If you want every Project_Hel secret, the trick is to stop following the cleanest route. The DLC hides its collectibles and bonus pickups behind maintenance ledges, alternate wall-run lines, and platforms that only become reachable after Hel's air dash. There are 18 collectible secrets across the six missions, and finding them all unlocks the DLC's collectible achievement while filling out its bonus lore and cosmetic rewards. None improves Hel's damage, so grab them for completion, story context, and bragging rights—not a stronger build.
This guide covers the exact route checks for every mission, the visual landmarks that reveal each detour, and the mistakes that send players sprinting past a pickup. Before starting, make sure you're running the latest version of the DLC through the official Steam page. Project_Hel is deliberately replayable, so you can return to a completed level without losing campaign progress.
How Project_Hel secrets actually work
Project_Hel's hidden items are placed inside the main level geometry rather than marked on the HUD. They appear as bright collectible objects, usually in a small side room or at the end of a platforming branch. If you hear the pickup chime but die before reaching the next checkpoint, the collection still counts once the game saves it. That makes risky scouting much less painful than it first appears.
The most important rule is simple: don't trigger the next elevator, launch pad, or mission transition until you've checked the arena behind you. The DLC frequently places a secret beside the route you just used, especially after a fight with Shielded Enforcers or aerial enemies. Hel's mobility makes reverse exploration possible, but some checkpoints seal previous rooms permanently.
| Mission | Secrets | Best warning sign | Reward value |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Descent | 3 | Upper maintenance beams | Early lore and completion progress |
| Find a Way | 3 | Dead-end wall-run panels | Collectible record |
| Dharma City | 3 | Rooftop side lanes | Collectible record |
| Reign in Hell | 3 | Post-arena return routes | Collectible record |
| A Look Inside | 3 | Before final transition doors | Late lore and completion progress |
| Only Up | 3 | Lower platforms beneath launch points | Final completion progress |
For a broader movement refresher, Steamoz's PC fixes guide is worth checking before tackling the DLC. Stable frame pacing matters here: a missed jump usually isn't a mystery—it is a timing problem amplified by stutter.
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View on Steammoz Store →The Descent and Find a Way secret locations
The Descent — three secrets
Secret one: After the opening combat section, take the first wall-run across the shaft, then look up before using the marked zipline. A narrow beam runs above the normal landing platform. Jump from the far end, air-dash toward the beam, and follow it into the recessed maintenance alcove. The collectible sits at the back, behind the large vertical pipe.
Secret two: In the room with staggered red platforms and the first shielded enemy, clear the enemies but don't launch toward the exit. Turn around and wall-run on the left-hand panel. At the midpoint, jump to the unlit platform tucked behind the pillar. The pickup is beside a broken console. This is the easiest one to miss because the exit marker points in the opposite direction.
Secret three: Near the mission's final descending elevator sequence, take the lower route after the second bounce pad. The safe path keeps you high; the secret path drops beneath it. Aim for the hanging platform, dash across the gap, and enter the small room behind the orange-lit vent. If you reach the elevator, you've gone too far and must reload the previous checkpoint.
Find a Way — three secrets
Secret one: At the first major neon arena, head to the right side after the fight. Use the blue wall-run panel, but jump early onto the thin ledge behind the billboard rather than landing on the obvious platform. The collectible is at the end of this short service corridor.
Secret two: When the mission introduces the long sequence of alternating wall-runs, stay on the upper route. After the second dash, turn left instead of following the red-lit panels. A hidden platform sits behind the tower support. You need to chain wall-run, jump, and air dash without touching the central floor; touching it resets the route.
Secret three: Before the final launch pad, look down from the staging platform. A lower catwalk wraps around the room. Drop to it, dash past the laser gap, and collect the item beside the sealed door. Do not activate the launch pad first—the transition removes access to the catwalk.
Dharma City and Reign in Hell secrets
Dharma City — three secrets
Secret one: After entering the open city block, clear the first group of enemies and face the large holographic sign. The secret is on the rooftop behind it, reached by wall-running along the left building and air-dashing at the last possible moment. The pickup is hidden behind the sign's support frame, so it won't be visible from street level.
Secret two: In the combat zone with multiple vertical jump points, use the far-left launcher instead of the center route. It sends Hel toward a narrow balcony above the arena. Turn around immediately after landing; the collectible is behind the billboard, not along the forward-facing path.
Secret three: Just before the Dharma City transition, check the right-hand rooftop after the final enemy wave. A broken neon bridge leads to a tiny platform. Cross it with a single air dash and follow the cable tunnel. The item is at the dead end. This route is especially easy to miss because the mission's exit marker appears as soon as the arena is clear.
