An adventure of epic proportions. Perfect for young readers.

The Dark Rumor


  • Currently 4.4/5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Rating: 4.4/5 (119 votes)
Comments (35) | Views (11,770)

The Dark Rumor

Dora"The Dark Rumor" sounds like a really tawdry romance novel title, something with a lot of heaving and red sateen on the cover, but it's actually an escape game by Gotmail, and that's fine too. In it, you play a contender for the all-time Darwin Awards who really wants to buy a house whose owner will only sell it to you if you can uncover the truth about all the bodies that are rumoured to keep showing up there. Yes, it seems you think buying a house locally known as the freaking Cannibal House is an awesome idea, and you're very surprised when the door slams shut behind you and locks you inside. Click around to hunt for clues to solve the puzzles you'll encounter (remember to examine your items closeup!), and maybe rethink your life choices a little.

The Dark RumorThough The Dark Rumour features a lot of puzzle solving that relies on combining and interpreting clues and codes scattered around, the most difficult part for some is going to be the lack of a changing cursor to denote interactive areas, since the fact that not every such spot has any real visual indicator means you'll have to click around everything to find them all. Some people would say this adds to the difficulty, but arguably The Dark Room is hard enough without needing to strip out a more user-friendly UI. The puzzles are actually very clever, but require a lot of figuring out how clues fit together and what they apply to rather than just where to use a key or other item. (Although oddly, the game refers to one item as a "screwdriver" when it's clearly a turnkey.) It makes for a quite stylish game, but one whose gameplay design won't appeal to everyone, which is a shame since its tricky clue combination and more cerebral puzzle design is actually quite refreshing. Don't let the morbid premise fool you... there's nothing scary or gory about The Dark Rumor, and the ending is actually quite sweet. If you love a challenge, despite its missteps in design The Dark Rumor is a surprisingly lovely game that's worth checking out.

Play The Dark Rumor

Thanks to Chiktionary for sending this one in!

Walkthrough Guide


(Please allow page to fully load for spoiler tags to be functional.)

The Dark Rumor Walkthrough

General Information

  • Choose your language before you begin.

  • There is a save feature if you want to leave and come back later.

  • There is no changing cursor, so beware of pixel hunts.

  • Many solutions involve combining more than one clue.

  • There will be directions for the colorblind.

  • There is only one ending.

  • Good luck!

Exploration

  • You begin facing the door out which is locked.

  • Just to the left of the door out is another door (red), set in an alcove. It is locked as well.

  • To the left of the red door is a large cabinet with six small drawers in the middle. Click on the cabinet for a close up.

  • Click on the drawer on the top left. Inside you will find a notebook.

  • Click on the notebook to open it. The first clue you will see is a heart shape that equals four colors, red, green, yellow, and blue.

  • Click on the right page of the notebook and you will see a primer on Morse code numbers.

  • Click on the right page of the notebook and it will close.

  • Click on the upper right drawer to open it. Inside is a box with a ying-yang symbol and a four digit code lock.

  • Click on the middle left drawer to open it. Inside is a blue book.

  • Click on the book to open it. The first clue you see is an hour-glass and four chess symbols, black king, white queen, white king, and black queen.

  • Click on the right of the book and you will see an 8 x 8 grid that features numbers and letters. The grid is a chessboard.

  • Click on the bottom right drawer to open it. Inside you will find a note which is another 8 x 8 grid, this one with a picture of an hourglass and numbers inside the grid.

  • Back up once, then click below the cabinet to see underneath. There is a key there, but you can't reach it.

  • Back up and turn right.

  • You are now facing a wall with two upright, glass-fronted cabinets. The cabinet to the left is larger and brown, the cabinet to the right is smaller and red.

  • Click on the left cabinet for a close up.

  • Click on the cabinet door to open it.

  • Inside on the middle shelf you will find two things, a box with a four-digit code sitting next to an hourglass, and a large snail.

  • Click on the snail for a close up and click again to lift it up. Beneath the snail are some lines.

  • Back up twice, then click on the smaller right cabinet for a close up.

  • Click on the cabinet door to open it.

  • On the top shelf is a locked book with a four digit code (there's a lot of those, aren't there?). There is a treble clef symbol on the book.

  • On the middle shelf is a cat figurine. If you lift the cat you see a clue that is the number 3 in a triangle, the number 8 in a circle, the number 4 in a diamond, and the number 2 in a square.

  • On the bottom shelf is a small gramophone device. There is a hole for a screw in the gramophone.

  • Back up twice and turn right.

  • You are now facing a sofa and a small glass covered display table.

  • Click on the display table for a close up. You are looking at a chess game in progress. Notice the positions of the kings and queens.

  • Back up, then click on the marble bust behind the sofa for a close up.

  • Next to the bust is a note, click on it for a close up. The note appears to be a ying-yang symbol, with an arrow pointing to two other symbols. The two other symbols are a snail and a fish, but they are upside down.

  • Back up and turn right.

  • You are now facing a dining room table. On the right wall is a fireplace and another small cabinet. On the left wall are double doors which are, of course, locked.

  • Click on the wall with the fireplace.

  • Now you should see the fireplace and the small cabinet head-on. Click on the fireplace to discover that it is obscured with soot. Back up.

