There’s something different about getting a Platinum Trophy.
For most players, finishing a game means watching the credits, putting the controller down and moving on to the next game.
For a trophy hunter, however, that is usually when the real work begins. You’ve finished the story, defeated the final boss and explored most of the world, but then you look at your trophy list and see it sitting at 93%. Suddenly, one thought enters your mind: Where did the other 7% go?
Welcome to trophy hunting, Welcome to the Hunter's Cabin
Trophy hunting can be frustrating, time consuming and sometimes downright ridiculous. You might replay the same mission several times because you missed one collectible. You might spend hours grinding for a single trophy that seemed simple when you first started the game. But when that Platinum finally pops on your screen, all of that frustration suddenly feels worth it.
So, if you're looking to build your Platinum collection or simply want to make your trophy hunting journey a little easier, here are a few things I've learned along the way.
1. Start With the Trophy List
Before starting a new game, take a few minutes to look through its trophy list. You don't need to memorise every trophy, but it's worth checking whether the game contains anything that could cause problems later.
Some trophies are missable. Others require you to make specific choices, play on a certain difficulty or complete particular objectives. There are also games that require multiple playthroughs, while others include online trophies that can become difficult if the player base disappears.
Knowing this before you start can save you a lot of frustration later. There is nothing worse than reaching the end of a 30 hour game only to discover that you missed something near the beginning and now have to play through the entire game again.
A few minutes of preparation can save you hours of unnecessary work.
2. Know What You're Getting Yourself Into
One of the biggest mistakes a trophy hunter can make is starting a game without knowing how demanding the Platinum is.
Not every Platinum is created equally. Some games can be completed over a weekend, while others can take dozens or even hundreds of hours. Some require incredible skill, while others are mostly about patience and grinding.
Before committing yourself to a game, think about how much time you're realistically willing to spend on it. If a Platinum is going to take 100 hours and you already have a busy schedule, maybe that isn't the game you should start right now.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with going after an easier Platinum.
3. Don't Be Afraid to Use a Guide
There is sometimes a strange idea among trophy hunters that using a guide somehow makes the Platinum less meaningful. I don't agree with that.
Trophy guides exist for a reason. Some games hide collectibles in places you would probably never think to look, while others have trophies with extremely specific requirements that you may never discover naturally.
Using a guide doesn't mean you're skipping the experience. It simply means you're saving yourself from unnecessary frustration. You can still enjoy the story and explore the game on your own while using a guide when you need a little help.
Speaking of guides, here at the Hunters Cabin we got guides provided.
4. Enjoy the Game
This might sound obvious, but it's surprisingly easy to forget.
When you're focused on trophies, you can start seeing the game as a list of objectives rather than something you're supposed to enjoy. Instead of exploring because you want to, you're exploring because there's a collectible somewhere. Instead of playing a side mission because you're interested in it, you're doing it because the trophy list told you to.
Don't let the trophy list completely take over the experience.
Enjoy the story. Explore the world. Try the side quests. Take screenshots. Mess around with the mechanics. Sometimes the best Platinum's are the ones where you genuinely enjoyed playing the game rather than simply rushing toward the trophy notification.
A good example of this for me is the Borderlands series. I first started playing Borderlands 2 without really understanding what was going on with the story or the world, but I was playing it with friends, and that was enough to keep me going. We eventually finished the story together, and that was pretty much where my Borderlands journey ended for a while.
Years later, when Borderlands 3 was released, I came across a video called The Timeline of Borderlands, which completely changed how I looked at the series. I became genuinely interested in the lore and the world behind the games, and after watching it, I was hooked. I ended up buying Borderlands 3 and, before I knew it, I wasn't just playing it for the story anymore I was going for the Platinum.
I eventually earned the Platinum on both the PS4 and PS5 versions. And now, as I'm writing this, I'm saving Borderlands 4 for what I hope will be my 110th Platinum. Funny enough, a series I originally played without really understanding has now become one of the highlights of my trophy-hunting journey.
5. Take a Break When You Need One
Perhaps the most important lesson for any trophy hunter is knowing when to put the controller down.
Trophy hunting is supposed to be fun, but it can eventually start feeling like a job. You spend hours chasing trophies, get frustrated with one particular challenge and then force yourself to keep playing because you don't want to stop until the Platinum is yours.
That's when burnout can start creeping in. Your source highlights this exact problem, pointing out that constantly chasing trophies or forcing yourself through games you no longer enjoy can drain the fun out of gaming.
Taking a break doesn't mean you've given up. Sometimes you simply need to play something else for a while. Come back tomorrow, next week or even next month.
The game isn't going anywhere.
6. Don’t Compare Your Collection to Everyone Else
It’s really easy to look at someone else’s trophy profile and start comparing yourself. You see someone with 200 Platinums while you have 30, or they have a rare Platinum that you haven’t earned, and suddenly your own collection doesn’t feel as impressive anymore. But honestly, trophy hunting isn’t a race. Everyone plays at their own pace, and there’s no finish line you need to reach before someone else does.
Your trophy collection is your own gaming journey, and every Platinum has a story behind it. Some might have taken you a weekend, while others took weeks of grinding, frustration and probably a few moments where you seriously considered giving up. It doesn't matter if someone else has more trophies than you. What matters is the games you played, the challenges you overcame and, most importantly, whether you actually enjoyed earning them. At the end of the day, your collection only needs to mean something to you.
Hello Trophy hunter, if you are reading this I got one question for you.
What’s the longest you’ve ever spent chasing ONE trophy? 👀
Me? Well, let just say it was Cyberpunk… but more on that on a different upcoming post… hint hint.