Firstly, the exploration

At first glance, when you arrive, the game doesn't seem to offer any guidance on how to figure out what you need to do.

You first have to detach yourself from the, shall we say, classic way of playing a game that actually offers a detailed guide to everything you need to do via quests, tutorials, a story...

But that doesn't mean you're left to your own devices.

The game aims to be both a moment of reflection (in every sense of the word) and escape (again, in every sense of the word). The game's graphics are highly polished, and there's a lot to see (and I'm weighing my words carefully here) throughout the island's environment...
It's an invitation to wander all over the island (or at least it's a good excuse to do so).

At first, as you move from one area to the next, the first puzzles you encounter are relatively easy to understand without needing detailed explanation.

This is your first tutorial. By this I don't mean that the puzzles are simple, but that in fact whole areas are dedicated to being tutorials.

So if you come across an obstacle to your progress because you don't understand the puzzle rule, save your brain for next time and continue your exploration. It's a sign that you're not supposed to enter here yet. Continue on your way...

Think of these as keys that you'll have to find somewhere else and that will allow you to open all the doors later.

Now, if you visited all area and still don't understand some of these rules, go on to the next section!

Before getting to the heart of the topic, it should be pointed out that it's possible that in reality, although you don't feel like it, you understand the logic of certain rules but you still have difficulty with a puzzle.

This has the effect of making you doubt whether you've really understood the rule.

A word of advice: Revise your understanding process slightly. By this I mean that when you made your deductions, you made an assumption, a hypothesis that you worked with to build a logic on how the rule works.

This assumption may be so basic that it seems instantly true to you and therefore futile to revisit when your deduction ultimately doesn't work.

So deconstruct your process into simple elements and change something slightly (logically of course) because you're generally not so far from the truth.

And when you finally realise the solution, that's when you feel proud of yourself. That ‘EUREKA!’ feeling is one of the pleasures this game brings to the player.

So keep at it!

Now, if you're still in doubt, here's an explanation or clarification of the different rules you can come up across.

Rule n°1: colored squares

White, black, yellow, blue... Colored squares are positioned on the puzzle. The rule is to separate them by color group using the line and edges of the panel.

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Rule 2: Hexagons
Small hexagons are located in the puzzle lines. You must therefore pass over all these hexagons. Some puzzles feature colored hexagons that must be picked up with the same-colored line.
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Rule n°3: Symmetry
There are 2 possible access points to the puzzle. By choosing one and tracing it, the other will be drawn to match symmetrically. Symmetry can be axial or central.

Rule n°4: Trace
A hidden trace indicates the correct layout for solving the puzzle. This trace is revealed depending on the angle from which it is viewed, and on the light source.


Rule n°5: Shadows on squares
Shadows are positioned totally, partially or next to the puzzle. These shadows are placed on the puzzle squares and cut certain lines. The rule is to find the path that doesn't pass over any shadows.
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Rule n°6: Shadows on lines
This is the reverse of rule 3. A shadow positioned on the puzzle allows you to draw the correct line of the puzzle. Follow these shadows to the finish.
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Rule 7: mazes

For this ‘rule’, I prefer to give you clues so that you know what to do if you come across it. In fact, rather than a rule, each maze has its own way of being solved and giving you an explanation of how it works only gives you the answer...

I'll give you the solution as a spoiler at the end if you get really stuck despite the clues.

There are 4 small mazes in the fort area, each with its own rules. You have to manage to find the right path according to these rules and reproduce it on the puzzle of the exit door.

maze 1: This first maze shows you how to solve each one. Make your way to the exit door and correlate what you've just done with the puzzle on the door.

Solution: The roads are blocked. Only one path is possible, which you'll have to trace.

maze 2:
Clue 1 : No barrier in this one...
Clue 2:After all, there's only one path to follow, so what would be the ‘restriction’ here that could guide your steps?
hint 3: You can walk on the restriction?!
Solution:Grass has grown in some places in the maze. There is only one possible path through it without encountering any grass.

maze 3:
Clue 1:You don't have a visual clue here, so how to do it?
Clue 2:You'll have to listen carefully.
Solution:Some passages will make a gravelly sound when you step on them. There's only one way through the maze that doesn't make any sound at all.

maze 4:
Hint 1:There are no physical, visual or audible restrictions here, but there certainly is one.
Clue 2:It's more of a logical restriction...
Clue 3:The puzzle doesn't seem to correspond to the maze, but on closer inspection...
Solution:Unlike the previous puzzles, the puzzle doesn't match the maze, except for one path that they have in common. This is the one you'll have to trace.


