Subsets
What are Subsets?
When browsing the list of games, you will see that some games have a [Subset] tag in the title. Each of these contain achievements that for some reason or another, are not available in a game's base set. Subsets are typically home to specific types of challenge runs.
Subsets are now fully integrated into RetroAchievements through the multiset system. When you load a game, the server will automatically resolve which achievement sets to include based on the game hash you're using and your personal preferences. Developers link sets together, allowing you to play multiple sets (such as a base set and its bonus content) simultaneously without needing separate patches or playthroughs.
Multiset requires the latest version of your emulator:
- RetroArch 1.22.1+
- PCSX2 2.6+
- DuckStation 0.1-10530+
- Dolphin 2512-144+ (development build)
- PPSSPP 1.19.3-1328+ (development build)
How Multiset Works
Set Types
The multiset system uses four technical set types that determine how sets relate to each other:
- Base: The primary achievement set for a game. This is loaded by default and represents the main content.
- Bonus: Additional achievements linked to a base set. When you load a base set, any associated bonus sets are also available based on your preferences.
- Specialty: These sets still require their own patched ROM, but also load the base set and any bonus sets automatically. These are typically used for challenge runs or alternate game modes.
- Exclusive: These sets load in isolation and are not compatible with any of the other game's sets.
User Preferences
You can control which subsets you want to play:
- Global Preference: A site-wide setting to opt out of all subsets is available by default on your settings page. Turning off this setting disables multiset.
- Per-set Preferences: You can override your global preference for individual achievement sets on a game-by-game basis. If a game has multiset enabled, on the set selection tabs on its game page, you'll find a Subset Configuration button. This lets you opt in or out of subsets for the game.
Hash Compatibility
Some achievement sets may be incompatible with certain game hashes (ROM versions, patches, etc). The server will automatically exclude incompatible sets from your emulator session. If you're testing hash compatibility, you may have special access to view sets that are normally hidden for incompatible hashes.
A Reminder
Challenge achievements are base set content by default. Challenges only become appropriate for subsets when they are of an extreme nature that is far beyond what a typical challenge might be such as a full game damageless challenge. Subsets should not be used as a dumping ground for challenges that for whatever reason are not perfect fits into the base set.
Types of Subsets
The categories below describe the content type of subsets. When creating a subset, you'll also need to choose the appropriate technical subset type (Bonus, Specialty, or Exclusive) based on how the subset should interact with the base set:
- Use Bonus for most subsets that can be played alongside the base set without conflicts.
- Use Specialty for challenge runs or modes that benefit from their own Rich Presence script but still work alongside base set achievements.
- Use Exclusive for subsets that fundamentally change gameplay in ways that would altogether conflict with base set achievements (eg: completely incompatible memory).
Challenge Runs
While many base sets include plenty of challenges, developers have the option to add challenges that last the duration of a game's playthrough to a Subset. These are typically self-imposed challenges that go against how a game is normally played. Examples:
- Chrono Trigger - No Level Up requires players to complete the game without ever leveling up their characters.
- EarthBound - Rare Drops requires players to obtain all the rare drops from enemies.
- Final Fantasy - Solo Class requires players to complete the game using only one character class, but they need to do it with every class to master the set.
- Super Mario Bros. - 5-Minute Speedrun requires players to complete the game in under a widely recognized threshold that is considered a significant accomplishment by the speedrunning community.
- Pokemon - Professor Oak Challenge There are several of these so far! This challenge requires players to catch and/or evolve every Pokemon possible between major story points in the game.
- Trails in the Sky FC - NG Nightmare requires players to obtain 100% completion in a single, NG (New Game) playthrough on the Nightmare difficulty setting, as opposed to doing it on NG+ with carryovers.
Extreme or Brutal Challenges
If it's generally voiced that a challenge is too difficult, it's a good candidate for a subset. However, just because the achievement(s) are possible to code does not mean they are possible to obtain; therefore, the achievement must still be obtainable. How difficult is too difficult? Something that few players of a set would be able to accomplish. If you expect under a 1% earn rate, it is probably extreme. If it feels unreasonable to require anyone to do an achievement, it is probably brutal.
- A good example of a single achievement that could be considered extreme or brutal is the infamous Mr. Perfect from Mega Man (NES), which requires the player to complete the entire game without taking damage.
- A good example of a full subset is Ninja Gaiden | Shadow Warriors (NES) [Subset - Full Game Damageless].
- Does not have to be named Brutal Challenge, but that subset type should be referenced in subset plan/any subset vote. If there are any doubts about whether challenges fall into this category, contact Developer Compliance for a quick judgement.
Multiplayer Cooperative Sets
If an achievement requires input from more than one player in order to unlock it, then it cannot be in the base set. Multiplayer Cooperative sets must require two or more players to be inputting controls. Achievements must require multiple players in order to be appropriate for this type of subset. It is not acceptable to be able to simply earn achievements with a single player while in a multiplayer mode.
If the base game title is long, this subset type may be shortened. If a shortened name is required, the following prioritized list shall be used to find an option that fits: "Multiplayer Co-op," "Multi Co-op," or "Co-op".
DLC and Expansions
Not very common, but will become more common as our console support expands. Achievements in these sets are exclusive to a game's downloadable content or expansion pack(s). Examples:
- Arc the Lad 2 - Arc Arena: Monster Tournament was released as a bonus disc in the Arc the Lad Collection, this requires save data from Arc the Lad 2 in order to play.
- F-Zero X - Expansion Kit - achievements are for content exclusive to the 64DD expansion of the game.
