“Git gud.” Over the past few console cycles, this has become a rallying cry for those who enjoy a good challenge in their video games. From the emergence of the Soulslike genre, to challenging roguelikes and pixel-perfect platformers, there’s no shortage of self-humiliation in which to indulge.
But are difficult video games anything new? In the latest episode of The Punished Podcast, we unpack the history of video game difficulty — from the arcade cabinet to the modern console. We also explore what makes a game challenging, whether that concept equates to “fun,” and more.
The games we discuss may be tough as nails, but this episode is easy listening. You’re in for a treat.
– David Silbert, Editor and Host
The Punished Podcast Episode 19
Note: This podcast was recorded on May 15, 2025, a few days after we covered PAX East 2025 and several weeks before the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. If it sounds like we were obsessed with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at the time … it’s because we were.
MP3 Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts
David Silbert | Sam Martinelli | Gary Wilson | Kei Isobe
Timestamps
- 0:00 – 4:05: Intros + an icebreaker
- 4:05 – 6:26: A brief history of video game difficulty
- 6:26 – 19:16: Our personal histories with game difficulty
- 19:16 – 42:08: Do games have to be hard to be “fun” or “good”?
- 42:08 – 1:03:21: How will difficulty influence game genres moving forward?
- 1:03:21 – 1:12:34: Let’s gush about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- 1:12:34 – 1:15:18: Is modular game design the future of video game difficulty?
- 1:15:18 – 1:17:09: A quick shout-out to the “easy” side of game difficulty
- 1:17:09 – 1:18:55: Kei talks Elden Ring as a cozy game, Bill Simmons, and Jayson Tatum
- 1:18:55 – 1:23:08: Who Ya Got?! Difficulty Edition (Rounds 1-3)
- 1:23:08 – 1:28:28: Halftime Interlude!!! Let’s talk Souls-likes (and Clair Obscur again)
- 1:28:28 – 1:43:20: Who Ya Got?! Difficulty Edition (Round 4, Semi-Finals, and Final)
- 1:43:20: Outro: Whatcha Playin’?
Further Reading: Games & Concepts We Discussed
- Elden Ring (21:15) — Elden Ring Works Best When You Let Go (Sam Martinelli)
- What is “fun”? (23:36) — GDC 2012: A Theory of Fun: 10 Years Later (Raph Koster)
- Difficulty levels (53:40) — Should Dark Souls Have an Easy Mode? (Mark Brown, Game Maker’s Toolkit)
- Cuphead animation (1:34:14) — Examining the Art of Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course (Anna Hickey)
- Other great Souls-likes (1:44:07) — The First Berserker: Khazan Review (Kei Isobe)
- Future podcast ideas (1:45:56) — The Punished Podcast Episode 18: Video Game Replays (Amanda Tien, Sam Martinelli, David Silbert)
- Fantasy Gaming (1:46:26) — Fantasy Friday: May 2025 Waiver Wire (David Silbert et al.)
Song Credits
- “Elden Ring” from Elden Ring (composed by Tsukasa Saitoh)
- “Reach for the Summit” from Celeste (composed by Lena Raine)
- “Une vie à t’aimer” from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (composed by Lorien Testard, sung by Alice Duport-Percier and Victor Borba)
- “Floral Fury” from Cuphead (composed by Kristofer Maddigan)
- “No Escape” from Hades (composed by Darren Korb)
A video game outlet that blends quality words with inclusive voices. For business inquiries and review requests, reach us at press [at] punishedbacklog [dot] com.
Huge video game, comic book, and anime fan. Spends way too much time watching things he doesn’t like. Hates Zack Snyder. Mains Falco.
Sam has been playing video games since his earliest years and has been writing about them since 2016. He’s a big fan of Nintendo games and complaining about The Last of Us Part II. You either agree wholeheartedly with his opinions or despise them. There is no in between. A lifelong New Yorker, Sam views gaming as far more than a silly little pastime, and hopes though critical analysis and in-depth reviews to better understand the medium's artistic merit. Twitter: @sam_martinelli.
David is the founder of The Punished Backlog. He has a problem finishing games he starts. Just beat: Nine Sols, UFO 50. Working on: Metaphor: ReFantazio. Can't wait for: Hollow Knight: Silksong. Follow David on Twitter at @David_Silbert to keep up to date with all things The Punished Backlog.
Gary is a jack-of-all-trades video game enthusiast based in Boston, MA. A semi-professional fighting game player, even less professional Apex Legends player, and even less professional adult, he spends most of his time poking at strange indie gems and reading about the need for more diverse voices in gaming criticism. He invites anyone to recommend anything he's missed in the gaming world via Twitter or BlueSky, where he can found under the username @grtnpwrfl. When he isn't spending his time playing games, Gary is an avid New England Patriots fan and frequent hiker.
