
Hardcore mode is unlocked after beating the game on any difficulty so a player must play through the game at least once. To beat Hardcore mode, a player must be conservative, enduring, patient, and skilled. The enemies are around Survivalist mode in terms of durability and damage output, while ammo drops are the same size as Zealot mode. The experience is notably different from any other difficulty setting as checkpoints are disabled and the player is allowed only three saves for the entire game in Dead Space 2, where Dead Space 3's hardcore mode allows infinite saves but the player will not be able to reload save upon death.

It is unlocked by completing the game on any difficulty.

Hardcore mode is the hardest difficulty in Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3.
