.

“Easiest” is not an objective ranking: the available sources document options and design decisions, not a controlled test of player difficulty. Choose according to the kind of help you want—preset modes, granular assists, or a build and route that make combat more forgiving.

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Quick comparison

Game Difficulty or assist system Can you change it during a run? Other ways to reduce difficulty Best for
Lies of P Three selectable difficulty levels, added in the June 6, 2025 Overture patch Yes, at any time through Settings → Gameplay → Difficulty Build and equipment choices; the patch also added control and color-vision options Players who want a conventional adjustable Soulslike
Another Crab’s Treasure Optional assist options; the developer describes them as able to reduce or increase challenge Exact behavior and toggle list can vary by game version Assist configuration rather than a single global preset Players who want granular help
The First Berserker: Khazan Beginner, Normal, Expert and Hardcore Use the current in-game difficulty controls; the cited developer note establishes the four named levels Beginner changes combat parameters directly Newcomers who want a labeled progression to harder modes
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Story Mode, Jedi Padawan, Jedi Knight, Jedi Master and Jedi Grand Master; Navigation Assist, audio pings and Slow Mode Yes, when not in combat Slow Mode affects combat and platforming; rewards do not differ by difficulty Players wanting the most fully documented preset-plus-assist package
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Four modes that alter parry timing, incoming damage and enemy aggression Yes, at any time Auto-lock, auto-climb, disabled button mashes and disabled quick-time events Players seeking a straightforward entry point with input assists
Elden Ring No numeric easy-mode selector Not applicable Open-world routing, postponing bosses, stealth, varied builds, spirit or multiplayer help Players comfortable making their own difficulty through exploration and character choices

What “adjustable difficulty” means in a Soulslike

A global preset changes the game’s overall combat rules. A granular assist changes one friction point, such as timing, navigation or a quick-time event. An “easy build” leaves the game’s nominal difficulty untouched but uses character options, equipment, summons, stealth or route planning to make encounters less demanding.

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Those categories matter because they produce different experiences. A lower preset may reduce enemy aggression or increase your damage everywhere. An assist can preserve normal combat while removing a specific barrier. An easy build requires more experimentation, but it may let you keep the systems and challenge you enjoy while avoiding a particular wall.

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Lies of P - PlayStation 5
  • The essence of battle: Wield and master various weapons with unique combinations of Fable Arts and Legion Arms to find out what fits your playstyle
  • Variety of attraction: Enjoy the beautiful, yet dark atmosphere of the Belle Époque era and explore the once prosperous city of Krat
  • Lie system: P is made of a puppet's heart, but he learns how to think and feel like a human by lying
  • Legacy of the classics: The city of Krat, the characters, and even the smallest objects reflect our deepest admiration for the original tale of Pinocchio

There is no authoritative industry-wide percentage showing how many Soulslikes include these features. The practical answer is therefore game-specific: check the exact mode names, what each setting changes, and whether it can be altered after starting.

Lies of P: a conventional easy, normal and hard-style selector

What changed in 2025

NEOWIZ’s June 6, 2025 Overture launch patch added three game-difficulty levels. The patch describes the purpose as tailoring gameplay to a player’s preference, making Lies of P a conventional adjustable-difficulty Soulslike rather than one fixed challenge.

This is an important date qualification. Reviews and guides written before that patch may accurately describe the launch version as having no difficulty selector, but that description is outdated for the patched game.

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Changing difficulty

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Gameplay.
  3. Choose Difficulty.
  4. Select one of the three levels. The patch says the setting can be changed at any time, so you are not locked into the choice made at the beginning.

The same update added Colorblind Mode and other control options. These do not replace the difficulty selector, but they can remove visual or input barriers that make combat harder for some players.

Where it is available

The official support listing names PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Mac, Steam and Epic. Confirm the version and update installed on your platform before relying on the newer settings, especially if you are playing an offline or unpatched copy.

Another Crab’s Treasure: the strongest assist-mode recommendation

Why it stands out

The official PlayStation description says the game was designed to be approachable for newer Soulslike players and provides assist options for people seeking a less frustrating experience. It also makes the unusual point that these options can make the game harder, giving players room to tailor the challenge in either direction.

