Starfield: All Difficulty Settings & Changes

Explore settings in Starfield difficulty: from serene exploration to intense combat, find your ideal space journey with our detailed guide.

There are multiple difficulty settings in Starfield. Whether you’re a story-driven explorer or a battle-ready spacefarer, this learning about the intricacies of each setting will ensure that your celestial adventure aligns perfectly with your desired challenges and preferred playstyle in the game.

Key Takeaways
  • Starfield offers five distinct difficulty levels tailored to varied playstyles.
  • Difficulty settings can be adjusted in-game via the Settings > Gameplay menu.
  • Levels range from “Very Easy” for story immersion to “Very Hard” for intense combat challenges in Starfield.
  • Each difficulty affects enemy health, damage output, and potentially loot quality.
  • Players seeking narrative depth might prefer “Very Easy,” while combat enthusiasts might opt for “Very Hard.”
  • Bethesda’s history showcases the importance of tailored gameplay experiences in their titles.
  • The chosen difficulty can significantly shape your spacefaring journey in Starfield.

What Are Difficulty Settings In Starfield?

Difficulty settings in starfield
All Difficulty settings in Starfield (picture credits: eXputer)

In Starfield, difficulty settings tailor your cosmic adventure. Ranging from very easy to very hard, these options affect enemy health, damage, and loot quality.

Players can always adjust the difficulty settings in-game via the Settings > Gameplay menu, ensuring an experience suited to their desired challenge, be it narrative exploration or intense space combat in Starfield.

How To Access Difficulty Settings

Access difficulty settings
How to access difficulty settings in Starfield (picture credits: eXputer)

Starting your space odyssey but want to adjust to the challenge? Here’s my quick guide to finding and tweaking Starfield’s difficulty settings:

  1. Begin at the Character Menu: While in-game, open up your character menu.
  2. Main Menu: From the character menu, delve deeper by heading into the main menu.
  3. Spot the Settings Option: Within the main menu, you’ll see various options. Look for one labeled Settings. That’s your gateway to customization.
  4. Go to Gameplay: Once inside Settings, there’s a subsection called Gameplay. Click on it to discover the difficulty menu.
  5. Choose Your Difficulty Level/Type: Now, you’ll see five difficulty levels: very easy, easy, normal, hard, and very hard. Whether you’re seeking a breezy space stroll or a nail-biting alien combat, there’s a setting tailored for you.

Remember, your Starfield journey is yours to shape. Therefore, I recommend you pick the setting that feels right, and you can always change it later if the cosmos feels too friendly or fierce!

All Difficulty Options In Starfield

easy difficulty
easy difficulty in Starfield (picture credits: eXputer)

Starfield provides a galaxy of challenges tailored to every kind of space adventurer. The game introduces five unique difficulty levels, each differentiated mainly by the health (HP) and damage output of enemies you’ll encounter.

  • Very Easy
  • Easy
  • Normal
  • Hard
  • Very Hard

So, whether you’re a lore enthusiast or a battle-hardened space commander, Starfield has a setting perfectly suited for you. Choosing the best difficulty at the Starfield level plays a pivotal role in shaping your spacefaring journey.

It’s not just about the challenge; it’s about tailoring the game to your playstyle and preferences. Drawing from Bethesda’s rich gaming history, the importance of difficulty settings has been evident in their past titles. Just like those games, Starfield offers players the flexibility to craft an experience that resonates with them.

Difference In Difficulties

Enemy Resilience 
Increased Enemy Resilience on harder difficulties in Starfield (picture credits: eXputer)

In Starfield, not everything is created equal. Here’s what changes as you toggle between difficulty settings:

Enemy Resilience 

As you ramp up the difficulty, space adversaries don’t just get grumpier; they get tougher! Their health balloons and their punches (or laser beams) pack more of a wallop. Conversely, if you opt for an easier setting, you’ll find them less robust and their hits less daunting.

Loot Quality

  • Better Gear on Tougher Challenges: Thinking of upping the difficulty? Here’s a silver lining: The tougher the foes, the cooler the gear they drop. It’s a high-risk, high-reward universe out there in Starfield.
  • Rarity of Drops: On higher difficulty settings in Starfield, not only do you get better equipment, but you also have a higher chance of snagging those legendary, rare, very rare, and epic items.

So, when picking your difficulty in Starfield, remember it’s not just about the challenge; it’s about the potential rewards.

With this, I conclude my guide on the difficulty settings in Starfield. While you’re here, I suggest checking out a similar guide like the Starfield Akila City walkthrough. If that isn’t to your liking, you can also check out the Starfield Almagest Casino location guide.

Next: Starfield: Ship Storage

Did you find this helpful? Leave feedback below.

Thanks! Do share your feedback with us. ⚡

How can we make this post better? Your help would be appreciated. ✍

Get up-to-speed gaming updates delivered right to your inbox.

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy.


Mina is a Senior Guides Writer and a fanatic who’s obsessed with playing games and writing about them. She’s invested more than 2,500 hours in games like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, she loves to write detailed guides for beginners and pros in the Gacha Games world. You can follow Mina's gaming activity on her Steam and PSN Profiles.

Experience: 3+ Years

Related Articles