Hail to the Rainbow doesn’t just tell a story—it hides a surprising amount of optional content, missable moments, and small interactions that quietly feed into the achievement list. Some unlock naturally as you play, while others require you to notice tiny details, revisit older chapters, or trigger scenes that are easy to walk past if you’re focused only on the main path.
This Hail to the Rainbow Beginner Guide is designed to make the entire process smooth and stress-free. Every achievement is organised in the order you encounter it, with clear instructions that let you clean up anything you missed without replaying large sections of the game. if you’re going for 100% on your first run or returning after the credits to finish the last few, this structure helps you track everything efficiently, understand where each achievement fits in the story, and avoid the common pitfalls that leave players searching chapter by chapter.
Global / “Anytime” Achievements
These don’t belong to a specific chapter, or are easily done in multiple places.
Nerve impulse lost
Requirement: Die 20 times.
You’ll almost certainly get this naturally over the course of the game. If not, reload a risky section and deliberately fail repeatedly (e.g., fall damage, enemies, or environmental hazards) until the counter reaches 20.
Photography enthusiast
Requirement: Spend time in Photo Mode.
Enter Photo Mode, stay there for a bit, and actively interact:
- Adjust angles
- Switch options
- Play with buttons/filters for a short while
The idea is to “use” the mode, not just open and close it instantly.
Smart
Requirement: Win 5 games of Tic-Tac-Toe.
You can find Tic-Tac-Toe on multiple PCs and terminals. A reliable spot early on is the PC in the bunker (Chapter 2).
Just:
- Start the game
- Win 5 times (you can repeat on the same machine)
You can reload if you draw or lose; only wins count.
Pilot
Requirement: Clear 7 levels of “Rooftops” mini-game.
Again, this is available on some PCs/terminals, including the bunker PC in Chapter 2.
Open the minigame and:
- Progress until you’ve completed 7 stages
- No need to do it in one sitting – failures don’t reset your progress count, just keep trying
Retro collection
Requirement: Collect all 8 audiocassettes.
There are 8 total (00–07):
- 00 – In your collection by default.
- 01 – Chapter 3, inside the gas station safe.
- 02 – Chapter 4, near the bunker exit, in/near an abandoned car next to the bus.
- 03 – Chapter 4, in the “Plates” area, inside Nikola’s hideout on a table.
- 04 – Chapter 5, railway station control room, in a box on the bed.
- 05 – Chapter 6, inside the apartment after the rooftop sequence.
- 06 – Chapter 7, Cascade building, Shield Room on the 2nd floor.
- 07 – Chapter 8, right at the start, in a room near the tunnel, inside a red box.
Try to grab these while doing the story; otherwise you’ll have to replay specific segments.
Bukvoed
Requirement: Activate 30 tablets (e-books).
These are the small tablet devices scattered throughout the game. You must interact with them to count.
Here’s a location checklist by chapter:
Chapter 1 (2 tablets)
Basement floor, near the condenser
Second floor, projector room
Chapter 2 (2)
Bunker, bedroom
On the kitchen table in a memory
Chapter 3 (1)
Gas Station interior
Chapter 4 (2)
Bunker, bedroom
In the “Saucer” facility, Nikola’s hideout
Chapter 5 (2)
Apartment on third floor, on a windowsill
Railway station control room
Chapter 6 (3)
Stairwell/entrance, 2nd floor windowsill
Third floor, father’s shelter
Apartment after the roof scene
Chapter 7 (3)
At the very start, on a table
Next office
Control room, 2nd floor of Cascade
Chapter 8 (3)
Lake house
Small booth near the gate that needs a chain
In town, in the house to the right of Lenin’s statue
Chapter 9 (1)
In someone else’s backpack, after you get thrown out
Chapter 10 (3)
House with the stove
Neighboring house
Car by the shore near the drone nest
Chapter 11 (4)
Safe room in the flooded RAS basements, accessible via vent from room C
Break room, 3rd floor Diagnostic Center
Server room, 2nd floor Diagnostic Center
Conference room, on one of the tables
Chapter 12 (3)
Inside the sphere, accessed through ventilation
Father’s office
In a memory, on a bench near the office
You only need 30, but the above list exceeds that so missing a couple is fine.
Movie Fan
Requirement: Activate 5 projectors.