  • Click on the low cabinet for a close up and you will see that it has a four digit padlock. Note the word "Cat" on the cabinet.

  • Back up twice.

  • Click on the chair closest to you for a close up (click twice).

  • Note that the upholstery has been repaired. Looks like we need a sharp object.

  • There are two white cylinder-shaped objects on the table. If you click on them for close ups you will see that the one closest to you has a star at the bottom, and the one further away has a heart shape in the bottom.

  • On the left side of the table is a shallow drawer. Click on the drawer for a close up.

  • Yep, locked.

  • Back up and turn right. Time to solve some puzzles!

The Hourglass Box and the Shallow Drawer

  • We have all the clues we need to open that box next to the hourglass.

  • Turn right to face the two glass-fronted cabinets.

  • Click on the left (larger) cabinet for a close up, then open it.

  • Click on the box on the middle shelf. Now we just need the four digit code.

    • The answer to this code is in three different places.

    • The first clue was in the blue book, the hourglass and the four chess pieces (black king, white queen, white king, black queen).

    • The second clue was the 8 x 8 grid in the lower right cabinet, the one with numbers in all of the boxes.

    • The third clue is the chess game in the display table.

    • Look at the game and compare it to the grid with the numbers.

    • The black king is sitting four squares from the left and four squares from the top. In the number grid that square is number 7.

    • The white queen is sitting on number 2, the white king is number 8, and the black queen is number 9.

    • This gives us the code 7289.

  • Enter the code and the box will open. Inside is a key with a small hourglass attached.

  • Take the key and back up twice.

  • Turn left (or right) twice to face the table.

  • Click on the shallow drawer on the left side of the table for a close up.

  • Use the hourglass key on the shallow drawer. Inside you should find a metal rod. Take it and back up twice.

  • Turn right to face the doors.

  • Click on the cabinet with the six drawers for a close up, then click beneath the cabinet to see the key that is under there.

  • Use the metal rod to retrieve the key.

  • Back up twice.

The Music Room (Exploration)

  • Click on the red door (the one to the left of the door out) for a close up.

  • Use the key you just got from underneath the cabinet on the door, this should unlock it.

  • Click on the door to open it and again to enter.

  • You are now facing a white baby grand piano.

  • Click on the piano for a close up. The keyboard is, of course, locked.

  • On the piano is another of those white cylinder things. Inside is what looks like a triangle shape. Back up.

  • There are some narrow wall hanging things on the left, click on them for a close up.

  • Once they are in close up you can see an object at the top of the middle hanging. Too bad you can't reach it. Back up.

  • Behind the piano is a tall bookshelf, click on it for a close up.

  • On the left of the second from the top shelf are some red books, click on them to see a clue, a candle symbol with an arrow pointing to a music note.

  • To the right of the red, standing books are some books that are lying on their side. Click on them for a close up.

  • Click on the books to move them and you will see yet another four digit code lock. This one has a picture of a heart next to it. Back up twice.

  • On a lower shelf is a small object, click on it and you will see that it is a fish. Note the lines on it.

  • Back up.

  • To the right of the bookshelf is a cabinet, click on it for a close up.

  • This cabinet has two doors. It also has another cylinder thing on top, this one with a square.

  • Open the right door and you will find a note with a 4 x 4 grid filled with numbers and symbols. There are math equations below the grid which also feature numbers and symbols. The bottom line of the note shows that clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds point to a treble clef.

  • Open the left door and you will find two things. The first is another note with numbers in a grid and a clue that star = QHCX.

  • The second thing in that side of the cabinet is another box, this one with a fleur-de-lis pattern. This box has four dials.

  • Back up.

  • Click on the wall hangings to the left of the piano for a close up. Use the metal rod from your inventory to get the item that you can't reach.

  • You've just picked up a blue triangular shaped candle. Note the pictures on the candle, a cat and four symbols, circle, square, diamond, and triangle.

  • Back up three times to go back to the main room.

The Cat Cabinet

  • Turn left to face the dining room table.

  • Click on the fireplace for a close up, then click on the cabinet to the left of the fireplace for a close up.

  • We should now have the clues to open this cabinet.

    • We saw the first clue in the red cabinet beneath the cat figurine, the numbers inside symbols, 3 in a triangle, 8 in a circle, 4 in a diamond, and 2 in a square.

    • The second clue is the triangular candle we just picked up, with the symbols circle, square, diamond, and triangle.

    • Placing the numbers in the order of the candle symbols, you get the code 8243.

  • Enter the code into the padlock.

  • Click on the lock to open it, then click on the cabinet doors to open them.

  • Inside is a pile of firewood. Click to move the top piece and get a lighter.

  • Back up twice.

The Ying-Yang Box

  • Turn right to face the door out.

  • Click on the cabinet with the 6 drawers for a close up.

  • Click on the upper right drawer to open it. Inside is the box with a four digit code lock and a ying-yang symbol.

  • We should now have the code to unlock this box.

    • The first clue for this is the snail figurine in the cabinet. Beneath the figurine were some lines.

    • The second clue is in the music room, the fish figure on the bookshelf which also had some lines on it.

