Traverser: A Reference Guide

Whether you're trying to grab every achievement or find that last note, this illustrated reference guide will help you find what you're looking for.

Introduction

Looking for secrets or hunting achievements? This illustrated guide has you covered. Because Traverser is a relatively short game with a unique signature mechanic, it can be easy to get frustrated when playing. Even if you like to figure things out for yourself, having the answers at hand can help you focus on Valerie's story and get the most out of the game.

It's good to have an overview of specific game mechanics, and a point of reference when you've looked everywhere for that last collectible. If you've got a better way to do something or have a question about something you think should be covered here, please leave a comment below.

Gameplay Basics

There are a couple of things that may be useful to know before playing Traverser.

• If ignoring collectibles the game is relatively short (2-3 hours). Getting collectibles will add an hour or two.
  
• After earning your Gravity Glove, all collectibles will be immediately accessible; there are no future upgrades that will make collection any easier.
  
• Achievement hunters should read all achievement descriptions before beginning the game, as there are certain things you will or won't want to do.
  
• Your combat ability will never improve beyond hit-enemy-with-box; this is a stealth game and besides temporarily stunning enemies, you will never have a way to actually defend yourself aside from throwing boxes.
  
• You may not revisit areas once you've left for the purpose of collectibles. The final exit for each zone is usually labelled "Exit Area."
  
• Dying will always return you to the last saved checkpoint. When possible, try to do your most difficult tasks first in case you need to start over.
  
• Although there is no penalty for throwing random junk off of the edges, it is wise to hang onto things as you may need them later.
  
• Most of the random houses you can enter (including the train station in the first area and fridges you can open) don't have any purpose aside from lending to the game's atmosphere.
  
• Use your Journal (default key: J) to keep track of your progress in a level or note how many collectibles may be available.
  
• Fast-forward dialogue by holding down the interact key (default keys: E or F).

Traverser does not offer any option to save your game, so you will be reliant on autosave checkpoints throughout to manage your progress. All checkpoints are saved indefinitely for you to revisit later.

Decisions / Consequences

None of your actions in the game have any consequences: beating up NPCs with trash or destroying people's houses has no effect except for their immediate dialogue in that first example. If you meticulously pick up everything you knock over or carefully distribute oxygen tanks to every beggar, the only person patting you on the back will be yourself.

Defense / Offense

Your only defense is stealth. Your only offense is throwing boxes or other objects to temporarily stun a guard or break a PK-bot. Guards have an annoyingly huge line-of-sight, and will break the barrel or open the cupboard you're hiding in if they detect you by sight or sound. Thankfully, you should never have guards after you at a checkpoint, so you'll always be able to try again until you get it right. Almost all of the actual combat that you will be engaged in will be boss fights with unique but relatively straightforward mechanics.

Object Rotation

Fully rotating objects with your mouse can be frustrating, but the mechanics are quite simple. Hold down the right mouse button while rotating. Move your mouse left/right to rotate the object clockwise/counterclockwise, and up/down to tilt the object forward/backward. It may take some getting used to, but there is only one puzzle in the game that requires any level of precision.

Collectibles

All collectibles are unique to each level. Levels cannot be revisited if you miss something, even if you do eventually return to the same area later in the game.

You can't collect any Tracebots until you receive your gravity glove. Collect a Tracebot by catching it and holding it for a second or two.

1. Upper City

4 Secrets / 3 Tracebots

Secrets

1. On the roof of Hotel Korpen.
   
2. After moving some crates you can jump down to this area.
   
3. After returning home with your Gravity Glove this note will be left next to your broken TV.
   
4. Jump to the left of the spiky fence (shown near the top of the screenshot) to reach this area.

Tracebots

1. In the alcove with the game board.
   
2. Just to the left of the Raven Corp HQ doors
   
3. Just south of your front door. This one is hard to catch, and if it flies away you can leave this area and come back to get it to respawn.

2. Town Square

2 Secrets / 2 Tracebots

Secrets

1. In the SE area after jumping across some floating platforms.
   
2. Under some barrels on the NW side of the central area.

Tracebots

1. In the SE area after jumping across some floating platforms.
   
2. On the roof S of the central area. Climb the spiral staircase and jump across to it.

3. Sewers

2 Secrets / 3 Tracebots

Secrets

1. In the very first tunnel S of the furnace there will be a fan to your left with the secret behind it, but you will need to come back for it later after you find the Dynamite.
   
2. Due south of the whirlpool.

Tracebots

1. After using the boulder to gain entrance to the next area, head N and around the curves.
   
2. Flying around the whirlpool. If you're going for the Whirlpool achievement, you'll want to do that first and then grab the Tracebot.
   
3. On the other side of the Plumbing puzzle.

4. Lowercity

3 Secrets / 3 Tracebots

Secrets

1. At the end of the dark mine N of where you enter the area. You can open the gate by using the torch at the beginning of the cave to light the torches on either side of the gate.
   