That makes it a better match for someone who wants to remove one specific obstacle rather than lower every enemy’s resistance. You can approach the game as a normal Soulslike, enable help when a particular mechanic becomes a blocker, or use the options to create a more demanding run.

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What to check before starting

The exact toggle list is version-sensitive, so use the current in-game menu rather than relying on an old video or launch-era guide. Look for the assist section in the settings and read each description before enabling it; the useful distinction is whether an option changes combat, damage, timing, movement or another system.

Choose this game when “easy mode” means control over individual pain points. Choose a preset-based game instead if you want a clearly labeled Story, Beginner or equivalent mode with predictable global effects.

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Lies of P Complete Edition - Nintendo Switch 2
  • The Definitive Krat Chronicle: Explore the full breadth of a world soaked in the style of the Belle Époque. From the blood-stained streets of a collapsed city to the opulent mansions and eerie landmarks of its peak, unearth the complete history of its puppet industry. This edition combines the original narrative with the Overture prequel expansion, offering a comprehensive look at the figures and tragedies that doomed Krat.
  • Battle With An Expressive Arsenal: Master a unique combat system of weapon crafting, parrying and gadgetry. Combine the base game’s versatile weapon-making system, mixing blades and handles, with an arsenal of Legion Arms and progression choices for a truly expressive experience. Create devastating combinations to overcome the city's most formidable bosses and twisted mechanical horrors.
  • A Symphony of Choice & Consequence: In a world built on deception, your decisions determine your humanity. Engage with a deepened "Lying System" where choices made in the past ripple through the present. Whether you are comforting a soul in despair or seeking vengeance alongside the Legendary Stalker, every action shapes the narrative, leading to multiple unique endings that define the future of the franchise.
  • Optimized for Nintendo Switch 2: Witness the darkly elegant world of Lies of P in stunning fidelity and performance optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2. This edition includes all post-launch quality-of-life updates, new difficulty modes, new challenge modes, and the seamless integration of the Overture expansion content.
  • Bonus Costumes and Pack-ins: Includes The Mischievous Puppet's Clothes, The Lies of P: Prince of Krat Cosmetics Pack, and six collectible lore cards of memorable characters of the game.

The First Berserker: Khazan: four named levels, including Beginner

Current difficulty labels

A developer note from creative director Junho Lee describes a four-level structure: Beginner, Normal, Expert and Hardcore. The labels changed during a difficulty rework: the previous Easy was renamed Normal, and the previous Normal became Expert. Normal also became the default.

Because of that relabeling, an older guide can use “Easy” and “Normal” in ways that no longer match the current menu. Check the patch-era terminology shown by your installed version.

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What Beginner changes

Beginner is intended for people new to action games. The developer note says the player character does not take Stamina DMG when hit on Beginner and receives increased Attack DMG compared with Normal. Those are direct combat-parameter changes, not merely advice about equipment or exploration.

Normal provides the revised default experience. Expert restores a more demanding interpretation of the former Normal setting, while Hardcore is the severe end of the named progression. This ladder is useful if you want to start with assistance and move upward without changing games.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor: five presets plus accessibility assists

Preset modes

EA documents five modes:

  • Story Mode: minimizes enemy resistance and provides generous parry timing.
  • Jedi Padawan: the next step up from Story Mode.
  • Jedi Knight: the middle setting.
  • Jedi Master: demands tighter reactions and stronger combat execution.
  • Jedi Grand Master: uses small parry windows and highly aggressive enemies.

The important practical rule is that you can switch modes during gameplay when you are not in combat. Difficulty does not change rewards, so lowering the setting does not withhold progression rewards or create a separate reward track.

Assist settings beyond the preset

Navigation Assist helps you find your way through the world. Audio pings provide additional sound cues. Slow Mode slows world action during combat and platforming, which can help with reaction-heavy fights and difficult traversal sections.

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This combination makes Survivor the most fully documented preset-plus-assist package in this comparison. Use Story Mode for a broad reduction in combat pressure, or keep a higher preset and enable only the navigation or timing aid you need.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order: flexible modes and input assists

Four difficulty modes

EA documents four modes. Each changes parry timing, incoming damage and enemy aggression, so the choice affects the core combat loop rather than only enemy health. EA also says the difficulty can be changed at any time, allowing you to lower it for a difficult sequence and raise it again later.

