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Start by finding out what is making the game difficult or dull, then adjust the relevant challenge rather than lowering everything by default. If the game allows it, use per-player settings so one person can reduce pressure while another keeps the challenge they enjoy. Roles, practice time and clear communication can help too—but they work best as options chosen together, not as a permanent ranking of who is good at games.
How can I make a co-op game easier for my friend?
Ask what part of the game is getting in the way before changing a setting. “This is too hard” can mean several different things: combat may require reactions that feel too fast, aiming may be frustrating, navigation may be confusing, puzzles may be the sticking point, or communication and unfamiliar controls may be adding pressure. A player may also find one part too easy and another part overwhelming.
That distinction matters because difficulty is the match between a player’s abilities and the barriers a game presents. Two people can face the same encounter and experience it very differently. Microsoft’s Xbox Accessibility Guideline 108 puts the goal plainly: “The goal of this Xbox Accessibility Guideline (XAG) is to ensure that game titles provide multiple difficulty options so that all players can enjoy and complete games, regardless of their skill level.” The useful principle for a co-op group is to look for the particular barrier that needs changing, rather than treating difficulty as a judgment about the player.
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Ask a question that gives your partner room to identify the problem. For example: “Is the fight too fast, or is it hard to tell where to go?” or “Would you like to lower enemy damage but keep the puzzles challenging?” These are more useful than “You need to turn it down,” which assumes both the cause and the solution.
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It can help to check the other side of the mismatch as well: “Are you still having fun, or is this section dragging for you?” Someone who is less experienced may want more time or lower pressure; someone with more experience may want to preserve a challenge. Neither preference should automatically decide for the whole group.
Change one relevant thing at a time
If you change several settings together, it is harder to tell which adjustment helped. When the game supports it, try the smallest relevant change, play a short section, then check in again. If combat pressure is the issue, try a combat-related option before making puzzles or exploration easier too. If the change makes the game feel trivial or creates a new frustration, revisit it together.
This is a practical way to apply granular difficulty options; it is not a guarantee that every game will let you tune each mechanic separately or adjust settings without restarting. Check the game’s own descriptions and whether a setting can be changed during play before counting on it.
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What difficulty settings should we look for?
A single easy, normal or hard choice can be too blunt when players struggle with different parts of a game. Look for options that identify what they affect. Depending on the game, separate controls may cover combat, enemy pressure, puzzles or other mechanics. The labels and available controls vary, so read the in-game descriptions rather than assuming that a preset changes only one thing.
Microsoft’s Xbox Accessibility Guideline 108 recommends multiple difficulty options, mechanic-level choices, an ultra-low difficulty option and respectful names for difficulty settings. Valve’s Steamworks accessibility guidance similarly recommends granular options and clear explanations of how presets differ. These are design recommendations, not a promise that any particular co-op title offers all of them.
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Compare the actual effect, not just the label
Names such as “easy” or “hard” do not explain whether a setting changes enemy damage, timing, puzzle assistance or several systems at once. A clear explanation lets players choose based on what they want to change. If the game only offers broad presets, try to determine what each one affects before changing the shared challenge.
Use this checklist when you review the options:
- Scope: Does the setting affect one player or everyone in the session?
- Mechanics: Does it change combat, puzzles, navigation or several parts of the game?
- Timing: Can you alter it in the current session, or does the game require a restart or a new save?
- Explanation: Does the game describe what the setting changes clearly enough to make an informed choice?
- Participation: After the change, does each player still have meaningful ways to contribute?
These questions help distinguish a useful targeted adjustment from a group-wide change that solves one person’s problem by removing another person’s preferred challenge.
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Can co-op players use different difficulty settings?
Sometimes, but do not assume so. Many games apply one difficulty choice to the whole session; a smaller number of co-op designs allow each participant to adjust settings for themselves. The official Halo community Q&A describes its Difficulty Modifiers this way: “Difficulty Modifiers allow each player to adjust settings for themselves, which can help everyone have an easier time or a more difficult challenge.” That is a specific example, not a feature shared by all co-op games.
When considering a per-player modifier, confirm what it actually changes and whether it affects the individual player or the shared game world. A setting that reduces pressure for one person may still influence how the whole team experiences an encounter. The game’s description and a short trial are more reliable than the word “individual” alone.
Per-player and group-wide options compared
| Option | Who it affects | Potential benefit | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per-player difficulty modifier | May be set separately for each participant; availability depends on the game. | Can let partners pursue different challenge levels in the same session. | Which mechanics it changes, whether its effects stay local, and when it can be changed. Halo’s official community Q&A gives an example of per-player modifiers. |
| Mechanic-specific setting | May apply to one player or the whole session; check the game’s description. | Can ease one kind of pressure while leaving another part challenging. | The exact mechanic affected and the setting’s scope. Xbox and Valve accessibility guidance recommend clear, granular choices. |
| Single shared preset | Usually the selected challenge applies to the session; confirm in the game. | Simple to understand when everyone wants a similar level of challenge. | Whether the preset changes several mechanics at once and whether it can be changed later. |
If the game has only a shared setting, decide together what trade-off is acceptable. Lowering a shared combat challenge may help a newer player but leave an experienced partner wanting more pressure. Alternatively, keeping the setting high may preserve one person’s preferred challenge while making the session discouraging for someone else. Neither outcome is automatically fair; the group’s agreed goal matters.
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How do you play co-op with someone new to games?
Give the newer player a low-pressure way to learn while they remain an active partner. That might mean choosing a support task, using a role whose controls are easier for them to understand, or taking a short practice opportunity before a high-pressure section. The right choice depends on the game and the person: a support role can feel comfortable to one player and boring or sidelining to another.
