What difficulty should I play on?

[The Project]

I always play on the highest difficulty if others recommend on doing so in order to get the ''full experience''.

[Migel]

Nah, this game is hard enough on normal. I believe it's designed so you play Normal, then NG+ Hard, then NG+ NM.
The beginning really can be tough. Normal is the way it's supposed to be played and feels best for a first pt.

[The Project]

normal it is then

[Blade Master]

Migel nailed it perfectly.

Normal is the best difficulty if you are beginner, there are many reasons for this, but one of it is in order to obtain 'full experience', if you want full experience you should do what Migel said, start your first play through on Normal mode, finish story, then start NG+ on Hard mode, finish story and then start NG+ on Nightmare mode. This'll allow you to get the best possible experience.

You want to take it slow, finish side quests, activities and prepare your character.

[BlackWater]

Soory if this was said, coffee hasn't gotten the sleepies out of my eyes yet. Hard and above=harder to kill zombies, survivor sense not revealing items, longer nights and what drove me back to normal, no ammo for sale.

[The Project]

will definitely try harder difficulties as soon as I get used to the game mechanics. thanks guys

[Overseer]

Nightmare really isn't that hard. And i can easily say that the nights on Nightmare are a lot more fulfilling than on normal. Because on Normal all you do is have 90% of your attention on the minimap with the masses of enemy spawns around you. Were on the higher difficulties less enemies spawn and allow for actual stealth on screen.
And you can buy ammo on Nightmare. Its only Hard that has no ammo on sale and the annoying flashlight constantly turning off.

[Rast4Man2.0]

nightmare for life thats how I started and thats how I keep playing after 100h+ loved it and dont forget, parkour is your best ally so put it on nightmare and just keep runnin

[A New Player]

Normal is fairly forgiving, medkits heal instantly, buyable crafting materials at the store, enemies don't do too much damage.

Hard then changes this, medkits heal over time, more damage from zombies, most materials are gone from normal merchants.

Nightmare then goes: Hard wasn't enough for you? All of the above, then all infinite stamina perks are apparently disabled as well as cutting down on stamina.

One other thing, if you start the game on hard, you can always change it to Normal/Nightmare during the game, depending on how things are going.

[The Project]

"One other thing, if you start the game on hard, you can always change it to Normal/Nightmare during the game, depending on ho things are going." noted

[Chispon]

Well I started the game on Nightmare, and yeah the beginning is a "nightmare". Enemies are super spongy and will usually take tons of hits to die, but it's doable. After you progress it becomes easier and easier with better weapons and abilities. I guess Normal mode will get boring after a while though, but at least nightmare mode do still keep the challenge.

[sternocleidomastoideus]

normal option so damned hard for me. I died 7 times in %12 finishing story. when I'm in combat my stamina sucks.