Has earning a trophy ever made you feel uneasy? Whether by doing something outrageous, awkward, or downright nefarious, sometimes video game developers want you to get out of your comfort zone. Just how far are you willing to go to unlock a new achievement? Will you set aside your morals to get another digital collectible?
In this article, we outline 12 different video games that have achievements that are liable to make even the most stringent of trophy hunters a bit uncomfortable. Would you earn these trophies?
Table of Contents
12. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Ubisoft’s 2018 entry to their flagship franchise, Assassin’s Creed, finally saw the inclusion of a heavily requested region: Ancient Greece. In Odyssey, you play as either Kassandra or Alexios, a mercenary whom gets involved in shady cult-dealings while trying to reunite their long-lost family. One of the most praised features of this title is just how much flexibility it offers to the player via dialogue choices, branching storylines, cosmetic choices, optional side quests, and more. Truly, it is YOUR Odyssey.
In addition to highly detailed historical environments, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey also released several DLC chapters, several of which included mythological realms like Elysium and Atlantis. Given the plethora of options the player is given in the main story, most would expect that trend to continue in the additional content.
However, that was not the case. The first expansion, Legacy of the First Blade, sought to make a connection between Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Origins’ worlds. It ultimately takes away the player’s agency in order to establish a specific canon result.
If you are sensitive to spoilers, be warned that I will now detail events from this DLC chapter’s story. Click here if you’d rather skip to the next part of the article!
During the events of Legacy of the First Blade, players are introduced to two new characters: Darius, an Assassin fleeing Persian persecution, and his child. Darius’ child is different depending on your choice of protagonist. If you chose Kassandra, he will be a young man named Natakas; If you chose Alexios, she will be a young woman named Neema.
Knowing that this nonplayable character’s identity is determined based on your character’s gender is telling. In point of fact, regardless of your choices in this DLC, you will be forced to start a family with this new character. You can be cold to Natakas or Neema every chance you get, yet you will inevitably help create their child.
To make matters worse, a trophy could be earned for hitting this story beat. It was originally named “Growing Up,” as if to imply that not having children was less of a valid lifestyle choice and more the result of an inferior childlike mindset. This achievement was later renamed to “Bittersweet Beginnings,” but the damage had already been done. Many players’ experiences with the game were soured. Several news outlets including IGN covered the controversy and response in detail.
Whether or not you personally enjoyed this DLC chapter’s story, most players would agree that not having a choice in the matter is frustrating. I did not particularly care for the love interest in my playthrough, and did not enjoy getting forced into such a serious romantic relationship with them. This was made worse by the fact that I was partial to another character I had already romanced in the main story. Thus, the events of the DLC contradicted the way I had played and the type of person I expected my hero to be interested in. In a word, these development choices bothered me.
But, what about you? Did you enjoy the twists and turns this DLC story introduced?
11. Nier: Automata
The Nier games are well-known among the gaming community for their exploration of philosophical concepts and gripping narratives. It isn’t a coincidence that one character is named Pascal, for example. If you’re unfamiliar with Nier, you might be wondering whether its inclusion on this list means that a trophy might make you question your humanity, or something equally as profound.
Well, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but there is yet another aspect the Nier games are famous for. These titles also include many conventionally attractive characters. In fact, in Nier: Automata, there is even a gameplay mechanic in which players can “explode” their character and unclothe themselves. The lewdness doesn’t really stop there, either; There is an achievement that can be earned by attempting to look up the protagonist’s skirt several times. This trophy is aptly named “What Are You Doing?”
This style of achievement was also included in Nier: Replicant ver.1.22474487139… Again, you have to angle your camera a certain way toward a female character a number of times in order to unlock it. In this case, the trophy was named “Daredevil.”
While some players may earn these trophies naturally due to curiosity or perverse intentions, others might not. If you did not get these achievements of your own volition, you might find that doing so intentionally after the fact feels rather skeevy. I, for example, found these trophy requirements obnoxious and did not enjoy objectifying the characters in this way.
10. Borderlands 2
The Borderlands series has always flirted with impropriety in its humor. Often, these jokes land precisely because of the fact that they are so outrageous. However, others might find these jokes to be in poor taste and, at worst, mildly uncomfortable. So, what daring achievement could have landed this title on this list?
That would be the trophy named “Sugar Daddy.” It seems benign on the surface: Tip the bartender in Sanctuary $10,000 in order to unlock this trophy. On the other hand, being familiar with the context behind the achievement makes it feel a bit gross.
Moxxi is, by design, a flirty character; but going out of your way to solicit her suggestive commentary for this achievement can make some players feel uncomfortable. She will call you sweet and say things along the lines of needing to pay you back somehow. It threads the needle between depicting a powerful female character using her sexuality to her strengths and diminishing her agency by playing into the assumption that it can be bought.
In the grand scheme of things, this trophy is pretty tame. Earning the title of “Sugar Daddy” takes only a couple of minutes, so most trophy hunters will hardly bat an eye to do so.
9. Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty
This entry represents a change of pace compared to the previous titles. Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty is a remake of the original PlayStation game Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee. It is a side-scrolling platformer that sees you playing as a Mudokon factory worker, whom has just learned a shocking secret: The boss intends to create a new food product using the workers as a key ingredient! Your new objective is to escape the factory with as many of your comrades as possible, so you might save them from such a gruesome fate.
Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty is an unforgiving title when it comes to its trophy requirements. The game itself is difficult, often requiring pitch-perfect timing in order to dodge enemy attacks or to disarm bombs. To earn the platinum trophy, you will need to complete several playthroughs, including: a speedrun, a hard mode run, a 100% run, and a low-percent run. The speedrun in particular is pretty tough, and will likely see trophy hunters needing to redo several levels in order to shave a run down to the proper pace. A 100% playthrough will require you to save every Mudokon worker, and a low-percent run requires you to save very few.
For our purposes in this article, I will discuss a particular trophy: “Act of Odd.” This achievement is unlocked not by saving all your allies, or forsaking them to their fate; rather, you must go out of your way to kill them! That means you have to lure them into danger, whether by Sligs’ gunfire or traps. Regardless of the method, to earn this trophy you will have to kill 99 Mudokons.
Given the Mudokons’ easygoing and friendly nature, it feels downright evil to kill them. They are already being taken advantage of by their employer, so ratcheting their misfortune up another ante is like rubbing salt in a wound. Doing so for the sake of a trophy is likely to make you feel uncomfortable.
8. A Hat in Time
A Hat in Time is a return-to-form for 3D platformers, a genre that time has not been too kind toward. The title has cute aesthetics, fun platforming action, and includes just enough story to keep you interested. What could possibly make a player uncomfortable here? (Besides, perhaps, Mustache Girl’s unique design?)
One level in A Hat in Time sees Hat Kid playing the starring role of a detective uncovering the culprit of a murder. You must find a series of clues onboard the Owl Express train in order to learn the truth. At least, that’s the way you’re intended to finish the level. The trophy “False Detective” is earned by completing the stage without finding any clues at all. The trophy description even insults the player by saying “you suck!”
Most trophy hunters will have no issues completing the stage via normal methods. However, going back a second time in order to fail spectacularly for the achievement might feel unnatural. Losing on purpose and then being scolded for doing so can cause minor annoyance. After all, you hardly earned such scorn!
Trophies that are earned by performing poorly in video games are oddities. You would generally expect achievements to be accomplished through skill expression, not as a token of pity. What achievements have you unlocked by playing badly? Did the game grill you for it?
7. Until Dawn
Just in time for the spooky season, Until Dawn was recently re-released with a few upgrades in October 2024. The game follows a group of friends visiting a remote mountain lodge, where fun quickly turns into fright. These young adults are pitted against supernatural elements, the likes of which their escape isn’t guaranteed. Your job is to make choices regarding how each character should proceed to ultimately drive the direction the story goes.
The new and improved PlayStation 5 version of Until Dawn came packed with a familiar set of trophies, plus a few new ones related to story events. The game is full of humorous albeit cringe-inducing dialogue, but that isn’t what is most likely to make trophy hunters uncomfortable.
Rather, the achievement titled “This is THE End” requires a set of gruesome criteria. Namely, that you must complete the game with every single character succumbing before reaching the dawn. In other words, you must dutifully lead each character down the wrong path, whether by intentionally failing quick time events or willfully selecting choices that lead to their deaths.
Like Oddworld: New ‘N’ Tasty, this trophy is likely to leave you feeling like a villain. Then again, depending on the extent to which you enjoyed these characters, it might also induce catharsis. We aren’t judging!
6. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
Sly Cooper is an iconic PlayStation series that has seen better days. Thieves in Time was the fourth and most recent entry, now 12 years old. At the time, this title represented a huge shift for the gang of thieves as it was developed by a different studio: Sanzaru Games. Indeed, this much was clear based on the animation style and plot twists that retconned previously established story details.
It also didn’t help Thieves in Time’s case that it continued a story that had already reached a satisfying conclusion, only to replace it with a cliffhanger that at this point might never be resolved. In short, many longtime fans felt the game didn’t reach the heights they’d come to expect from the series.
Love it or hate it, Thieves in Time took the Sly Cooper series in a new direction. One thing that remained consistent, however, was the inclusion of minigames. Players were well-accustomed to series’ staples like hacking and rhythm games. However, Thieves in Time added something no one expected.
The trophy “Hubba Hubba” is acquired by completing a certain minigame without any mistakes. If you are expecting something vulgar based on its name, you aren’t wrong. The minigame in question is a rhythm game in which Sly’s illustrious love interest Carmelita dances in order to distract several guards. The way the game’s camera focuses on her body and the manner in which all the male party members ogle her is disconcerting.
Get ready to see the same crude cutscenes every time you need to restart the minigame, too. The monkey creatures will jeer at you, calling on you to “shake it.” Did I mention that there is a motion control mechanic in which you shake your controller in order to make your character shake her hips? And that doing so successfully showers you in coins?
