One of the most euphoric moments a trophy hunter can experience is when they finally unlock a coveted platinum trophy from a difficult game. Overcoming insane requirements like permadeath usually unlocks valuable trophies of a higher caliber. In theory, this should ultimately lead to ultra-rare platinum trophies that you can be proud to have on your account.
However, this isn’t always the case. For one reason or another, some game developers choose not to include platinum trophies in their games. Sometimes, the title in question is too short or simplistic to justify achievements. Yet other games leave trophy hunters scratching their heads on why a platinum isn’t added. Below, we discuss 15 games without platinum trophies that many trophy hunters wish were included.
Table of Contents
15. Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist
Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist was released for the PlayStation 4 in 2015 with a whopping 21 trophies. As one might surmise by its inclusion on this list, a platinum trophy was not among them. Even more annoying, all 21 of these trophies are bronze, meaning the game is only worth a paltry 315 points for your trophy level. As a comparison, a more conventional title like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is worth 1,350 points.
Functionally, almost all the Yu-Gi-Oh! games could’ve made their mark on this list. Of the 5 games in the series available from the PlayStation 3-5, only one title actually has a platinum trophy.
You might be tempted into thinking that the low value of Legacy of the Duelist’s trophies would appropriately reflect on its difficulty and required time investment. However, you would be wrong.
To obtain 100% completion of this Yu-Gi-Oh! title, you need to spend about 20 hours running through the story and online matchmaking modes. You basically need to complete 3 playthroughs worth of matches; one for the main story, one for all reverse duels, and the last for completing all the Duelist Challenges. In addition to these grindy requirements, you will also need to find a partner to boost a few admittedly simple online trophies since you are incredibly unlikely to find matches naturally.
Despite the lack of care toward trophy hunters, the game is still well worth playing for those that enjoy card games like Yu-Gi-Oh! An expanded version of the game titled Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution released in 2020 with a much more fleshed out trophy list. This version of the game finally included a platinum trophy.
However, don’t count the original title out just yet. Earning Link Evolution’s platinum trophy will take nearly 100 hours of playtime—5 times as much as the original. Will you become the King of Games without a platinum trophy, or will you go for the more conventional pick?
14. Plants vs. Zombies
This incredibly popular series launched back in 2009 on all major platforms that could feasibly run it—even Blackberry cell phones! The game was a huge success that led to several sequels, including the recently released Plants vs. Zombies 3: Welcome to Zomburbia.
For trophy hunting purposes, we will set our sights on the PlayStation 3 release of the original game: Plants vs. Zombies. The trophy list is fairly straightforward, requiring around 15-20 hours to complete. Players need to beat the Adventure mode, do a few matches in multiplayer, and make it past at least 40 waves in Survival mode.
You will also need to grind for money in order to grow the Tree of Wisdom at least 100 feet as well as to purchase any remaining plants from Crazy Dave’s store for the trophy “Master of Morticulture.”
When all is said and done, you will have unlocked 12 trophies worth a combined 315 points for your PlayStation trophy level. It is a shame that the game does not include a platinum trophy since it was such a unique and fun take on the tower-defense genre when it was still in its infancy.
If you have a PlayStation Vita, you should definitely play that version over the PlayStation 3 release. The Vita title has a much more thorough trophy list, including a platinum trophy and 1,260 points for your trophy level!
13. Warframe
Warframe is a free-to-play online multiplayer shooter with looting elements. At present, there is both a PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 version of the game, although the former is no longer receiving updated content.
The base game has only 16 trophies in total; 15 of which are bronze. This results in only a sparse 315 points for your PlayStation trophy levels. This can be significantly offset by the sheer amount of DLC trophy stacks that the game has put out over its years of service. The PlayStation 4 version has a total of 84 trophies up through Update 31 while the PlayStation 5 version has a total of 91 trophies up through Update 32. The total trophy points for these versions are 2,190 and 2,355 respectively.
That said, despite the game being worth relatively few points, you will easily spend hundreds of hours completing its list. The complete trophy guide for the PlayStation 4 version on PSN Profiles cites at least 300 hours to get 100% of the trophies. Completing the most recent DLC pack that is available only on PlayStation 5, Update 32, adds an additional 15 hours on top of that estimate.
