hardcoe mode doesn't raise the difficulty of the game at all. Pretty sure it says that in the description, but i'll have to check. Honestly, it just makes the roleplaying aspect of the game that much better. Although the vanilla rates of eating/drinking and sleeping are quite easy to handle. Thats why I like the Harder hardcoe Rates mod, and I picked the double version. JE Sawyers mod is a little too high maintence, where I find the rates being doubled with HHR to be a perfect blend.