Difficulty

In Dying Light and Dying Light: The Following there are four difficulties to choose from, and after finishing the story at least once there is an option to start a "new game plus" which makes all difficulties slightly harder.

Difficulty

When starting a new game there are four difficulty choices. The chosen difficulty can later be changed from the main menu at almost any time. While the quests can get easier or harder depending on the difficulty, the content of them are the same. After finishing the main campaign's story on all modes, except story mode, two outfits per difficulty gets unlocked, so six outfits in total. This requires a full run-through of the story quests on that, or a higher, difficulty.

Changing difficulty

To change difficulty for an existing game, make sure that a DLC quest is not tracked in the game, for example The Bozak Horde, Harran Prison or any of the DLC quarantine zones. If so, leave the DLC area in the game and then track another quest, for example a story quest or if at 100% story a repeatable quest like Stuffed Turtle.

When in the main menu

• Choose "Play"
• "Play campaign" or "The Following"
• Choose a save file and press "Advanced"
  • Choose difficulty
  • or New game plus" (if available)
  • or Restart from a previously completed story quest

Story mode

"For those who want to focus on the story and exploration without worrying too much on survival. You're stronger and tougher, the Infected pose less of a threat, and nights are shorter. Enjoy your stay in Harran!" Creating a new game on story mode

Story mode is the more casual difficulty where most things are generally easier. The infected deal less damage to the player, who in turn deals more damage to them. While the hostile encounters get more manageable on this difficulty the legend experience gained is halved. This is of less concern when starting a new game though, as legend levels are gained first after finishing any of the other skill trees.

Normal mode

In normal mode neither the player nor the hostiles gain any advantages or disadvantages. This can be seen as the baseline for the other difficulties, where things get easier or harder.

Hard mode

Main article: Hard mode

"Only for seasoned Survivors. The Infected are deadlier and more numerous. Volatiles and Night Runners are harder to detect. Loot is scarcer. Ready to face the challenge?" Creating a new game on hard mode

This is the first difficulty that was added to the game after release. Here the enemies hit harder while Crane heals slower and gets tired more often. Using medkits now heals over time instead of instantly as on lower difficulties, and survivor sense only highlights dropped/thrown weapons instead of everything lootable. When entering in-game menus, not the main menu, on hard or nightmare mode the game is no longer paused.

Nightmare mode

Main article: Nightmare mode

"Only for the most hardcore players with the best weapons. The Infected are much harder to kill. Your stamina can no longer be infinite and all your special moves drain it. Ready to face the Harran virus at its deadliest?" Creating a new game on nightmare mode

Nightmare mode came together with The Following expansion.In nightmare mode infinite stamina for fighting is disabled, even with the Ultimate Combatant skill. With the skill Ultimate Runner stamina for running is infinite, but certain agility moves still drain it. Hostiles gain even more health and do more damage, while the nights are longer than other difficulties. If Crane dies in nightmare mode all experience points to the next legend level is lost, but gaining experience is also the fastest.

New game plus

Main article: New game plus

"You're trying to play this campaign again from the beginning, your game progress will be reset but your inventory and player development will be kept. Please note that enemies are going to be tougher. Are you sure?" Warning when choosing new game plus

New game plus isn't technically a difficulty setting, but it can increase the difficulty of the other modes. With game+ applied to a save all enemies gain a small amount of health, which can increase the difficulty. After finishing the main campaign story on any difficulty an option to switch to new game plus can be found through the main menu, similar to how one changes difficulty through the advanced settings.