There are a total of nine difficulties in PEAK, but at the start of the game, you only have two options: Tenderfoot and PEAK. Tenderfoot is the game's easy mode, but you won't be able to unlock higher difficulties and sashes unless you finish the game on the default PEAK (or higher) difficulty.
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Higher difficulties in PEAK take the form of Ascent sashes, which present new challenges and debuffs that players must overcome as they continue raising their Ascent rank. This guide to every difficulty in PEAK explains the differences between all difficulty options in the game and details how to unlock all Ascent sashes.
How To Change Difficulty Level In PEAK
To change difficulty, PEAK players must go to the departure booth in the lobby and open up the departure menu. By default, you will be set to PEAK difficulty, which is the game's normal difficulty. To change the difficulty level, select the up and down arrow next to the difficulty name.
You can only select higher difficulties (Ascent Sashes) after you complete the requirements to unlock them.
All Difficulty Levels in PEAK
Tenderfoot (Easy)
- Climbing uses less stamina
- The Hunter meter grows more slowly
- Removes the time limit and the Fog
The easiest difficulty in PEAK, selecting Tenderfoot is a good way for beginners to get to know the game and a good way for experienced players to learn a new island layout before committing to higher difficulty levels. You will be able to climb slightly further, you will take longer to get hungry, and you won't have to worry about being killed by the encroaching fog.
Though you can still earn badges and achievements in PEAK on Tenderfoot, you will not be able to unlock any Ascent Sashes to take on higher difficulty challenges.
PEAK (Normal)
- Normal climbing speed
- Normal Hunter meter
- Normal fall damage
- Fog is enabled
The default difficulty in PEAK, the eponymous PEAK option is the intended, balanced experience for this game. You don't get any buffs (like in Tenderfoot difficulty), and you won't have any handicaps (like in the Ascent difficulties).
At PEAK difficulty and above, the Fog will be enabled, which serves as a soft time limit in each biome. By completing a run on PEAK difficulty, you will be able to unlock access to harder difficulties.
It's a good idea to get some practice in Tenderfoot difficulty on each new island generation to learn the lay of the land before you commit to a normal run.
Ascent 1
- Increased fall damage
- Distance required to proc fall damage is lowered
The Ascent 1 difficulty is the first of the seven "hard mode" difficulties in PEAK. Each Ascent difficulty comes with one or two negative effects that make the run more challenging. In an Ascent 1 run, you will take more fall damage, and the distance that you must fall to trigger fall damage is lower. You must be much more careful when climbing on Ascent 1 and above because even a short fall could spell your doom.
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- To unlock Ascent 1 difficulty, PEAK players must complete the default PEAK difficulty, then equip the Ascent 1 sash in the difficulty selection menu.
Ascent 2
- The hunger meter builds faster
- All negative effects of Ascent 1
In Ascent 2 difficulty, PEAK players will suffer from a debuff to their Hunger meter. The Hunger meter builds about twice as fast as normal in Ascent 2 and above. You must keep an eye out for consumables and manage your inventory well to mitigate this debuff.
Indeed, as you progress through the Ascent difficulties, all effects of the previous Ascent tiers will be included. That means that at Ascent 2, your Hunger meter will build faster and your fall damage will be increased.
- To unlock Ascent 2 difficulty, PEAK players must complete Ascent 1, then equip the Ascent 2 sash in the difficulty selection menu.
Ascent 3
- All items weigh more, including consumables
- All negative effects of all previous Ascent difficulties
In Ascent 3, PEAK players will suffer a major blow to their stamina meter and inventory management capabilities. At this difficulty and beyond, every item in PEAK weighs more. Because items weigh more, you must be much more selective with what you bring with you on your climb through each biome.
Because your Hunger meter is also growing faster at Ascent 3, it's a good idea to eat every consumable you come across instead of letting them take up valuable equip load in your inventory.
- To unlock Ascent 3 difficulty, PEAK players must complete Ascent 2, then equip the Ascent 3 sash in the difficulty selection menu.
Ascent 4
- The flare at the top of the final biome (the Peak) is not present
- Players must bring one flare through to the end of the game to finish their run
- All negative effects of all previous Ascent difficulties
In Ascent 4, the final flare at the end of the island does not spawn. Because of this, you will not be able to complete a run and call for rescue. While managing your Hunger meter, avoiding the Fog, and managing your inventory, you must now also find a Flare and bring it to the end of the island to complete the run. Thankfully, Flares don't weigh too much – even with the higher equip load debuff from Ascent 3.
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- To unlock Ascent 4 difficulty, PEAK players must complete Ascent 3, then equip the Ascent 4 sash in the difficulty selection menu.
Ascent 5
- Staying out at night will inflict Frostbite
- Affects every biome, not just Alpine
- All negative effects of all previous Ascent difficulties
One of the most annoying Ascent challenges to deal with, Ascent 5 makes players get cold during the night. PEAK has a day/night cycle that rotates about once every 10 minutes. At Ascent 5 and beyond, you will build Frostbite slowly if you are outside at night. The worst part is that this debuff affects every biome including the volcanic Caldera.
When you take on Ascent 5 difficulty, you must keep an eye out for warming items like the Heat Pack or Lantern to survive. If you are fast, you will only have to deal with two or three nighttime cycles in a run.
- To unlock Ascent 5 difficulty, PEAK players must complete Ascent 4, then equip the Ascent 5 sash in the difficulty selection menu.
Ascent 6
- Increases the stamina used when climbing
- All negative effects of all previous Ascent difficulties
At Ascent 6 difficulty, players have to be much more careful when they commit to a climbing route. Your stamina bar will deplete significantly faster at Ascent 6 and 7 difficulties. To combat this, you must be much more strategic with your route through each biome and utilize as many tools and environmental aids (like ropes, chains, and vines) as possible.
Try to find a Big Lollipop for the final area, the Kiln. With a climbing stamina debuff, the tall climbing segments at the end of this final biome are practically insurmountable. With a Big Lollipop item you will have infinite stamina for a brief time, allowing you to finish off the run.
- To unlock Ascent 6 difficulty, PEAK players must complete Ascent 5, then equip the Ascent 6 sash in the difficulty selection menu.
Ascent 7
- Death becomes permanent – you cannot revive your teammates if they die
- You can still save teammates who have become downed
- All negative effects of all previous Ascent difficulties
The hardest difficulty PEAK players can take on is Ascent 7. This final difficulty combines all of the debuffs and gameplay changes of the previous Ascent tiers and adds a permadeath mechanic. If you die during a run, that's it, game over – you cannot be resurrected by any means, and will be forced to spectate your teammates until they die or finish the run on their own.
This is the ultimate challenge in PEAK and a difficulty that is not meant for the faint of heart or the easily frustrated. Go in with a cool head, plan your moves strategically, and avoid anything that could cause your death as a top priority. If a teammate goes down, you must go pick them up and revive them before they turn into a skeleton, or they will be dead for the rest of the run.
- To unlock Ascent 7 difficulty, PEAK players must complete Ascent 6, then equip the Ascent 7 sash in the difficulty selection menu.
PEAK
- Released
- June 16, 2025
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