If you’re trying to unlock the Bloody Nightmare achievement in Quake and aren’t sure where the requirement actually starts, this one is a little easier once you understand how the new campaign is structured.
The important thing to know is that you cannot get this achievement immediately. You first need to progress through the Dawn of the Machine campaign far enough to obtain the Sacrifice Rune. After that, the campaign opens up a second phase where the runes become the key to accessing additional levels.
Quake Bloody Nightmare Achievement Guide – Dawn of Machine.
The Dawn of the Machine campaign is essentially split into two parts.
During the first part, simply play through the campaign normally until you obtain the first rune, which is the Sacrifice Rune.
Once you have it, you’ll reach an area called the Runic Nexus. You’ll recognize it by the large statue in the center with several doors surrounding it.
Four of these doors can initially be accessed, while the others require specific runes.
The idea is pretty simple:
- Enter one of the accessible doors.
- Complete the level.
- Find the bonus area that requires the rune you already possess.
- Enter that bonus level.
- Collect the next rune.
- Return to the Nexus and use the newly acquired rune to open another route.
So don’t worry if some of the doors seem inaccessible at first. You’re supposed to gradually unlock them as you collect more runes.
How to Get the Bloody Nightmare Achievement
This is where the achievement requirement comes in.
After obtaining the Sacrifice Rune and reaching the Runic Nexus, you need to take the second door.
From there, complete the first level normally.
The achievement-related section comes in the next level, where you’ll need to follow the specific route shown in the original video guide. The achievement isn’t simply awarded for reaching the Runic Nexus or collecting the Sacrifice Rune; those are prerequisites for reaching the correct section.
In short, the progression you want is:
Dawn of the Machine → Sacrifice Rune → Runic Nexus → Second Door → Complete First Level → Follow the achievement route in the Next Level
Important: Don’t Look for the Achievement Too Early
If you’ve just started Dawn of the Machine, you won’t be able to unlock Bloody Nightmare yet.
First concentrate on reaching the point where you obtain the Sacrifice Rune. Once the Runic Nexus becomes available, you’ll have the access needed to begin the achievement route.
This also explains why the achievement can be confusing: the game doesn’t immediately make it obvious that the runes are effectively keys for unlocking the campaign’s bonus progression.
Bloody Nightmare Achievement — Quick Checklist
Before attempting the achievement, make sure:
- You’ve progressed through Dawn of the Machine.
- You’ve obtained the Sacrifice Rune.
- You’ve reached the Runic Nexus.
- You’ve entered the second door.
- You’ve completed the first level in that route.
- You’re following the required steps in the next level.
Once you’ve completed the required sequence, the Bloody Nightmare achievement should unlock.
If you’re following the video guide, the important part is the route taken in the second level after entering the second door. The first level doesn’t require anything unusual, so you can simply play through it normally.