Endacopia conceals one of its most intriguing mysteries behind an obscure puzzle known as the Behind Stairs secret. This hidden challenge often slips under players’ radars, tucked away behind a series of optional side quests and cloaked clues. For those who feel they’ve seen everything the game offers, unlocking this secret uncovers a fresh layer of depth and a unique gameplay experience that few ever encounter.
Before diving in, it’s important to note the trade-off of cracking this puzzle. Completing the Behind Stairs sequence will bypass the AI boss fight, meaning the associated achievement will remain out of reach unless you’ve already defeated that boss beforehand. Players seeking every accolade should plan their playthrough accordingly.
How to Unlock the Behind Stairs Secret?
The first crucial item for accessing this secret is the Telescope. Obtaining it isn’t straightforward, as it hinges on fulfilling several side quests scattered across Endacopia’s world.
Unlocking the Telescope is a test of patience and exploration, requiring you to dive deep into the town’s optional content. Without completing these, the secret area will remain inaccessible.
Follow these steps in order to obtain the Telescope:
- Complete the Villagers’ Petitions side quests.
- Finish both the Red Cat and Raccoon quests.
- Engage in Hide and Seek with the Red Cat.
- Find the Red Cat three times during the game.
- Receive the Fishing License as a reward post-Hide and Seek.
- Catch at least six different fish while fishing.
- Visit the Aquarium, located near the waterfall on the left side of town.
- Speak with the Red Cat again to receive an invitation to a secret party.
- Head to the Town Hall.
- Proceed to the second floor of the Town Hall.
- Enter the last door on the right.
- Use the password:
Password: Yellow
Inside this hidden room, you’ll meet two characters, The Owl and The Mouse. Conversing with Paisley (the Owl) about the party and offering your advice will earn you the coveted Telescope.
With the Telescope in hand, your next task is to uncover a hidden clue crucial to accessing the secret location.
Find the Hidden Phone Number
Take the Telescope to the train station. This area is pivotal for spotting a concealed advertisement.
Near the bench where a character is trapped in concrete, set up the Telescope and scan the surroundings carefully.
What you’re looking for is an advertisement board that shouts:
CALL US!
Hidden beneath the surface, you’ll find a phone number:
277-5944
Call the Number
Return to an office where telephones are available to use.
Dial:
277-5944
Instead of a regular voice, a Morse code message plays through the phone.
Decoding this reveals the instruction:
Behind the stairs. One minute.
Enter the Secret Area
After completing the call, descend the stairs at your current location.
Position yourself behind the stairs and remain there for approximately one minute.
Once time passes, the game screen will shift, transporting your character to a mysterious hidden environment.
Proceed forward until you encounter a virtual helmet. Interact with it to initiate the secret puzzle sequence.
Interact with it to start the Endacopia secret puzzle.
Behind Stairs Puzzle Solution
Each puzzle board must be copied precisely as laid out. Accuracy here is key to progression.
Pay careful attention to details on each board to avoid mistakes that send you back or force retries.
First Board
Second Board
Third Board
Fourth Board
Fifth Board
Sixth Board
Seventh Board
Once you reach the final puzzle, don’t overlook the hidden step: click the smiley face icon. Initially broken, this icon gradually repairs itself as each puzzle board is solved.
By the time you tackle the seventh puzzle, the smiley will be fully restored. Interacting with it reveals the last square necessary to complete the entire puzzle.
Skipping this step creates a false impression that the puzzle is bugged since the final square won’t appear, halting your success.
This hidden interaction has caused confusion among players, so make sure to activate the smiley face before finishing.
What Happens After Completing It?
Completing the Behind Stairs puzzle serves as an alternate path through the game, redirecting your progress away from the expected climax.
Players consistently observe two notable outcomes after solving this secret puzzle:
- You skip the challenging AI boss fight.
- The boss achievement tied to that fight will not unlock.
There’s speculation that unlocking this secret could be linked with Ending C, as the closing dialogue references awakening a machine. However, this connection remains unconfirmed.
Inspired by: Steam Community guide by Niggola Tesla.