Wild West Pioneers quest order and achievements

Traced through its achievements, the Early Access story runs through 16 main quests, from Residents’ Needs to Where Is My Father, and the game has 89 achievements on Steam. One of them marks the end of the Early Access content. About seven in ten players have finished the first quest; the later ones are still rare.

The main quests, in order

The first four come up in this order in the gameplay footage released at launch, with Margaret’s search starting while Growing Family is still open. (Shown in Wild West Pioneers Gameplay (PC) (GameZine, YouTube, launch-day footage)) From Debt onward, Steam numbers the quest achievements in sequence, and the share of players holding each one falls in that same order, so until more players get that far it is the best guide to what comes next. (Numbered on the game's Steam achievements page) Blocked Passage asks you to gather 20 settlers, a change made during the playtest. (Changed in Steam announcement: Playtest Hotfix)

#QuestAchievementPlayers who have it
1Residents' Needs · Unlock tents, house all 30 residents, feed them from the Food Shop, water every house.Hunger Games73%
2Satisfaction · Shown on screen as Happy Residents: reach a satisfaction level of 60.Five stars, would visit again62%
3Growing Family · Welcome 20 new pioneers to the settlement.The more, the merrier44%
4Where Is She? · Find Glenn's wife Margaret with your scouts and bring her back to Dust Creek.Lost and Found40%
5Debt · Gold for Bill. Separate achievements count finding enough gold to pay him off, and later paying him off for real.Always pay their debts1%
6FreedomFreedom!under 1%
7The End of PeaceThis means warunder 1%
8Order from Behind the DeskI am the Lawunder 1%
9Suspicious CustomerTrust no oneunder 1%
10Retired BanditJust when I thought I was out...under 1%
11On the Trail of BanditsWanted: Dead or Aliveunder 1%
12Blocked PassageYou shall not pass!under 1%
13The End of Bandits Is CloseFollow the White Rabbitunder 1%
14End of BanditsThe Endgameunder 1%
15Government SwampHouse of Cardsunder 1%
16Where Is My Father · The last main quest with an achievement.I am your fatherunder 1%

How the first stretch plays is in your first two hours; the gold for Bill is on gold and the debt, and Margaret is found with the scouts. After Where Is My Father there is one more achievement, Father's friend is my friend, for reaching the end of what Early Access currently holds.

Achievements you can miss on day one

Most achievements come with the story. These don’t, and the first one closes when your first in-game day ends.

AchievementWhat it asksHow to get it
Ain't my first rodeoBuild two wood outposts within the first dayOnly counts on your first in-game day, so plan the two wood outposts from the start.
Four dollars a pound!Try some local mushroomsMushrooms are among the first foods your gatherers bring in, so this can come early.
Who's a good boy?Pet dog in Shrubby GladeThe achievement names the place: find the dog in Shrubby Glade.
Zero Stars, Would RevoltReach 0 Happiness after "Residents Needs" questAsks you to let happiness hit zero after Residents' Needs. Do it on a spare save.
Just the two of usHave only one resident remainingDown to a single resident. Spare-save territory too.
Fine, I’ll PayPay a finePaying one fine is enough, so pay the first you are given.
Hit the Road JackPlace 20 buildings along main roadEasiest if you lay the main road early and keep building along it instead of around it.
Wild VeniceBuild 20 bridges in one settlementAll twenty have to be in the same settlement, so pick one with plenty of water to cross.
Yes Jamie, KaboomBlow up all the rocks in Sand StormThe debt sends you to Sand Storm to find gold under the rocks, so finish the job while you are there.
Gimmie, gimmiePlace every type of decorationDecorations cost 10 cash each in the launch footage, so this is cheap once they are all unlocked.

Choices that split achievements

A few pairs describe two ways through the same situation. The game does not say whether you can come back for the other side, so keep a save from just before each of these and take the second path from there.