Rule 8: Yellow squares
Patterns consisting of one or more yellow squares are placed in certain squares of the puzzle. Each square in the pattern corresponds to a square in the puzzle. The rule is to create areas enclosing these patterns using the puzzle's edge and the line you draw, and these areas must match these shapes perfectly.
Two things you need to know:
- Zones can be joined or not, i.e. a unique large zone can be formed as long as the shapes are present inside and fit together perfectly. (cf. image with multiple shapes)
- Some puzzles feature inclined patterns. This means that the shape of the area concerned can be rotated (no symmetry, just rotation...).

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Rule 9: Blue squares
These are associated with the yellow squares. The shape of the blue pattern must be erased from the yellow pattern. Example:


Rule 10: Stars
Stars must be paired in an area with a pattern of the same color (another star, for example, but also a square or anything else). They can't be alone in a zone or with two or more same-colored pattern.
You can have several stars in the same zone if they are of different colors.
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Rule 11: the corrector
The corrector must cancel a rule that is not respected in the zone in which it will be enclosed.
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Rule 12: Triangles
One or more triangles can be found in one or more squares of the puzzle. The rule is that the line must pass through as many sides as there are triangles in the square.
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Rule 13: Sound puzzle
Sounds are emitted in the environment around each puzzle, with different tones. The rule is to match the tone of the sound to the layout of the puzzle.
There are two types:

- The first is "honeycomb"-shaped. Each section corresponds to 3 tones, with the upper part for the highest sounds and vice versa.
- The second is in the format of a classic puzzle. It contains small hexagons of varying sizes. Small hexagons for high-pitched sounds, medium hexagons for intermediate sounds, large hexagons for low-pitched sounds.
So you have to go through all the hexagons in the right order according to the sounds you hear.


Rule 14: The environment
The rest of the puzzles have no clues or rules on the puzzle surface. You'll have to keep your eyes open and look for similarities with elements in the environment around the puzzle to find the correct layout.

To conclude with these rules, it should be noted that the puzzles become increasingly complex as you explore the island, and some puzzles contain several rules. It's up to you to find the right path based on your understanding. Once again, don't hesitate to use Paint. It really helped me during my first exploration of the island.

As mentioned above, puzzles can (and will) become increasingly complex and combine several rules in a single puzzle.


They can sometimes be scary, but here's something to help you work out the solution:

First of all, I'd like to make it clear that these are personal techniques and so not everyone necessarily does the same thing.
Some use their imagination, others use paper notes. For my part, I suggest you start by using MS Paint! (The basic version is quite sufficient, it's what I used throughout my first run).

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Tip: If you're working on a puzzle that's relatively simple in terms of rules, draw one line at a time on a screenshot of the puzzle (F12 key for steam) and see where it takes you. If you find yourself on the wrong track, just ctrl+Z and start again in another direction. You should find the solution relatively quickly.

If it turns out to be more complicated, follow these steps:


Step 1:
Take a screenshot of the puzzle you're struggling with, paste it onto Paint, quickly reproduce it with lines and make your own little rule patterns in the puzzle squares.
Tip: Use the transparent selection to move your lines around easily and position them more precisely.

As an example, I'm going to use a fairly complete puzzle that I borrowed from the site :
https://windmill.thefifthmatt.com

This is a fan-made website where users can create their own puzzles and offer them publicly to anyone who wants to try their hand at them.



A bit scary, right ?

Step 2:

Break the puzzle down into simple elements and use the following techniques:

• Remove the paths that have been cut off (and those that lead to them) and which may visually hinder :

• Draw lines where you are sure you need to go and extend the lines logically
  
• Cross out the ones you know you can't get through.

• Concerning the triangles, try to deduce where the line can go according to the number of triangles and deduce where it is not possible for it to go.

Where I believe you mostly need Paint to save the greatest amount of time is with the shape rule:

• Prepare for this step by ‘cutting out’ your own shapes using the pre-existing lines of the puzzle to make sure you keep the right proportions. Surround them with a colour so they're easily distinguishable.
  
• Move them around the puzzle to find the right shape to fit all the motifs(don't forget to activate the transparent selection).

Tip: Try to enclose as many shapes as possible by sticking to the edge with as few pieces as possible. This will make the pattern a lot easier to find. Use the lines drawn beforehand if there are any.

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We're starting to see things more clearly.

• There's not much left to do apart from connecting the dots. Stay logical and pay attention to the stars when you draw your zones.

Solution:



ET VOILA !

Feel free to appropriate anything useful, modify it as you see fit and build your own solutions.

Here, I've drawn beautiful lines, cut them delicately and used pretty colours for the sake of legibility and understanding, but when you do it, you can do it less carefully, just with the pencil...

in that kind of fashion (when I was working out the answer myself) x)



As long as you understand yourself and stay consistent, everything should work out fine!

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide.

I hope it helps you in your thinking process.

Please feel free to comment on anything you didn't understand or found useful.