    • The third clue is the note next to the bust behind the sofa. The note showed a ying-yang symbol, and the snail plus the fish. However, notice on the note that the snail and the fish are upside down.

    • Take the symbols from beneath the snail, then turn them upside down, aka rotate them 180 degrees.

    • Take the symbols from the fish and again turn them upside down.

    • Now place the symbols from the fish on top of the symbols from the snail (both sets should be upside down). Notice that the lines now form block numbers.

    • They form the numbers 5682, which is the code.

  • Enter the code into the lock and open the box.

  • Inside is a green star-shaped candle, take it.

  • Also inside are some letters: NE, SSW, a fleur-de-lis symbol, NNE, and ESE.

  • Back up three times.

The Treble Clef Book

  • Turn right to face the two glass-fronted cabinets.

  • Click on the smaller cabinet to the right for a close up.

  • Click on the book on the top shelf for a close up.

  • Now we need the code to open the book.

    • The code is the note we found in the music room, the one with the 4 x 4 grid with the numbers and symbols in it.

    • The grid is a magic square, which means that each row, column, and diagonal add up to the same number.

    • Going by the two math problems below the grid, the magic number is 34.

    • If you solve for the top row, 16 + 2 + club + 13 = 34. This makes the club a 3.

    • If you solve for all the symbols, you get club = 3, diamond = 5, heart = 8, star = 9, spade = 7, moon = 6, and snowflake = 4.

    • Note the bottom line on the note, club, spade, heart and diamond with an arrow to the treble clef.

    • This shows the order the code goes in, 3785.

  • Enter the code into the book, then back up once and open the book.

  • It's not a book but a box! And inside is a red heart candle. Take it and back up twice.

The Fleur-De-Lis Box

  • Turn left to face the door that goes out.

  • Click on the red door to the left of the out door, open it, and enter the music room.

  • Click on the cabinet to the right of the bookshelves for a close up.

  • Open the left cabinet door and click on the box inside.

  • Here's the box with the dials and the fleur-de-lis symbol.

  • But how do we solve it?

    • The clue was in the Ying-Yang box.

    • Remember the letters, NE, SSW, NNE, and ESE?

    • Those are compass directions.

    • And the knobs on the happen to have 16 settings, like a compass.

    • The trick is to turn the knobs to match the compass setting.

    • Remember, the knobs start with the arrow going up, which is north.

    • They then turn NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW, and back to N.

    • The first knob should be NE, which is two clicks past the top.

    • The next knob is SSW, which is nine clicks past the top.

    • The third knob is NNE, which is one click past the top.

    • The last knob is ESE, which is five clicks past the top.

  • Once you enter the correct code back up once and open the box.

  • Inside you will find a yellow square-shaped candle, take it.

The Candles and the Heart Safe

  • We now have four colored candles of various shapes.

  • Remember those white cylinder things? They have the same shapes in them.

  • They must be candle holders.

  • Back up once until you can see the candle holder sitting on top of the cabinet.

  • Click on the candle holder until you can see inside. This is the square holder.

  • Place the square (yellow) candle inside. Use the lighter on the candle.

  • Back up once and you will see a code on the side of the candle holder, two dots and three dashes.

  • Back up twice until you can see the piano.

  • Click on the piano for a close up, then click on the candle holder on the piano until you can see the shape inside (triangle).

  • Place the triangle (blue) candle inside, and light it.

  • Back up once to see the code (dash, dash, dot, dot, dot).

  • Back up four more times until you are in the main room.

  • Turn left to face the dining room table.

  • Click on the table for a close up, then click on the candle holder nearest you until you can see the shape inside (star).

  • Place the star-shaped candle (green) and light it.

  • Back up once to see the code (dash, dash, dash, dash, dot), then back up again.

  • Click on the farthest candle holder for a close up until you can see the inside (heart).

  • Place the heart-shaped candle (red) and light it.

  • Back up once to see the code (dot, dot, dot, dot, dot), then back up twice more.

  • Turn right to face the door going out.

  • Click on the door to the left, the red door, open it, and go into the music room.

  • Click on the bookshelves behind the piano for a close up.

  • Click on the pile of books on the right side of the upper shelf.

  • Click on the books to move them. You should now be facing a save with a heart symbol and a four digit code.

  • But what is the code?

    • Remember the book we found in the upper left drawer of the six-drawer cabinet? The one with the heart symbol, the colors, and the Morse code for numbers?

    • The other clues we just got from lighting the candles. Each candle holder showed the Morse code for a unique number.

    • The heart (red) candle showed the symbol for 5, the star (green) candle had the symbol for 9, the square (yellow) candle had the code for 2, and the triangle (blue) candle showed the code for 7.

    • Place the numbers in the order of the colors in the book, red, green, yellow, and blue and you get 5927, which is the code to the wall safe.

  • Enter the code and the bookshelf will move aside.

  • Enter the alcove behind the bookshelf. Inside is a creepy doll in a wheelchair. Keep clicking on the figure until you see that it is holding an object. Take the object (key with a note).

  • Back up and you can see something on a shelf to the left of the wheelchair. Click on it for a close up.

  • It's a safe, it seems to need a four digit code. Note the stars on the dials.

  • Back up three times until you are facing the piano.