Reign in Hell — three secrets
Secret one: After the first lava arena, don't take the central staircase. Look for the scorched wall-run strip on the left. It leads behind the arena into a maintenance pocket containing the collectible. Kill the ranged enemies first; their projectiles can knock Hel off the narrow approach.
Secret two: During the vertical climb with moving platforms, wait for the lower platform to return instead of jumping straight upward. Ride it down, turn toward the rear wall, and dash through the gap behind the machinery. The hidden room contains the second pickup and a safe checkpoint route back to the climb.
Secret three: At the final combat chamber, finish the wave but leave the exit door closed. On the right, a wall-run path curves behind the orange hazard lights. Follow it to the upper ledge, then drop into the alcove above the door. The collectible is visible only when you turn back toward the arena.
A Look Inside and Only Up locations
A Look Inside — three secrets
Secret one: Immediately after the opening interior fight, inspect the left side of the room before crossing the central bridge. A short wall-run around the reactor housing reaches a maintenance balcony. The pickup is beside the exposed wiring.
Secret two: In the room with repeated moving platforms, take the low platform after the second rotation. Jump behind the large glass column and use Hel's dash to reach the concealed ledge. The collectible rests in the shadow beneath the upper walkway; it is not on the platform that carries you forward.
Secret three: Before the final combat gauntlet, turn away from the objective door and follow the left wall. A narrow passage loops above the previous room. Cross the final gap only after the rotating platform lines up, then grab the pickup at the end. Entering the gauntlet locks the previous section.
Only Up — three secrets
Secret one: At the first upward launch sequence, deliberately land on the lower-left platform. It looks like a missed jump, but it is the intended secret route. Wall-run around the support column and collect the item behind the first vertical obstruction.
Secret two: During the long ascent, pause at the platform with two launch points. Use the rear launcher, which throws Hel toward a dark ledge beneath the next checkpoint. Turn around after landing and follow the ledge to the collectible.
Secret three: Before the final transition, search beneath the last large platform. Drop down, air-dash through the gap, and land beside the support struts. The final pickup is in the small alcove at the bottom. The next jump is safe if you use the wall-run panel on the right rather than trying to climb straight back up.
Movement techniques that make the hunt reliable
Hel's secret routes are less about raw speed than controlling momentum. Use a short wall-run to line up an air dash, then jump only after the camera clears the obstruction. A panic dash from the edge often sends you past the platform. Against ranged enemies, use the shield or kill the shooter before scouting; Project_Hel's collectibles don't pause enemy fire.
| Problem | Best response | Why it works | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thin beam landing | Jump late, then air dash | Preserves horizontal control | Dashing before the jump |
| Enemy fire near a secret | Clear shooters first | Stops knockback deaths | Rushing the pickup mid-wave |
| Lower hidden platform | Drop straight, face the wall | Keeps the recovery route visible | Holding forward into the void |
| Locked transition | Reload the last checkpoint | Restores the previous room | Assuming the collectible is gone |
For performance, prioritize consistent frame delivery over cinematic effects. A locked 60 fps is much more useful than unstable ray-traced visuals when you're timing a wall-run. If you play other precision-heavy action games, Steamoz's frame-focused settings guide explains the same basic principle: reduce expensive effects before sacrificing input clarity.
Set motion blur to off, lower volumetric effects if your frame time spikes, and keep textures high if you have enough VRAM. Project_Hel's arenas are visually busy, but texture quality has a smaller impact on responsiveness than shadows, reflections, and volumetric lighting. If a secret jump feels inconsistent, test it at a stable refresh rate before blaming the route.
What the hidden rewards unlock
Collecting every secret contributes to the Project_Hel collectible achievement and fills the DLC's lore record. The rewards are primarily completionist rewards—extra story context, collectible entries, and cosmetic recognition—not skill points or combat modifiers. Hel's upgrade progression comes from normal campaign advancement, so missing one secret won't weaken the character or block the ending.
That distinction matters if you're deciding whether to restart a mission. If you're chasing a perfect collection run, replay the chapter from its level select and use the three-item checklist above. If you're simply enjoying the story, keep moving and return later. Project_Hel saves collectibles independently, making cleanup much faster than replaying the entire campaign in one sitting.
For official background on the DLC and its development, see Ghostrunner's official site, One More Level, and the game's Project_Hel community reference. And if you enjoy games built around lethal movement and demanding routes, Steamoz's survival-tools ranking and weapon ranking guide make good follow-up reads.
The cleanest strategy is to sweep each arena before touching its exit, watch for unlit ledges, and treat every lower platform as suspicious. With those habits, all 18 Project_Hel secrets become a controlled movement puzzle rather than a blind hunt—and Hel has exactly the tools needed to crack every one.