American Thief 80s includes 30 achievements, which requires at least one playthrough of the main story mode and one of the sandbox mode. There are vehicles and property to buy, requests and reputations to farm, photos to take and money to earn.

It took me approximately 67 hours to unlock all achievements and this includes playing the game twice as I missed out on one of the endings during my first play through. Also, some of this time was spent focused on drafting content for American Thief 80s game guides. If you can unlock everything in one playthrough and grab the 20 Golden VHS in sandbox mode in around 5 hours, I'd put the 100% completion time for the average gamer at about 50 hours.

The time it will take to unlock all achievements will greatly depend on:

• how you handle frustrating game mechanics which result in needing to reload your game many, many times,
  
• whether you need one or two playthroughs to unlock both game endings,
  
• how long it takes you to complete the sandbox mode, and
  
• your level of experience with Thief Simulator 1 & 2, as this game builds on the mechanics in those games.

The greatest challenge of unlocking all achievements has nothing to do with difficulty. There is nothing hard about the game. What's challenging is running up against poorly implemented and frustrating game mechanics that will make you question whether you want to unlock all the achievements.

• You can ransack a house moving items and dropping loot all over the place, leaving windows broken or open and no one cares. But forget to relock a single external or internal door and NPCs lose their minds. You'll have the equivalent of a GTA 5-star wanted level and the police will appear immediately. If you're not hiding they'll run to you instantly, beat you up and it's game over. Time to reload your last save.
  
• You have infinite stamina while exploring the map which enables you to run everywhere, but as soon the police are looking for you your ability to run is limited. The police don't have these limitations and easily outpace you, meaning you cannot outrun the cops. They'll easily catch up to you, then a fight ensures and it's game over.
  
• NPCs can hear you walk on carpeted floors and hear through walls, even in adjoining buildings. They can also see you doing shady stuff from across the map. When any of these things happen the awareness indicator will turn orange or red. On Thief difficulty it always turns red and they'll call the police who arrive, hunt you and when they find you, they'll put you down. That's another game over.
  
• When NPCs fight you they have infinite stamina but you only have enough to fight them off once. If you knock them to the ground they'll get straight back up and reengage you in the fight. By this time you'll be exhausted so it's another game over.
  
• If you spook an NPC they can run through a door you've just unlocked, but when it slams shut behind them its automatically locked - even if you've knocked the knob off with a hammer - meaning you need to spend precious time before the police arrive to unlock it so you can escape, otherwise it will invariably be another game over.

If you can overcome these poorly implemented game mechanics then you'll be well on your way to unlocking all achievements.

There are two endings for the game, a good ending and a bad ending. The bad ending is missable. The ending section describes what you should do to get both endings in one playthrough.

UNMISSABLE

Complete the main missions, side missions and requests to earn money. Steal things and sell them. Earn $700, $5,000, $15,000 and finally $80,000 to unlock these four achievements.

Better neighborhoods open up as you progress through the game. You start out in the 700s stealing items worth a couple of bucks, then move into the 600s, 400s, 500s and finally the 800s. By the end of the game you'll be stealing items worth thousands of dollars each.

Check my guide on locations, routines, items and hints if you want to know where to go and what to steal. https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3460888947

UNMISSABLE

Hand in items requested by NPCs. Finish 5, 10, 15, 20 and finally 25 requests to unlock these five achievements. If you're struggling with this, see my guide on the 47 requests available in the game which includes who offers them, when they become available and what the NPCs want.

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3459772264

UNMISSABLE

You'll be able to purchase vehicles from Raymond's Garage in Shady Woods Town as you progress through main story missions. Buy all of them to unlock these five achievements.

--- Ram Transporter ---





The Ram Transporter is the first vehicle available to purchase, is required for The Warehouse Job and costs $2,700. It is capable of storing 4 large items, an upgrade over the Aisan Lory's 2 storage slots.

--- Viper 81 ---





The Viper 81 is the second vehicle to purchase, is available after completing The Warehouse Job and costs $4,500.

--- Benton Kidd ---





The Benton Kidd is the third vehicle to purchase, is required for Party Hard and costs $31,500.

--- Time Traveler ---





The Time Traveler is the fourth vehicle to purchase, is available after completing Evidence Gathering and costs $9,000.

--- Luxardo Beretti ---





The Luxardo Beretti is the fifth and final vehicle to purchase, is available after completing Welcome to my Crib and costs $36,000.

UNMISSABLE

You'll be able to purchase real estate in Cedar Drive, Industrial Street and Shady Woods Town as you progress through the main story. Buy it all to unlock these three achievements. Properties you buy offer the same services as hotels.

Note 1: you are not told about the houses, nor do they have any impact on the game. None of the main story missions, side missions or requests take you to these locations.

