Welcome to the most anticipated game of all time, Half-Life: Alyx. Valve knew that they had a high standard to reach, and they absolutely did. This game is all it's been hyped up to be. It's an absolute masterpiece, might we say the best VR game yet.

Please read the entire introduction as it does have a lot of important information regarding the game before starting it (no spoilers or anything here).

One tip: don't use teleportation mode. There are multiple problems with this: it's not as immersive and sometimes when using it you can actually miss story-related achievement triggers. Smooth locomotion is much more immersive, reliable, and action-packed, and if you're still new to VR this is a good time to get used to this mode of movement since this is a pretty long game, especially for VR.

There's only a couple achievements to be aware of before beginning the game. First, there is an achievement for smashing 50 glass bottles so make sure to smash every bottle you see for the first few chapters of the game. This achievement counts across save files, unlike in past Half-Life games with stat-based achievements. Second, there is an achievement for bringing a gnome from start to finish, just like in Half-Life 2: Episode Two. We have indicated where you can find this gnome in big bold text under the Chapter 1 section of this guide. Every achievement is listed in the order that you should get them, but there are some more general combat-related achievements that can be obtained across many different points in the game.

It should be quite obvious, but you may find some minor spoilers by viewing this guide. We do detail when each story-related achievement unlocks, which could ruin a little bit of surprise for some. There is no spoiler text in this guide. View at your own risk. Note that we will do our best not to give away any major plot-points, however.

On one final note, for those wondering, there is indeed a chapter select. So, if you miss any of these achievements, you can start a new game on the chapter with the achievement you missed. Many of the chapters are quite long, but this is at least better than running through the entire game again.

Without further ado, let's get into the long-awaited Half-Life: Alyx!

Upon launching Half-Life: Alyx for the first time, this achievement should pop before even reaching the main menu screen. This achievement was previously thought to possibly have only a 2-week unlock window in 2020, but luckily for us, it seems it's here to stay for good.

Chapter 1 has no combat. But it has plenty of easy achievements! The name is a reference to the Half-Life 2 chapter of the same name, chapter 9a.







At the very end of Chapter 1, in the area where you first get the gun and learn to use the gravity gloves, do NOT go on the train yet! There is a gnome here, and you need to bring it to the end of the game for the Gnome Vault of My Own achievement. You cannot put the gnome in your wrist pockets, which is what makes this achievement annoying. However, the Half-Life 2: Episode Two gnome achievement is probably more difficult to complete. You can either do a second playthrough later on story mode difficulty (to speed things up), or grab it now and just do a single playthrough of the game. This is a full-length VR game, so it will take many more hours if you choose to do this later. However, you may find it more valuable to have a normal first playthrough. Note that a story mode difficulty playthrough will be much, much quicker; you might end up with 1000 ammo in your pistol and/or SMG by the end of the game. You can one-shot headcrabs, zombies and combine die in just two pistol shots, and combine heavies die with just one shotgun blast.

As a word of advice for the gnome; ALWAYS hold onto it without letting go on load screens. Keep your hand in the same position. Most of the time it isn't an issue, but it can disappear between sections after load screens.

Chapter 2 begins when you wake up on the train.

Chapter 3 begins just after the meeting with the vortigaunt.

Chapter 4 begins shortly after the interaction with Eli and the vortigaunt, which happens after the train crash you caused.

There isn't really any achievements in this chapter to worry about. You could get the achievement Indirect Approach at a couple points here, however.

Chapter 5 begins just inside the Northern Star hotel. This is the longest chapter in the game, but it's one of the coolest parts.

If you are doing a gnome run, do not leave the gnome outside expecting to see it once you exit the hotel. It's technically a different map once you're out of the hotel. So, bring it in with you.






There are a few more good opportunities for Pro-Pain and Indirect Approach again if you missed either of these before.



If you still don't have Pro-Pain, Indirect Approach, Deadliest Catch, or Combine Harvester, there are still many, many opportunities throughout the rest of the game. You will still encounter lots of combine soldiers. We will not note when from now on, as it's not really necessary to.

Chapter 6 begins at the bottom of an elevator shaft, next to an upgrade station above a lot of things below. Luckily, there's not much in terms of achievements to worry about in this chapter.

Chapter 7 begins once you enter the distillery.




A quick reminder; if you were waiting to do Near-Jeff Experience at the end, now is the time!



Before moving on to the next chapter, be sure to put a bottle of vodka into your wrist storage. You'll need it for the Team Spirit achievement that is unlocked at the beginning of the next chapter.

Chapter 8 begins in the cave, just after you've escaped from the distillery.


From now on, the rest of the achievements in the game are story-related and unmissable, with the sole exception of the gnome achievement if you are currently working on it within your first playthrough.

Chapter 9 begins in a sewer, in front of a tall ladder to the surface.

Chapter 10 begins just after exiting the tanker yard through the door with the electrical puzzle (in other words, directly after the Triple Bypass achievement unlocks).


If you are doing a playthrough with the gnome, make sure that when you take down the Vault that you hold onto the gnome. There is a brief period where the screen fades to black, but the load screen has not yet begun. Do not let go of him, no matter what! You'll lose him and have to reload a save otherwise.


This elevator section can be finicky for the gnome, even if you hold him in your hands. Try just placing him down on the box to make sure he doesn't disappear.

Chapter 11 is the final chapter in the game, and begins just after being sucked into the Vault. Just enjoy the ending, pretty much! The name is reference to the first chapter of Half-Life 2, called "Point Insertion."