Returnal Trophy Guide: All PS5 Trophies and How to Get the Platinum

In this Returnal Trophy roadmap, we're going to reveal how to unlock the Platinum Trophy in this PS5 exclusive shooter. As part of our Returnal guide, we're going to outline all the Trophies in the game — including those added with the Ascension expansion — complete with their descriptions and how to get each one. We've also included a Trophy roadmap, outlining the general order in which you can obtain the Trophies as you play through Returnal.

Returnal: How to Get the Platinum Trophy

Returnal's Trophy list looks fairly straightforward, but that doesn't mean it won't take you a while to get the Platinum. As there are no difficulty settings, there aren't any "play on hard" Trophies to worry about. Having said that, Returnal is a tough game, and you'll die a lot as you slowly plug away at the Trophy list.

You'll unlock some basic Bronze Trophies early on, such as Eternal Return and Atropian Survival. Additionally, Failed Escape, Last Drive, and White Shadow will all unlock simply by progressing through the story, so you don't really need to concern yourself with these.

Things get a little more interesting with Welcome Home (play the first House sequence) and Second Chance (resurrect via an artefact), both of which are pretty simple but require slightly more thought. As you progress through the early game, you'll find Xenoglyph Ciphers (red glowing symbols) on the walls. Acquire as many of these as you can, and when you find a Xenoglyph, scan it to translate it. When you find enough Ciphers, you'll earn Cryptic Translations as well as Cryptic Messages — this won't take too long. Similarly, Alternate Fates will come pretty fast; finding 10 Scout Logs is straightforward enough.

Surgical Precision is one of those Trophies you'll probably unlock without thinking about it. You need to perform five successful Overloads in a row, which is something you'll get used to as your skills improve. Don't worry yourself about Adapting to Circumstance in the early game; you won't get to weapon proficiency level 30 until far later into the experience.

After that, it's a case of beating all the boss fights for Trophies like A Shadow in the Fog and Ascension, gathering simple trinkets like In-Field Training and Visions of the Past, and finishing those darn Survey Trophies. We're talking about the Gold awards like Past the Ruins, Ascending the Mountain, and Through the Forgotten City. These will take the longest to attain; they involve finding all the collectable items, like Scout Logs and Xenoglyph Ciphers, in a given biome. The trouble is, the game's maps are randomly generated, so there's no telling when or where you'll find them. These are Trophies you'll need to grind at over time. Fortunately, you can keep tabs on these Surveys via PS5's Activity Cards. For more information about Surveys, see our guide: Returnal: How to Complete Biome Surveys.

Returnal: All Trophies

The main game's Trophy list consists of 31 Trophies including the Platinum. There are an additional 7 Trophies, which were added as part of the Ascension expansion. These are not required in order to obtain the Platinum Trophy. We've listed the Ascension Trophies separately below.

Helios

Platinum: Collect all Trophies

As usual, you will unlock the Platinum Trophy in Returnal once you have completed the rest of the Trophy list.

Atropian Survival

Bronze: Learn the basics of survival on Atropos

This Trophy unlocks once you find the Atropian Blade early in the game.

Past the Ruins

Gold: Finish Overgrown Ruins Survey

Complete the Overgrown Ruins survey. For more information on finishing surveys, see our guide — Returnal: How to Complete Biome Surveys.

Ascending the Mountain

Gold: Finish Crimson Wastes Survey

Complete the Crimson Wastes survey. For more information on finishing surveys, see our guide — Returnal: How to Complete Biome Surveys.

Through the Forgotten City

Gold: Finish Derelict Citadel Survey

Complete the Derelict Citadel survey. For more information on finishing surveys, see our guide — Returnal: How to Complete Biome Surveys.

Echoes of the Past

Gold: Finish Echoing Ruins Survey

Complete the Echoing Ruins survey. For more information on finishing surveys, see our guide — Returnal: How to Complete Biome Surveys.

Frozen in Time

Gold: Finish Fractured Wastes Survey

Complete the Fractured Wastes survey. For more information on finishing surveys, see our guide — Returnal: How to Complete Biome Surveys.

Submerged in Memories

Gold: Finish Abyssal Scar Survey

Complete the Abyssal Scar survey. For more information on finishing surveys, see our guide — Returnal: How to Complete Biome Surveys.

A Shadow in the Fog

Bronze: Defeat Phrike

Beat Phrike, the boss of Overgrown Ruins. For some help and advice on boss fights, see our guide — Returnal: All Bosses and How to Beat Them.

Ascension

Bronze: Defeat Ixion

Beat Ixion, the boss of Crimson Wastes. For some help and advice on boss fights, see our guide — Returnal: All Bosses and How to Beat Them.

Trial by Judgement

Bronze: Defeat Nemesis

Beat Nemesis, the boss of Derelict Citadel. For some help and advice on boss fights, see our guide — Returnal: All Bosses and How to Beat Them.