2. In the "Defy Gravity" garbage dump, use the 3 loose boards to build bridges to get to the Secret.
   
3. On the roof just before crossing to the warehouse.

Tracebots

1. Release the first Tracebot by bringing one O2 container to the merchant so you can catch it.
   
2. Below the warehouse balcony.
   
3. In the warehouse after jumping across the boxes (or before crawling in the vent).

5. Break In

0 Secrets / 3 Tracebots

Tracebots

1. Near the mansion's front door.
   
2. In the mansion's cellar beside a gate.
   
3. Use some loose boards in an attic to fall into this room.

6. Prison

4 Secrets / 3 Tracebots

Secrets

1. NW corner of the generator room.
   
2. NE corner of the generator room.
   
3. In the left of two cupboards in the shower room.
   
4. Hidden out-of-sight behind some shelves on your way to get the mask; you can also get it on your way back.

Tracebots

1. On the S end of the shower room.
   
2. At the end of the turret area accessed by crawling through a vent in the storage room.
   
3. In the security center furthest W.

7. Prison Yard

2 Secrets / 1 Tracebot

Secrets

1. This one sucks! I recommend coming for this one after turning on the power to the flip plate as it will be tricky to do after alerting the guards. One thing that worked for me was leaving the barrel near the lasers and just running for it while the guards shot at me. I used the shipping containers for cover while I grabbed the secret, ran out the way I had come, jumped back in the barrel to make it through the lasers, dropped the barrel, and then ran for the flip machine.
   
2. Align the three orbs to make a hole in the wall, dispatch the PK-bots, and grab the Secret on the S end of the room.

Tracebots

1. Use the N elevator to reach the Tracebot hidden in an alcove.

8. Lowercity Hub

1 Secret / 1 Tracebot

Secrets

1. You'll find this behind a small building just before leaving the area.

Tracebots

1. The only one that counts is the second one in the top row of the second section. If you get too close you may wait for them to roost again, or just disable them all.

9. Final Showdown

3 Secrets / 2 Tracebots

Secrets

1. Just south of your front door where a Tracerbot used to be.
   
2. Near the front of the mansion.
   
3. Near the mansion's cellar door.

Tracebots

1. Just outside your front door.
   
2. Just outside the mansion gate.

Achievements

Most of the achievements are especially straightforward, but PeaceKeeper will require special attention and an entire dedicated playthrough. If you can stand separate playthroughs, I suggest getting all collectibles on your first playthrough, giving Celine her book back for Paragon, and freeing the prisoners for the Queen of the Beggars achievement. In your second playthrough, go for PeaceKeeper, Renegade and Ghost Protocol.

You can earn both Paragon and Renegade in a single playthrough by reloading a save.

Again, Again!

Use a flip machine 10 times in a row.
This can be completed on any flip pad. Simply interact with it 10 times and make those Teletubbies proud.

Base Jumper

Jump and fall 20 m without dying.
You should get this at some point during normal gameplay.

Bibliophile

Find all of the secret notes.
See above for locations. This must be completed within a single playthrough.

Clever Girl

Find a way into the warehouse without any help.
Avoid giving O2 to the beggars (except for the one selling a trace bot) and you'll earn this achievement.

Don't Waste Your Breath

Release all of the oxygen in Phil Air’s house.
Bang each canister on the wall until it starts to leak. It may be easiest to discard spent canisters against the south side of the screen to avoid missing any.

Exterminate!

Jump and squish 5 insects.
Squish insects by jumping on them or dropping objects onto them. Walking over them won't work.

Ghost Protocol

Escape the prison without being seen.
This may take a couple of tries but can be quite easy. It is even possible to get all the collectibles and Queen of the Beggars achievement at the same time: so long as you hide out in the Barrel after freeing the prisoners and wait until the guards leave the room.

Indoctrination

Watch all of the Raven Corporation broadcasts.
Make sure to click on any TVs you find.

Invasion of Invasion of Privacy

Collect all 21 trace bots.
See above for locations. This must be completed within a single playthrough.

Macho Man!

Prove your strength in the "High Striker" mini game in Lower City.
A rather large anvil can be found just east of the High Striker game. Grab the anvil and drop it onto the pressure pad to get the achievement.

Marathon

Run a total of 15 km.
This achievement is just awful. You will want to earn it before the final fight, and frankly is best earned by setting up a macro to just run back and forth for an hour or so.

Meat the Chef

Slap a piece of meat on the chef's head.
Dodge the patrolling guard and retrieve a big hunk of meat from the storage freezer just NE of the chef's location. Hitting the chef anywhere (not just in the head) will be sufficient.

Paragon

Bring Celine’s notebook back.
Celine is the Failed Traverser who appears in the SE part of the Upper City after you complete your Traverser exam. Get her book down from the roof with your new power and give it back to her.

