In Outbound, I collect six main collectible types across four biomes. None of them are missable, so I can explore at my own pace, return to earlier regions later, and finish the collectible achievements without worrying about a time limit or combat.
Collectibles Guide
In this guide, I explain how Outbound collectibles work, what each collectible type is used for, which achievements they connect to, and how I approach each biome while searching for them.
Outbound has six major collectible categories tied to Steam achievements: Cairns, Gnomes, Paintings, Cap ’n Snap Blueprints, Campfires, and Bottle Caps. Cairns are the easiest to notice, gnomes are the most hidden, campfires require Redwood, and gacha machines need bottle caps.
The game tracks my progress through the achievement menu, so I can always see how many collectibles I have found in total. However, it does not split that progress by biome, which means I need to search across the full world instead of clearing only one region.
Outbound Interactive Map
Coming soon!
Collectibles
Outbound collectibles are exploration-based items found throughout the open world. I can return to any biome after unlocking later areas, so I do not need to collect everything during my first visit.
| Icon | Item / Collectible | Map Pins Filter Available? | Guide Available? | Related Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Cairns | In Progress | In Progress | Cairnivore |
 | Gnomes | In Progress | In Progress | Gnome Sweet Gnome |
 | Paintings | In Progress | In Progress | Camper Van Gogh |
 | Cap ’n Snap Blueprints | In Progress | In Progress | Snapped ’Em All |
 | Campfires | In Progress | In Progress | Shine Your Light On Me |
 | Bottle Caps | In Progress | In Progress | Ring-a-Ding-Ding! |
There is also one hidden achievement, Meet the Devs!, which I unlock by finding special gnomes at the Gnome Workshop.
Four Biomes, Same Collectibles
Every collectible type appears across the four main regions. I do not treat collectibles as limited to one landmark, because they can be scattered between roads, buildings, campsites, scenic areas, and Points of Interest.
- Starting Area / Meadows: The first zone with a tutorial-friendly layout.
- Canyons: Unlocked by repairing bridges and following the main path.
- Pacific Coast: Available after the Canyons and includes areas such as the lighthouse and ferry.
- Mountains: The final biome with the highest elevation areas.
Each biome has Signal Towers for downloading blueprints and 13 total Points of Interest on the map, including places such as the Festival site, Research Centers, Fire Lookout, Windmill, and Lighthouse.
How Cairns Work
Cairns look like small stacked stone towers made of several rocks balanced on top of each other. I usually find them on hilltops, cliff edges, roadsides, and scenic overlooks.
To collect a cairn, I walk up to it and interact with it. I do not need any special tool, fuel, or upgrade. The only real challenge is remembering to stop when I spot one while driving through the world.
How Gnomes Work
Gnomes are the trickiest collectibles for me because they are intentionally hidden. Each gnome has a unique name and a different outfit, so I may find one dressed as a scientist, another as a gardener, or another wearing festival clothes.
I check these places carefully when hunting for gnomes:
- Benches near campsites
- Behind buildings at Points of Interest
- Under trees in dense forest areas
- Near satellite towers
- Edges of overlooks
When I am close to a gnome, I listen for the faint sound cue. The game does not mark gnomes on the map, so I search slowly and thoroughly. In co-op, other players can help spot them, and everyone in the session can collect the same gnome.
The Gnome Workshop is a special location with developer-themed gnomes. Finding them unlocks the hidden Meet the Devs! achievement separately from the regular Gnome Sweet Gnome achievement.
How Paintings Work
Paintings appear as flat artwork items that I can pick up. They are not as hidden as gnomes, but they are easier to miss than cairns.
I usually look for paintings inside buildings, near art installations at Points of Interest, and around decorated areas in each biome. After I collect them, they appear inside my van as cosmetic decorations.
Paintings do not give a gameplay advantage, but I need them for the Camper Van Gogh achievement. Since the game does not clearly list which paintings I am missing, I prefer to search one biome carefully before moving on.
How Cap ’n Snap Blueprints Work
Cap ’n Snap Blueprints come from gacha vending machines placed around the world. I use bottle caps in these machines, and each machine gives random blueprints until I collect everything available from that machine.
I find bottle caps by doing normal exploration activities:
- Picking up litter
- Opening containers
- Exploring campsites
- Checking trash bins at Points of Interest
Bottle caps are very common, so I do not save them forever. After I reach 100 bottle caps for the Ring-a-Ding-Ding! achievement, I spend the rest on gacha machines.
Gacha machines appear on the map once I discover them. These Cap ’n Snap Blueprints are separate from the normal crafting blueprints I download from Signal Towers.
How Campfires Work
Campfires require two things: I need to find the fire pit, and I need the correct fuel to light it.
Finding campfires is usually simple because they appear at campsites, scenic areas, and Points of Interest. Lighting them is the harder part because I specifically need Redwood. Other wood types do not work for campfires.
Redwood does not appear evenly everywhere, so I collect it whenever I see it and store extra in my van. That way, I can light multiple campfires in one trip instead of returning later without enough fuel.
Once I light a campfire, it stays lit permanently, so I do not need to revisit it.
What Bottle Caps Actually Do
Bottle caps have two main uses. I need them for gacha machines, and I also need to reach 100 total bottle caps for the Ring-a-Ding-Ding! achievement.
This is one of the easiest collecting achievements because I naturally pass 100 bottle caps while exploring. The achievement tracks the highest total I have reached, not only my current inventory, so I can spend my caps after hitting the requirement.
Because of that, I prioritize gacha blueprint machines instead of hoarding bottle caps for no reason.
Do I Need to 100% Every Biome?
No, I do not need to complete every collectible type biome by biome. Outbound achievements track total collectible counts across the whole world, not separate regional completion.
The game does not tell me that I have found every cairn, gnome, or painting in one specific biome. It only shows my overall progress, such as how many I have found out of the total required amount. Because of this, I spread my search across all four regions.
Research Centers and the Hidden Achievement
Each of the four biomes has one Research Center. The hidden Certified Researcher achievement requires me to deliver research materials to all four centers.
This is separate from the main collectible categories, but I still track it when going for 100% achievements. Research materials are found while exploring, and Research Centers appear on the map once discovered.
What About Signal Towers?
Signal Towers download crafting blueprints to my van’s research system. These blueprints are not the same as Cap ’n Snap gacha blueprints.
Signal Towers do not have their own dedicated collecting achievement. I treat them more like progression markers because they unlock useful vehicle upgrades and crafting recipes. They are marked on the map and are difficult to miss during normal exploration.