The Most Time-Consuming Gaming Achievements Ever Created

13 July 2026

Gaming is supposed to be fun, right? A way to unwind, immerse yourself in a new world, or blow off some steam after a long day. But some achievements out there literally ask for your soul—or at least what feels like it. These are the digital Everest climbs, the pixelated marathons that test not just your skill, but your sheer willpower and patience.

In this article, we’re diving into the most time-consuming gaming achievements ever created. We’re talking about the kind of stuff that takes hundreds, even thousands of hours. Whether you're a completionist looking to check every box or just curious about the digital madness lurking out there, buckle up—this one's for the long haulers.

What Makes a Gaming Achievement "Time-Consuming"?

Before we dive into the heavy hitters, let’s clarify what we mean by "time-consuming". It's not just about being hard. These achievements eat up your calendar—requiring grind, repetition, or absurd tasks that stretch on forever.

Here are some typical criteria:

- Massive grind: Endless farming, collecting, or repeating.
- Luck-based goals: RNGesus, take the wheel.
- Large multiplayer requirements: Hard to pull off solo.
- Skill + time balance: You can’t just be good—you need to stay good… for 300 hours.

Alright, with that in mind, let’s crank up the difficulty slider and get into those legendary time sinks!

1. Seriously 3.0 – Gears of War 3

Let’s start with a legendary one. If you ever tried this on Xbox, you already know the pain.

What is it?
You have to complete every onyx medal in Gears of War 3. That includes getting 6000 kills with each weapon type, reviving teammates thousands of times, playing hundreds of matches in different game modes, and so much more.

How long does it take?
We’re talking 600–800+ hours for most players. And that’s if you’re not slacking.

Why it hurts:
It’s not just the time—it's how mind-numbingly repetitive it gets. Just imagine grinding kills with weapons you don’t even like for weeks.

2. The Platinum Trophy – Gran Turismo 5

You’d think racing games wouldn’t make the cut here… but oh boy, this one’s a doozy.

What is it?
To get the elusive Platinum Trophy in GT5, you’ve got to win every race, earn gold in each license event (some of which are soul-crushing), and complete a massive chunk of the game's ridiculously demanding endurance races.

How long does it take?
Over 1000 hours. And that's if you’re really good at sim racing.

Biggest time sink?
The 24-hour endurance races. Yes, real time. Some players even built contraptions or used rubber bands to have their car run laps while they slept. That’s some next-level commitment.

3. 100% Completion – Red Dead Redemption 2

This game is a masterpiece, no doubt. But trying to 100% this wild west epic? It’s like trying to wrestle a bear with one arm tied behind your back.

What is it?
To hit 100% completion, you have to finish the main story, every stranger mission, collect every collectible (from dreamcatchers to dinosaur bones), and complete challenges ranging from hunting to sharpshooting to gambling.

Estimated time?
150–200+ hours if you’re efficient. But if you're taking your time (as most people do), it could be double that.

Why it’s a slog:
Many of the challenges are deeply specific and require you to go way out of your way. Think “kill 5 cougars with a bow while wearing a raccoon hat” kind of stuff.

4. Knight in Shining Armor – World of Warcraft

Ah, WoW—home of the never-ending to-do list.

What is it?
The "Insane in the Membrane" feat (which has since been changed and made a bit easier), along with older titles like “The Loremaster” or max reputation achievements, required players to reach exalted with factions nobody even remembers, some of which offer no real quest support.

Total grind time?
Easily 600+ hours. Some players spread it over years.

Insane in the membrane, huh?
Yeah, the name says it all. You’d kill tens of thousands of enemies just to raise your standing with some obscure pirate faction.

5. Golden Touch – The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

This one’s a bit obscure but deserves mention just for the sheer absurdity.

What is it?
Obtain one million gold. That’s right—ONE. MILLION.

How hard is that?
In a game where the average item sells for a few coins and you can spend hours just looting tombs to come out with 500 gold… it’s a nightmare. You basically need to become the Tamriel equivalent of a stock trader.

Time sink?
Estimated at 300 hours with smart grinding. More if you're not aggressively hoarding and selling.

6. The Grind – Runescape

Old School Runescape players, brace yourselves—we can’t skip this.

What is it?
Getting all skills to level 99. That’s 23 skills, each requiring hours upon hours of clicking, grinding, and sometimes staring aimlessly at a virtual tree.

How long we talkin’?
2,000–5,000 hours depending on method, efficiency, and updates.

Fun fact:
Some players have even hit the mythical level 120 in certain skills on Runescape 3, which can take 10,000+ hours. That’s like… working a full-time job for five years.

7. Mile High Club – Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Okay, this one isn’t long in hours—but we’re including it because it’s pure pain.

What is it?
Complete the final mission "Mile High Club" on Veteran difficulty.

Time requirement?
For some, 20 minutes. For others… days.

Why it sucks:
It’s brutally hard, filled with RNG, tight timing, and pinpoint accuracy. You could spend 10 hours replaying the same 60-second mission over and over. And somehow, it never gets less frustrating.

8. Reaching Rank 50 – Battlefield: Bad Company 2

The achievement is simple in name, but man—it’s brutal.

What is it?
Get to Rank 50 in multiplayer.

Time?
Between 400–600 hours depending on how good (and lucky) you are in matches.

The kicker:
The XP required ramps up massively at the higher ranks. Plus, if you're not consistently topping the leaderboard, you’ll crawl to the finish line.

9. 100% Sync – Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood

Ezio might be cool, but this achievement will test your inner monk.

What is it?
Achieve 100% synchronization in every mission—main and side. That includes bonus objectives like “don’t get detected,” “complete in under 3 minutes,” and “don’t kill civilians.”

Time?
65–100+ hours.

Why it makes you cry:
It often requires re-doing entire missions just to get minor objectives. And sometimes, one mistake means restarting from scratch. It's basically stealth bootcamp… in Italy.

10. Starcraft II’s Brutal Campaign Mastery

Real-time strategy fans, this one’s for you.

What is it?
Complete all campaign missions on the brutal difficulty setting and fulfill their respective achievements.

Sounds easy?
Think again. The moment you mess up your build order, you’re toast. The AI is ruthless.

Time cost?
100–200+ hours depending on skill level.

Mental cost?
A few broken keyboards and a newfound respect for esports pros.

Why Do Players Go After These Brutal Achievements?

That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Why willingly sink hundreds—or even thousands—of hours into something most people won't even notice on your profile?

Here’s the thing: it’s not just about bragging rights. For many, these achievements become personal milestones. Like finishing a marathon. It hurts, it's exhausting, but dang it… when you see that 100% pop-up? It’s like fireworks in your brain.

And let’s not forget the community. Forums, Reddit threads, YouTube guides—these achievements bring players together, all chasing the same impossible dream.

Final Thoughts: Worth the Time?

Honestly? That’s up to you. If you love a challenge—if grinding pixelated hours brings you joy—then go for it. But remember this: life’s short, and games are meant to be fun. If an achievement starts feeling more like a second job, maybe it’s okay to let that one go.

But hey, hats off to all you digital warriors out there who’ve earned these notoriously brutal feats. You've got patience, persistence, and a whole lot of free time—we salute you.