When starting up Penumbra Crystallis, players will get to pick from one of three game modes: Casual, Normal, and Hardcore. Below are explanations for how each game mode affects the gameplay experience.
Casual
- Start the game with an accessory that grants bonus experience and zil from battles. Bonus experience only applies to the equipped character.
- Shop items cost half as much as they do on the Normal game mode.
- There are no monsters in boxes. Instead, whenever opening a chest that would normally be a monster in a box battle, there will be no battle and the player will receive the item normally obtained only once they beat the monster within the chest.
- All characters start two levels higher than their default levels on the Normal game mode.
- Chests contain more zil than on the Normal game mode.
- The player starts with several items that permanently increases a character's stats.
- Dungeons have more chests.
- Bosses have lower HP (stats are unchanged).
Normal
- Play the game the way it was intended.
Hardcore
- Dungeon chests that contain common items and zil are removed. Only chests with rare/unique items remain.
- All characters start at level 1.
- Shop items cost twice as much as they do on the Normal game mode.
- Bosses have higher stats.
