10 Most Challenging Xbox Achievements Ever

Article Key Points

Achievements in games can be extremely difficult to earn, and developers intentionally include some that are near-impossible to complete.

Xbox console games like Hi-Fi Rush, Gears of War 4, Dead Rising, Outlast, Dead Space 2, and the Master Chief Collection boast some of the most demanding Achievements. These Achievements push players to conquer formidable challenges, from completing the game on various difficulty levels and attaining high ranks, to finishing the game without reloading or conquering it on a hardcore setting.

Achievements are implemented to acknowledge players for reaching significant milestones and successfully overcoming specific challenges while playing a game. However, there are a select few achievements that only dedicated "achievement hunters" would dare to pursue due to their exceptional difficulty. Some game developers deliberately include one or two brutally challenging achievements in order to prevent the game from being too easily 100% completed. Nevertheless, a few of these achievements are so extraordinarily difficult that they seem nearly impossible to attain.

In contrast to PlayStation Trophies, Xbox Achievements function uniquely by awarding players with Gamerscore points that appear on their profile, rather than being graded from bronze to gold. Consequently, these especially demanding achievements often offer a substantial amount of Gamerscore for those courageous enough to attempt and accomplish them. These achievements represent the utmost level of difficulty that can be discovered on Xbox consoles.

7. What A Journey It Was

Hi-Fi Rush

Hi-Fi Rush

Platform(s) Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PCReleased January 25, 2023Developer(s) Tango GameworksGenre(s) Action

How To Earn:

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Please ensure that the Wall of Fame in the Hideout is fully completed.

Hi-Fi Rush is widely regarded as an incredibly innovative game, providing a unique experience with its hack-and-slash combat intricately connected to the rhythmic beats of the background music. Players are rewarded for successfully timing their attacks with the rhythm of the songs. While certain Achievements are automatically unlocked throughout the game's story, the introduction of the Wall of Fame grants access to even more challenging Achievements. Among them, the most formidable one is "What a Journey it Was."

6. Seriously 4.0

Completing most of the wall is quite straightforward, but there are three specific areas that require significant effort - completing the game on all difficulty levels, attaining an S rank on every stage, and defeating all bosses without sustaining any damage. To conquer these challenges, it is crucial to obtain formidable Chip Sets and become accustomed to the rhythm of each stage. However, even with this preparation, these tasks are undeniably difficult, particularly the no-hit boss run.

Gears Of War 4

Gears of War 4

Platform(s) Xbox One, PCReleased October 11, 2016Developer(s) The CoalitionGenre(s) Third-Person Shooter

How To Earn:

Complete Insane Campaign, ribbons, rank placements, Horde maps, re-ups, classes, and five skills.

The Gears of War games have always featured challenging Achievements for dedicated fans, but Gears 4 took it to the next level. Completing the main campaign on Insane Difficulty is already tough, considered one of the series' hardest challenges. However, this is just the beginning.

In addition, players must earn all 141 Ribbons in multiplayer, achieve a rank placement in each game mode, prestige 10 times, and conquer an incredible 50 waves of Horde mode on every map. This Achievement is so difficult that it's easy to overlook, but for completionists and die-hard fans, it's a must-have. It essentially requires players to fully complete the game, top to bottom.

5. 7 Day Survivor

Dead Rising

Dead Rising

Platform(s) PC, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox OneReleased August 8, 2006Developer(s) CapcomGenre(s) Action-Adventure, Survival Horror

How To Earn:

To successfully complete this task, you must endure for a span of 7 consecutive days.

In the early days of the Xbox 360, when Achievements were a new addition, they often lacked clear instructions. Despite its apparent simplicity, the Dead Rising Achievement mentioned here proves to be challenging due to its specific requirements. Within the mall, Frank has access to an abundance of thrilling weapons to defend himself against the countless hordes of enemies. However, the catch is that this Achievement can only be obtained in Infinity Mode, where saving progress is not permitted.

Therefore, Dead Rising's in-game time of 7 days is equivalent to approximately 14 hours in real-time. This means that players are required to keep the game open for this entire duration in order to earn the Achievement. In addition to the considerable time commitment, players must also manage their resources effectively, as the protagonist, Frank, needs to eat and drink to stay alive. The combination of these factors makes completing this challenge a grueling task indeed.

4. Energizer

Outlast

Outlast

Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, PC, Linux, macOS, SwitchReleased November 4, 2013Developer(s) Red BarrelsGenre(s) Survival Horror

How To Earn:

Finish the game in Insane Mode without reloading the camera batteries.

