No. A PS5 Platinum does not universally require the hardest difficulty. Each game sets its own trophy conditions: some require a named high difficulty, while others let you earn the Platinum on an easier setting or have no difficulty-based trophies at all. Check the trophy list for the exact game and version before choosing your difficulty.
How do difficulty settings affect a PS5 Platinum?
The game’s trophy list—not a PS5-wide rule—determines whether difficulty matters. PlayStation Support says trophy conditions vary from game to game; objectives can include clearing levels, finding collectibles, or completing other tasks. The Platinum is awarded for completing the requirements in that game’s list, so its conditions may or may not include a particular setting.
That distinction matters because “Platinum” describes a trophy grade, not a promise that a game must be completed on its toughest setting. A list might require a named difficulty, permit any setting, or contain no difficulty trophies. Even where difficulty is required, the list or a reliable guide needs to clarify whether the game means its standard hardest setting or a separate challenge mode.
There is no universal, authoritative percentage establishing how many PS5 Platinums require the hardest difficulty. The useful answer is therefore game-specific: inspect the requirements for the version you intend to play rather than relying on assumptions about the trophy grade.
How can I check a game’s trophy requirements on PS5?
Open the game’s trophy list before committing to a Platinum route. Sony’s support instructions in “How to earn trophies on PlayStation consoles” describe viewing trophy information and the full list on the console.
- From the PS5 home screen, open your profile picture.
- Choose Trophies.
- Select the game you plan to play.
- Open the trophy details and review the full list for difficulty-specific wording.
Look for trophies that say you must complete the game on a named setting, such as Hard, Veteran, Crushing, Survivor, or Nightmare. Read the requirement itself, not just the trophy’s name: a title can suggest a difficulty without stating the actual condition, and different games use different names for their modes.
Before you start, also check whether the list says a higher-difficulty completion counts for lower-difficulty trophies. Do not assume that difficulty trophies stack. If the wording is unclear, consult a game-specific trophy guide for the same edition, then use the in-console list as the final check for the list you are pursuing.
It can help to write down the exact condition before starting: the required mode, the completion or task it applies to, and whether you need to finish the whole game at that setting. If a list contains several difficulty-related trophies, check each one rather than treating them as a single requirement. Small differences in wording can affect whether one run is enough or whether you should plan for another.
What should you check besides difficulty?
A difficulty trophy is only one possible obstacle on a Platinum route. Check the entire list before starting, because a run can be blocked or made longer by requirements unrelated to how challenging combat feels.
- Edition and platform: Confirm you are looking at the PS5-native list, not a PS4, remaster, remake, or DLC list. Requirements can differ between lists for what appears to be the same game.
- Stacking: Look for explicit confirmation that finishing at a higher setting awards trophies for lower settings. If the game does not say, verify the behavior for that specific version instead of planning around an assumption.
- Playthrough count: Check whether the list calls for one completion, a New Game Plus run, or separate completions at different settings. Difficulty-related requirements can affect how many times you need to play.
- Missables and collectibles: Look for trophies tied to one-time opportunities, collectible sets, or tasks that could be missed during a story run.
- Online, speedrun, and challenge tasks: These can shape the route or schedule even when difficulty is optional. Identify them early so you can decide whether the full list is practical for you.
- Accessibility and assist options: Check whether the game’s trophy requirements remain compatible with the options you want to use. Do not assume that all games treat those options the same way.
This broader check helps distinguish “hardest difficulty required” from “Platinum is demanding for another reason.” A game may allow an easy-mode run yet still require collectibles, online tasks, a speedrun, or several playthroughs. Conversely, a named high-difficulty trophy may be the main extra hurdle even if the rest of the list is straightforward.
When comparing two Platinum routes, look beyond the difficulty label. One game may have no difficulty trophy but ask for substantial collectible or online work; another may require a high-setting completion while having fewer other tasks. A useful comparison includes difficulty requirement, stacking, number of playthroughs, non-difficulty tasks, list version, and compatibility with your preferred assist options. Those factors give a more realistic sense of the route than the word “Platinum” alone.
Which PS5 games show the difference?
These examples illustrate why the exact list matters; they are not a rule for other games. The cited guides describe the base-game trophy requirements for the named titles.
| Game | Difficulty requirement described by the cited guide | What to take from the example |
|---|---|---|
| Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End | The cited trophy-guide route requires completing the game on Crushing difficulty. | Some Platinum routes do include a named high-difficulty completion. |
| Horizon Forbidden West | The cited guide says the base-game trophy set has no difficulty-based trophies. | For that trophy set, difficulty does not block the Platinum. |
| God of War Ragnarök | The cited guide says the Platinum can be earned on the easiest difficulty and with accessibility options. | A high setting is not a universal requirement, and options can be compatible in a specific game. |
Use examples as a prompt to check your own game, not as a substitute for that check. A guide may cover a different edition or become outdated after a patch, DLC release, or separate PS5 version. The console’s trophy list is the most relevant reference for the version shown on your PS5; confirm that any guide you use matches it.
