10 Cruel Difficulty Modes You Can't Handle

Regardless of what difficulty setting the Dead Space remake is tackled on, Isaac Clarke’s expedition through the USG Ishimura is going to be a terrifying and challenging experience. For those looking to make this horror outing as nerve-shredding and traumatic as possible, though, developers Motive Studios have made that happen.

After beating the game on any difficulty, players will unlock New Game Plus. Although players will have access to their upgraded suits and weapons, this mode maintains the taut level of sci-fi horror by introducing stronger and faster enemies in the form of Phantom Necromorphs. Identified by their glowing red eyes, these monsters ensure the second time through the Ishimura never becomes a walk in the park.

Moreover, if the game is beaten on Hard mode, players will likewise unlock the ominously titled Impossible difficulty. With tougher enemies and scarcer ammo drops, this setting will put players' survival horror skills to the test. However, it’s the permadeath mechanic that’s the cruellest addition here, with one disturbingly graphic death causing players to try again from the start of the game.

Choosing to play New Game Plus on Impossible is therefore the optimal way to experience Dead Space at its most harrowing level of challenge.