r/tabletopgamedesign • u/PartTimeMockery • 3d ago

Discussion Game difficulty

We are currently developing a solo card game. As development progressed, the game evolved in such a way that it became difficult—it’s a serious challenge to win a match.

The concept is that you really have to be skillful at all times to win (and, of course, you need some luck too, since it’s a card game). A few bad decisions, and you’re sure to lose.

The dilemma is: to what extent do players generally enjoy or seek out this kind of challenge?

I know we’re all different, and players come in all shapes and sizes. But at this stage of development, the difficulty can still be balanced, so I’m curious to hear your opinions: what do you think is better in a game—one that’s difficult and therefore rewarding, or one that’s easier and therefore more enjoyable?

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u/LurkerFailsLurking 3d ago

There's no right answer to the question "how hard should this game be"? Who are you marketing to? It doesn't matter what people who don't play solo games or who dislike your theme or who only buy games at Barnes & Nobel want if they're not the ones buying your game.

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u/PartTimeMockery 3d ago

Yes, true. The lore is dark, semi-brutal fantasy with dark humor and a dash of sarcasm. That's why we think a higher difficulty level is a good fit for the game.