Note 2: buying two or more properties may change the main story's ending and it may also impact your ability to unlock one of the endings. See the endings section for more details.

--- Hut Estate ---





The Hut Estate is located in Cedar Drive and costs $1,000.

--- Medium House Estate ---





The Medium House Estate is located in Industrial Street and costs $15,000.

--- Big House Estate ---





The Big House Estate is located in Shady Woods Town and costs $55,000.

UNMISSABLE

Throughout the game you'll be working for the Stacks and Raymond & Son. Complete main story missions, side missions and requests to increase your reputation with these two groups. You receive a perk at Trusted status and another one on reaching Revered status. Get Revered status with both groups to unlock these two achievements.



The Stacks control Bar 66 in Cedar Drive and during the quest Climbing the Ladder you will need to demonstrate your loyalty by gaining Trusted status with them. This enables you to sell items to the Pawn Shop for 10% more. At Revered status it will cost you 10% less to buy new gear at a Pawn Shop.





Raymond and Son control the garage and VHS shop in Shady Woods Town and during the quest Climbing the Ladder you will need to demonstrate your loyalty by gaining Trusted status with them. This enables you to buy vehicles for 10% less. At Revered status this discount increases to 20%.



Check out my other guides to see which main story missions, side quests and requests increase reputation with which faction.
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3460803034
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3459772264

UNMISSABLE

Throughout the game you may come across several peculiar scenes. Five of these are tied to achievements which need to be photographed. Find the location, take the photo and the corresponding achievement will be unlocked.

See ZelosZalis' guide for where to find these locations.
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2823019872
Note: the instant camera becomes available late in the game during the Party Hard mission and costs $10,440.

UNMISSABLE



After each burglary the game will rate your performance on an S, A, B, C, D, E, F scale, F being the worst and S the best. Achieve an S-tier ranking for 30 burglaries to unlock the achievement.

A couple of pointers:

• Your performance on the burglary greatly impacts the ranking you receive. If you're seen, heard, or the police are called then you'll receive a poor ranking. Whereas if you get in and out and nobody sees or hears you then you'll receive a much better ranking.
  
• The area codes give you an idea of the difficulty of the job. The 700s and 600s are the easiest to rob with the basic equipment, 400s and 500s are mid-tier and the 800s need the best equipment that comes late in the game.
  
• The number of items does impact the ranking, but not too much. A perfectly executed burglary that results in 5 items being stolen can easily earn you an S-tier ranking.
  
• Choose your targets wisely. Scope out an area before attempting a burglary and use the best equipment you have to get the job done.
  
• Buying intel helps, but save your money. Check out my locations, routines, items and hints guide instead!

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3460888947

UNMISSABLE



You buy the Crowbar very early in your playthrough and opening 30 windows with it may come naturally as you play. However, if you constantly get caught in the act there is an easy way to complete this achievement with low risk.

Head over to 705 at 1200 (from 1200 to 1800 one resident is out and the other is in the front garden).


Back your car up to the ramp at the fence of the property underneath the wooden ramp. Use your car and the ramp to enter the property.


There are 3 windows that can be opened without being disturbed. To reset the windows, leave the property via the ramp/car and run to the carpark of the Pawn Shop. Save the game on your way back through. Rinse and repeat.

There are two other windows you can open as part of the loop, but these do come with some risk as they face the road and have cars and foot traffic on them.


There is a parking lot directly in front of you so it's easy to reset the time to 1200. Also, don't forget to repair your Crowbar every few loops, as if you don't it will break and you'll need to spend $400 and buy another one.

UNMISSABLE



To unlock this achievement you need to win 20 melee encounters.

Melee combat in this game has been poorly implemented. It is the most frustrating element of the game you'll likely come across during a playthrough which will require many reloads.

A male NPC will give chase and try to fight you if they:

• catch you in the act of stealing,
  
• see you in a location you shouldn't be in (e.g. someone's yard),
  
• see you immediately after you've jumped out of a building or landed on the ground, and
  
• see you wearing burglary clothes.

When this happens you'll instantly become wanted by the police who will appear and also try to catch you. A fight sequence will start if the male NPC catches you. They'll grab you and you'll need to fight them off by mashing the left mouse button. While doing this, a meter will appear and begin to rise quickly as you'll start getting fatigued.

• if the meter fills to 100% you'll become fatigued, loose the fight and need to reload your game.
  
• if you knock your opponent to the ground they'll immediately get back up and continue fighting, meanwhile you'll be heavily fatigued unable to continue fighting and need to reload your game.
  
• if you try to run away after knocking your opponent to the ground they'll get back up and likely recatch you and you'll need to reload your game.
  