- Return Fire - Maps o' Death is a separate release that provides additional maps to the game. It requires save data from the original game in order to play.
Regional Differences
If a regional variant of a game does not have enough differences to warrant a "full" set, but you don't want to include it with the base set due to interference with base challenges, a subset may be an option to showcase the differences.
User-Generated Content
If a game has a feature that allows players to make their own content such as custom levels, then a subset would be an acceptable place to include said content. Examples:
- Irritating Stick - IrRAtating Custom Courses features custom stages made by various RA community members.
- Tony Hawk's Underground - RAdical Custom Goals/Gaps features custom goals and gaps made by various RA community members.
Grind Sessions
If achievements involve overly long and frustrating grinds that have no meaningful purpose, they're better suited for subsets. These include leveling characters to the maximum level, maxing out stats, performing a task an absurd amount of times, etc. when none of those things award the player. A good grind session subset will have a strong, cohesive theme.
- Please note that a grind does not automatically mean it's unsuitable for a base set: A good example of something grindy that awards the player, thus making it suitable for a base set, is One of a Kind from Final Fantasy IV (SNES), which requires a highly RNG-reliant grind for an item to trade for said armor.
Glitch Showcases
Glitching can have unpredictable effects in a game's memory, which can result in unwanted behavior for some achievements, thus making them not suitable for a base set. However many glitches can add fun or interesting gameplay, effects, or just silly actions and may be worth highlighting outside of the base set. Some examples of this are Replica from Final Fantasy VII (PlayStation), Rare Candy Addiction from Pokemon - Red and Blue Versions (Game Boy) and Lock-Off the Lock-On from Sonic 3 & Knuckles (Genesis).
Checkpoint Challenges
A subset where you have to collect or perform a lengthy grind prior each checkpoints, where checkpoints are clear and distributed throughout the game. Such subsets should not be heavily front-loaded, meaning that if most of the achievements are to be done before the first checkpoint, it is likely a poor subset candidate. A good example is most main game Pokemon Professor Oak Challenge subsets or Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - Level-1 Runs.
Perma-Death Challenges
Restrictive challenges where player units or equivalent must never be used again if the die, expire, or otherwise lose in some way during play. (Examples: Pokemon Nuzlocke challenges or Strategy RPGs where perma-death isn't already a characteristic of the game). Note: These challenges may need support within the game or hack to be possible with the current toolkit.
Bonus
A bonus set is a set with a variety of achievements that do not fit into the base set of a game for various reasons. These may be extremely difficult challenges that go beyond what is welcome, painful grinds that serve no particular purpose beyond getting stronger or collecting everything, a showcase of glitches, or many other kinds of things that wouldn't be considered good achievements for the base set.
- Bonus sets should not be named
[Subset - Bonus]. Instead, choose a name that fits thematically with the game to which this subset belongs. - A good example of the variety pack nature of a bonus set is the Suikoden Bonus Set, which contains various challenge runs, rare drops, and extreme challenges within a single subset.
TIP
Choose a name that fits thematically with the game.
Naming Scheme
To prevent players from getting confused, there is a specific naming scheme required for all Subsets:
- Multiplayer Cooperative Sets: Must have
[Subset - Multiplayer Cooperative]following the base game title. For example:Contra [Subset - Multiplayer Cooperative]. - Challenge Runs: Must have
[Subset - Challenge Name/Type]following the base game title. For example:Chrono Trigger [Subset - No Level Up]andPocket Monsters Midori [Subset - Monotype Challenge]. - DLC and Expansions: Must have
[Subset - DLC/Expansion Namefollowing the base game title. For example:Return Fire - [Subset - Maps o' Death]andF-Zero X [Subset - Expansion Kit]. - User-Generated Content: While not actually required, including
RAin the subset title has been a fun way to name the content. - Bonus Sets: Must have
[Subset - Bonus]folowing the base game title. For example:Castlevania - [Subset - Bonus]andDarkwing Duck - [Subset - Bonus]
Approval and Claims
The following subset types are pre-approved:
- Multiplayer Cooperative
- Glitch Showcases
- User-Generated Content
- Challenge Run: Low Level Game/No Leveling Runs
- Challenge Run: Solo Class/Monotype Runs
- Challenge Run: Professor Oak Challenges for official Pokemon main series releases
Other types of subsets, including Bonus which was previously pre-approved, must be approved by Developer Compliance before claiming. To request approval, send a site message here, detailing your proposal by addressing the points below.
- Explain why this is unfit for the base set:
- Explain why this is appropriate despite being unfit for the base set :
- How difficult are the achievements proposed? Explain in as much detail as possible :
- Present a thorough set plan that explains what the set would look like :
Please answer the above in a way that is understandable for someone that is not an expert of the game. If scores or times are involved, please provide a few explicit examples of what the set would require.
Moreover, adding a subset to a game is considered a revision of its base set. This means that after getting approval from Developer Compliance, a revision vote might be required before claiming as detailed below:
| Authorship¹ | Approval and Claiming Process |
|---|---|
| Author of the base set | • If all active authors of the set approve, does not require a plan and revision vote • Considered a free claim ² |
| No Core Set Authorship | • A set plan must be posted in the base set's forum topic and must go through standard revision voting • Is not considered a free claim • In the event that both a revision and subset plan are made for a set, both claims will count as one |
¹ In the case of multiple revision authors, use the most restrictive ruleset in the table. Example: If there is a subset collaboration and any subset author is not a core set author, use the No Core Set Authorship rules.
² For now, an admin must be contacted via Discord or by messaging RAdmin to mark a claim as free. As a courtesy, please only request this if you actually need the claim slot or if you expect a long development period.