Hints
Stuck on a puzzle in What Lies Underground?
Looking for a walkthrough?
The text feedback on screen gives hints for some of the puzzles.
Have you collected all of the items you need to complete a puzzle?
Have you searched everywhere?
A number of puzzles can be solved independently, in any order, but certain puzzles require others to be solved first.
If you are completely stuck then have a look at the hints below.
Entering The House
The front door is locked. What do you have in your inventory?
Take a look at the items.
Take a look at the items.
There doesn't appear to be a keyhole in the front door. What else is near the front door?
Take a closer look at the mailbox to the left of the door. You must have a key to open it somewhere.
You need a code for the keypad. Where could that be written?
There is a mailbox to the left of the front door. Tap it to take a closer look.
If you haven't yet looked at the envelope in your inventory select it and use the magnifying glass icon to read the letter.
Return to the inventory screen and you will see a key.
Use the key on the lock of the mailbox.
Tap on the keypad to take a closer look.
You need the code from the top right corner of the letter in your inventory.
Enter the digits 2, 9, 0, 9 on the keypad and then press the enter key. (The button at the bottom right)
Exit the mailbox screens... You can now enter the house.
If you haven't yet looked at the envelope in your inventory select it and use the magnifying glass icon to read the letter.
Return to the inventory screen and you will see a key.
Use the key on the lock of the mailbox.
Tap on the keypad to take a closer look.
You need the code from the top right corner of the letter in your inventory.
Enter the digits 2, 9, 0, 9 on the keypad and then press the enter key. (The button at the bottom right)
Exit the mailbox screens... You can now enter the house.
4 Dial Combination Box
You will need the blue piece of paper from the drawer at the bottom of the stairs to solve this puzzle.
This puzzle clue does not require any counting or mathematics. You do not need to add any numbers together. Press the latch above the dials when you want to test if the current combination is correct.
The left column of numbers on the clue sheet is the key. Each of the other columns represent the dials as you see them in front of you.
Going down a column of numbers, the answer for that dial is where the number in the row matches on the far left. So the answer for the first dial is 3.
3234
25 Handled Drawer Puzzle
The handles of certain drawers need to be turned to a vertical position to solve this puzzle.
You will need a paper clue to work out the solution.
You will need the burned piece of paper from the fireplace in the lounge.
The burned paper contains all of the information needed to solve the puzzle.
Many of the drawers with handles you need to turn are marked with a cross but not quite all of them.
Many of the drawers with handles you need to turn are marked with a cross but not quite all of them.
Note the numbers above the columns and beside the rows of drawers.
The number above a column is the number of handles in that column that are turned to a vertical position.
The number to the left of a row is the number in that row that are turned to a vertical position.
The number to the left of a row is the number in that row that are turned to a vertical position.
Turn the handles of the drawers in each column to a vertical position as follows:
Column 1: Handle in row 2, 4 and 5.
Column 2: Handle in every row.
Column 3: No handles.
Column 4: Handle in row 2, 3 and 4.
Column 5: Handle in row 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Column 1: Handle in row 2, 4 and 5.
Column 2: Handle in every row.
Column 3: No handles.
Column 4: Handle in row 2, 3 and 4.
Column 5: Handle in row 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Ship Picture Puzzle
The ship picture needs to be activated before you can start to decode this puzzle.
The picture needs power to operate. Firstly the power to the room needs to be switched on.
There is another switch in the room somewhere which needs to be turned on before the ship picture is activated.
You need to solve the 25 Handled Drawer Puzzle before you can progress any further with this puzzle.
An LED on the picture will be lit up in red when activated.
You will need a clue to find the names and the sequence of sails to press.
You will also need information to identify what the sails look like.
You will need a clue to find the names and the sequence of sails to press.
You will also need information to identify what the sails look like.
In the lounge there is an Old Looking Piece Of Paper in the top right hand drawer in the chest of drawers.
The poem describes the sequence of sails that need to be pressed.
The poem describes the sequence of sails that need to be pressed.
A Guide To Sails And Rigging by Skip Crossjack can be found in the bookshelf.
All parts of the ship in the poem which need to be pressed start with capital letters.