However, if you think you might like what Warframe has to offer, don’t let its stark trophy requirements dissuade you from giving it a shot. The game has a large community of very knowledgeable Tenno willing to help new players just starting out. Many fans praise Warframe developer Digital Extremes for listening to community feedback and not gating content from free-to-play players. Regardless of its trophy list, Warframe has a ton to offer.
12. Limbo / Inside
These indie story-driven platformer games have been combined into one entry because they were both developed by the same studio: Playdead. Limbo came out 5 years before Inside and has since been released on PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation 4.
Despite its simple controls, Limbo’s trophy list is anything but. The most notorious trophy, “No Point in Dying,” asks players to make it through the adventure in one sitting with 5 or fewer deaths. You will need to remember solutions to puzzles and how to avoid the game’s many traps in order to make it to the end safely.
Even with pristine control and masterful platforming, this is still liable to take a few tries. With each run taking about an hour, you could spend up to 15-20 hours depending on your skill level. By the end of your trophy hunt, you will be 13 (non-platinum) trophies richer.
Thankfully, the second game Playdead released is much easier as far as trophies go. Inside released in 2015 on the PlayStation 4 with 14 trophies totaling 285 trophy level points. These can all be obtained in one playthrough taking 5 hours or less, so long as you obtain the orb collectibles as you go.
Although trophy hunters may be irritated at the lack of platinum trophies in Playdead’s games, they should still play the Limbo/Inside duology. These games had a large impact on the horror platforming genre and tote immersive stories worth experiencing at least once.
11. Outlast
The first game in the Outlast series released on the PlayStation 4 in 2014 with a whopping 14 trophies for players to collect between the base game and its Whistleblower DLC. The trophies are worth 495 trophy level points and, unlike most of the earlier entries on this list, include bronze, silver, and gold trophies in meaningful quantities.
The aptly named trophy “LUNATIC” requires players to complete the game on Insane mode. This difficulty introduces an entire swath of challenging modifiers including: permadeath, no saving or checkpoints, one-hit kills from bosses, and less camera utility. You will have to go through the ordeal yet again in the Whistleblower DLC as the trophy “BOWELWHISTLER” is also unlocked upon completion of the DLC in Insane mode.
It goes without saying that this is extremely difficult and frustrating to accomplish if you are not adequately prepared. Only 1.41% of players have managed to obtain 100% of the trophies for Outlast as a result.
10. The MISSING: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories
This unique side-scrolling platformer released on the PlayStation 4 in 2018. You play as the titular character J.J. Macfield as she searches for her lost friend Emily. As you explore the island, you learn more about your past and how it has shaped who you are in the present.
The MISSING’s gameplay further highlights the dire circumstances the story introduces. Many puzzles require the player to purposefully maim themselves in order to proceed, such as placing a severed limb on a pressure plate to open the path forward. As you might guess, the MISSING has many dark themes and an extremely surprising twist at the end that you simply have to experience for yourself.
The game touts 20 bronze trophies worth 300 trophy level points for players to unlock. The primary tasks you will be concerned with while trophy hunting include finding every collectible donut, Sleepy mascot, and text message.
Thankfully, these are all easy to find with or without a guide. All totaled, you will likely need less than 10 hours to wrap everything up. Practically every moment will be filled with surreal storytelling intermingled with tight platforming sections to enjoy.
9. Child of Light
Child of Light released on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and the PlayStation Vita in 2014. This Ubisoft-developed darling was received exceptionally well by critics and players alike on release—which in turn rendered much dismay from the trophy hunting crowd. After all, how could such a great game neglect its platinum trophy?
Regardless of the reasons for the platinum’s exclusion, Child of Light comes with 20 trophies to chew through. These are divvied up as 19 bronze trophies and 1 single silver trophy for a combined total worth of 315 trophy level points.
Trophy hunting for Child of Light is easy, as you just need to beat the story and complete a few miscellaneous tasks. “Perfect Sonnet” is achieved by finding all 16 collectible confession pages in the game.
Achieving 100% completion of Child of Light will take anywhere from 10-15 hours. Although you won’t be able to include it on your platinum mosaic, it is still worth adding to your trophy hunting profile.