Projectors appear in several chapters:
- Chapter 1 – Second floor of the museum
- Chapter 4 – Nikola’s hideout (“Plates”)
- Chapter 7 – “Yellow Room,” 2nd floor of Cascade
- Chapter 11 – Server room, 2nd floor Diagnostic Center
- Chapter 12 – After ventilation, don’t go upstairs; follow corridor downward to the projector room
Activate all of these during your playthrough.
Data updated
Requirement: Activate 11 terminals.
Terminals = interactive computer-like stations.
Chapter 1 – 3 terminals on the second floor of the museum
Chapter 7 –
1 in a memory, in the hall
1 on the first floor of Cascade, near the left escalator
Chapter 11 –
1 right after exiting the elevator
1 in the hallway after the conference room
Chapter 12 –
1 in the hallway at the checkpoint
1 during a flashback in the school corridor
Chapter 13 –
2 in father’s memory
Interact with all of them to unlock the achievement.
Archivist
Requirement: Unlock all gallery images.
This is the cumulative achievement. If you follow this guide and pick up audiocassettes, tablets, secret scenes, projectors, and key side content, you’ll unlock all images in the Gallery menu. If you’re missing any, cross-check by chapter and replay the relevant segment.
Chapter 1 Achievements
Full Charge
Requirement: Obtain the capacitor.
This is story-related and cannot be missed. It’s located in the museum basement and required to progress.
Enlightenment
Requirement: Play a film in the Cosmonautics Museum.
After you get the capacitor:
- Go to the second floor, into the room with the blackboard and projector
- Insert power, activate the projector, and play the film
Chapter 2 Achievements
News from the Past
Requirement: Check your email.
Automatic story event. You’ll read emails on a PC; this unlocks naturally.
Alarm
Requirement: Repeatedly check the base cameras.
In the bunker:
- Use the PC and open the camera system
- Check or cycle through cameras around 10 times
After enough interactions, the achievement unlocks.
Invigorates
Requirement: Drink coffee in the bunker kitchen.
Steps:
- Go to the bunker kitchen
- Turn on the stove and prepare coffee
- Wait until it finishes brewing
- Drink it
Barter
Requirement: Deliver the detector model to the tower.
Story progression – this is automatic as you bring the detector to the intended location.
Master
Requirement: Finish repairing the car.
Also story-related: once you complete the repair tasks and finalize the car, the achievement triggers.
Careful / Reckless
Requirement: Drive carefully or crash at the base.
After repairing the car and heading out of the bunker:
- If you drive cleanly to the exit → “Careful” style achievement
- If you intentionally crash a few times into obstacles → “Reckless” style achievement
Tip:
Make a manual save right before leaving in the car. Earn one achievement, reload, then drive differently to earn the other.
Chapter 3 Achievements
Childhood
Requirement: Spend time at the playground in the flashback.
At the start of the flashback:
- Interact with toys/objects around the playground
- Playing a few games of Tic-Tac-Toe is the easiest way to count as “keeping yourself busy”.
Long Nose
Requirement: Knock off the snowman’s nose.
On the playground:
- Crouch and hold the interact button to form a snowball
- Aim and throw it at the snowman’s nose
Hit it, and the achievement pops.
Chapter 4 Achievements
Top Secret
Requirement: Watch secret tapes at the “Saucers” facility.
In Nikola’s hideout (Plates complex):
- Find the projector behind the closed door
- Watch the secret tapes there
Who are you?
Requirement: Unlock the secret ending at “Saucers.”
Only available after finishing the game once.
Steps:
- Load Episode 4.6
- Head to the area opposite Nikola’s hideout
- Open the red door to trigger the secret path / ending scene
Chapter 5 Achievements
Curious
Requirement: Spot the neighbor through the peephole in a creepy flashback.
In the memory segment:
- After you get the key and return to your apartment
- Look through the peephole 3 separate times
Done correctly, the neighbor sequence finishes and the achievement unlocks.
Something
Requirement: Find a strange creature near the train station.
Before reaching the station:
- Look for containers and climb over them
- Find a “well” or vertical access spot
- Climb down into it and explore until you encounter the creature
Chapter 6 Achievement
Hit Harder
Requirement: Upgrade Ignat’s wrench.
In the creepy room on the 3rd floor:
- Find the upgrade item on the bed
- Use the workbench on the same floor to craft the wrench upgrade
Chapter 7 Achievements
Didn’t stay after class
Requirement: Win the fight with Tamara Vasilyevna.
This is a story boss fight on the top floor of the Cascade. Simply defeating her progresses the story and gives the achievement.