Getting Out

  • Click on the piano for a close up, then use the key with the note on it on the keyboard cover.

  • Lift the cover and take the object inside (envelope).

  • Pull the object up from your inventory (double click) and click on it once to open it. Notice the holes.

  • Click again to pull out the letter and read it. Once you have finished reading the letter you will see a razor blade, take it.

  • Close down the envelope and back up three times to the main room.

  • Turn left to face the dining room table.

  • Click on the closest chair for a close up, then use the razor on the upholstery where it has been mended.

  • Inside you will find a key, take it and back up twice.

  • Click on the double doors behind the table.

  • Use the key to unlock the doors, then click on them to open them.

  • Behind the doors is a sturdy steel grate. Notice the object on the floor.

  • Use the metal rod to get the object (scraper).

  • Back up once.

  • Click on the fireplace for a close up.

  • Click again on the fireplace for a close up. Use the scraper on the soot to reveal a clue.

  • Click on the clue for a close up. Note that there are nine letters and a star.

  • What now?

    • Use the envelope (with the holes) on the clue, it gives you the clue DOGS.

  • Back up three times and turn right.

  • Click on the red door (music room), open it, and enter.

  • Looks like all we need is the safe in the secret room and we can get out.

  • But where have we seen the clues?

    • The first clue is the one from the fireplace grate and the envelope, star equals DOGS.

    • The second clue is that note we found in the cabinet in the music room.

    • Click on the cabinet to the right of the bookshelves for a close up.

    • Open the left cabinet door and click on the note inside.

    • Notice that star = QHCX.

    • Combine the two clues, the QHCX down the side, the DOGS across the top.

    • Find the place where the letters intersect.

    • The Q and the D meet at the number 8.

    • The H and the O meet at the number 6.

    • The C and the G meet at the number 3.

    • The X and the S meet at the number 2.

    • Thus the clue is 8632.

  • Back up twice, then enter the secret space next to the bookshelves.

  • Once inside, click on the safe on the left shelf for a close up.

  • Enter the code, then back up and open the safe.

  • Take the item inside. The game calls it a screwdriver, but it is a wind-up key.

  • Back up five times to the main room.

  • Turn right to face the two glass-front cabinets.

  • Click on the smaller right cabinet and open it.

  • Click on the gramophone machine on the bottom shelf for a close up.

  • Use the wind-up key on the gramophone.

  • Inside you will find a gold key. Take it and back up twice.

  • Turn left to face the door out.

  • Click on the door out for a close up, then use the gold key on the door to unlock it.

  • Congratulations, you have escaped!

35 Comments

Okay in what dimension does

7+11+10+8=34

????

Reply

Noelle: I'm guessing it's in the dimension where...

...5's are written as 7's.

Reply

...And, incidentally, I'm very stuck.

I've just used the spatula on the fireplace, thereby earning a cryptic nine-letter clue. I'm assuming this and the note taped up in the left red cabinet near the piano are the key to opening the safe in the room behind the bookshelf, but I'm not sure how it all fits together.

If the fireplace clue were four letters, all columns in the grid on the note, I'd have no difficulty, but there are nine letters, only five of which are columns... and one is a row... and the other three aren't there at all, which leads me to assume I've found a red herring.

Can someone give me a hint?

Reply

Never mind! Figured it out.

When looking at the fireplace clue, only read every other letter. They'll spell something.

Reply

About chimney code.

Just use envelope. That is the purpose of 4 holes.

Reply

Anyone here?

I have

a rod and a lighter (which i got by brute force rather than understanding the order of the numbers)

and now I am completely stuck. Any help would be nice.

Reply

Man o man

pixel hunt worked to move me on. thought I had checked there, but obviously I hadn't

Reply

If we have to be going clicky-clicky everywhere, I really wish for clearly-delineated movement bars! As in, I keep switching views when I didn't mean to.

Reply

phdavoid:
Can we have a hint -- a nudge -- towards the location of your first-mentioned object?

Reply

And out. All was good but I was really put off by the pixel hunt for awhile.

Mrs Ravoon I cant remember, give me a minute to go back and follow my own path.

Reply

can't wait for the walkthrough :)

Reply

phdavoid:
Found it. It depended on

learning to recognize royalty when I saw it.

Reply

Mrs Ravoon

to get the

rod

you need to solve the

chess puzzle

which is done in the following manner: Notice

the 4 chess pieces and their order in the blue book in the second left drawer in the credenza

then go to

the chess board and note the positions of the pieces

then go back

to the credenza bottom right drawer and match the numbers

You should get the following answer

7289

then go to

the brown cabinet, to the locked case beside the hourglass, which was the symbol on the note

You will get

a key

which you can use

on the dining table on the left side

Reply

Paul if you have a few questions, I will be around for a bit

Reply
jeremy.moses.76 November 25, 2013 7:21 PM

Can you give a hint as to where the pixel hunt took place phdavoid?

Reply

Jeremy: think

dust bunnies

Reply

phavoid I just want a full walkthrough. :)

Reply
JetSetVegas November 25, 2013 8:50 PM

This was an amazing effort by Gotmail. Logical puzzles that flowed into each other very well, and the story was engaging as well. The puzzles required a bit of thought, but not enough to make you bang your head against a wall. No stupid leaps of faith or illogical uses for objects. The lack of a changing cursor was like Tesshi-e where the hot spots were pretty much right there. Very nice.

