this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2026
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Rimworld
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Yeah, just like freedom of speech is about freedom, and yet to enforce it you need to block toxic behaviors.
See my other comment about accessibility, if you want, I'm not going to write it again.
You're talking about the paradox of tolerance, which isn't a paradox and isn't relevant here.
You said games should be about having fun, and then immediately proceeded to proscribe one kind of fun by baselessly denigrating the people who enjoy the challenge of a difficult game.
Some perspective for you: RimWorld is single player. There are no toxic behaviours to block, except the very ones you're complaining about and perpetrating here like gatekeeping.
Or just wilfully ignore me and strawman me, whatever, it's the internet so most likely that one π€·ββοΈ
The fucking post is called "I have a confession" and you're telling me that there is no problem with people being shamed for not playing the game at the "proper" difficulty?
My point is that this love of "hardcore" is bringing a lot of toxicity in all games (including other than video games) and so yeah, right now I have a problem with hardcore gamers because they lead the movement of hardcore games, which are making games worse for everyone else.
It is similar to the paradox of tolerance because with the way things are now, not fighting against hardcore gaming actively makes everyone else have less fun with games. It wouldn't be like that in a world of empathy and inclusion, but that's not where we are at, just like "colorblind" would be a good term in a perfect world but for now it's just racist.
I will add, you can always make a game more challenging on your own. Play with one hand, don't save, don't look at the screen, whatever suits you. But you cannot make the game easier without accessibility settings to do so, and even when they exist, then you get mocked online for using them or not playing the game the "right way". So I call bullshit, rejecting hardcore games does not prevent anyone from having a challenging game.
And you're taking a gentle poke in fun far too seriously (which is a bad idea, because you can't seriously defend yourself - the charge of hypocrisy is accurate). Complaining about toxicity in the RimWorld community, no less, widely known as one of the nicest communities in gaming. Get off your high horse, you smug git.
Or don't, and keep being insufferable. Again, it's the internet, so most likely that one π€·ββοΈ
I cant stand toxic comments like this. Just joking.
I think you are somewhat wrong by saying love of hardcore is bringing toxicity. Its toxic people that are bringing in the toxicity.
I love playing games like Rimworld on harder difficulties, because it creates emergent stories in to the games. It makes the game richer for me and it makes the colonies feel unique and i enjoy that quite a lot, but i dont feel the need to ridicule anybody for playing the game on peacefull.
In a way you are doing exactly the same thing than the "HC-players", but on the different end of the spectrum.
Also i want to say im firm beliver that not everything needs to be for everyone. If somebody wants to make a SHMUP that is impossible for people who have not played them before or kaizo Mario that only few people in small community can finish, its their artistic decition. I cant eat seafood, so sushi is not for me, but i cant resent the cheff who wanted to start a allfish restaurant, nor i cant blame my friend who loves to eat salmon.
How ever i do belive that aslong as the difficulty is not part of the games core design philosophy, it should be adjustable. Also there is no good reason to not add things like colorblind mode, adjustable font sizes and possibility to remap key bindings to games. Accessibility and difficulty are not the same thing.
I know that I'm pushing a bit too far in the opposite direction, but that's because basically no one is trying to counter this endless trend of "hardcore is cool and edgy"
Obviously not all players are like that.
The problem is that the norm now is to assume that a game needs to be hard, and that anything less is "too easy".
Recent example that comes to mind, Songs of Syx (you probably know it already, if not you can look it up, it's not a bad game). The game has unlocks in an achievement-like way, which help make the game a bit easier; logical one would say, it's along the lines of rogue-like unlocks, you can play and lose while still progressing, amazing. But the game itself can be pretty hard, and while there are difficulty settings, changing any to be easier prevents unlocking anything (but harder difficulties don't, which clearly gives the vibe of "you are too bad at the game to deserve the achievements"). There's no good reason to do that, the developer is far from being incompetent, but yet there is the idea that you cannot enjoy the full game if you don't want it as hard.
It's not about the core of the game being hard, nothing actually would change badly if the achievements were never locked from a difficulty setting, but here it is. And you are put with the background thought that you're not really playing the game properly if you reduce the difficulty (even though the achievements themselves do that, but the " hard" way so it's ok I guess)
Now I understand what you're saying
The Rimworld community is and always has been one of the most welcoming, civil, collaborative, and supportive in general and specifically nonjudgmental about play-styles
That's one of the reasons why I still love this game. The general consensus is that Rimworld is made to be played whatever way you like. The fact that is has a scenario editor and doesn't use achievements confirms this
I donβt think itβs accurate to map patterns from other gaming communities onto RimWorld. The comparison doesn't fit well