Playrooms Hardcore Mode, Cozy Mode and Fear Settings

The three lines on the mode screen

An official screenshot labels Cozy as collecting without fear: no horror, and when the lights go out anyone still outside is brought home safely. Normal is marked recommended and says the game as it is meant to be played: get caught and the day starts over. Hardcore says no second chance, like Normal, except getting caught deletes the save and you start over from scratch. I am quoting that screen rather than paraphrasing the penalties, because the penalties are the whole difference that has been written down.

Players on the Steam discussion for No re-hires needed say a Normal 100% clear does not award it and a Hardcore clear does. The achievement text is simply complete Hardcore mode. The 6 Nov patch adds that, in Cozy, the Green Office locks at night together with the hub. A shorter thread says the choice is made on a new file and that the left option is the easy one, which matches Cozy on the screenshot.

What I will not invent about Hardcore

No source lists a faster monster, a smaller wallet, or a different ball count for Hardcore. If you want the achievement, the only documented requirement is finishing that mode. If you want the story ending with less risk, Normal or Cozy is the screen's own framing. The ending's scare sits on the Clock Out page. First-hour advice is on beginner tips.

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