Reply

Did anyone else get a lot of white flashes and blocked popups trying to play this? Every time I clicked on anything, the screen flashed white, and a new tab started to open up, but then closed itself.

Reply

Noelle Nowosad, The puzzle in question is a magic square. It does not mean that the numbers selected for the code add up to 34.

Reply

That is the oddest screwdriver I have ever seen...

Reply

Running Adblock can frequently interfere with the loading and playing of games, and also hurts our site by impacting the revenue that is the only thing that keeps us going by paying for both our writers and hosting costs. As one of the purveyors of the free content here, I respectfully ask that you not endorse the use of Adblock on our site, or indeed on any other site that supports itself thus and provides entertainment to you free of charge. :)

Reply

Out...
Quite a good and logical one.
Wouldn't have made it without some of your hints fellas, thanks.

Paris : still cold and grey...

Reply

no walkthrough yet? :(

Reply

ThemePark--

Was it sonic?

Reply

So there's a 4-digit lock

labeled "CAT" but taking the numbers from under the cat figurine do nothing. I've tried in actual order, I've tried circle triangle diamond square, and circle triangle square diamond.

There's more here than meets the eye!

Reply

I found the other part to that 4-digit code

in another room

Reply

There's only one ending, right?

A bit of color-blind help is likely needed for the

candles

I'd do it myself, but I zoomed right past that step.

Reply

Also incidentally since the fact that not every such spot has any real visual indicator means you'll have to click around everything to find them all

This is how all escape games were, back in the day. If you want a *real* pixel-hunt, dial up one of the old Gotmail games, it makes this "pixel-hunt" look like finding an elephant in a wading pool. Oh that's right, no one dials up anymore. Whippersnappers.

Reply

I have the following:

  • hourglass key (used)

  • long rod (used once)

  • other key (found under desk - used)

  • candles (placed in matching pillars)

I am trying to determine the

heart puzzle in the basement

. I think it has to do with

the note with red, green, yellow, blue circles

, and the number of

triangles in the corresponding shape

, but I cannot determine the code.

Reply

Cat puzzle

Look at blue candle when you get it; it has the order

Reply

The Dark Rumor Walkthrough

General Information

  • Choose your language before you begin.

  • There is a save feature if you want to leave and come back later.

  • There is no changing cursor, so beware of pixel hunts.

  • Many solutions involve combining more than one clue.

  • There will be directions for the colorblind.

  • There is only one ending.

  • Good luck!

Exploration

  • You begin facing the door out which is locked.

  • Just to the left of the door out is another door (red), set in an alcove. It is locked as well.

  • To the left of the red door is a large cabinet with six small drawers in the middle. Click on the cabinet for a close up.

  • Click on the drawer on the top left. Inside you will find a notebook.

  • Click on the notebook to open it. The first clue you will see is a heart shape that equals four colors, red, green, yellow, and blue.

  • Click on the right page of the notebook and you will see a primer on Morse code numbers.

  • Click on the right page of the notebook and it will close.

  • Click on the upper right drawer to open it. Inside is a box with a ying-yang symbol and a four digit code lock.

  • Click on the middle left drawer to open it. Inside is a blue book.

  • Click on the book to open it. The first clue you see is an hour-glass and four chess symbols, black king, white queen, white king, and black queen.

  • Click on the right of the book and you will see an 8 x 8 grid that features numbers and letters. The grid is a chessboard.

  • Click on the bottom right drawer to open it. Inside you will find a note which is another 8 x 8 grid, this one with a picture of an hourglass and numbers inside the grid.

  • Back up once, then click below the cabinet to see underneath. There is a key there, but you can't reach it.

  • Back up and turn right.

  • You are now facing a wall with two upright, glass-fronted cabinets. The cabinet to the left is larger and brown, the cabinet to the right is smaller and red.

  • Click on the left cabinet for a close up.

  • Click on the cabinet door to open it.

  • Inside on the middle shelf you will find two things, a box with a four-digit code sitting next to an hourglass, and a large snail.

  • Click on the snail for a close up and click again to lift it up. Beneath the snail are some lines.

  • Back up twice, then click on the smaller right cabinet for a close up.

  • Click on the cabinet door to open it.

  • On the top shelf is a locked book with a four digit code (there's a lot of those, aren't there?). There is a treble clef symbol on the book.

  • On the middle shelf is a cat figurine. If you lift the cat you see a clue that is the number 3 in a triangle, the number 8 in a circle, the number 4 in a diamond, and the number 2 in a square.

  • On the bottom shelf is a small gramophone device. There is a hole for a screw in the gramophone.

  • Back up twice and turn right.

  • You are now facing a sofa and a small glass covered display table.

  • Click on the display table for a close up. You are looking at a chess game in progress. Notice the positions of the kings and queens.

  • Back up, then click on the marble bust behind the sofa for a close up.

  • Next to the bust is a note, click on it for a close up. The note appears to be a ying-yang symbol, with an arrow pointing to two other symbols. The two other symbols are a snail and a fish, but they are upside down.

  • Back up and turn right.