Peacekeeper

Never destroy any PK-bots with the help of your gravity glove.
This achievement wants you to complete the game without ever using your powers to injure/destroy a PK-bot. This includes hitting them with boxes, blowing them up, or hitting them with splash damage from other projectiles. The only way to destroy the bots will be to get close enough that they stop to activate their self-destruct mechanism, and then back away while they blow up. You do not need to blow up or encounter all PK-bots to get this achievement, and friendly-fire kills from enemies will not count against you. The achievement should trigger just after defeating the final boss.

Power Player

Pass 4,000 points playing Traverser Freddy: The Video Game.
You will have to hit at least 40 birds without missing more than 10. The pattern for this duck-hunt style game is different each time, so the best you can do is keep trying until you get lucky. Try and relax and remember that you can miss 1 in 5 of the first 50 birds.

Professional Plumber

Complete the plumbing puzzle with only 6 pipe pieces.
You will only need the 6 pipe pieces in the immediate room to complete this achievement. You will need 3 straight pipes + 1 curved pipe on the left side, and 2 curved pipes on the right. Take advantage of the fact that the pipes do not need to be straight to connect to one another.

Queen of the Beggars

Bust out the prison inmates.
If you are getting other achievements, you will want to do everything else in the prison before releasing the captives. Shortly after activating the switch, two guards will run into the room. Hiding in the nearby Barrel will be sufficient cover until they leave.

Renegade

Throw Celine’s notebook away.
Celine is the Failed Traverser who appears in the SE part of the Upper City after you complete your Traverser exam. Get her book down from the roof with your new power and throw it over the edge of the city.

Smashing!

Stun 5 guards.
Use a box or other object to hit one or more guards. They will become momentarily stunned, with animated birds circling their head. You will need to wait until each guard recovers before stunning them again.

Whirlwind

Get past the whirlpool in less than 15 seconds.
The clock seems to start when you jump onto your first object, and stops when you reach the tunnel on the other side. If you fail, keep trying from the checkpoint. You should see the achievement pop up shortly after landing on the far side, and if you don't you can jump in the water to try again.

Disclaimer

All images in this guide contain content that is property of the publisher, Adult Swim Games. Their inclusion here is for reference only, and does not imply the developer's affiliation with or endorsement of this guide or its contents. This guide's contents may not be re-used elsewhere on or outside of Steam without consent from the author.

[Kaleidoh]

Thanks for the guide! I appreciate it

[obsidian_whiskers]

I think there’s actually a way to track if you killed any KillBots in a walkthrough. If you go into your save directory, open a file with the Editor and search for “KillBotKills”, it shows the number of Bots you killed previously. Analyzing them I found out there’s a bug regarding the house near the end, where you find two Killbots. I visited that room, didn’t mess with them and let them explode on their own, my save file also showed “0” before entering the O2 Storage, but later the next save in the station suddenly had a “1”, for absolutely no reason. And one save later it suddenly even had a “2”. I then restarted from before that room, skipped that house with those two KillBots, and my save remained at “0”. So there’s definitely something messing with the number, just because you visit that room.

[M. Doucet]

@Marc - You're right that you'll lose credit if you die before hitting the next checkpoint.

Besides the one east of the mansion, there is a theater inside and upstairs (just west of the keypad for the statue code); interact with the projector to start the film. Otherwise, the third one you were probably referring to is in the room where you pick up the mask (in the prison office). Perhaps the training videos during the exam count as well? Good luck!

[Marc]

I found 3 in total, the tv outside the cafe, the screen to the east of the mansion (think that's the one you mean?) and one more, but i can't remember where that was.. i'm sure i watched all of them but i suppose it might be annoying like the secrets and not register if you die before the next checkpoint..

[M. Doucet]

@Marc - Thanks for the great tips! It wasn't clear which broadcasts counted for the achievement, so your best bet is to just try all of them you find. Did you try the one in the Town Square (2nd level)? It's just to the west of the square. I'd also try watching the movie on the projector upstairs in the mansion if the achievement hasn't registered before then.

Thanks for confirming about Peacekeeper; here was another achievement where you don't really have any validation as to your success until you complete the game. One playthrough I did I was positive I didn't touch them, but splash damage from that one boss fight seemed to be enough to cost me the achievement. Glad you picked this one up without an issue!

[Marc]

oh and an alternative way (easier to do but also riskier) to get the secret in the rubbish dump is to jump into the gravity hole in the market place and hold "down" after about 2 seconds to land on the nearby roof. If you wait too long you'll die so definitely do this one before all the others.

[Marc]

You can get peacekeeper pretty easily in any playthrough really, just run near any PK bots so that they explode. I even did that in the traverser training. The hardest bit is the boss who releases them constantly but if you put the oil drums ontop of the vents they come out of, then they don't spawn at all.

Could you answer a question for me? How many "broadcasts" are there in the game, and where are they? I've only found 3 and the achievement didn't pop..