What makes a game hard?

[Serenaq]

I've read sentences like "it suposed to be hard", 'it's getting to easy" a couple times. But what exactly makes a game hard in your opinion? 

Mechanics or Permadeath and/or losing character progression, something like Tetris or Dark Souls.

 

[greatwhitegamer]

Good question. For TLD, i'd day permadeath and how wildlife and weather are so unforgiving is what makes TLD "so hard". 

[NardoLoopa]

What makes a game of this type 'hard':

1. There are significant drawbacks to making errors of judgment or being cavalier
2. Poor understanding of mechanics leads to ultimate failure
3. Paying close attention and experimentation are necessary to understand mechanics
4. Experience is rewarded (e.g. map knowledge improves survival chances)
5. The game does not hold your hand to guide you through gaps in the UI/tutorial or if you decide to do something stupid (e.g. walk on fire / sleep through a blizzard)
6. Correctly navigating tough choices and managing risk are necessary for success (e.g. if I don't take the rifle, I can carry more stuff)
7. Danger is manageable, but ever-present (e.g. you never feel nonchalant when a wolf barks at you)

By correctly managing the above, the player is rewarded with a feeling of accomplishment.

(It's probably all just encapsulated in #1)