How to Get the REDACTED Badge in DOORS The Archives

Overview

The REDACTED badge is one of the most talked-about secrets from The Archives update. It’s a hidden achievement — you won’t even see it listed on the game’s badge page until you’ve unlocked it.

This guide covers everything we know about getting the REDACTED badge: where to go, what to do, and how to avoid dying in the process.

⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: This guide contains major spoilers for hidden content in The Archives. If you want to discover the secret yourself, stop reading now.

Note: The Archives is brand new (released August 31, 2026). Badge requirements are based on early community findings and may be refined as more players explore. Always verify the latest method in-game.

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What Is the REDACTED Badge?

The REDACTED badge is a secret achievement in DOORS that was added as part of The Archives update. It’s called “REDACTED” because the badge name and description are literally redacted — blacked out — until you earn it.

What we know:

• It’s a hidden/secret badge (not visible on the game page until earned)
• It involves finding and doing something specific in The Archives
• It was heavily teased in the lead-up to the update
• Multiple YouTube guides claim to show “the only way” to get it
• It’s considered a late-game / completionist achievement

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Prerequisites

Before you can attempt the REDACTED badge, you need to:

1. Have access to The Archives — you need to reach Floor 3 (beat The Mines)
2. Bring specific items — see the list below
3. Be prepared to die — this is a hard badge to get on your first try
4. Have time — it’s not a quick thing; plan for a full run of The Archives

Recommended Items

• Crucifix — you’ll probably need it. Bring two if you can.
• Vitamins — speed is useful for several steps
• Flashlight + extra batteries — it’s dark down there
• Gas mask — there are dust sections to get through
• Lockpick — you may need to open something optional
• Archive Key — you’ll need this to access restricted areas

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Step-by-Step Guide

Important: These steps are based on early community findings and may not be 100% accurate. We’ll update this guide as more information is confirmed.

Step 1: Reach The Archives

Play through The Hotel and The Mines to reach The Archives entrance. This is the longest part — you can’t get the REDACTED badge without reaching Floor 3.

Tip: Play on a server with friends if possible. More people means more items and more revives.

Step 2: Get to The Vault

Make your way through The Archives until you reach The Vault section. This is the heavily secured area that requires an Archive Key to enter.

• The Archive Key is found somewhere in The Stacks section
• It’s usually in a hidden room or behind a puzzle
• Don’t use it on any other door — save it for The Vault

Step 3: Enter the Vault and Find the Secret Room

Once inside The Vault:

1. Clear the area of any threats
2. Search the back wall — look for a specific filing cabinet or wall panel
3. Interact with it — there’s a hidden switch or button
4. A secret door opens somewhere in the vault

Step 4: Go Through the Hidden Passage

Follow the hidden passage into a secret sub-area of The Archives. This area is NOT part of the main path through Floor 3 — you can only access it through the Vault secret door.

• This area has its own unique entity encounters
• Bring plenty of light — it’s even darker than the rest of The Archives
• Move slowly — there are traps

Step 5: Find the REDACTED Document

At the end of the hidden passage is a room with a single, heavily secured document. This is the REDACTED Document — the thing the badge is named after.

1. Approach the document
2. Interact with it to read it
3. A short cutscene plays
4. The REDACTED badge unlocks!

Step 6: Get Out Alive (Optional, But Recommended)

Getting the badge is one thing — surviving the escape is another.

• The cutscene may trigger an entity spawn
• Be ready to run or hide immediately after
• The way out is the same way you came in
• If you die, you still keep the badge — but it’s more satisfying to escape alive

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Things That Might Go Wrong

1. You can’t find the Archive Key

The Archive Key spawns in different places every run. It’s always somewhere in The Stacks section — search every filing cabinet in side rooms and dead ends.

2. The Archivist finds you in The Vault

The Archivist patrols near The Vault. If it’s in the area, wait for it to move on before trying to enter. Use a distraction item if you have one.

3. You die in the hidden passage

The hidden area is dangerous. Save your crucifix for the worst encounter down there. It’s better to use it and get the badge than save it and die.

4. The secret door doesn’t open

Make sure you:

• Are in the right section (The Vault)
• Have the Archive Key (you need it to even get to the Vault)
• Have found and interacted with the correct switch/cabinet
• Didn’t miss a document earlier that triggers the secret

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Tips From Early Players

1. Bring a friend. Two players can split up and search for the Archive Key faster.
2. Don’t rush through The Stacks. The Archive Key is easy to miss if you’re just speeding through.
3. Save your crucifix. You’ll want it for whatever is in the hidden passage.
4. Mark your path. The Archives is a maze — use glow sticks or mental notes to remember where you’ve been.
5. It might not work on the first try. The Archives is procedural, and the key and secret room locations change. Keep trying.
6. Watch for false guides. There are a lot of clickbait “REDACTED badge” videos that don’t actually show the real method. Stick to reputable sources.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the REDACTED badge on The Hotel or Mines?

No. The badge is tied to The Archives content. You need to reach Floor 3.

Do I need to beat The Archives first?

No — you just need to reach The Vault section. You can get the badge without completing the entire floor.

Does the badge give me anything in-game?

Secret badges in DOORS typically don’t give gameplay rewards — they’re just for bragging rights and completion. But some hidden badges have unlocked special content over time, so it’s worth getting just in case.

Can I use a private server?

Yes. The badge should work in both public and private servers.

How rare is it?

As of early September 2026, it’s still very rare — only a small percentage of players have found and unlocked it. The rarity will go down over time as more guides come out.

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More Archives Content

• The Archives Update Overview — Everything new in the update
• Floor 3 Walkthrough — Complete guide to the new floor
• New Archives Entities — Every new monster and how to survive
• Full Entities List — All entities across every floor

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Last verified: September 2, 2026. Badge requirements are based on early community findings and official teaser analysis from The Archives update. Exact steps may change as more players explore the content — always verify the current method in-game. This page will be updated as more information is confirmed.