This is my feedback on the topic, only just reading the OP. - For players whom are more used to this type of gaming, whether Survival or Rogue-like (DS is a mix of both), its easily understandable after a couple of deaths. Genre-experienced players will likely to understand basic progression and prepare themselves (dying to Hound Assault, Tentacles, or Spiders) or take better precautions (dying to Hunger, Light Source, or Resources problem) for the next game. It's like FTL and BoI, you'll know what to do and what not to do after choosing different options to explore. Inexperienced, newbie players will probably find the starting game hard. They will die more often at the beginning, but that's part of their learning process. Once they understand the way to succeed like experienced/veteran players, they should have little to no problem handling the DS world. Noobies on the other hand... Well, they probably need to be spoon-fed/hand-held, just like any other games out there in the world. Or they'll rage-quit and QQ in the forum, like any other games out there. - Regarding the game itself, it's incredibly easy and dull at its current stage. Food is plentiful in the world so Starvation is not too much of a problem. Danger is... Mostly... limited to venturing out to explore the land. There's also a lack of goal (Story-mode type of goal), so there's little that a player can do once he/she has mastered survival. The things that is available to do currently is limited to: - Exploring the Map - Trying out all the items available in the game - Trying out all the characters and their unique traits - Fortifying the base of operation Further advance stuff is limited to: - Locating the ultimate "Sweet Spot" for and against all kinds of attacks - Items combo that works excellent in conjunction - Beautifying the base of operation without compromising defense - Self-created goals After that, replayability simply dies. I personally haven't tried out Tooth Trap, Fire Dart and Spider Queen. Met a few Spider Warriors before I felt burned out, although I couldn't tell if they were pre- or post-nerfed ones, since I was working when I saw the hot-fix topic. - So, I feel that Early-Game (as well as Beginners play) is reasonably difficult, but Mid-Game is too easy.