When you initially start your journey in Digimon Story Time Stranger, you will notice that you have access to three default difficulty setting choices. However, there are a total of 5 difficulty settings in the game, with the additional two being unlocked in New Game+.
Each difficulty setting offers something different to the players. Hence, the one you pick will be based on how familiar you are with JRPGs and Digimon story games in general, and how willing you are when it comes to investing a significant portion of your time grinding levels.
Below is a guide on everything you need to know about the various difficulty settings in Digimon Story Time Stranger.
Which is the right difficulty for you in Digimon Story Time Stranger?
Here is a list of all the difficulty settings in Digimon Story Time Journey, their differences, and who they are recommended for:
| Difficulty | Difference | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|
| Story | Story Mode reduces enemy damage by a significant amount and will also let you fight monsters in Invincibility Mode. This can be useful in taking down Chaosdramon early if you are struggling. | This mode is meant for those who want a story-first experience and speed through battles. |
| Balanced | This is the most balanced difficulty setting. You will get to experience both story and a challenging combat experience. The game will even ask you to retry a battle in a lower difficulty if you lose twice in an encounter. | This setting is more tailored for those who are looking for a more balanced experience. If you are familiar with JRPGs in general, then this is the setting to go for. |
| Hard | Hard mode spikes the difficulty up several notches. Enemies hit much harder, and you will need to be on top of your party-forming game. Digivolutions that you make matter quite a bit in this mode, and you will find it hard to progress if you are not strategizing accordingly. | This mode is meant for those who are experienced in turn-based tactical combat and previous Digimon Story games. As the combat loop is very satisfying in Time Stranger, hard mode feels quite rewarding once you clear the more difficult hurdles. |
| Mega | Enemy Digimon are significantly stronger and appear more often and in greater numbers during encounters. This mode is only available in NG+. | Mega Mode is for those who love spending hours min-maxing their party. You will need to make the most of Digimon training to best this difficulty while keeping a close eye on the various Personality Traits. |
| Mega+ | Mega+ is the highest difficulty setting, which is unlocked in NG+ as well. In this mode, Escape command during an encounter will be disabled. You will also not be able to use items during battle. | This mode is for the hardcore tactical fan. To beat it, you will need to master every single mechanic that the game has to offer. |
How to Change the Difficulty in Digimon Story Time Stranger
When you start Digimon Story Time Stranger, you will get the option to pick the game’s difficulty setting. You will also be able to change the settings at any given time during your journey by heading into the Options menu settings.
However, you will probably not be able to change the setting if you are playing on Mega+. This is because there is a Trophy associated with the mode called “Pinnacle of Existence”. It requires you to complete the entire narrative on Mega+.