Silence the Song

Bronze: Defeat Hyperion

Beat Hyperion, the boss of Echoing Ruins. For some help and advice on boss fights, see our guide — Returnal: All Bosses and How to Beat Them.

Inner Darkness

Bronze: Defeat Ophion

Beat Ophion, the boss of Abyssal Scar. For some help and advice on boss fights, see our guide — Returnal: All Bosses and How to Beat Them.

Failed Escape

Silver: Finish Act 1

Finish Act 1 of the story. This Trophy is unlocked as you progress through the game.

Last Drive

Silver: Finish Act 2

Finish Act 2 of the story. This Trophy is unlocked as you progress through the game.

White Shadow

Gold: Finish Act 3

Finish Act 3 of the story. This Trophy is unlocked as you progress through the game.

Second Chance

Bronze: Returned by an artefact

Some artefacts will resurrect you straight away when you die, allowing you to continue your current run. A couple of examples include the Astronaut Figurine and the Child's Watch. Look for these in Fabricators or in side rooms.

Cryptic Messages

Bronze: Scan a Xenoglyph

Find a Xenoglyph and scan it. These are stone tablets with some red glowing inscriptions on them.

Cryptic Translations

Bronze: Unlock all translation tiers of a Xenoglyph

Find red glowing symbols in the environment to unlock three tiers of translation for Xenoglyphs. These are called Xenoglyph Ciphers. Once you've found enough of them, you'll be able to fully translate a Xenoglyph, unlocking this Trophy.

Surgical Precision

Bronze: Perform 5 successful Overloads in a row

When you deplete the energy (ammo) from a weapon, it will need to cool down (reload) before you can keep shooting. A small bar appears onscreen with a window in the middle. To perform an Overload, press R2 when the meter is inside this window. Perform five Overloads in a row to get this Trophy.

Adapting to Circumstance

Silver: Achieve Weapon Proficiency level 30

Get your weapon proficiency up to level 30. Certain items like Calibrators can increase your proficiency, but you'll slowly build the meter by dispatching enemies. This Trophy is only achievable later on in the game.

In-Field Training

Bronze: Complete a daily challenge in Simulation Mode

Take part in the daily challenge mode. To learn more, see our guide — Returnal: How to Unlock Daily Challenge Mode.

Hardened Shell

Bronze: Achieve 200% Max Integrity

Double the size of your health bar during a run. You can do this with various items and collecting Resin to build up your integrity bar.

Risk Assessment

Bronze: Finish Calculated Risk

For this Trophy, you need to find and use the game's Malignant items. These are items that are beneficial to you, but have a chance to impact you negatively as well (or instead). Take enough chances on these items and you'll get the Trophy.

Adrenaline Spike

Bronze: Achieve maximum Adrenaline Level

Get to the maximum Adrenaline Level. Your Adrenaline Level increases as you kill enemies without taking damage yourself. The max level is 5.

Irreversibly Contaminated

Bronze: Have 5 Parasites simultaneously

Find and equip five Parasites all at once in one run.

Eternal Return

Bronze: Die for the first time

Suffer your first death. Safe to say you'll unlock this one fairly quickly.

Alternate Fates

Bronze: Retrieve 10 Scout Logs

Find 10 of the Scout Logs (audio logs) in the game. It doesn't matter which ones or in which order.

Welcome Home

Bronze: Complete the first House sequence

Find and play through the House for the first time. If you're unsure how to get inside the House, see our guide — Returnal: How to Get Into the House.

Sins of the Mother

Silver: Complete all House sequences

Play through every house sequence.

Visions of the Past

Silver: Complete a Xeno-archive set

Xeno-archives are large rooms containing 3D imagery of the planet's ancient civilisation. Find all the tableaus in one biome to pop this Trophy.

Returnal: Ascension: All Trophies

Below are the 7 Trophies added to the game as part of the Ascension update. All these Trophies relate to the Tower of Sisyphus. These are not required to obtain the Platinum. Please be wary of spoilers!

Eternal Ascent

Bronze: Die and return in the Tower

Here's an easy one. Simply die and respawn as you attempt to climb the Tower of Sisyphus.

The Watcher

Bronze: Defeat Algos' first form

Reach the new boss, Algos, and defeat its first form.

Eyes Closed

Bronze: Defeat Algos' final form

Reach Algos' final stage and defeat it.

Destroyer

Bronze: Kill 100 Hostiles with Disgorgers

Use the special weapon Disgorger to defeat 100 enemies in total.

Broken, Restored, Empty

Bronze: Complete the first Hospital sequence

The Hospital is much like the House in the main game. Find and enter the Hospital for the first time.

Empty Embrace

Silver: Open the Locked Door

Unlocked as you progress through the Hospital sequences.

Find Release

Gold: Gain a moment of peace

Another story-related Trophy.

Have you unlocked all the Trophies in Returnal yet? Let us know in the comments section below, and check out our Returnal guide for lots more information and advice on the game.