A beginner's system for tracking collectibles

Collectibles are where completion runs fall apart. It's rarely that items are hard to find. More often you lose track of which ones you already have. This system works in any game.

Use the game's own counter, but don't trust it alone

Most games show a total count, such as 37/50. That tells you how many are missing but not which ones. Pair it with a list where every item has its own entry.

Give every item a stable ID

Whether you use a spreadsheet, a notebook or the Neon Arcade Completion Centre, label each item consistently, by region and number for example (North-04). Stable IDs make it easy to match your progress against a guide later.

Log at the moment of pickup

The habit that matters most: mark it the moment you collect it, not at the end of the session. A second screen, such as a phone or tablet next to you, makes this a two-second job.

Record "seen but not collected"

Sometimes you'll spot an item you can't reach yet. Mark it with a separate status (seen, needs ability, blocked) instead of leaving it blank. Those are the first things to come back for once you unlock something new.

Review before you leave a region

Before fast-travelling away, check your list for that region. Thirty seconds of review saves a return trip.

Checklist

• One list entry per item, with a stable ID
• Mark items as collected immediately
• Use a "blocked" status for items you can't reach yet
• Review the list before leaving each region