Frame roles as a choice for this session, not a permanent division between the skilled player and the beginner. Invite the newer player to choose what sounds enjoyable, and revisit the choice if it stops working. A player who prefers to learn by taking on a demanding role should not be assigned a passive task just because they have less experience.
Share information without taking over
Ask whether your partner wants a hint before explaining a puzzle or giving directions. Short, timely information is easier to use than a stream of instructions: “The switch is behind the left door” is more actionable than narrating every movement. During a fight, agree on simple callouts that fit the game, such as identifying an immediate threat or saying when you need help.
Avoid making every decision for the newer player. Taking over can get a team through a section faster, but it can also remove the chance to learn or contribute. If time pressure is not essential, pause between attempts to explain one useful mechanic, then let your partner try it. If they would rather keep moving than practice, respect that preference too.
Set an expectation before a difficult section
Before a demanding encounter, briefly agree on who will handle which tasks, what information would help, and when to stop or change the plan. Keep this flexible: a role agreed for one fight does not have to define the rest of the session. If the game provides a retry, checkpoint or practice area, use it as the game allows rather than assuming every title provides a low-cost place to learn.
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How can we make co-op fun when one player is much better?
Protect both players’ agency. The more experienced player can help by sharing knowledge and choosing a cooperative strategy, but should avoid turning the session into a lesson unless the other person wants one. The less experienced player should have a genuine say in challenge, pace and role. A good arrangement is not necessarily one where both players have identical tasks; it is one where both have an enjoyable, meaningful part in the session.
Make the purpose of the session explicit. If the goal is to learn, a slower pace and room to experiment may be welcome. If the goal is to relax together, repeated failure may be less important than getting through the story. If both players want a challenge, a broad reduction in difficulty may not suit either of them; try to preserve the parts each finds engaging.
Agree on a way to revisit the decision
Instead of treating a settings choice as a verdict, agree to check after a section or a set of attempts. Ask whether the change helped the player who requested it and whether it left the other person enough challenge. If one player is now bored while the other is still stuck, look for a more targeted option, a different role arrangement or a fresh strategy rather than assuming one player must simply tolerate the mismatch.
Use neutral language when proposing changes. “Would you like more time to aim?” or “Should we try less enemy pressure for this fight?” describes an option. Labels that suggest someone is bad at the game make a settings conversation personal when it can instead be a joint problem-solving decision.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallWhat if the difficulty is actually about controls or access?
Experience and physical access are different barriers. A player may understand a game but find its controls difficult to operate; changing enemy strength will not necessarily fix that. Ask whether the problem is the challenge itself or the input method, then investigate relevant control options such as remapping, adaptive inputs or shared control.
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Check remapping and adaptive input options
Start with the game and platform’s control settings. Remapping may help if a button is hard to reach or a default layout is uncomfortable. For more involved input needs, Microsoft describes the Xbox Adaptive Controller as a hub for external switches, buttons, mounts and joysticks, with remapping and profiles. The connected assistive devices are sold separately, and compatibility depends on the user’s hardware and the game. It is an optional access tool, not a general method for reducing game difficulty.
Before relying on an adaptive setup, check which console or device the player uses, whether the specific game supports the desired inputs, what additional hardware is required, and whether the player needs a particular mount or switch arrangement. The product description alone cannot establish compatibility with every game or configuration.
Consider shared control when it suits both players
Xbox Controller Assist can link two controllers for shared control, including playing with a friend. This is a platform feature for operating the game together, not a standalone purchase recommendation and not a substitute for per-player difficulty. Shared control may help with the act of operating a game, but it does not resolve every difference in experience, desired challenge or preference for independent play.
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Players can make better choices when settings explain their effects rather than treating them as a test of skill. Microsoft’s Xbox Accessibility Guideline 108 and Valve’s Steamworks accessibility guidance both emphasize useful difficulty options and clear information about what presets change. Microsoft also recommends avoiding names that shame players. In a co-op group, respectful descriptions help keep the conversation about game design and player preferences rather than personal ability.
If a menu’s wording is vague, do not infer that a particular option is the right one for a less experienced player. Read any explanation the game provides, compare how the setting behaves in play, and ask whether the result suits everyone. The setting is a tool; choosing it does not define what a player can or cannot do.
How should we troubleshoot a mismatch that keeps coming back?
A change that solves one problem may expose another. For example, less pressure in a fight might make an experienced player disengage, while a new role might leave the other player with too little to do. Treat recurring friction as information about the fit between the game’s options and the group’s preferences—not proof that one partner is the problem.
- The newer player is still overwhelmed: Identify whether the difficulty is timing, aiming, navigation, puzzle-solving, resource pressure, communication or control operation. Look for an option or strategy that addresses that specific barrier.
- The experienced player is bored: Check whether a setting changed the shared challenge. If the game offers per-player modifiers, see whether each person can adjust their own challenge; otherwise, agree on a compromise or a different role arrangement.
- The change helped one person but not the other: Confirm whether the setting is individual or group-wide and whether it changes more than one mechanic. Try a narrower adjustment if one is available.
- A role feels like a demotion: Offer a different task, let the player select a role or rotate responsibilities. Do not assume support work is automatically satisfying or that a newer player must stay in it.
- Control changes do not help: Reassess whether the barrier is skill, access or both. Check the game and platform’s compatibility information before buying or connecting additional input hardware.
If the game has few adjustment options, be candid about that limit and decide whether the group wants to continue with a shared compromise. Some titles do not support per-player difficulty, mechanic-level controls or mid-session changes. The best available response may be a different approach to the encounter, a mutually chosen role split, or a different co-op game—not repeated pressure on one player to adapt alone.
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