Hell is Us reimagines how games present puzzles. Gone are waypoints, glowing quest markers, and hand-holding tutorials. Instead, creative director Jonathan Jacques-Belletête calls the design philosophy “player-plattering”: the game provides all the ingredients, but you must combine them yourself.
Every puzzle — from Timeloops to environmental Mysteries — is about close observation, deduction, and immersion in Hadea’s world. When clues click into place, the “aha!” feeling is powerful, but it can also be tough if you overlook a detail.
Here’s a step-by-step puzzle guide with strategies, hints (not hard spoilers), and community-tested methods to help you stay on track.
Puzzle-Solving Mindset in Hell is Us
Before diving in, remember:
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Take manual notes: The journal logs clues but won’t solve them for you.
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Revisit locations: New items and abilities unlock old puzzles.
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Talk to NPCs: Conversations often hide vital hints.
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Embrace backtracking: Some areas only open after story or gear progression.
How Do You Solve Timeloop Puzzles in Hell is Us?
Timeloops trap traumatic events in endless repetition. To collapse them, you must defeat Guardians and use the correct Amine Prism.
Step-by-Step: Closing a Timeloop
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Obtain the Guardian Detector – Gildas Brom provides this tool (preview info). It emits black smoke toward nearby Guardians.
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Defeat All Guardians – Each region has several. A sound cue confirms when all are gone.
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Enter the Timeloop – The swirling void opens, revealing a looping scene.
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Use the Correct Amine Prism – Timeloops come in Sigma, Theta, and Rho types. Your drone identifies which prism to slot.
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Collect Rewards – Collapsing Timeloops removes respawns and unlocks glyphs or relics.
Guardian Battle Tips
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Prioritize Hazes: Destroy Rage, Terror, Grief, or Ecstasy Hazes first.
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Use Drone Distraction: Lure one Guardian away for a fair fight.
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Listen for Audio: Distinct sound confirms the last Guardian is down.
How to Solve Symbol & Glyph Puzzles
Many Mysteries involve matching icons, deciphering scriptures, or interpreting Hadea’s ancient language.
Example: The Ancient Mechanism Puzzle
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Clues: Scriptures hint at a tower, a serpent, and flames.
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Symbols: Crown = tower, Double serpent = climb, Flame = fires of hell.
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Solution: Align pillars to Crown → Serpent → Flame.
Passcode Mysteries
Several safes and computers require codes found in scattered documents. Reported examples from the community:
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Agatha’s Safe – linked to her ID.
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Pharmacy Computer – unlocked after plaza key.
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Highway Computer – sports article reveals the digits.
Tips:
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Scan everything with your drone.
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Cross-reference documents across regions.
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Don’t ignore item descriptions; many hide number patterns.
How to Approach Environmental Puzzles
These rely on reading the environment itself — light, sound, structures, or hidden paths.
Example: Martial Lineage Puzzle (Community-Shared)
Strike glowing monoliths in sequence. Easternmost first, then counter-clockwise. Rewards include rare weapons.
Example: Ill-Gotten Gains Mystery (Community-Shared)
A cracked wall dares you to “strike 50 times.” The trick is actually finding a hidden path looping back from nearby hills.
Strategies:
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Watch for patterns in rocks, ruins, or object placement.
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Audio changes often mean you’re near a solution.
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Some puzzles only resolve at specific times of day.
How to Solve Lymbic Weapon Puzzles
Late-game puzzles connect to Lymbic weapons and their emotional affinities (Rage, Grief, Terror, Ecstasy).
Lymbic Doors & Chests
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Each is marked with an emotional symbol.
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Imbue your weapon at Victor’s forge to match the requirement.
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Strike or channel the correct emotion to unlock.
Quick Reference: Puzzle Types in Hell is Us
| Puzzle Type | Core Mechanic | Key Strategy | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timeloops | Guardians + Amine Prisms | Use Detector, defeat Hazes first | Glyphs, relics, no respawns |
| Symbol/Glyph Puzzles | Ancient codes & icons | Observe, match scriptures | Story & progression items |
| Environmental | Light, sound, paths | Watch patterns, backtrack | Weapons, loot, shortcuts |
| Lymbic Puzzles | Emotional affinities | Imbue weapons at forge | Unlocks, gear, new zones |
Community Help & Final Thoughts
If you get stuck, don’t worry — the community is solving these mysteries together:
Hell is Us rewards patience, curiosity, and observation. Treat every puzzle as a detective case — and share your toughest challenge in the comments so we can build a master puzzle compendium together.
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