• if you manage to knock out your opponent you'll likely be caught by the police who start to fight you, or worse, taser you, and you'll need to reload your game.

Needless to say this is incredibly frustrating, particularly given the game does not autosave after a fight. Therefore, to unlock this achievement you need to win a fight, hide until you are no longer wanted, save the game and repeat. 20 times. Saving between fights ensures you won't loose all your progress towards unlocking this achievement if something goes wrong.

--- Easiest way to unlock the achievement ---

After much trial and error, the easiest way I found to unlock this trophy was to equip the burglary clothes and head over to the Music Shop.



Enter the Music Shop and instantly get into a fight with the Shop Manager. Beat him and run to your car.



Follow the road around in a big circle back to the Music Shop while avoiding the police.



Your wanted status and fatigue meter will disappear by the time you get back to the Music Shop. At the start of the loop park your car on the road, save your game and re-enter the Music Shop to repeat the process. It takes about a minute or two per loop. You should only need to reload if you get rammed by the police.

UNMISSABLE



This achievement is unlocked in sandbox mode and requires you to collect all 20 Golden VHS. The tapes are randomly spread around the game world and their general location is visible on the map. There is a counter in the top left of your screen keeping score of the number of tapes collected and when one is collected its general location will disappear from the map. The tapes will be in a different location each time you start a new game.

Sandbox mode changes from the base game include:

• Your character will have all skills unlocked at the start of the game, but no gear and no money.
  
• You have no reputation with the Stacks or Raymond & Son meaning you'll pay full price for gear at the Pawn Shop. (NPCs still offer requests so you can improve reputation with both groups).
  
• There is no save feature (autosaves only).
  
• Some keys may be missing from their locations in the story mode.
  
• Tenant routines are now random and no longer display their locations. What is now displayed is either a red or green routine; red means they're home and green means they're out.
  
• Security controls for properties are random each time you load your safe file. (e.g. a building may be protected with a DIY lockpick and the next time you log in it may have cameras and alarmed windows).

Tips to start earning some scratch:

• Jump the back fence of 703 and steal items lying around. Head to 701 and grab the items on the table under the porch and in the back yard. Sell the items at the Pawn Shop and buy a few DIY lockpicks ($12 each).
  
• Reverse your car up to the fence at the back of 705 and use it to enter the property, unlock the door and head upstairs. Grab the guitar and other loot.
  
• Reverse your car up to the covered veranda at 706 and use it to gain access to the second story. Loot as much as you can and drop it on the end of the veranda. You'll be able to grab all the loot from the ground, or use the pot plant to reach it.
  
• Buy the electrician disguise ($150), head to 703, ring the bell, talk to the tenant and go inside. There is a lot to steal from 703 and it may take you several trips to the Pawn Shop. The electrician disguise also works at 701.
  
• Purchase the Glass Cutting Tool ($1,000). Head over to the abandoned building at 400, cut the glass to get inside and grab the monitor. Deliver it to the Merchant who will pay you $1,800.
  
• Buy 2x Floppy Disk ($200 each) and enter the police station by a window (use the Glass Cutting Tool). Access the computer and download the yellow file. Drive over to Shady Woods Town and visit Hunter at the VHS store. Deliver the Floppy Disc (misc menu) and he'll pay you $6,000.
  
• Buy a Lockpick ($1,600) and head to the bank. Enter the rear door and loot the items on the ground floor. There is at least $1,000 worth of loot lying around. Head upstairs when both guards are on the ground floor and loot everything you can. There is easily $2000 worth of loot here, including a $800 computer that can be thrown out the window facing the arcade.
  
• Buy Electricians Tools ($5,000) and return to the bank. Head upstairs, enter the room directly in front of the stairs, cut the power and hack the computer. Deliver the Floppy Disc to Hunter for another $6,000.

The two possible endings for the game - the 'good' one and the 'bad' one - are not impacted by how you played the game, how successful you are as a thief or what skills were unlocked. Instead, they are based purely on how many vehicles and properties were purchased during the game.

• If you brought all vehicles and properties as soon as you had the money then by default you'll unlock the good ending and need to replay the whole game to unlock the bad ending.
  
• If you didn't buy any property and only the required vehicles then you'll unlock the bad ending. After the credits roll and you've returned to the game world you can buy the remaining vehicles and at least two of the properties, redo the final quest and unlock the good ending. No second playthrough is required for you.

No Promotion (bad ending)



MISSABLE

To get the bad ending and unlock this achievement you must not buy all 5 vehicles.

Into the Sunset (good ending)



UNMISSABLE

To get the good ending and unlock this achievement you must buy all 5 vehicles and at least 2 properties.

Reach out in the comments below if you have any questions or comments on the achievements in the game.