  • You are now facing a dining room table. On the right wall is a fireplace and another small cabinet. On the left wall are double doors which are, of course, locked.

  • Click on the wall with the fireplace.

  • Now you should see the fireplace and the small cabinet head-on. Click on the fireplace to discover that it is obscured with soot. Back up.

  • Click on the low cabinet for a close up and you will see that it has a four digit padlock. Note the word "Cat" on the cabinet.

  • Back up twice.

  • Click on the chair closest to you for a close up (click twice).

  • Note that the upholstery has been repaired. Looks like we need a sharp object.

  • There are two white cylinder-shaped objects on the table. If you click on them for close ups you will see that the one closest to you has a star at the bottom, and the one further away has a heart shape in the bottom.

  • On the left side of the table is a shallow drawer. Click on the drawer for a close up.

  • Yep, locked.

  • Back up and turn right. Time to solve some puzzles!

The Hourglass Box and the Shallow Drawer

  • We have all the clues we need to open that box next to the hourglass.

  • Turn right to face the two glass-fronted cabinets.

  • Click on the left (larger) cabinet for a close up, then open it.

  • Click on the box on the middle shelf. Now we just need the four digit code.

    • The answer to this code is in three different places.

    • The first clue was in the blue book, the hourglass and the four chess pieces (black king, white queen, white king, black queen).

    • The second clue was the 8 x 8 grid in the lower right cabinet, the one with numbers in all of the boxes.

    • The third clue is the chess game in the display table.

    • Look at the game and compare it to the grid with the numbers.

    • The black king is sitting four squares from the left and four squares from the top. In the number grid that square is number 7.

    • The white queen is sitting on number 2, the white king is number 8, and the black queen is number 9.

    • This gives us the code 7289.

  • Enter the code and the box will open. Inside is a key with a small hourglass attached.

  • Take the key and back up twice.

  • Turn left (or right) twice to face the table.

  • Click on the shallow drawer on the left side of the table for a close up.

  • Use the hourglass key on the shallow drawer. Inside you should find a metal rod. Take it and back up twice.

  • Turn right to face the doors.

  • Click on the cabinet with the six drawers for a close up, then click beneath the cabinet to see the key that is under there.

  • Use the metal rod to retrieve the key.

  • Back up twice.

The Music Room (Exploration)

  • Click on the red door (the one to the left of the door out) for a close up.

  • Use the key you just got from underneath the cabinet on the door, this should unlock it.

  • Click on the door to open it and again to enter.

  • You are now facing a white baby grand piano.

  • Click on the piano for a close up. The keyboard is, of course, locked.

  • On the piano is another of those white cylinder things. Inside is what looks like a triangle shape. Back up.

  • There are some narrow wall hanging things on the left, click on them for a close up.

  • Once they are in close up you can see an object at the top of the middle hanging. Too bad you can't reach it. Back up.

  • Behind the piano is a tall bookshelf, click on it for a close up.

  • On the left of the second from the top shelf are some red books, click on them to see a clue, a candle symbol with an arrow pointing to a music note.

  • To the right of the red, standing books are some books that are lying on their side. Click on them for a close up.

  • Click on the books to move them and you will see yet another four digit code lock. This one has a picture of a heart next to it. Back up twice.

  • On a lower shelf is a small object, click on it and you will see that it is a fish. Note the lines on it.

  • Back up.

  • To the right of the bookshelf is a cabinet, click on it for a close up.

  • This cabinet has two doors. It also has another cylinder thing on top, this one with a square.

  • Open the right door and you will find a note with a 4 x 4 grid filled with numbers and symbols. There are math equations below the grid which also feature numbers and symbols. The bottom line of the note shows that clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds point to a treble clef.

  • Open the left door and you will find two things. The first is another note with numbers in a grid and a clue that star = QHCX.

  • The second thing in that side of the cabinet is another box, this one with a fleur-de-lis pattern. This box has four dials.

  • Back up.

  • Click on the wall hangings to the left of the piano for a close up. Use the metal rod from your inventory to get the item that you can't reach.

  • You've just picked up a blue triangular shaped candle. Note the pictures on the candle, a cat and four symbols, circle, square, diamond, and triangle.

  • Back up three times to go back to the main room.

The Cat Cabinet

  • Turn left to face the dining room table.

  • Click on the fireplace for a close up, then click on the cabinet to the left of the fireplace for a close up.

  • We should now have the clues to open this cabinet.

    • We saw the first clue in the red cabinet beneath the cat figurine, the numbers inside symbols, 3 in a triangle, 8 in a circle, 4 in a diamond, and 2 in a square.

    • The second clue is the triangular candle we just picked up, with the symbols circle, square, diamond, and triangle.

    • Placing the numbers in the order of the candle symbols, you get the code 8243.

  • Enter the code into the padlock.

  • Click on the lock to open it, then click on the cabinet doors to open them.

  • Inside is a pile of firewood. Click to move the top piece and get a lighter.

  • Back up twice.

The Ying-Yang Box

  • Turn right to face the door out.

  • Click on the cabinet with the 6 drawers for a close up.

  • Click on the upper right drawer to open it. Inside is the box with a four digit code lock and a ying-yang symbol.

