Eyes On The Prize

My experience with trophies and achievements

Digital trophies and achievements have been a part of the gaming landscape since the mid 2000s. With the introduction of Xbox 360 and PS3 came the implementation of a reward system. For completing certain actions in a particular game, you would either receive an achievement if you were playing on Xbox or a trophy if you were playing on PlayStation. These digital rewards didn't do much of anything-they were simply a fun little badge of honor to show off to your friends.

Unfortunately, in the age of social media, gamers have become toxic about trophies. It can be easy to say that if someone hasn't completely crossed off all the achievements on a certain title that they aren't a true fan. Some gaming outlets have started to wonder if trophies are actually a hindrance to game design and development. So, I'm here to offer my two cents on whether trophies are an integral part of gaming or if they're just a fad.

Astro's Playroom is a simple and fun platformer that is available on every PS5. While not a difficult title, it was the first game I completed in this new generation.

When I was younger, the thought of doing absolutely everything in a video game was absurd to me. I would usually play through the story, maybe do a handful of side missions, and that would be that. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the games; I just saw them as digital stories. Once the story was told, it was time to move on. I never completed games to their full extent…until Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2018. Even then, I consider that to be a complete fluke. I absolutely adored that game and so didn't mind doing the extra side missions. One day, I realized that I had almost all of the achievements available and if I worked just a little bit harder, I could finish off the rest.

Against my better judgment, I decided to give it a shot, figuring I would run out of steam and be ready to start my next game. To my surprise, I found myself motivated to stick with it and before I knew it, I had every achievement that was available. It came with a weird sense of pride. The fact that I had done everything in the game wouldn't mean much to anybody aside from me, but it was a personal achievement. It was something I had put genuine effort into doing and I realized that it allowed me to enjoy the game far more than I normally would have. I knew without a doubt I had defeated all the enemies. I had explored every nook and cranny and I had mastered all the skills available. I had gotten as much out of that game as I possibly could.

Since this was the first game where I completed everything, it holds a special place in my heart.

This didn't mean that I would now consider myself to be a trophy hunter. But the experience opened my eyes to a new way to enjoy games. I had been in my comfort zone with gaming for so long that actually forcing myself to work towards completing difficult achievements was both frustrating and refreshing. I didn't have to stop playing just because the story was over.

I will say that my attitude towards achievements and trophies has shifted in large part due to the range of accessibility features in more recent titles. When I was younger, there were certain achievements and trophies that I knew were out of my reach simply due to the affect my disability has on my fine motor skills. Nowadays, most games come with a wide variety of accessibility features, meaning that I'm able to enjoy games in a way that makes me feel comfortable with the controls and the learning curve. That doesn't mean that every achievement is an automatic win. By using these features, I'm simply leveling the playing field and giving myself the opportunity to enjoy my games without worrying about physical ability.

Trophies and achievements come in many different styles and types. Some, you will automatically receive by completing certain quests or levels. Others might require you to use a particular skill a certain number of times or find all of the specific type of collectible. Even the simplest of achievements can be rewarding if you put effort in.

I received this trophy after completing an extremely difficult optional boss. While the image may not seem exciting, you better believe that I cheered when the trophy unlocked.

In more recent years, there's been a debate on whether trophies and achievements are hurting the gaming landscape. Some critics argue that they're too easy and are just extra padding to keep gamers attached to a certain title for longer. Others say that trophies have become too difficult and feel more like a slug than a reward. While I can see both sides of the argument, it also seems obvious that many critics are forgetting one simple fact. It's the player's choice. You don't have to go for all of the achievements, but if you really want to, the option is available. If you choose not to do everything in a game, that doesn't make you less of a fan or less of a gamer. There are plenty of games where I have gone in thinking I would do absolutely everything and ended up setting them aside after the story was done. I've had games where I have tried to achieve everything and stopped because it wasn't fun anymore.

Trophy and achievement hunting is a personal decision for every gamer. I have grown to love the extra challenge but also know when to let go and have fun if I need to. Don't let anyone tell you that you aren't a real gamer because you don't have enough achievements. Don't let anyone make fun of you because you like collecting digital trophies and pushing yourself to be better. As long as you are playing video games and having fun while doing so, nothing else matters. You can either go for the gold or just go along for the ride.

This post was written by Vanessa Hart, creator of Deep Dive Gaming.