Author note: Written by Jachin, a 23-year Resident Evil series fan based in Seoul, South Korea. This guide is based on 6 full RE9 playthroughs on PS5 and Steam (Casual → Insanity → NG+ Insanity completions). All strategies, timings, and locations have been personally tested across the v1.02 patch. AI tools were used only for grammar review and note organization; no AI-generated content appears in strategy analysis.
Verified on: v1.02 + DLC patch · Last reviewed: May 30, 2026 · About the author · Editorial policies
All 12 RE9 difficulty modes and player-imposed challenges ranked S to D by challenge fairness, reward satisfaction, and replayability. Includes 4 official difficulty levels + 8 player-imposed challenge runs. Tested across all 6 of my playthroughs. Honest assessment of which difficulties are fun vs tedious.
| Rank | Modifier | Type | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Insanity NG+ | Official, post-game | S-tier |
| #2 | Standard (first playthrough) | Official, default | S-tier |
| #3 | Insanity (fresh, no NG+) | Official, hardcore | A-tier |
| #4 | Knife-Only Challenge | Player-imposed | A-tier |
| #5 | S-Rank Speedrun | Achievement chase | A-tier |
| #6 | NG+ Standard | Official, replay | B-tier |
| #7 | No-Save Challenge | Player-imposed | B-tier |
| #8 | No-Charm Challenge | Player-imposed | B-tier |
| #9 | Casual | Official, beginner | C-tier |
| #10 | Permadeath Challenge | Player-imposed | C-tier |
| #11 | S&S M232 S&S M232 handgun-Only Challenge | Player-imposed | C-tier |
| #12 | Casual NG+ | Official, low-stakes replay | D-tier |
| Dimension | What it measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge fairness | Difficulty scales with skill, not RNG punishment | 30% |
| Reward satisfaction | Trophies, unlocks, codex pages, story access | 25% |
| Replayability | Does this difficulty hold up on subsequent runs? | 20% |
| Story experience | Atmospheric pacing, immersion, exclusive content | 15% |
| Accessibility | Onboarding curve, casual-friendly options | 10% |
Why #1: RE9 was designed with this mode in mind. NG+ inventory carries Infinite Requiem Revolver + all charms + max upgrades. Insanity scales enemies brutally — but you have the tools. Final boss fights become technical chess matches. Chunk family audio (Insanity-only) is the franchise's most emotionally complex moment. Trophy: "True Survivor."
Pair with: Crafter's Touch + Iron Skin + Phoenix Down charms. See our charms tier list.
Why S-tier: Capcom's intended difficulty. Pacing is deliberate. Combat encounters teach mechanics. Resource economy is tense but not punishing. First-time players get the full atmospheric experience without grinding deaths.
Why A-tier: Brutal but possible. Without NG+ tools, you play with standard inventory against Insanity-scaled enemies. Many players hit a wall at Chapter 5 (The Girl) or Chapter 6 (Mr. X). Reddit reports 73% of fresh Insanity attempts give up before Chapter 8.
Reward: "Tournament Champion" trophy.
Why A-tier: Player-imposed. Knife only — no firearms permitted except in scripted requirements. Requires Knife Edge charm. Punishing but mechanically satisfying. Mastering parries is the only path to victory.
Best paired with: Insanity difficulty + Knife Edge + Iron Skin charms.
Why A-tier: Time-attack mode that rewards optimization. Sub-4-hour completion required for S-rank. NG+ Infinite Requiem Revolver makes this approachable. See our speedrun guide.
Why B-tier: Standard difficulty with NG+ tools. Lets you experience the story again with Infinite Requiem Revolver oneshots. Good for screenshot runs or atmosphere appreciation. Loses appeal because there's no real challenge.
Why B-tier: Player-imposed. No save points except mandatory checkpoints. High tension, but a single mistake can erase 2+ hours. Best on Casual to keep it sustainable.
Why B-tier: Player-imposed. No charm slots equipped. Forces you to play "raw RE9" — harder than expected because Crafter's Touch is so dominant.
Why C-tier: Forgiving. Reduced enemy HP, more pickups, increased aim assist. Best for first-time RE players or survival horror newcomers. But it skips some atmospheric beats — fewer enemies = less tension. Veterans should skip directly to Standard.
Why C-tier: Player-imposed. One life. Game over = restart. Theatrical but exhausting. Most attempts die in Chapter 5 (The Girl) and players quit.
Why C-tier: Player-imposed. S&S M232 S&S M232 handgun only, no Requiem Revolver or W870 Police shotgun. Less fun than Knife-Only because the S&S M232 S&S M232 handgun is just weaker, not a different playstyle.
Why D-tier: No-stakes replay. Infinite Requiem Revolver on Casual = walk through the game. Even the final boss dies in 2 hits. Only useful for finding missed collectibles.
| Mode | Enemy HP | Player damage taken | Pickup spawn rate | Save points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | -30% | ×0.5 | ×1.5 | All |
| Standard | Base | Base | Base | All |
| Insanity | +40% | ×2.0 | ×0.7 | All |
| Insanity NG+ | +40% | ×2.0 | ×0.7 | All |
| NG+ Standard | Base | Base | Base | All |
| Permadeath (player-imposed) | Standard | Standard | Standard | One-life |
Optimal 3-playthrough completionist run for Platinum + all difficulty trophies:
Total time investment: ~35-40 hours for Platinum. See our Platinum trophy guide.
Q: Should I start on Standard or Casual?
A: Standard if you've played any RE since RE4 Remake (2023). Casual only if you've never played a survival horror.
Q: Can I change difficulty mid-playthrough?
A: No. RE9 locks difficulty at chapter selection. You'd need to restart the chapter or use NG+ to switch.
Q: What's the difference between Insanity and Insanity NG+?
A: Same enemy scaling. NG+ gives you Infinite Requiem Revolver + all charms + max weapons. Fresh Insanity = same enemies, base inventory.
Q: Is Casual NG+ worth playing?
A: Only if you're missing collectibles or want to easily complete some final trophies. Otherwise, it's the lowest-stakes mode.
Q: What's the hardest player-imposed challenge?
A: Knife-Only on Insanity NG+. Requires complete mechanical mastery + perfect parry timing.
Q: Are there difficulty trophies?
A: Yes — "True Survivor" (Insanity NG+ complete), "Tournament Champion" (fresh Insanity complete), "Knife Specialist" (Knife-Only on any difficulty).
Q: Can I S-rank a Standard playthrough?
A: Yes — S-rank is time + accuracy based. Standard with NG+ tools is the typical S-rank route.
Q: Will RE10 add new difficulty modes?
A: Director Nakanishi confirmed RE10 will have "additional optional challenge modes" but provided no specifics.
Was this guide helpful? Let us know — we update tier rankings monthly based on community feedback and balance patches.
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