  • We should now have the code to unlock this box.

    • The first clue for this is the snail figurine in the cabinet. Beneath the figurine were some lines.

    • The second clue is in the music room, the fish figure on the bookshelf which also had some lines on it.

    • The third clue is the note next to the bust behind the sofa. The note showed a ying-yang symbol, and the snail plus the fish. However, notice on the note that the snail and the fish are upside down.

    • Take the symbols from beneath the snail, then turn them upside down, aka rotate them 180 degrees.

    • Take the symbols from the fish and again turn them upside down.

    • Now place the symbols from the fish on top of the symbols from the snail (both sets should be upside down). Notice that the lines now form block numbers.

    • They form the numbers 5682, which is the code.

  • Enter the code into the lock and open the box.

  • Inside is a green star-shaped candle, take it.

  • Also inside are some letters: NE, SSW, a fleur-de-lis symbol, NNE, and ESE.

  • Back up three times.

The Treble Clef Book

  • Turn right to face the two glass-fronted cabinets.

  • Click on the smaller cabinet to the right for a close up.

  • Click on the book on the top shelf for a close up.

  • Now we need the code to open the book.

    • The code is the note we found in the music room, the one with the 4 x 4 grid with the numbers and symbols in it.

    • The grid is a magic square, which means that each row, column, and diagonal add up to the same number.

    • Going by the two math problems below the grid, the magic number is 34.

    • If you solve for the top row, 16 + 2 + club + 13 = 34. This makes the club a 3.

    • If you solve for all the symbols, you get club = 3, diamond = 5, heart = 8, star = 9, spade = 7, moon = 6, and snowflake = 4.

    • Note the bottom line on the note, club, spade, heart and diamond with an arrow to the treble clef.

    • This shows the order the code goes in, 3785.

  • Enter the code into the book, then back up once and open the book.

  • It's not a book but a box! And inside is a red heart candle. Take it and back up twice.

The Fleur-De-Lis Box

  • Turn left to face the door that goes out.

  • Click on the red door to the left of the out door, open it, and enter the music room.

  • Click on the cabinet to the right of the bookshelves for a close up.

  • Open the left cabinet door and click on the box inside.

  • Here's the box with the dials and the fleur-de-lis symbol.

  • But how do we solve it?

    • The clue was in the Ying-Yang box.

    • Remember the letters, NE, SSW, NNE, and ESE?

    • Those are compass directions.

    • And the knobs on the happen to have 16 settings, like a compass.

    • The trick is to turn the knobs to match the compass setting.

    • Remember, the knobs start with the arrow going up, which is north.

    • They then turn NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW, and back to N.

    • The first knob should be NE, which is two clicks past the top.

    • The next knob is SSW, which is nine clicks past the top.

    • The third knob is NNE, which is one click past the top.

    • The last knob is ESE, which is five clicks past the top.

  • Once you enter the correct code back up once and open the box.

  • Inside you will find a yellow square-shaped candle, take it.

The Candles and the Heart Safe

  • We now have four colored candles of various shapes.

  • Remember those white cylinder things? They have the same shapes in them.

  • They must be candle holders.

  • Back up once until you can see the candle holder sitting on top of the cabinet.

  • Click on the candle holder until you can see inside. This is the square holder.

  • Place the square (yellow) candle inside. Use the lighter on the candle.

  • Back up once and you will see a code on the side of the candle holder, two dots and three dashes.

  • Back up twice until you can see the piano.

  • Click on the piano for a close up, then click on the candle holder on the piano until you can see the shape inside (triangle).

  • Place the triangle (blue) candle inside, and light it.

  • Back up once to see the code (dash, dash, dot, dot, dot).

  • Back up four more times until you are in the main room.

  • Turn left to face the dining room table.

  • Click on the table for a close up, then click on the candle holder nearest you until you can see the shape inside (star).

  • Place the star-shaped candle (green) and light it.

  • Back up once to see the code (dash, dash, dash, dash, dot), then back up again.

  • Click on the farthest candle holder for a close up until you can see the inside (heart).

  • Place the heart-shaped candle (red) and light it.

  • Back up once to see the code (dot, dot, dot, dot, dot), then back up twice more.

  • Turn right to face the door going out.

  • Click on the door to the left, the red door, open it, and go into the music room.

  • Click on the bookshelves behind the piano for a close up.

  • Click on the pile of books on the right side of the upper shelf.

  • Click on the books to move them. You should now be facing a save with a heart symbol and a four digit code.

  • But what is the code?

    • Remember the book we found in the upper left drawer of the six-drawer cabinet? The one with the heart symbol, the colors, and the Morse code for numbers?

    • The other clues we just got from lighting the candles. Each candle holder showed the Morse code for a unique number.

    • The heart (red) candle showed the symbol for 5, the star (green) candle had the symbol for 9, the square (yellow) candle had the code for 2, and the triangle (blue) candle showed the code for 7.

    • Place the numbers in the order of the colors in the book, red, green, yellow, and blue and you get 5927, which is the code to the wall safe.

  • Enter the code and the bookshelf will move aside.

  • Enter the alcove behind the bookshelf. Inside is a creepy doll in a wheelchair. Keep clicking on the figure until you see that it is holding an object. Take the object (key with a note).

