The experience text now says four chapters, plus Insane "for the brave." Easy, Normal, and Hard are the original named tunnel difficulties. Insane was added in the Chapter 3 notes.
What each name is confirmed to mean
| Difficulty | Confirmed rule | Not published |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | Named hidden-tunnel option. A clean Easy escape still pays gems, because gems are per escape. | Wall health, timer, gem amount. |
| Normal | Named middle option. | Enemy count, rubble rate. |
| Hard | Named. The Hard Time badge is "Escape on Hard difficulty." | A separate gem multiplier. |
| Insane | Chapter 3 notes: escape that chapter on Hard to unlock Insane for that chapter. Available across the chapters that existed then. The 8 November text still offers Insane and does not say the unlock changed. | Whether Chapter 4 uses the same Hard-clear gate. |
Insane modifiers from the Chapter 3 notes
- The escape wall is twice as far.
- Rats attack much faster and hit harder.
Those sentences were written when the game had three chapters, and the rat line may be sewer combat rather than a rule on every map. The Chapter 4 blurb does not repeat them. If Insane on The Sea does not show rats, trust the live modifier text over this older sentence.
Which one to queue
- Learn the route on Easy until one escape is repeatable.
- Move to Normal when backpack and punch ranks stop being the reason you fail.
- Use Hard when you want the Hard Time badge or the Insane unlock for that chapter.
- Open Insane only after that chapter's Hard clear, then read the live modifier before you assume the wall distance doubled.
Speedrunner is a different rule: escape in under 20 minutes. That badge does not name a difficulty. Hall of Fame fastest times are per chapter and do not publish the 20-minute line.
Total Demolition asks you to break every block of a chapter on any difficulty. A tunnel-sized hole can win an escape and still miss that badge.