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Phantom Blade Zero Doesn’t Have an Achievement for Beating Its Hardest Mode; A Growing Trend in the Games Industry Is to Blame
Phantom Blade Zero will not award an achievement for completing its hardest mode, 66 Days Mode, which gives players 66 chances to finish the campaign after completing it once. The writer argues that this reflects a growing trend of developers making achievement lists easier to complete, as some players now consider trophy availability when deciding what to buy.
The article presents this as an opinion informed by the writer’s conversations with developers and one achievement-focused player, rather than a survey of the industry. It links the trend to players finding checklist-style goals satisfying but stressful when completion is uncertain, and argues that achievement hunting can encourage games to prioritise repetitive tasks over discovery.
In short
- Phantom Blade Zero’s hardest mode has no achievement.
- Developers are making trophy lists more approachable.
- The writer says this may encourage checklist-driven play.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Leaving the hardest mode without an achievement can preserve its challenge as an optional experience, rather than turning it into another checklist obligation. Developers may reasonably make achievements attainable for more players, since some find uncertain or highly repetitive completion goals stressful; designing for those players can make a game more welcoming.
The case against
A demanding achievement for 66 Days Mode could give committed players a clear way to mark mastery and make the mode’s unusual challenge feel meaningful. If developers increasingly ease or omit such goals because completion might be stressful, achievement-focused players may feel their preferences are being overlooked, and the rewards may offer less encouragement to explore difficult or varied play.