The examples also answer different questions. Uncharted 4 illustrates a named high-difficulty condition; it does not establish that every game—or every version of that game—uses the same rule. Horizon Forbidden West illustrates a base-game list without difficulty trophies, while God of War Ragnarök shows that an easier setting and accessibility options can be compatible in a particular game. Treat each as a game-specific example, not a shortcut around checking the list you will play.
What if you want to change difficulty during a run?
Whether changing difficulty affects a trophy depends on that game’s wording and trophy behavior. The available platform guidance establishes that requirements vary by game, not a universal rule about changing settings mid-run.
If you have already started, open the specific trophy details and look for conditions about completing the whole game on a setting. Then check a current guide for the same version if the wording does not say whether changing settings is allowed. Before lowering the difficulty, confirm whether doing so could invalidate a run or prevent a higher-setting completion from counting; changing it back later may not satisfy a requirement that applies to the entire playthrough.
If the trophy asks for a particular task on a named setting rather than a full-game completion, do not guess how a mid-run change is treated. Verify the condition for that game and version. Similarly, do not assume that a setting change which works in one game will work in another.
If your goal is the Platinum rather than a particular challenge, the safest route is to settle the requirement before starting the relevant run. If the list contains no difficulty trophy, choose the setting that suits you. If it names a setting, follow the condition as written and verify stacking and mid-run changes instead of inferring them from another game.
How should you choose a Platinum route?
Use the trophy list to decide whether difficulty should shape your plan. A quick decision process keeps the focus on the actual requirement rather than the assumption that every Platinum is a hardest-mode challenge.
- Identify the exact list. Select the PS5 version you own or intend to play, and keep its base-game trophies separate from other platform or add-on lists.
- Search for explicit difficulty conditions. Note the named setting and whether the wording requires a completion, a particular task, or something else.
- Verify stacking and run count. Establish whether one higher-difficulty completion satisfies lower settings and whether New Game Plus or multiple runs are involved.
- Map the non-difficulty work. Flag missables, collectibles, online tasks, speedruns, and challenges. These can be more consequential to your plan than the chosen setting.
- Check compatibility with your preferred options. Confirm whether accessibility or assist settings are allowed for the relevant trophies.
- Choose a route that matches your goal. If difficulty is not a condition, there is no trophy-list reason to choose the hardest setting. If it is, plan for that specific requirement rather than treating every game as if it uses the same rules.
For a game-level example, consult a trophy guide that matches the PS5 list and edition in your console. Where a guide and the list appear to conflict, recheck the version and the exact trophy wording before relying on either interpretation.
What is the practical answer?
You do not need to play every PS5 game on its hardest difficulty to earn a Platinum. Some lists require a named high setting; others have no difficulty requirement or permit an easier run. Check the exact trophy list, version, stacking rules, and other route requirements before you begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PS5 Platinum trophies require the hardest difficulty?
There is no universal, authoritative percentage establishing that count. Because trophy conditions are set game by game—and lists can differ by platform or edition—a single number would need a clearly defined set of games and versions.
Can I get a PS5 Platinum on easy mode?
Sometimes. The game’s list decides: some lists have no difficulty requirement, and the cited God of War Ragnarök guide says its Platinum can be earned on the easiest setting. Other games may require a named setting, so check your exact list.
Does difficulty affect the Platinum trophy?
It can, but not in every game. Some trophy lists include a named difficulty condition; others do not make difficulty part of the Platinum requirements.
Do difficulty trophies stack?
That depends on the game and version. Check the trophy wording or a matching game-specific guide to confirm whether completing at a higher setting also awards lower-setting trophies.
Which PS5 games require the hardest difficulty for Platinum?
Requirements are game- and list-specific. The cited Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End guide describes a Platinum route requiring Crushing difficulty, while the cited Horizon Forbidden West guide says the base-game set has no difficulty-based trophies. Check the current list for the title and version you plan to play.
Can I change the difficulty and still get the trophy?
There is no universal answer. Check whether the trophy requires completing the whole game on a named setting and verify how that specific game handles changes during a run before lowering or raising the difficulty.
Does a trophy guide apply to every version of a game?
Not necessarily. A guide may describe a PS4 list, a PS5-native list, a remaster, a remake, or a particular DLC set, so check that its version matches the trophy list on your console.
Does a game’s Platinum trophy grade tell me how difficult the run will be?
No. The grade identifies the trophy category, while the game’s individual list defines what you must do. A Platinum route can involve difficulty, collectibles, online tasks, speedruns, or other requirements.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The PS5 itself does not require the hardest difficulty for every Platinum. Check the exact game and version’s trophy list: some require a named high setting, while others allow an easier run or have no difficulty-based trophies. Verify stacking, playthrough count, and other requirements before you commit to a route.