  • The native tribe asks for help against the bandits. Bandit Removal Service (help the native tribe with the bandits) or Not in My Quest Log (don't help the native tribe with the bandits).
  • Tracking down the ex-bandit: the right one or the wrong one. The Good, the Bad, and the Reformed (find proper ex-bandit) or Not the Bandit You’re Looking For (find wrong ex-bandit).
  • Dealing with the bandits: guns or poison. Kids with Guns (kill the bandits with guns) or Don't you know that you're toxic? (poison bandits).
  • The rogue moonshiners: destroy the operation, or go behind the priest's back and take the alcohol. Holier-than-thou (destroy the rogue moonshining operation) or From behind (go behind the priest's back and steal all the alcohol).

Jesse, your right-hand man, has a pair too: Source: Trust me, Partner for asking his advice and Hold my whiskey for turning it down. These two are not either-or: their shares add up to more than 100%, so at least 8% of players hold both. Ask him once and turn him down once.

Five ways out of jail

Getting locked up is an achievement of its own (Behind Bars), and so is each way out: three for escaping prison, two for the government prison.

  • I mean, they were right there. Escape from prison by stealing the keys.
  • Playing With Fire Escape from prison using fire.
  • Divide and Conquer Escape from prison by exploiting the conflicts among the criminals.
  • Below the Law Escape from the government prison through the underground passage.
  • Through the Front Door Escape from the government prison through the door.

The most common way out so far is escaping by stealing the keys, held by 14% of players; next is escaping using fire, at 2%. If you want every way out, save before you break free.

Side quests with achievements

17 side quests carry an achievement. The buried treasure is not among them by name, but finding it earns X marks the spot; the shovel page covers it.

Side questAchievementPlayers who have it
New BeginningsA New Hope25%
Secret AdmirerYou've got mail13%
Forever and AfterHappily ever after5%
Spare Change BossSugar Mayor5%
Moonshine ScandalSay my name4%
Band of GhostsGhostbusters3%
Broken BusinessThou Shalt Not Distill2%
NativesDiplomacy achieved2%
PriestThe power of Christ compels you1%
Bit boring Here, Partner...Exterior decorator1%
Traveling MerchantNo Refundsunder 1%
Mother-in-LawThe Real Final Bossunder 1%
Cattle for NativesDances with cowsunder 1%
Red GhostThe Phantom Menaceunder 1%
Breeder ProblemLife finds a wayunder 1%
Whack-A-MoleIt's getting out of handunder 1%
The Lumberjack SagaTimberrrrr!under 1%

Every achievement

All 89, most-held first. The shares are Steam’s global figures and shift daily while the player base grows, so read them as how far people have got, not as difficulty. None of them is hidden. (From the game's Steam achievements page)

