Some players finish a game when the credits roll. Others are just getting started. Trophy hunting games, also called achievement hunting, is the hobby of chasing the in-game rewards that platforms hand out for completing specific tasks, from beating a boss to finding every hidden collectible. For many players, a full list of unlocked trophies is the real finish line.
This guide explains how the three major systems work, what completionists look for, and how to plan a 100% run without burning out.
What Trophies and Achievements Actually Are
Trophies and achievements are platform-level rewards tied to your account. When you meet a goal set by the game’s developer, the system records it permanently on your profile. They do not usually change anything inside the game itself. Their value is in tracking progress, showing off, and giving players extra goals beyond the main story.
Typical types of goals include:
- Story progress, such as finishing a chapter or the final mission
- Collectibles, like finding every hidden item on a map
- Skill challenges, such as beating a boss without taking damage
- Difficulty, like completing the game on its hardest setting
- Grind goals, such as reaching a high level or winning many matches
- Missable or secret goals, which are easy to skip if you do not know about them
Each platform handles these differently.
How PlayStation, Xbox and Steam Compare
| Platform | What it is called | How it is scored | The big goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation | Trophies | Bronze, silver, gold and platinum tiers that feed a trophy level on your profile | The platinum, awarded for unlocking all other base-game trophies in most full games |
| Xbox | Achievements | Each achievement carries Gamerscore points that add to an account-wide total | Earning every achievement and maximising Gamerscore |
| Steam | Achievements | Unlocked or locked, with a global percentage showing how rare each one is | Reaching 100% on a game, often shown on your profile showcase |
PlayStation trophies come in bronze, silver and gold, with most full-sized games also offering a platinum for unlocking everything in the base game. Smaller titles may not have a platinum. Downloadable content (DLC) often adds separate trophy lists that do not count toward the platinum but do count toward full completion.
Xbox achievements each award a set number of Gamerscore points. Your total Gamerscore follows you across every Xbox game you play, including many on PC through Microsoft’s services. Xbox players often chase high scores across many games rather than just completing one.
Steam achievements are simpler: each one is either unlocked or not. Steam shows the global unlock percentage for every achievement, so you can see how rare something is. Not every Steam game has achievements, and the number per game varies widely.
Platforms update their features over time, so check each platform’s official help pages for current details on how profiles, levels and showcases work.
Why People Get Hooked on Completion
Achievement hunting appeals to different players for different reasons.
- Structure: A trophy list acts like a checklist, which feels satisfying to tick off.
- Mastery: Hard trophies push you to learn a game deeply.
- Discovery: Hunting collectibles makes you explore corners you would otherwise skip.
- Bragging rights: Rare trophies and a high platinum count are easy to show friends.
- Value for money: Squeezing more hours out of a game you paid for feels worthwhile.
Some games lend themselves especially well to it. Tough action titles, like the ones covered in our guide to Soulslike games, offer challenging trophies that feel genuinely earned. Run-based games, explained in what are roguelike games, often have long lists of achievements that unlock naturally over many attempts.
How Completionists Plan a 100% Run
Experienced trophy hunters rarely go in blind. Planning saves a lot of wasted hours.
1. Check the list before you start. Look at the full trophy or achievement list. Notice which ones are missable, which require a specific difficulty, and which involve online play.
2. Read a roadmap. Community-made roadmaps, found on trophy and achievement fan sites and forums, break a game into stages: a first blind playthrough, a cleanup phase, and any extra runs. They also estimate difficulty and the time needed.
3. Watch for missables. Some trophies can only be earned at certain points in a story. If you miss them, you may need to replay a large section or the whole game. Many players use manual saves or a separate save file before key moments.
4. Combine difficulty runs. In many games, completing the hardest difficulty also unlocks the trophies for easier difficulties. Check if this applies before doing multiple runs.
5. Do online trophies early. Online multiplayer servers for older games may eventually be shut down. If a game has online trophies, consider doing them sooner rather than later.
6. Track collectibles as you go. Use a guide or in-game map markers to collect items during the first playthrough, rather than hunting for every last one at the end.
7. Pace the grind. Grind trophies, like winning hundreds of matches, are easier spread over weeks than forced in one sitting.
Common Terms Trophy Hunters Use
- Plat or platinum: The PlayStation trophy for unlocking everything in the base game.
- 100% or full completion: Every trophy or achievement, including DLC.
- Missable: A trophy you can permanently miss in a playthrough.
- Glitched: A trophy that sometimes fails to unlock due to a bug.
- Stacks: Separate regional or console versions of the same game, each with its own list.
- Unobtainable: A trophy that can no longer be earned, often because online servers closed.
- Easy plat: A game known for a quick, simple platinum.
Keeping the Hobby Fun and Healthy
Trophy hunting can become a chore if you are not careful. A few habits keep it enjoyable:
- Play games you actually like. Forcing yourself through a game you dislike just for a trophy rarely feels good.
- Skip what is not worth it. It is fine to leave a list unfinished if a trophy is frustrating or needs an unreasonable grind.
- Take breaks. Long grinding sessions can lead to eye strain, poor sleep and sore wrists. Stretch, rest and keep a sensible bedtime.
- Be careful with “boosting”. Some players team up to unlock online trophies quickly. Stay within each game’s rules and the platform’s terms of service, and never share your account login with strangers.
- Watch your spending. Buying many cheap games purely for quick trophies adds up. Set a budget.
For younger players, parents may want to check age ratings and talk about healthy gaming time. Collecting can be motivating, but it should not take over school, sleep or family time.
Getting Started With Your First Platinum or 100%
If you are new to trophy hunting, start with a game you already enjoy and check how achievable its list looks. Pick one with few missables and no heavy online requirements. Use a roadmap, play the story naturally first, then clean up what is left.
Once you have one full completion under your belt, you will start to see games differently, as a list of challenges waiting to be ticked off. Looking for your next game to hunt? Our guide on where to buy games in Singapore covers the main digital stores and physical options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do trophies and achievements unlock anything inside the game? Usually not. They are platform-level records tied to your account and rarely change anything in the game itself. Their value lies in tracking progress, showing off to friends and giving you extra goals beyond the main story.
Does DLC count towards the PlayStation platinum trophy? Typically not. DLC often adds a separate trophy list that sits outside the platinum, though it does count towards full 100% completion. Smaller games may not have a platinum at all, so check the trophy list before you buy.
How do I avoid missing a trophy I can never get back? Read the full list before starting and note which trophies are missable. Keep manual saves or a separate save file before key story moments, and follow a community roadmap so you know when each missable window opens.
Is boosting online trophies with other players allowed? It depends on each game’s rules and the platform’s terms of service, so stay within both. Never hand your account login to strangers to unlock trophies, since that risks losing the account. Finish online trophies early, before servers shut down.
Which type of game is best for a first 100% completion? Pick a game you already enjoy with few missable trophies and no heavy online requirements. Play the story naturally first, then clean up what is left using a roadmap. Starting small helps you avoid burnout while learning how completion runs work.