diff --git a/pcsx2-qt/Settings/AchievementSettingsWidget.cpp b/pcsx2-qt/Settings/AchievementSettingsWidget.cpp
index 3d5afc8539..6a844cdefd 100644
--- a/pcsx2-qt/Settings/AchievementSettingsWidget.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2-qt/Settings/AchievementSettingsWidget.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ AchievementSettingsWidget::AchievementSettingsWidget(SettingsWindow* settings_di
 	setupTab(m_ui);
 
 	SettingWidgetBinder::BindWidgetToBoolSetting(sif, m_ui.enable, "Achievements", "Enabled", false);
-	SettingWidgetBinder::BindWidgetToBoolSetting(sif, m_ui.hardcoreMode, "Achievements", "ChallengeMode", false);
+	SettingWidgetBinder::BindWidgetToBoolSetting(sif, m_ui.hardcoreMode, "Achievements", "ChallengeMode", true);
 	SettingWidgetBinder::BindWidgetToBoolSetting(sif, m_ui.achievementNotifications, "Achievements", "Notifications", true);
 	SettingWidgetBinder::BindWidgetToBoolSetting(sif, m_ui.leaderboardNotifications, "Achievements", "LeaderboardNotifications", true);
 	SettingWidgetBinder::BindWidgetToBoolSetting(sif, m_ui.soundEffects, "Achievements", "SoundEffects", true);
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ AchievementSettingsWidget::AchievementSettingsWidget(SettingsWindow* settings_di
 	SettingWidgetBinder::BindWidgetToFileSetting(sif, m_ui.lbSoundPath, m_ui.lbSoundBrowse, m_ui.lbSoundOpen, m_ui.lbSoundReset, "Achievements", "LBSubmitSoundName", Path::Combine(EmuFolders::Resources, EmuConfig.Achievements.DEFAULT_LBSUBMIT_SOUND_NAME), AUDIO_FILE_FILTER, true, false);
 
 	dialog()->registerWidgetHelp(m_ui.enable, tr("Enable Achievements"), tr("Unchecked"), tr("When enabled and logged in, PCSX2 will scan for achievements on startup."));
-	dialog()->registerWidgetHelp(m_ui.hardcoreMode, tr("Enable Hardcore Mode"), tr("Unchecked"), tr("\"Challenge\" mode for achievements, including leaderboard tracking. Disables save state, cheats, and slowdown functions."));
+	dialog()->registerWidgetHelp(m_ui.hardcoreMode, tr("Enable Hardcore Mode"), tr("Checked"), tr("\"Challenge\" mode for achievements, including leaderboard tracking. Disables save state, cheats, and slowdown functions."));
 	dialog()->registerWidgetHelp(m_ui.achievementNotifications, tr("Show Achievement Notifications"), tr("Checked"), tr("Displays popup messages on events such as achievement unlocks and game completion."));
 	dialog()->registerWidgetHelp(m_ui.leaderboardNotifications, tr("Show Leaderboard Notifications"), tr("Checked"), tr("Displays popup messages when starting, submitting, or failing a leaderboard challenge."));
 	dialog()->registerWidgetHelp(m_ui.soundEffects, tr("Enable Sound Effects"), tr("Checked"), tr("Plays sound effects for events such as achievement unlocks and leaderboard submissions."));
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ void AchievementSettingsWidget::onHardcoreModeStateChanged()
 		return;
 
 	const bool enabled = dialog()->getEffectiveBoolValue("Achievements", "Enabled", false);
-	const bool challenge = dialog()->getEffectiveBoolValue("Achievements", "ChallengeMode", false);
+	const bool challenge = dialog()->getEffectiveBoolValue("Achievements", "ChallengeMode", true);
 	if (!enabled || !challenge)
 		return;
 
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ void AchievementSettingsWidget::onLoginLogoutPressed()
 		m_ui.enable->setChecked(true);
 		updateEnableState();
 	}
-	if (!m_ui.hardcoreMode->isChecked() && Host::GetBaseBoolSettingValue("Achievements", "ChallengeMode", false))
+	if (!m_ui.hardcoreMode->isChecked() && Host::GetBaseBoolSettingValue("Achievements", "ChallengeMode", true))
 	{
 		QSignalBlocker sb(m_ui.hardcoreMode);
 		m_ui.hardcoreMode->setChecked(true);
diff --git a/pcsx2/ImGui/FullscreenUI.cpp b/pcsx2/ImGui/FullscreenUI.cpp
index 69c1deca63..068a8958ba 100644
--- a/pcsx2/ImGui/FullscreenUI.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/ImGui/FullscreenUI.cpp
@@ -8816,7 +8816,7 @@ void FullscreenUI::DrawAchievementsLoginWindow()
 							});
 					}
 
-					if (!Host::GetBaseBoolSettingValue("Achievements", "ChallengeMode", false))
+					if (!Host::GetBaseBoolSettingValue("Achievements", "ChallengeMode", true))
 					{
 						OpenConfirmMessageDialog(FSUI_STR("Enable Hardcore Mode"),
 							FSUI_STR("Hardcore mode is not currently enabled. Enabling hardcore mode allows you to set times, scores, and "
@@ -8988,7 +8988,7 @@ void FullscreenUI::DrawAchievementsSettingsPage(std::unique_lock<std::mutex>& se
 	check_challenge_state |= DrawToggleSetting(bsi, FSUI_ICONSTR(ICON_PF_DUMBELL, "Hardcore Mode"),
 		FSUI_CSTR(
 			"\"Challenge\" mode for achievements, including leaderboard tracking. Disables save state, cheats, and slowdown functions."),
-		"Achievements", "ChallengeMode", false, enabled);
+		"Achievements", "ChallengeMode", true, enabled);
 	DrawToggleSetting(bsi, FSUI_ICONSTR(ICON_FA_BELL, "Achievement Notifications"),
 		FSUI_CSTR("Displays popup messages on events such as achievement unlocks and leaderboard submissions."), "Achievements",
 		"Notifications", true, enabled);
@@ -9044,7 +9044,7 @@ void FullscreenUI::DrawAchievementsSettingsPage(std::unique_lock<std::mutex>& se
 		"Achievements", "UnofficialTestMode", false, enabled);
 
 	// Check for challenge mode just being enabled.
-	if (check_challenge_state && enabled && bsi->GetBoolValue("Achievements", "ChallengeMode", false) && VMManager::HasValidVM())
+	if (check_challenge_state && enabled && bsi->GetBoolValue("Achievements", "ChallengeMode", true) && VMManager::HasValidVM())
 	{
 		// don't bother prompting if the game doesn't have achievements
 		auto lock = Achievements::GetLock();
diff --git a/pcsx2/Pcsx2Config.cpp b/pcsx2/Pcsx2Config.cpp
index 51ec1f788d..be99e27c55 100644
--- a/pcsx2/Pcsx2Config.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/Pcsx2Config.cpp
@@ -1848,7 +1848,7 @@ Pcsx2Config::AchievementsOptions::AchievementsOptions()
 {
 	bitset = 0;
 	Enabled = false;
-	HardcoreMode = false;
+	HardcoreMode = true;
 	EncoreMode = false;
 	SpectatorMode = false;
 	UnofficialTestMode = false;