Options that remove specific barriers

  • Auto-lock on target: helps maintain focus on an enemy.
  • Auto-climb: reduces the need for repeated climb inputs.
  • Disable button mashes: removes rapid-input sequences.
  • Disable quick-time events: removes reaction prompts that interrupt ordinary play.

These settings make Fallen Order a practical entry point for someone who likes the exploration and checkpoint structure associated with Soulslikes but does not want every challenge to be a test of manual input speed.

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Elden Ring: no easy-mode menu, but extensive systemic flexibility

What the designer says

In an official PlayStation Blog interview, FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki said the game was not intentionally made easier, but that its open world lets players progress elsewhere, return to a boss later and use different approaches. He specifically discussed stealth and easier access to multiplayer help, adding: “I don’t want new players to worry or stress about that difficulty too much.” He also said, “We don’t try to force difficulty or make things hard for the sake of it.”

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Those comments describe a design philosophy, not a hidden numerical setting. There is no conventional easy, normal or hard selector to turn on in the cited official information.

How to make a run easier

  • Leave and return: If a boss is overwhelming, explore another region, collect upgrades and come back later.
  • Choose a forgiving build: Character attributes, weapon scaling, armor, shields, ranged attacks and status effects let you solve encounters in different ways.
  • Use stealth: Avoiding detection can reduce the number of enemies you fight and lets you separate groups.
  • Use spirit or multiplayer assistance: Summoned help can divide enemy attention and create openings, while cooperative play adds another player to the encounter.
  • Change the route: The open world lets you bypass some threats temporarily instead of repeatedly attacking the same wall.

That is why Elden Ring is often described as having “easy builds,” even though it has no easy-mode button. The flexibility is powerful, but it asks you to make decisions instead of selecting a single global preset.

Which game should a beginner choose?

Choose Lies of P if you want a standard selector

Its three levels are explicit, adjustable at any time and available across the platforms listed by the support page. It is the clearest choice for someone who wants a recognizable easy-to-hard menu inside a traditional Soulslike structure.

Choose Another Crab’s Treasure for individual assists

Its assist philosophy is the best fit when one mechanic—not the entire game—is causing frustration. Review the current menu because the exact options can change with updates.

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Choose Khazan for a labeled learning ladder

Beginner directly changes damage and stamina-related combat behavior, while Normal, Expert and Hardcore provide a clear path toward greater challenge.

Choose Jedi: Survivor for the broadest documented support

It combines five presets with navigation, audio and slow-motion assists, and it does not reduce rewards when you lower difficulty.

Choose Fallen Order for input and timing accommodations

Its four modes alter core combat variables, while auto-lock, auto-climb, button-mash and quick-time-event options address specific control demands.

Choose Elden Ring if you prefer self-directed help

It rewards players who are willing to explore, change builds, use stealth and call for assistance. It is flexible rather than simple: the game gives you tools, but does not label one combination “easy.”

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How to decide before buying or starting

  1. Identify the barrier. If you want less enemy aggression everywhere, choose a preset. If one timing, navigation or input issue is the problem, look for an assist.
  2. Check whether settings are changeable. A mode that can be changed during a run is safer when you are unsure of your preferred challenge.
  3. Check the exact version. Lies of P’s selector arrived in 2025, and Khazan’s names changed during its rework.
  4. Decide whether you want systemic freedom. Elden Ring can become more manageable through route, build and co-op choices, but that requires active experimentation.
  5. Separate accessibility from combat difficulty. Auto-climb, color-vision options, disabled quick-time events and navigation aids can improve access without making every enemy weaker.

Bottom line

For a true adjustable difficulty menu, start with Lies of P, The First Berserker: Khazan, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order or Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. For granular assists, choose Another Crab’s Treasure. For an easy-build approach, Elden Ring offers the most freedom through exploration, stealth, character choices and multiplayer help—but no conventional easy mode.

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adjustable difficultyassist modesEasy modeElden RingLies of PSoulslike gamesStar Wars JediThe First Berserker: Khazan

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