Chapter 8 Achievements
The Lost Writer
Requirement: Find the lonely author’s notes.
At the beginning:
- In the lake house, find and activate the tablet with his notes
Request
Requirement: Turn on the light in the lake house only after being asked.
Inside the lake house:
- Wait until the robot specifically asks you to switch on the lamp
- Only then turn on the table lamp
If you turn it on too early, you’ll miss this achievement for that run.
I look far
Requirement: Upgrade the detector’s range.
In the town near the Lenin monument:
- Enter the house near the statue
- Find the safe
- Use code 2010
- Take the upgrade item and use it to upgrade the detector
Chapter 9 Achievements
Pass
Requirement: Find a photo in an abandoned tent.
Load or reach episode 9.4:
- Follow the right wall forward
- Walk along the logs
- Look for a gap/crack on the right opposite the frozen robot
- Follow the path to the tent and find the photo inside
Poor Andryusha
Requirement: Finish watching the filmstrip.
After the throwout:
- Repair the projector
- Play and watch the full slideshow / filmstrip
Paranormal Item
Requirement: Find Gennady in another reality.
During the dream after the emission:
- You’ll be in a space similar to the “Backrooms”
- Explore the area until you find the Crocodile Gena figurine
- Pick it up for the achievement
Chapter 10 Achievements
(Tablets for Bukvoed)
No unique named achievements here, but don’t forget:
- House with stove – tablet
- Neighboring house – tablet
- Car by the shore near drone nest – tablet
These count toward your overall tablet/e-book achievement.
Chapter 11 Achievements
He walks behind the wall
Requirement: Find the recordings in the flooded RAS basements.
In the RAS flooded basement:
- Reach the safe room, accessed via ventilation from room C
- Activate the tablet/recordings there
Adult Toy
Requirement: Obtain the UZ-9 SMG.
In the Diagnostic Center:
- Go to the break room on the 3rd floor
- Find the safe with the UZ-9
- The safe key is in the slot machine; if you lack a coin, there’s one in a red box downstairs
Friendly Fire Asshole
Requirement: Shoot a friendly blue harvester drone multiple times.
Find an active blue harvester drone:
- Fire at it repeatedly
- After enough hits, the achievement unlocks
(This is deliberately “being a jerk” to your ally drone.)
Chapter 12 Achievements
Faster Than the Wind
Requirement: Upgrade the drone.
At the start:
- Enter the red room (Data Center)
- Crawl between the boxes to the right
- The drone upgrade item is on the table – pick it up and apply it
Signal lost
Requirement: Unlock the secret ending on the RAS roof.
After learning about your father from the terminal:
- Take the second elevator
- Go up to the roof instead of following the normal route
- Trigger the secret ending sequence
It won’t be enough
Requirement: Upgrade shotgun damage.
After going through ventilation:
- Drop into a room packed with boxes and an orb
- Near the orb, pick up the shotgun with an integrated upgrade
Altered consciousness
Requirement: Watch films in the secret RAS room.
After the ventilation section:
- Instead of going upstairs, continue down the corridor
- Look for a room with a projector
- Watch the films there
Blue Screen
Requirement: Break the terminal in RAS by playing Tic-Tac-Toe.
In the hall near the checkpoint:
- Find the terminal that lets you play Tic-Tac-Toe
- Play enough to cause it to break and trigger the achievement
No Other Way / Mercy
Requirement: Choose the enemy’s fate after the boss fight.
At the end of a key confrontation:
- You must choose whether to finish the enemy or spare them
- One decision grants No Other Way
- The other grants Mercy
Tip:
Make a manual save before the decision. Finish the fight, choose one option → get the achievement → reload → choose the other option.
Chapter 13 Achievements
Heart to Heart
Requirement: Find a hut in the forest.
At the very beginning:
- After crawling under the fallen trees, keep to the right side
- You’ll need to crawl under another tree to reach a hidden hut
Souvenir
Requirement: Pick up the chocolate Santa in the hut.
Inside that same hut:
- Look around until you find a chocolate Santa
- Pick it up
I’m with you, friend / I’ve missed you so much
Requirement: Choose whether to connect to the neurostream or not.
At the final decision:
- Choose to connect → one achievement
- Choose to refuse/disconnect → the other
Again, use a manual save before deciding so you can quickly unlock both:
- Pick one choice → watch ending → achievement
- Reload → pick the other