Achievements. Trophies. This digital currency has no real-world value, yet it’s the hard-earned payment for gamers willing to put in the time and effort to explore every facet of their favorite games. Achievements don’t always have to be difficult, however. Sometimes they can be funny, clever, or make you play a game in an all new way.
In our monthly Overachiever feature, we comb through the top monthly game releases and find the achievements you won’t want to miss. Warning, some of these may be secret achievements, and all possible SPOILERS have been labeled.
Our April list includes a nod to Thunderdome, a giant sea monster, a schmup with style, and a challenge not for the faint of time (or those short on time), a creative kill from a master assassin, and several self-aware references.
The Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome Aunty Entity Memorial Award
Fallout 4 – “Wasteland Workshop” DLC
“Instigator”
Description: Start a Spectated Arena Fight in a Settlement.
“You know the law: Two men enter, one man leaves.” Why else would you have created your own personal Thunderdome if you weren’t planning on pitting two settlers against each other in a duel to the death? So make like Dr. Dealgood and get those fights going already.
“How Did You Even Find That?” Award
Hitman – Episode 2: Sapienza
“Let No Joyful Voice Be Heard” (Secret Achievement)
Description: SPOILERS! Awaken the Kraken!
Agent 47 is normally pretty subtle. However, this achievement is anything but. It requires you to shoot four bells off the masts of a far-off boat in a certain order. Once you do, Agent 47 goes all Liam Neeson in Clash of the Titans and is like, “Release the Kraken!”
We Need to Talk About Your Flair
Enter the Gungeon
“Day Ruiner” (Secret Achievement)
Description: (SPOILERS) Kill a boss after covering it with glitter.
It’s true: Nothing would ruin your day quicker than dying in a bullet-hell roguelike whilst covered in glitter. To unlock this achievement you must first obtain the weapon called “The Mailbox.” The last bullet in each clip has a random effect, one of which is, oddly enough, glitter. Shoot a boss with this gun until it sparkles, then kill it t score the achievement.
Most Meta
Day of the Tentacle Remastered
“Games History Major”
“Games History Major”
Description: Play Maniac Mansion
Day of the Tentacle Remastered contains several trophies that could make this list. With a healthy amount of self-referential humor such as the “Costume Quest” trophy that is a reference to another Tim Schafer game, and no less than five trophies involving a hamster, you can tell these weren’t just an afterthought, and Double Fine took the time to create one of the funniest and most creative trophy lists I have ever seen.
The “Games History Major” trophy is less about the name and more about what you actually do to unlock it. As mentioned in my previous article about games within games, Day of the Tentacle Remastered contains a complete, playable version of the prequel, Maniac Mansion. This level of fan service and dedication to preserving the original game — not to mention the legal hoops that they must have had to jump through to include the game — deserves to be recognized.
Most Sadistic
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
“Unhinged”
Description: Complete the game on One Life Difficulty.
On its surface, Ori and the Blind Forest may seem like a tranquil experience, with a lavish art style and orchestral soundtrack. Those who have played the game know that under its dreamlike veneer lies a hellaciously difficult platformer in the tradition of Super Meat Boy . There is a reason they call this achievement, where you attempt to complete the game with one life, “Unhinged.” For those crazy enough to attempt it, I salute you.
Found any clever achievements this month that I missed? Let us know @getfandom.