8. Spelunky
The first game in the Spelunky series has a shared trophy list spanning the PlayStation 3, 4, and Vita versions of the game. Despite the seemingly easygoing nature of this 2D platforming roguelike’s gameplay loop, the trophy hunting experience is anything but easy. In fact, only 0.7% of players with the game have managed to obtain 100% of the title’s trophies according to PSN Profiles.
Spelunky is chock-full of challenging trophies. “Speedlunky” requires players to beat the game in under 8 minutes without using any shortcuts. “Seen It All” requires players to complete 100% of the journal. Obtaining this trophy means you have to have experienced every aspect of the game in its entirety; in other words, you will need both skill and luck, given how large of an impact RNG has on each run.
Successfully delving “To Hell and Back” will take at least 50 hours. Thankfully, trophy hunting in Spelunky is unlikely to get tedious since every run is so different. If you enjoy challenging games that really make you earn its trophies, then you should definitely check out Spelunky.
7. Abzu
Abzu is really more of an experience than a full-fledged game. You play as a deep-sea diver that traverses the ocean depths. It is not too dissimilar from a walking simulator, except instead of walking you are swimming. That said, the game is incredibly atmospheric and meditative. For that reason, it is an excellent choice for a relaxing game to play in between more stressful trophy hunts.
The game has 12 trophies worth 300 trophy level points. They can all be acquired in one playthrough with less than 3 hours of your time. The game also has chapter select, so if you do end up missing anything you can easily return once you’ve completed the story.
Although Abzu doesn’t have a platinum trophy, its short and easy list makes a decent addition to any trophy hunter’s profile.
6. Sonic Mania
Sonic Mania was an excellent return-to-form for the blue blur that released for PlayStation 4 in 2017. The game harkens back to early Sonic days on the Sega Genesis with its beautiful pixel art style and fast-paced platforming stages. Although the game ticked off many fans’ boxes, one large omission remains for trophy hunters: the lack of a platinum trophy.
It may be surprising to see Sonic Mania on a list of games without platinum trophies since it is the only modern Sonic entry NOT to have one. Team Sonic Racing, Sonic Unleashed, Sonic Generations, Sonic Forces, Sonic Colors: Ultimate, Sonic Origins, Sonic Frontiers, and Sonic Superstars all have complete trophy lists with platinums in tow. Even so, most players would balk at the thought of skipping this entry given its otherwise high quality.
For those familiar with classic Sonic games, the trophy list for Mania should come as no surprise. You will need to beat the game, complete bonus stages, and find hidden rooms.
Some of these objectives are easier said than done. Thankfully, there are some methods to make the trickier trophies a bit easier, such as using an unlockable Debug mode. If you’d like to read more about tips and tricks for Sonic Mania, you can do so here.
Depending on your skill level, obtaining all of the trophies will take about 15-20 hours. Successfully doing so will earn you a seat in Sonic Mania’s exclusive 100% club that only 1.49% of players have managed to join.
5. SOMA
SOMA is a sci-fi survival horror game developed by Frictional Games that released on PlayStation 4 in 2015. The game received glowing remarks from critics and players, and is generally regarded as a must-play for fans of the genre. As such, trophy hunters were disappointed to learn that SOMA did not include a platinum trophy on its list. In fact, only a measly 10 trophies were added, worth just 285 trophy level points.
Unsurprisingly, the trophies are primarily story-related and unmissable. This is at least one small condolence for trophy hunters. There is one missable trophy titled “Endangered Species,” but it is extremely easy to obtain and is likely to be earned naturally. You just need to speak to a specific NPC.
Don’t sleep on a fantastic and thoughtful story that will stay with you long after it ends.
4. Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse
Most trophy hunters are well-acquainted with Telltale Games and their extremely lax trophy requirements. The Walking Dead, Batman, The Wolf Among Us, and more are all choice-based narrative games that come with easy platinum trophies. A slightly less popular series in the same vein are the Sam & Max games, which follow the zany antics of buddy duo private detectives as they unravel various mysteries with point-and-click puzzle-solving.
