The 2005 cult classic platformer Psychonauts has finally received its long-awaited sequel, over sixteen years since the original game was first released. To the delight of fans, the highly anticipated game hasn't disappointed and has been a huge hit with critics, exemplified by its impressive 87 Metascore on Xbox Series X.

RELATED: Awesome Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do In Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts 2 doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, and retains many of the core features that made its predecessor so acclaimed. One such feature is the ranking system, previously known as the PSI-Cadet Rank. Increasing Raz's rank in Psychonauts 2 has many similarities to the previous game, but understanding the system can be a bit tricky for first-timers. So, to give new players a helping hand, here's a guide on how to earn Intern Credits and increase Raz's rank.

What Is Raz's Intern Rank?

Raz's intern rank and other key details

After his heroic triumphs from the first game, Raz begins life in Psychonauts 2 as a new official Psychonaut. Unfortunately, this title is soon ripped away from him when Hollis Forsythe declares that Ford Cruller, the man who granted Raz his Psychonaut title, doesn't have the authority to commission new Psychonauts.

RELATED: Psychonauts 2: How to Fix the Funicular

Hollis does, however, grant Raz a place in the intern program, allowing Raz limited access to the Motherlobe and putting him at rank 1. Much like the original Psychonauts, increasing Raz's rank will grant him access to new psychic abilities and allow him to purchase more advanced items.

How To Increase Raz's Intern Rank

Emotional Baggage description

Raz's rank, which can rise all the way up to 102, can be increased in the following ways:

Emotional Baggage

Emotional Baggage are hidden items located in the Mental World. The baggage itself often isn't too tricky to locate, as it can be heard loudly crying. Moreover, when Raz gets close to Emotional Baggage, he will often help the player out by saying something along the lines of "I think I can hear something..."

However, finding the baggage is only half the battle. Players also need to find its corresponding tag, which is usually far tougher to track down. For every five times that Raz reunites a bag with its tag, he will gain a rank.

Figments

Figments details

Much like Emotional Baggage, Figments are found within the Mental World. Figments are, generally speaking, far easier to find than Emotional Baggage. However, they have strength in numbers on their side, as there are over 100 Figments in each Mental World.

Unsurprisingly, this makes it tricky to collect them all, as it's very easy to miss one or two along the way. Thankfully, players don't have to collect every Figment to level up, as just 100 will see Raz's rank increase.

Nuggets of Wisdom

Nuggets of Wisdom are one of the most effective ways to rank up in Psychonauts 2. Players simply need to find one Nugget of Wisdom to instantly receive a full rank increase. Unsurprisingly, this is far easier said than done. There are just 29 Nuggets of Wisdom in Psychonauts 2, and they're all well hidden to ensure that players earn their generous reward.

RELATED: Psychonauts 2: All Nuggets of Wisdom and Memory Vaults in Lucrecia's Lament

It's worth pointing out that some Nuggets of Wisdom can't be obtained on the first playthrough of a level, as reaching them requires abilities that Raz won't unlock until later in the game. Revisiting levels is possible in Psychonauts 2, though players need to complete the casino mission at Lady Lucktopus first.

PSI Challenge Cards and PSI Cores

PSI Challenge Card details

PSI Challange Cards are littered all around Psychonauts 2, both inside and outside of the Mental World. Once players collect nine of them, they can increase their rank by combining the cards with a PSI Core. To obtain a PSI Core, players must head to an OTTO-MATIC and purchase one with Psitanium.

PSI Challenge Markers

PSI Challenge Markers are essentially a pre-built PSI Challenge Card and PSI Core that, like Nuggets of Wisdom, provide Raz with an instant increase in rank. Whereas Nuggets of Wisdom are found inside of the Mental World, PSI Challenge Markers can be found outside the Mental World scattered around places like the Motherlobe and Questionable Area.

Side Quests

psychonauts 2 search for queepie

Throughout Psychonauts 2, players will be given numerous optional side quests to complete. Some of these side quests are picked up along the main story path, while others are only obtained by speaking to NPCs. It's always worth talking to key characters when coming across them outside of the Mental World.

Completing side quests is often the hardest and most long-winded way of ranking up, but for those aiming for the elusive 102 rank, there's no escaping the optional adventures. Thankfully, the side quests usually consist of enjoyable challenges, and often offer further insight into a character or the main narrative.

MORE: Things We Loved About Psychonauts 2 (& Things We Didn’t)