If you are looking for dont splash Modes, choose the setting that matches the skill you are practicing. Easy is the best starting point for learning platforms and exits, Normal is the standard pressure test, and Hard is the longer challenge for players who can control splash consistently. When you create a Party, treat Party Size and Monster Count as additional room settings rather than new modes. Once a difficulty is chosen, use the room-by-room map guide to prepare for its route.
Choose a mode
The practical choice is whether you need route practice or a stronger test of movement, sound control, and rescue planning.
| Mode or setting | What it changes | Best use | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | A lower-pressure course for learning the route | First runs, platform practice, and finding the exit | Do not assume Easy teaches every harder-mode obstacle or setting |
| Normal | The standard course challenge; monster placement and room settings still affect pressure | A repeatable run after learning the basic route | Normal can be created with more than one monster; one fixed monster count is not documented |
| Hard | More demanding courses, with reports of more platforms, longer routes, and more monsters | Experienced players practicing difficult or timed runs | The exact course length, monster limit, and reward values can vary by version or room |
| Party Size | The number of players allowed in the room | Solo practice or coordinated multiplayer | A larger party does not automatically make the course safer |
| Monster Count | The number of monsters selected when the Party is created | Adjusting pursuit pressure after learning the route | It is not a standalone difficulty mode, and not every combination is documented |
Hard-mode footage describes runs with up to seven monsters and levels about twice as long as a Normal map. Other footage shows a Hard run with five monsters and a Normal run with three, so use those as recorded examples rather than universal settings. Check the room-creation screen for the options available in your version.
How difficulty changes your route
The mode changes how much room you have for mistakes, but the underlying decision remains the same: cross the course without making a splash that gives the monsters a sound target.
- On Easy, learn the geometry first. Practice narrow edges, long jumps, sinking platforms, and rotating bridges without trying to optimize your time. Memorize where the route turns and where the exit appears.
- On Normal, add sound control. A fall or splash can reveal your position. Carry
Pebbleswhen the mode and room provide them so you can make noise away from your intended route, and avoid repeated jumps when a safer pause is available. - On Hard, plan before moving. Longer routes and more monster pressure reduce the value of improvisation. Identify the next stable platform, the likely exit direction, and a recovery option before committing to a jump.
- In multiplayer, coordinate movement. Teammates can share observation and rescue pressure, but several players falling or splashing together can create more sound and make the group easier to locate.
Reviewing Hard mode's longer, higher-pressure runs
This moment supports the Hard-mode guidance by describing seven monsters and levels twice as long as the Normal map.
Rescue Equipment and self-rescue options can reduce the cost of one mistake, while Coins from completed courses can fund upgrades such as throwing distance, Pebble skipping, or rescue speed. The available evidence does not establish a complete unlock list, reward multiplier, or guaranteed setting combination, so use the live room and upgrade screens for those values.
A progression route that works
Use the modes as a practice ladder rather than jumping straight to the hardest available room:
- Start on Easy with a small Party Size. A solo or small room reduces coordination noise while you learn the course. A recorded setup uses Easy with a party size of one, but the best choice depends on whether you are practicing alone.
- Repeat until the route is reliable. Focus on stable landings, low splash frequency, and recognizing the exit. A fast time is less useful if the route still depends on luck.
- Move to Normal and adjust one variable. Keep the route familiar while you learn how monster placement and a larger Monster Count affect your pauses, Pebble use, and rescue decisions.
- Try Hard after you can finish consistently. Expect less spare time and more route pressure. Treat the timer as a measurement of route mastery, not a reason to take blind jumps.
Setting up an Easy practice run
This moment supports the progression route by showing Easy selected with a party size of one before starting.
Timed runs and mode choice
The timer is most useful after you know the course. On a first attempt, prioritize a clean route and an identified exit over a record time. Once you can finish without repeated splash events, compare runs by:
- how often you needed a rescue;
- how many jumps created avoidable sound;
- whether your Pebble use created a safe opening; and
- whether the extra Party or Monster settings improved the challenge without making the route unpredictable.
This gives you a useful progression target: reduce mistakes first, then reduce movement time. The sources do not document a universal timed-run reward or a fixed bonus for any mode.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose the number of monsters?
The evidence shows Monster Count being selected while creating a Party, including a Normal run with three monsters and Hard examples with five or seven. It does not prove that every number is available in every room, so choose from the options shown in-game.
Does multiplayer make DONT SPLASH easier?
Not automatically. Teammates can observe platforms and help with recovery, but simultaneous movement mistakes can produce more splash and sound. Use multiplayer for coordination, not as a guaranteed difficulty reduction.
Should I chase a faster time on Easy?
Only after you can finish the route reliably. Easy is most valuable first as a map-learning mode; once your landings and exit direction are consistent, timed repetitions can help you prepare for Normal and Hard.