PEAK: How to Get the Participation Badge FAST (March 2026 Guide)

Updated by Ankit Babal
July 13, 2025
Gaming

Ever wondered how to unlock the Participation Badge in PEAK? You’re not alone. This seemingly simple achievement has confused thousands of players since launch. The badge description “Have a friend escape the island without you” sounds straightforward, but there’s a crucial hidden requirement that most guides miss. To get the Participation Badge in PEAK, you must be in ghost form (completely dead with timer expired) when your teammates escape via helicopter – being unconscious or simply left behind won’t count.

PEAK: Participation Badge Overview

Requirement	Details
Game Mode	Multiplayer only (2-4 players)
Your Status	Must be a ghost (fully dead)
Team Status	At least one teammate must escape
Timing	Die before helicopter countdown ends
Reward	Castaway outfit cosmetic

What Is the Participation Badge in PEAK?

The Participation Badge is one of 32 achievements in PEAK that ironically rewards you for not making it to the end. Unlike other badges that celebrate your climbing prowess or survival skills, this one requires the ultimate sacrifice – dying while your friends succeed. It’s PEAK’s way of saying “at least you tried,” complete with a stylish Castaway outfit as your consolation prize.

The Hidden Truth About This Achievement

Here’s what the game doesn’t tell you upfront: Simply being “left behind” isn’t enough. I learned this the hard way after multiple failed attempts. You must be in ghost form when your team reaches the summit. If you are just left behind somewhere on the mountain, it won’t count. This crucial detail has frustrated countless players who thought they could just stand at base camp while their friends escaped.

Common Mistakes That Prevent Getting the Badge

After helping dozens of scouts unlock this achievement on PEAK’s rotating daily islands, I’ve identified the most common failures:

1. Being Unconscious Instead of Dead

The biggest misconception? Thinking unconscious counts as “dead.” It doesn’t. Even being unconscious does not count towards getting this badge. When you’re unconscious (with swirly eyes and a timer), your teammates can still revive you. The game considers you potentially alive, so no badge for you.

2. Attempting in Solo Mode

This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many players try this alone. The Participation Badge is exclusively a multiplayer achievement – you need at least one other player to escape while you’re dead.

3. Poor Death Timing

Dying too early makes the climb unnecessarily difficult for your team. Dying too late might mean you’re still unconscious when they escape. Timing is everything.

4. Being Left Behind (But Alive)

Standing at the Shore’s campfire waving goodbye? Nice try, but no badge. Additionally even if you’re not at the peak (For example, at the bottom of the Kiln) but you’re alive when the helicopter leaves, you will not get this achievement.

Step-by-Step Guide to Unlock the Participation Badge in PEAK

Based on extensive testing and community feedback, here’s the foolproof method:

Step 1: Prepare Your Team

Gather 2-4 players total (you need at least one teammate)
Communicate your plan clearly – everyone should know you’re going for the badge
Consider playing on Tenderfoot difficulty for easier team survival

Step 2: Play Normally Through Most Biomes

Don’t sabotage your team early! Help them through:

Shore: Gather essential supplies and help with voice chat coordination
Tropics: Navigate the maze together
Alpine: Share warmth items and navigate blizzards
Caldera: Work together through lava sections
The Kiln: Climb as a team until near the end

Step 3: Execute Your Dramatic Exit

A better idea is to stick with them through the tricky parts, help out as much as you can, and then, right before you all reach the top, take a dive off a cliff.

The perfect death spot is at The Kiln’s final section, just before the PEAK zone. Here’s why:

Your team is close enough to finish without you
You have plenty of height for a dramatic fall
The death timer gives you enough buffer

Step 4: Wait for the Timer

After your spectacular cliff dive:

Watch your death timer count down (usually 30-60 seconds)
Transform into a ghost once the timer expires
Float around and cheer on your teammates
Ensure you’re still in ghost form when they light the flare

Step 5: Celebrate Your Failure

Once your team escapes and you see the achievement pop, you’ve officially earned your participation trophy! The Castaway outfit will be waiting in your cosmetics menu.

Pro Strategies for Efficient Badge Farming

The Speed Run Method

For experienced teams farming multiple badges:

Have the designated “ghost” carry the Cursed Skull
Rush through biomes using known routes
Die at a predetermined spot in The Kiln
Team continues with one less player but saved time

The Multi-Badge Strategy

Combine the Participation Badge with other achievements:

Bing Bong Badge: Have your living teammate carry Bing Bong to the end
Speed Climber: Your death reduces travel time for teammates
Bookworm: You can still collect journal pages before dying

The Buddy System

If multiple players need the badge:

Take turns across different runs
Alternate who dies each day (remember, maps reset every 24 hours)
Use this as practice for other challenging badges like Leave No Trace

Understanding Ghost Mechanics

Becoming a ghost in PEAK isn’t just about dying – there’s a whole system at play:

Ghost Form Requirements

Complete death (timer fully expired)
No revival items used on you
Cannot be revived at Ancient Statues
Remain in the game session

What Ghosts Can Do

Float freely around the map
Communicate with living players
Scout ahead for the team
Provide moral support (very important!)

What Ghosts Cannot Do

Interact with any items
Affect the physical world
Be revived once fully dead
Leave the game (or you lose the badge!)

