Why do millions of players willingly suffer through Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and other punishing Soulslike games? In this episode, we dive into the psychology and neuroscience of difficulty—and why it feels so good to finally triumph after countless defeats.

In this episode, Maegan covers how your brain’s reward systems fire when you finally beat a brutal boss, why struggle makes success feel sweeter, and how failure itself becomes part of the fun. From dopamine spikes to flow states to the deep satisfaction of earned competence, we’ll uncover why these games turn pain into pride—and why so many of us keep coming back for more.

Whether you’re a Souls veteran or just curious why gamers put themselves through so much digital pain, this episode reveals how challenge, failure, and triumph tap into something deeply human.