  • Back up and you can see something on a shelf to the left of the wheelchair. Click on it for a close up.

  • It's a safe, it seems to need a four digit code. Note the stars on the dials.

  • Back up three times until you are facing the piano.

Getting Out

  • Click on the piano for a close up, then use the key with the note on it on the keyboard cover.

  • Lift the cover and take the object inside (envelope).

  • Pull the object up from your inventory (double click) and click on it once to open it. Notice the holes.

  • Click again to pull out the letter and read it. Once you have finished reading the letter you will see a razor blade, take it.

  • Close down the envelope and back up three times to the main room.

  • Turn left to face the dining room table.

  • Click on the closest chair for a close up, then use the razor on the upholstery where it has been mended.

  • Inside you will find a key, take it and back up twice.

  • Click on the double doors behind the table.

  • Use the key to unlock the doors, then click on them to open them.

  • Behind the doors is a sturdy steel grate. Notice the object on the floor.

  • Use the metal rod to get the object (scraper).

  • Back up once.

  • Click on the fireplace for a close up.

  • Click again on the fireplace for a close up. Use the scraper on the soot to reveal a clue.

  • Click on the clue for a close up. Note that there are nine letters and a star.

  • What now?

    • Use the envelope (with the holes) on the clue, it gives you the clue DOGS.

  • Back up three times and turn right.

  • Click on the red door (music room), open it, and enter.

  • Looks like all we need is the safe in the secret room and we can get out.

  • But where have we seen the clues?

    • The first clue is the one from the fireplace grate and the envelope, star equals DOGS.

    • The second clue is that note we found in the cabinet in the music room.

    • Click on the cabinet to the right of the bookshelves for a close up.

    • Open the left cabinet door and click on the note inside.

    • Notice that star = QHCX.

    • Combine the two clues, the QHCX down the side, the DOGS across the top.

    • Find the place where the letters intersect.

    • The Q and the D meet at the number 8.

    • The H and the O meet at the number 6.

    • The C and the G meet at the number 3.

    • The X and the S meet at the number 2.

    • Thus the clue is 8632.

  • Back up twice, then enter the secret space next to the bookshelves.

  • Once inside, click on the safe on the left shelf for a close up.

  • Enter the code, then back up and open the safe.

  • Take the item inside. The game calls it a screwdriver, but it is a wind-up key.

  • Back up five times to the main room.

  • Turn right to face the two glass-front cabinets.

  • Click on the smaller right cabinet and open it.

  • Click on the gramophone machine on the bottom shelf for a close up.

  • Use the wind-up key on the gramophone.

  • Inside you will find a gold key. Take it and back up twice.

  • Turn left to face the door out.

  • Click on the door out for a close up, then use the gold key on the door to unlock it.

  • Congratulations, you have escaped!

Reply
magic_leopard November 27, 2013 6:19 AM

Oh i put the blue candle in the holder

before checking it

and now i can't get it out again :(

Reply

I actually freaked out when

the bookshelf moved and you see the wax doll. I was so ready for it to be a dead body (or worse)

Reply

Does anyone else get a blank window open and close instantly when you click on something in the game? I feel like it's a cookie grabber or some shady business.

Reply

^ Scroll Up | Homepage >

Leave a comment [top of page]

Please consider creating a Casual Gameplay account if you're a regular visitor here, as it will allow us to create an even better experience for you. Sign-up here!
  • PLEASE UNDERSTAND SITE POLICIES BEFORE POSTING COMMENTS
  • You may use limited HTML tags for style:
    (a href, b, br/, strong, em, ul, ol, li, code, spoiler)
    HTML tags begin with a less-than sign: < and end with a greater-than sign: >. Always. No exceptions.
  • To post spoilers, please use spoiler tags: <spoiler> example </spoiler>
    If you need help understanding spoiler tags, read the spoiler help.
  • Please Preview your comment before posting, especially when using spoilers!
  • No link dropping, no domains as names; do not spam, and do not advertise! (rel="nofollow" in use)
chrpa Jayisgames needs your help to continue providing quality content. Click for details Hi! Weekday Escape and Weekday Puzzle are here! First we have two new cans from tomoLaSiDo and then two small rooms from isotronic. That's all for this...  ...
6,365 Views
0 Comments
chrpa Jayisgames needs your help to continue providing quality content. Click for details Welcome to Mobile Monday! We have another beautiful game from Nicolet and it's a winter game as it should be. Tasuku Yahiro have released another of their...  ...
6,161 Views
2 Comments
chrpa Jayisgames needs your help to continue providing quality content. Click for details We've got a new game from Rinnogogo's magical world and this time it really is magical.. Not only do you get to meet cute animals that express themselves...  ...
chrpa Jayisgames needs your help to continue providing quality content. Click for details After a few weeks of patient waiting, we have been rewarded - the new game from Ichima Coffeedo is here. We got a wonderful new game - it's...  ...

HELP Jayisgames.com

Recent Comments

 

Display 5 more comments
Limit to the last 5 comments

Game of the week


Dark Romance: Vampire Origins Collector's Edition

Your Favorite Games edit

add
Save links to your favorite games here. Use the Favorites editor.

Monthly Archives