Is Arcade Mode the official hardest difficulty?

[DirectOrder]

Is Arcade Mode the official hardest difficulty? Like properly balanced and official? Or is it just like a lulz difficulty that's super hard but not necessarily balanced and supposed to be taken seriously?

I ask because there's a gap between it and the original difficulty settings (like where they are shown on the screen) that seems to set it apart. I dont know if it's an actual difficulty with all the same balance and mechanics or if it is drastically different (not just harder, but has things like unending spawns and bosses every few feet, etc).

I just got the game, so I don't know how any of the difficulties are tuned....

[Skaldi]

The random factor is big in the game. So casual can sometimes be harder as hard.
Just try yourself ;)

[Whateverman]

I've been playing the second level (aka. Challenging), and it's plenty difficult. However, I suspect "difficulty" is somewhat random; I'll get levels with only a few monsters and some puzzles, but others in the same run with a lich and wraiths running around on the 3rd level.

In other words, just try it and find out.

ps. I've only got 2 dozen hours into the game, and don't claim to be an expert. I know that so far, the second level of difficulty (extra bosses, extra puzzles) is challenging enough to teach me how not to suck. Beyond that. I suspect the various modes each have their charms. I suspect "Arcade" just requires more sneaking and caution, because the game does NOT reward you for killing stuff in general - no matter what difficulty you're playing on.

[Wylie28]

Its a different mode. Its not balanced like the others. The regular mode difficulties just allow less mistakes to be made.

Arcade mode adds more monsters. This changes the game a lot, as you generally want to avoid combat in the normal mode

[DirectOrder]

Thanks all!