AchievementWhat it asksPlayers who have it
You're Finally Awake!Start the new adventure100%
Welcome to the Colony!Establish your first settlement100%
The paperwork beginsAppoint the first Official in Dust Creek97%
Trust the processBuy first Idea95%
Factori-oh!Establish first resource chain89%
Source: Trust me, PartnerAsk Jesse for advices78%
Hunger GamesComplete the Quest: Residents Needs73%
One small upgrade for a man...Unlock the first Improvement in the Idea Tree70%
Sleep is for the weakSkip the night67%
Five stars, would visit againComplete the Quest: Satisfaction62%
The more, the merrierComplete the Quest: Growing Family44%
Ain't my first rodeoBuild two wood outposts within the first day42%
Lost and FoundBring Margaret to town40%
A fresh coat of paintUpgrade the first building in the settlement32%
Hold my whiskeyReject Jesse's advices30%
Who's a good boy?Pet dog in Shrubby Glade29%
We need... we need... MONEY!Find enough Gold to pay off Bill26%
A New HopeComplete the Side Quest:New Beginnings25%
It's 100% legal!Start producing moonshine24%
Stay awhile and listen.Trade with a merchant for the first time23%
Should've packed moreResupply scouts in the field22%
Gotta Build 'Em AllUnlock all buildings18%
Behind BarsGet thrown in jail17%
I mean, they were right there.Escape from prison by stealing the keys14%
Zero Stars, Would RevoltReach 0 Happiness after "Residents Needs" quest14%
X marks the spotFind the treasure buried in Hidden Grove14%
You've got mailComplete the Side Quest: Secret Admirer13%
Now We're MultitaskingEstablish your second settlement9%
Ministry of Silly PaperworkAppoint the first Official in Sand storm8%
Master ChefUnlock all recipes for the Kitchen6%
Happily ever afterComplete the Side Quest: Forever and After5%
Where you make your own luckReach +100 Happiness5%
Sugar MayorComplete the Side Quest: Spare Change Boss5%
Bandit Removal ServiceHelp the native tribe with the bandits5%
Say my nameComplete the Side Quest: Moonshine Scandal4%
GhostbustersComplete the Side Quest: Band of Ghosts3%
Thou Shalt Not DistillComplete the Side Quest: Broken Business2%
Hit the Road JackPlace 20 buildings along main road2%
Playing With FireEscape from prison using fire2%
Diplomacy achievedComplete the Side Quest: Natives2%
The power of Christ compels youComplete the Side Quest: Priest1%
Holier-than-thouDestroy the rogue moonshining operation1%
From behindGo behind the priest's back and steal all the alcohol1%
Exterior decoratorComplete the Side Quest: Bit boring Here, Partner...1%
The OfficeAppoint all three officials in Dust Creek1%
Always pay their debtsComplete the Quest: Debt1%
Bye bye Bill!Find enough Gold to pay off Bill, for real this time.under 1%
Freedom!Complete the Quest: Freedomunder 1%
Moar, Moar ResidentsReach the resident amount limitunder 1%
This means warComplete the Quest: the End of Peaceunder 1%
No RefundsComplete the Side Quest: Traveling Merchantunder 1%
I am the LawComplete the Quest: Order from behind the deskunder 1%
Four dollars a pound!Try some local mushroomsunder 1%
The Real Final BossComplete the Side Quest: Mother-in-Lawunder 1%
Praise the Sun!Bring a priest to town.under 1%
Trust no oneComplete the Quest: Suspicious Customerunder 1%
Dances with cowsComplete the Side Quest: Cattle for Nativesunder 1%
Just when I thought I was out...Complete the Quest: Retired Banditunder 1%
Dysentery won't stop us!Visit all locations in the game (without secret ones)under 1%
Wanted: Dead or AliveComplete the Quest: On the trail of banditsunder 1%
You shall not pass!Complete the Quest: Blocked Passageunder 1%
Follow the White RabbitComplete the Quest: The end of bandits is closeunder 1%
The EndgameComplete the Quest: End of banditsunder 1%
The Phantom MenaceComplete the Side Quest: Red Ghostunder 1%
The Good, the Bad, and the ReformedFind proper ex-banditunder 1%
Not in My Quest LogDon't help the native tribe with the banditsunder 1%
Wild VeniceBuild 20 bridges in one settlementunder 1%
Just the two of usHave only one resident remainingunder 1%
Father's friend is my friendReach the end of the early access contentunder 1%
Cowboy RamseyFinish cooking the poisonunder 1%
House of CardsComplete the Quest: Government Swampunder 1%
I am your fatherComplete the Quest: Where is my fatherunder 1%
Life finds a wayComplete the Side Quest: Breeder Problemunder 1%
It's getting out of handComplete the Side Quest: Whack-A-Moleunder 1%
Timberrrrr!Complete the Side Quest: The Lumberjack Sagaunder 1%
Kids with GunsKill the bandits with gunsunder 1%
Don't you know that you're toxic?Poison Banditsunder 1%
Not the Bandit You’re Looking ForFind wrong ex-banditunder 1%
Oops, my bad.Mistake a regular citizen for a banditunder 1%
Divide and ConquerEscape from prison by exploiting the conflicts among the criminalsunder 1%
Yes Jamie, KaboomBlow up all the rocks in Sand Stormunder 1%
Gimmie, gimmiePlace every type of decorationunder 1%
Papers, pleaseAppoint all three officials in Sand Stormunder 1%
Knowledge is PowerBuy all available Ideasunder 1%
Where's Dudu?Find your dopplegangerunder 1%
This is how we do things 'round here.Brew a poison for the interrogation.under 1%
Fine, I’ll PayPay a fineunder 1%
Below the LawEscape from the government prison through the underground passageunder 1%
Through the Front DoorEscape from the government prison through the doorunder 1%

Related

Your first two hours, journey points and ideas, residents’ needs and whims for the happiness achievements, and gold and the debt.