DIVE or DIE Difficulty Modes
Normal, Hard, and Madman Mode in DIVE or DIE — countdown days, permadeath rules, and which difficulty to pick.
Choosing Your First Run
DIVE or DIE offers difficulty selection at new game creation. The choice sets your Flood Countdown baseline, enemy pressure, and whether you can reload saves after diver death. Pick Normal for your first full campaign to learn camp pacing and Idol routes.
Normal Mode — 40 Days
Normal provides 40 Flood Countdown days with standard enemy density. You can reload saves outside Madman rules by exiting to menu before a fatal dive resolves — though this undermines intended tension. Normal is the recommended launch difficulty for learning Blessed Item timing and Worship schedules.
Hard Mode — 30 Days
Hard compresses the campaign to 30 days with increased pressure. Every wasted dive hurts more. Chiefs who understand Maps, Blueprint priority, and daily Worship on Normal should attempt Hard for tighter routing challenges.
Madman Mode — No Reload Safety
Madman Mode removes save-scumming safety. If a diver dies underwater, they are lost and the day advances — no Alt+F4 escape. Permanent loss applies to specialized trait builds like Unnatural Regeneration divers. Choose Madman only after completing a Normal run and accepting that failed dives cost real roster depth.
Steam Achievements and community bragging rights often target Madman clears. Pair with the Flood Day Planner so purchased Worship days always have a concrete appointment.