Let’s be real. Most people who start playing Baby Steps end up staring at their controller in a state of pure, unadulterated disbelief. You’re playing as Nate, a guy who hasn't left his basement in years, and suddenly you’re tasked with the simple act of... walking. But in this game, walking is a Herculean feat of physics, balance, and patience. If you’re here, you’re likely looking for a Baby Steps trophy guide because you realized that getting that Platinum isn't just about moving forward; it’s about surviving the most literal "walking simulator" ever conceived.
The developers over at Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, and Bennett Foddy (the mind behind Getting Over It) didn't make this easy. If you’ve played Foddy’s previous work, you know the vibe. It’s frustrating. It’s funny. It’s weirdly philosophical. Earning trophies in this game feels less like a digital reward and more like a badge of psychological resilience.
Why This Isn't Your Typical Platinum Run
Usually, you grab a guide, follow a checklist, and pop! There’s your Platinum. Not here. Baby Steps uses a physics-based control scheme where each trigger on your controller corresponds to a specific foot. L2 for the left foot, R2 for the right. Sounds simple? Try doing that while navigating a narrow mountain ridge or stepping over a particularly aggressive rock. The physics engine is unforgiving. If you lean too far forward, Nate faceplants. If you’re too cautious, you never make progress.
To actually make use of a Baby Steps trophy guide, you have to first accept that you are going to fall. A lot. Thousands of times, probably. The trophies are cleverly designed to mock your failures while rewarding your persistence. Some are tied to literal distance, while others require you to interact with the bizarre flora and fauna of the world in ways that aren't immediately obvious.
Navigating the Terrain: Key Trophy Clusters
Most of the trophies in Baby Steps fall into three distinct buckets. You’ve got your progression-based ones, your "skill" (if you can call it that) feats, and the purely ridiculous Easter eggs.
The Long Walk Home
The "Distance" trophies are the ones that will likely take the longest. They track every single successful step Nate takes. Honestly, it’s kinda cruel. You’ll find trophies for 1,000 steps, 10,000 steps, and so on. There is no shortcut here. You can’t just rubber-band your controller because the game requires constant, active input to maintain balance. It’s a grind, but it’s a grind that feels earned.
Pro tip: Don't overthink the rhythm. It’s tempting to try and sprint by mashed triggers, but that almost always leads to a tumble. Think of it like a slow, rhythmic drum beat. Left. Right. Left. Right. Breathe.
Interaction and Exploration
Then you have the trophies that require you to actually look at the world around you. There are specific spots where Nate can sit down or interact with the environment. Bennett Foddy loves hiding these. Look for "The Zen Moment" type trophies. These usually involve finding a scenic overlook and just... existing there for a minute without falling over.
One of the trickiest trophies involves navigating a specific patch of "slippery" terrain without falling a single time. It feels impossible at first. You’ll slip, Nate will make a pathetic sound, and you’ll have to restart from the last checkpoint. The trick is to keep your center of gravity incredibly low. Use the analog sticks to shift Nate's weight backward as you descend. It’s counterintuitive, but it works.
The Secret To Staying Sane
The biggest hurdle in any Baby Steps trophy guide isn't the controls; it's the mental fatigue. The game is designed to be "foddian"—a term gamers use to describe games that are intentionally frustrating to create a sense of accomplishment.
When you lose thirty minutes of progress because you mistimed a step on a cliffside, your first instinct will be to quit. Don't. Take a break. The game saves your general progress, and often, coming back with "fresh legs" makes the physics feel more intuitive. Nate’s movements are sloppy because he’s out of shape, but your inputs shouldn't be.
Those "Wait, I Can Do That?" Trophies
There’s a trophy involving a goat. I won’t spoil the context, but if you see a goat, try to follow it. Most players ignore the wildlife because they’re too focused on not falling, but the wildlife often leads to the most missable trophies in the game.
Also, pay attention to Nate’s dialogue. He talks to himself constantly. Sometimes, his rambling contains hints about what you should be doing or where you should be going. If he mentions something about a "shortcut," he’s probably lying, but exploring that lie usually leads to a hidden collectible or a trophy trigger.
Technical Mastery: It’s All in the Triggers
To really excel and clear the trophy list, you have to master the "Half-Press." The triggers on the PS5 DualSense are haptic. In Baby Steps, the depth of your press matters. A full press is a heavy, committed step. A light press is a probe.
- The Probe: Lightly press L2 to see where the foot will land. If the controller vibrates violently, that’s bad ground.
- The Plant: Once you find a safe spot, commit to the press.
- The Lean: Use the left stick to lean into the step. If you're going uphill, lean forward. Downhill? Lean back.
It sounds like a workout because it basically is a mental one.
Hidden Mechanics and Misconceptions
A common misconception is that the "Fall Count" trophy is something you should avoid. Actually, there's usually a trophy for hitting a massive number of falls. The game wants you to fail. It celebrates the failure. Don't restart your save just because you feel like you're playing poorly. Embrace the clumsiness.
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Another thing: the hat. Nate’s hat is more than a fashion statement. There are trophies related to keeping your "dignity" intact, which often translates to keeping that hat on your head during specific sections. If it knocks off, you might miss a trigger.
Your Actionable Path to the Platinum
Forget about rushing. This isn't a speedrun game—at least not for your first trophy pass. To efficiently clear the Baby Steps trophy guide requirements, you need a specific mindset.
- First Playthrough: Focus entirely on getting to the end. Don't worry about missable trophies. Just learn the language of the physics. You’ll naturally unlock about 40% of the trophies just by finishing the "story."
- The Clean-up: Use the chapter select (if available) or backtrack to hit specific milestones. This is when you go for the "Distance" and "Interaction" trophies.
- The Physics Grind: Spend an hour just practicing the "slope slide" mechanic. There’s a trophy for sliding a certain distance without dying, and it’s much easier once you understand how to tilt Nate’s torso to steer.
Check your "Steps Taken" counter in the menu regularly. If you're close to a milestone, keep walking in a safe area until it pops. It’s boring, but it’s effective. Finally, keep an eye on the environment for any "out of place" objects. A lone trash can or a weirdly shaped tree is almost always a trophy trigger in a Foddy-designed world.
Stick with it. The frustration is the point. When that final Platinum notification appears, it won't just be because you played a game; it'll be because you mastered the simple, beautiful, and incredibly annoying art of putting one foot in front of the other.