Platform Considerations and Multiplayer Setup

Since PEAK doesn’t have crossplay, all players must be on PC via Steam. Here’s how to set up:

Create a Friends-Only Lobby: PEAK uses friend invites exclusively
Check Graphics Settings: Ensure all players use the same API (DirectX12 or Vulkan) for voice chat
Verify Map Sync: Everyone should see the same daily island layout
Test Communications: Voice chat is crucial for coordination

The Castaway Outfit: Your Reward Explained

The Castaway outfit perfectly captures the spirit of the Participation Badge – you look like someone who definitely tried but didn’t quite make it. This cosmetic includes:

Tattered clothing reminiscent of island survival
Unique color scheme that stands out
Instant recognition from other players
No gameplay advantages (all PEAK cosmetics are purely visual)

Tips from the Community

The PEAK community has developed several creative approaches:

The “Heroic Sacrifice” Method

Frame your death as saving the team:

“Hold” heavy items until the end
“Accidentally” fall while “scouting ahead”
Makes the experience more fun for everyone

The Insurance Policy

One player shared: In multiplayer, if one player escapes with it, everyone gets the badge. While this refers to the Bing Bong badge, the principle of teamwork applies here too.

The Teaching Moment

Use your ghost status to help newer players:

Scout dangerous sections ahead
Call out item locations
Guide them through The Kiln’s tricky sections

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

“I died but didn’t get the badge!”

Check these points:

Were you fully dead (ghost form) or just unconscious?
Did at least one teammate successfully escape?
Were you still in the game when they escaped?
Was it a multiplayer session (not solo)?

“Can I get this with random players?”

Technically yes, but it’s risky. Random players might:

Not understand your goal
Try to revive you
Fail to reach the summit
Leave the game early

“Does difficulty matter?”

No! Yes, every badge works on Tenderfoot. Play on whatever difficulty helps your team succeed.

“Can I die multiple times?”

Yes, but only your final death state matters. If you die, get revived, then die again, only the last death counts for the achievement.

Advanced Strategies for Veteran Players

The Efficiency Run

For players who’ve mastered PEAK’s mechanics:

Use advanced climbing techniques
Optimize item usage for your remaining teammates
Die at strategic locations that don’t hinder progress
Complete in under 45 minutes total

The Challenge Mode

Make it interesting:

Attempt on higher difficulties
Combine with dietary restrictions (Naturalist Badge)
Race against other teams
Stream your attempts for entertainment

The Lore-Friendly Approach

Role-play your demise:

Create a backstory for your sacrifice
Leave “final messages” in voice chat
Make it memorable for your team
Screenshot worthy moments

Why Players Love (and Hate) This Badge

The Participation Badge embodies PEAK’s philosophy: failure can be just as memorable as success. Players have shared stories of:

Accidentally getting the badge during legitimate attempts
Intentionally failing in spectacular ways
Creating elaborate death scenes for entertainment
Bonding with teammates over shared “failures”

Badge Synergies and Conflicts

Badges That Work Well Together

Clutch Badge: Revive teammates before your final death
First Aid Badge: Heal 100 points before dying
Happy Camper: Get morale boosts early in the run

Badges That Don’t Mix

Survivalist: Requires never going unconscious
Peak Badge: Requires reaching the summit
Speed Climber: Your death might slow the team

Updates and Future Considerations

As of 2026, the Participation Badge remains unchanged since PEAK’s launch. However, stay informed about potential updates through:

Official Landfall Discord
Steam Community discussions
Patch notes and announcements
PEAK achievement guides

Final Thoughts: Embracing Failure in PEAK

The Participation Badge perfectly captures what makes PEAK special – it’s not always about reaching the summit. Sometimes the most memorable moments come from spectacular failures, heroic sacrifices, or simply being part of the journey.

Whether you’re going for this badge intentionally or accidentally earned it during a failed run (we’ve all been there), wear that Castaway outfit with pride. You participated, you tried, and sometimes that’s enough.

Remember: In PEAK, every death is a learning experience, every failure brings your team closer together, and every badge tells a story. The Participation Badge just happens to tell the story of the time you didn’t quite make it – and that’s perfectly okay.

Now grab some friends, plan your dramatic exit, and get ready to earn your participation trophy. See you in ghost form at the summit!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get the Participation Badge in solo mode?

No, the Participation Badge requires multiplayer mode with at least one other player. You cannot unlock this achievement playing solo.

What’s the difference between unconscious and dead in PEAK?

Unconscious players have swirly eyes and a revival timer – they can be saved. Dead players become ghosts after their timer expires and cannot be revived except at Ancient Statues.

Do I need to die at a specific location?

No, you can die anywhere on the mountain. The key is being in ghost form when teammates escape. Most players prefer dying near the end to help their team longer.

Can multiple players get the Participation Badge in one run?

No, only dead players (in ghost form) receive the badge. Living players who escape get different achievements. You’ll need multiple runs for multiple players.

Does the Anti-Rope Cannon affect this achievement?

Items like the Anti-Rope Cannon don’t affect the badge. Use any items you want before dying – only your final ghost status matters.

What happens if I disconnect while dead?

You must remain in the game session to receive the badge. Disconnecting, even as a ghost, will prevent you from earning the achievement.

Can I be revived at an Ancient Statue and still get the badge?

No, if you’re revived at an Ancient Statue, you’ll need to die again and ensure you’re in ghost form when the team escapes.

Is the Castaway outfit tradeable?

No, all cosmetic rewards in PEAK are bound to your account and cannot be traded or sold to other players.

Does everyone need to escape for me to get the badge?

No, only one teammate needs to successfully escape while you’re in ghost form. The others can die or disconnect without affecting your achievement.

How long does the death timer last?

The death timer typically lasts 30-60 seconds depending on game settings. You must wait for it to fully expire to become a ghost.