It’s an uncomfortable minigame that goes against everything the character stands for. It’s no wonder that players despised this minigame’s inclusion.
5. Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony was the latest entry in the high school murder mystery game. It added a number of improvements to the base formula including the ability to lie during nonstop debates. One thing that remained consistent, however, is the grindy trophy requirement in which you need to max out your relationships with all your fellow students.
In Killing Harmony’s case, the trophy “Giving It Up at the Hotel Kumasutra” requires players to spend a sultry evening with all their classmates in a love hotel. The character you encounter in any given night is selected at random, and they will enter the room in a “dream-like” state. They view your character as their “ideal” partner and will act accordingly, whether that is in a sexual, romantic, or platonic sense. The setup for these scenarios makes obtaining consent dubious at best.
Anyone familiar with this title will know that a number of these characters are, to put it simply, weird. Not to mention the fact that they are all teenagers in high school that are more-than-likely underaged. So, it’s no wonder that many trophy hunters felt uncomfortable while working on this achievement.
4. God of War III
The God of War series is no stranger to squeamish content. The games are all about a Greek hero defeating the Gods of Olympus one by one. The original trilogy is rife with violent and sexual scenes, many of which will surprise newbies with their graphic detail.
This is no more apparent than when unlocking the “Ladies Man” achievement in God of War III. The description for this achievement is simply: “Successfully entertain Aphrodite.” It’s not a coincidence that she is the Goddess that represents love and lust.
This minigame involves Kratos sharing an intimate moment with Aphrodite, in which the player must complete a series of quick-time events in order to win her favor. Although you don’t see the act, you do see more than enough for the game to earn its Mature 17+ rating.
As a result, players might find themselves feeling awkward while working on this trophy. It doesn’t help that you might have to do it more than once since it is easy to make a mistake due to input lag or dropped inputs, particularly when you need to spin the analog stick.
Make sure you’re alone when planning to go for this achievement. The last thing anyone wants is their Mom to walk in and see this scene!
3. The Sims 3
The Sims needs little introduction. This popular life simulation game is as serious or silly as you want to make it. Choose your sim’s life path, outfits, romantic partners, home décor, and just about anything else you can think of.
Despite being a fairly relaxed title, the trophy requirements aren’t exactly free. There are grindy trophies like “Miracle Worker,” which can be acquired by completing an extensive 1,000 wishes, and “Botanical Perfection,” which requires growing a perfect plant. Neither of these is particularly concerning, though.
That’s why I’d like to discuss the trophy, “But It’s Inflammable!” This achievement is unlocked by extinguishing a sim that is on fire. It seems innocent enough, until you realize the crux of the issue: You first need to have a sim on fire.
You are likely to engage in a significant amount of premeditation to properly setup this trophy. You need a way to start the fire, a sim to get trapped in the fire, a way to prevent access for rescue services, and a third-party sim that is brave enough to rescue the victim.
It can take a surprising amount of time for a sim inside a flaming building to catch on fire themselves. As a result, it feels jarring watching them suffer and cry for help for minutes at a time. Like several other entries on this list, doing something so blatantly evil can make a lot of trophy hunters uncomfortable.
2. Eternights
Eternights is an excellent time management RPG similar to the Persona series. You spend time with friends in a post-apocalyptic scenario, but make sure that you can still complete each dungeon by the deadline! Play your cards right, and you might even have a date to the end of the world.
The game has several trophies that you would expect, such as finishing each character’s storyline. One trophy worth noting is “True Player,” which is achieved by dating every possible character in one playthrough. Doing so feels like a grave betrayal, as you are essentially cheating on them all. Although the game does not call you out or shame you for doing so, many players felt dirty going through with it.
If you’re interested in learning more about Eternights, check out my article about my experience playing through the game. I definitely recommend it for trophy hunters that enjoy romance in their games!
1. Oxenfree II: Lost Signals
We saved this title for last for a reason. What could possibly be uncomfortable about Oxenfree II’s trophies? The game is about dispatching spirits and supernatural occurrences on a remote island; it’s certainly nothing too crazy for horror fans. The game was even playable on Netflix of all things! Surely the title is suitable for all ages.
Well, take a look at the achievement, “Master of Your Domain.” To earn this trophy, you must refrain from petting Jacob’s dog, Athena. For many players, not doing so is blasphemous; how could you resist? You’ve been briefed on the dog’s existence right at the start of the game, but only get the chance to officially meet her near the end. It feels uncomfortable to walk past Athena without acknowledging her.
You might unlock the trophy, sure, but what did it cost?
Conclusion
Those were 12 trophies that made us feel uncomfortable in one way or another. What awkward achievements did we miss?
If you enjoyed this list, check out our article about PlayStation trophies with animals. You can’t go wrong with adding some fuzzy friends to your trophy mosaic! In fact, you might just see a familiar face from this post if you do.
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