Like other Telltale games, this series often released episodically with separate trophy lists for each episode in a game. Usually they would be released in a master-pack that included all previously released episodes once completed. For example, Beyond Time and Space eventually bundled all 5 episodes into one release with a platinum trophy. As a result, it may be weird to see Sam & Max on a list of games without platinum trophies.
However, this was not always the case. The Devil’s Playhouse released 5 episodes back in 2010 on the PlayStation 3 and never got a full release. As a result, there are 5 distinct trophy lists that do not include a single platinum trophy. That said, this could change soon—a remastered version of the game was announced with a tentative release date in 2024.
Either way, you should definitely play the Sam & Max games. They are incredibly fun and tend to be full of laughs. The trophies are very easy and can serve as a nice reprieve from more challenging games.
3. Iconoclasts
“Let us pay respect.”
Iconoclasts is an indie platforming and fighting hybrid title developed by Joakim “Konjak” Sandberg that took over 10 years to make. The game has an excellent narrative with many twists and turns for players to enjoy over its 10-15 hours of story content.
Not only that, Iconoclasts is brimming with boss fights that all challenge your mastery of the game’s mechanics in different ways. If you are looking for a challenging 2D side-scrolling fighting game with a great story, then you should definitely pick this one up.
Sadly, the biggest downside to Iconoclasts is in the trophy department. The game has only 11 trophies worth 300 trophy level points. Seeing as it’s on this list, it goes without saying that a platinum trophy is not included here. That said, the trophies that are here are no joke.
For starters, you need to obtain a 100% complete save file. That means you need to find all treasure chests, tweaks, and secret bosses in one playthrough.
The more pressing trophy is “One-Hit Wonder.” This gold trophy is unlocked upon completion of Iconoclasts’ Challenge mode. The biggest change is that anything that can damage you will now one-shot down you and instantly give you a game over screen. Since there are well over 20 bosses in the game, there is a lot of room for error.
There are a lot of ways you can make this task easier—such as using speedrunning tricks and glitches or equipping Tweaks to give you extra hit-points—but the trophy will still require a lot of effort to obtain.
If you’d like to see more of Konjak’s previous works, you can check out his personal website here. Unfortunately, there has been no news of future releases as of yet.
2. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered
The Tomb Raider needs no introduction. Lara Croft is a classic PlayStation icon dating back all the way to 1996. This release sought to remaster the original trilogy for modern consoles in 2024. Many trophy hunters were appalled to learn that despite there being three games in one package, not a single platinum trophy was included. This fact is even more surprising when you take a closer look at the official trophy list.
There are an astounding 269 trophies in total: 67 for the first game, 32 for the Unfinished Business DLC, 66 for the sequel, 23 for the Golden Mask DLC, 60 for the third game, and 21 for the Lost Artifact DLC. All in all, this leads to a very healthy sum of 4,275 trophy level points for completionists to accumulate.
These trophies can take quite a bit of time and skill to unlock. In general, you need to beat the games, find all the secrets, and perform specific tasks. Doing everything there is to do will take around 80-100 hours. Keep in mind that the games can be quite difficult in their own right, so don’t be too surprised if some trophies take a few tries to unlock. If you’ve never played the Tomb Raider games, these remastered versions are a great way to see an important piece of PlayStation history.
1. Firewatch
The last game on our list released in 2016 with just 5 trophies, with 5 additional trophies released in an expansion later on. Again, no platinum trophy was included for this release.
Firewatch is a narrative-driven game following a man that works in a state park as he unravels a mystery. The game shines in its presentation and grips the player with its story.
The base game’s trophies are all unmissable and unlocked via normal gameplay through the scenario. The DLC trophies will require a bit more care as they must be obtained during specific days. Overall, the trophies are very easy to get and achieving 100% completion should take 6-8 hours or less.
Conclusion
Not getting platinum trophies can be a bummer, but it doesn’t necessarily mean trophy hunters can’t get any enjoyment out of a game. Getting 100% completion of a game’s trophy list whether or not it includes a platinum is well within the spirit of trophy hunting.
What games without platinum trophies have you completed? Will you be playing any of the games on this list? Let us know in the comments below! Also, if you’d like to learn more about trophy hunting, consider reading about what shovelware is and why trophy hunters should avoid it.
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