Outlast is an immersive first-person survival horror game in which players take on the role of a journalist trapped in a psychiatric hospital teeming with homicidal patients. Armed with only a video recorder as a source of light, the main objective is to escape the grim facility. It is worth highlighting a key gameplay feature, which involves collecting batteries to power the camcorder. However, the challenge lies in the fact that this Achievement demands players to bypass all batteries, relying solely on a single one throughout the entire playthrough.

What intensifies the difficulty is that this Achievement can only be accomplished on Insane Difficulty. In this mode, enemies have the power to eliminate the player with just one or two hits, and the game completely disables checkpoints and saving. Typically, this Achievement is pursued by speedrunners who possess the ability to swiftly navigate each game section, using the camcorder only when strictly necessary. Nevertheless, even for experienced players, it remains an exceedingly demanding task.

3. Hard To The Core

Dead Space 2

Dead Space 2

Platform(s) PS3, Xbox 360, PCReleased January 25, 2011Developer(s) Visceral GamesGenre(s) Survival Horror

How To Earn:

Achieve victory in Hardcore difficulty to conquer the game.

Dead Space 2 adopts a slightly more action-focused gameplay style in comparison to the first installment's atmospheric approach. As a result, the sequel presents a larger number of Necromorphs simultaneously onscreen, which Isaac must bravely confront in order to survive. In Hardcore mode, these enemies become even more formidable, effortlessly overpowering Isaac and possessing substantial health reserves that demand a significant amount of ammunition to conquer.

The real challenge lies in the fact that players are limited to just 3 saves in this mode. With checkpoints disabled, a single wrong move can result in hours of progress lost. There are comprehensive online guides available that provide a step-by-step walkthrough for each area of the game. This mode is notoriously difficult, and not to mention the final boss, who is considered one of the most unfair and unforgiving in video game history.

2. LASO Master

Master Chief Collection

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Platform(s) Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PCReleased November 11, 2014Developer(s) 343 IndustriesGenre(s) First-Person Shooter

How To Earn:

Complete each game-specific LASO playlist for every Halo game.

Completing the legendary Halo games with every game-modifying Skull active has always been known as the ultimate challenge for devoted fans. However, the "LASO Master" achievement takes it a step further, requiring players to conquer this feat across four different games. Only Halo Reach and Halo 3: ODST are excluded from this achievement, while the first four games, already daunting on their own, all count towards it.

While some Skulls add a touch of humor, like Grunt Birthday Party, the majority of them significantly heighten the difficulty. For instance, the Mythic Skull empowers Covenant enemies with double the health. Other Skulls disable auto-aim, reduce ammo in dropped weapons by half, and even force players to restart a level upon death. This combination creates one of the most challenging experiences in gaming, where not even the powerful Magnum can provide any respite.

1. World Champion

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Platform(s) PC, PS2, Xbox (Original), Xbox 360Released March 9, 2006Developer(s) Red Storm Entertainment, Ubisoft ParisGenre(s) Tactical, Shooter

How to Earn:

Reach the pinnacle of the universal leaderboard.

Although not technically "impossible," this feat is undeniably the ultimate challenge, as it necessitates attaining the highest global rank in Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. Those who possess this prestigious Achievement proudly share that it took them weeks of relentless dedication and continuous gameplay to accomplish. Given the intensely competitive nature of the multiplayer, securing the top position in today's era is exceedingly difficult, if not entirely improbable.

Some players go to the extent of creating multiple accounts to enhance their main account's position on the leaderboards. However, even this method is tedious and time-consuming, with no guarantee of success in the end. Surprisingly, this Achievement, considered the most challenging in any Xbox game, only awards 40 Gamerscore for accomplishing such a demanding feat.

Editor's P/S

In the realm of Xbox gaming, a select few achievements stand out as the ultimate test of skill and dedication. These achievements are not for the faint of heart and require players to push their abilities to the limit. One such achievement is "What a Journey it Was" from Hi-Fi Rush, which challenges players to complete the Wall of Fame in the Hideout. This seemingly simple task becomes a grueling endeavor, as it requires completing the game on all difficulty levels, attaining an S rank on every stage, and defeating all bosses without taking any damage. Even with the best Chip Sets and knowledge of the stage rhythm, the no-hit boss run proves to be an almost impossible feat, making this achievement a true badge of honor for only the most skilled players.

Another formidable achievement is "Complete Insane Campaign, ribbons, rank placements, Horde maps, re-ups, classes, and five skills" from Gears of War 4. This achievement demands players to not only complete the main campaign on Insane Difficulty but also conquer a multitude of other challenging tasks. From earning all 141 Ribbons in multiplayer to achieving a rank placement in each game mode, the sheer amount of time and skill required is immense. Prestiging 10 times and surviving 50 waves of Horde mode on every map further adds to the difficulty, making this achievement a true testament to a player's dedication to the Gears of War franchise.