As usual (for Lego games), you can just play through a level by yourself, and then plug in a second controller (don't forget to hit "Start"!) right before you finish a level. I personally did this on Black Rider, as it is one of the shortest levels in the game.
NOTE: I have found Lego games to be somewhat notorious for glitching the "Get 100% completion" achievement if you get minikits (or treasures, or red bricks, or...) while playing in co-op, so if you're going for 100% completion I would do this achievement last.
Additional notes from KP ScuzzyBunny and MysticWeirdo in the comments: This must be done in story mode, not free-play. Also, you can get this achievement by simply loading up a level, collecting a stud, and then from the menu selecting "Save & Quit". According to risseless the "Save & Quit" method was patched recently, so you'll just have to quickly play a level (which shouldn't take more than a few minutes anyway...)
21 Comments
The quickest way (unless they patch it) is to load mines of Moria (story mode), push start on 2nd controller, grab a stud, then save and quit! Don't know if it works on any level that way, but figured I'd try out since it works for the 15 min achv, and popped it in less than 30 seconds!!
By ScuzzyBunny on 24 Nov 2012 01:50
Save and quit works on Black Rider level as well in Story Mode. It should be noted that this achievement must be done in story mode, i didn't get it playing through a free play level with two controllers.
By MysticWeirdo on 24 Nov 2012 01:58
By A 0 UB3RLOZ3R on 23 Dec 2012 01:37
The "Save & Quit" method was apparently patched at the same time the 15 minute Moria run was patched. You will need to clear your system cache and play without the update for this method to work. I just did this, and got the achievement this way.
By risseless on 28 Dec 2012 21:06
Thank you Mystic for the clarification that it has to be done in story mode
By makinbabies2007 on 28 Feb 2013 09:46
worked like a charm, cleaning out the system cache. thanks for the post
By PulpKoala on 25 Mar 2013 13:47
Why not just play the first prologue mission in story? Its pretty quick? Or does this mission not count?
By B8TINGU on 02 Jun 2013 22:24
You can still get it by quitting in the games on demand version.
By Throni360 on 13 Mar 2014 19:25
I just got this achievement today (March 26, 2014) WITHOUT clearing the system cache and having downloaded the update when prompted. Both the Moria save statue shortcut and the turning a second controller on at the end of a level worked for me perfectly fine. I got them both at the same time, actually.
By MrFelixFelicis on 26 Mar 2014 06:34
I just joined the level on a second controller during the final part of Prologue. -April 29, 2014-
By TheOtherBarber on 30 Apr 2014 02:22
By LRD SOTH on 10 Oct 2014 23:34
The save & exit option just worked for me...
By Jblacq on 27 Mar 2017 22:27
Got this in less than 10 seconds, same like the mines of Moria 15 minutes achievement.
just started the level run around and collected some studs and then saved and quit the level, achievement popped!
By Tekku Assassin on 23 Jun 2017 20:30
Save and quit still works on Mines of Moira without clearing the cache
30th November 2017
By littlelou1982 on 30 Nov 2017 21:29
Feb 2020, still works. Loaded up Mines of Moria with a second controller, collected some studs then saved and quit. Got the Moria achievement and the co-op one!
By darthmarticus on 25 Feb 2020 15:44
May 2022, this still works!
By McFuzzyBoots on 23 May 2022 03:07
Save and quit still works in the digital version on Series X.
By GhostJohn325 on 26 Jun 2022 06:30
Save and quit works on the disc version on Series X. I just got it.
By MisterIdjit on 01 Aug 2022 08:41
Save and quit still works on the disc version for XBOX One, on both this achievement and the Mines of Moria one too!
By stargazrdeca on 12 Oct 2022 18:41
On Series X for me the Mines Of Moria in 15 minutes worked by using save & quit but this one wouldn't, i had to complete a level in Story Mode rather than Free Play before i could get this to pop
By Brasshande on 13 Apr 2024 09:13
Still works as of 4/20/24 on Series X, make sure to do this on STORY MODE, otherwise it will not pop.
By LittleZiggyT on 20 Apr 2024 21:26