The sequence of sails is not just the order they appear in the text of the poem but follows the order described in the poem.
In the kitchen cupboard in the top left hand corner turn on the main power switch. (The large red switch on the far left).
Turn on the 3rd small, black, switch.
After solving the 25 handled drawer puzzle in the study, look in the middle drawer and put the switch in the down position to close the circuit.
Follow the sequence of sails in the poem written on the "Old Looking Piece Of Paper" collected from the top right hand drawer of the chest of drawers in the lounge.
The sequence is: Flying Jib, Main Mast, Fore Course, Ensign, Main Top Sail, Mizzen Mast. These correspond to the sails and masts in "A Guide To Sails And Rigging" on the bookshelf: 1, 8, 7, 14, 10 and 11
(The LEDs on the right will light up from top to bottom when the sequence is correct. If you get any wrong you must press further sails until the lights are reset.)
When the puzzle is solved look around to find out what happened.
Turn on the 3rd small, black, switch.
After solving the 25 handled drawer puzzle in the study, look in the middle drawer and put the switch in the down position to close the circuit.
Follow the sequence of sails in the poem written on the "Old Looking Piece Of Paper" collected from the top right hand drawer of the chest of drawers in the lounge.
The sequence is: Flying Jib, Main Mast, Fore Course, Ensign, Main Top Sail, Mizzen Mast. These correspond to the sails and masts in "A Guide To Sails And Rigging" on the bookshelf: 1, 8, 7, 14, 10 and 11
(The LEDs on the right will light up from top to bottom when the sequence is correct. If you get any wrong you must press further sails until the lights are reset.)
When the puzzle is solved look around to find out what happened.
Locked Door At Top Of Stairs (door on the left)
There is a jacket somewhere that contains a key.
The key in the jacket does not open this door but it opens a locked drawer.
The key (similar looking to the first square key, but angled differently in the inventory) opens a desk drawer in the study.
In the upstairs bedroom, open the wardrobe/closet.
The jacket hanging inside has three pockets, a left and right pocket near the bottom and an internal pocket higher up.
Tap on each of the three pockets for the key and different comments.
Go to the study downstairs.
Use the key on the top drawer of the desk, to the right of the black chair.
After unlocking it, tap on the drawer to open it and see the contents.
Pick up the key and the other item. This key can be used to open the door at the top of the stairs on the left.
Sliding Latch Puzzle Box
The sliding latch puzzle box can be found in a drawer next to the gramophone puzzle screen.
In your inventory take a closer look at the "Unusual Looking Box" with the magnifying glass.
Tap the latches in the correct sequence to open the box.
Make one incorrect move in the sequence and it will reset.
Two specific latches will reset as part of the sequence to make it more challenging.
Press the latches on the puzzle box in the following sequence to open it:
Bottom right, middle left, top left, middle right, bottom right, bottom left, middle left and top right.
Bottom right, middle left, top left, middle right, bottom right, bottom left, middle left and top right.
Direction Puzzle Box
The direction puzzle box can be found somewhere in the bathroom.
It will be listed as Unusual Looking Device in your inventory once collected.
It will be listed as Unusual Looking Device in your inventory once collected.
The capital letters and numbers on the box correspond to a passage of text somewhere.
The book "It Grew Out Of The Shadows" contains the clue for this puzzle.
If you enter from the Northern Gate, you will not be travelling North.
Set the directional dials on the box to follow the story.
Match the sequence of directions in the text to the dials on the box NG, PT, 178 and 23.
Match the sequence of directions in the text to the dials on the box NG, PT, 178 and 23.
NG - South,
PT - West,
178 - North.
23 - West.
PT - West,
178 - North.
23 - West.
Gold Leaf Box (Round Box)
Two items need to be placed in the top of this box to open it.
Do you have any items in your inventory with leaves on them?
Two specific puzzles need to be solved to find both pieces.
You must solve the 4 dial combination box for 1 item.
You must solve the Direction Puzzle Box before you can locate the other item.
Place the Ceramic Disc and Ceramic Hoop into the top of the box and then press the top.
The Ceramic Disc is hidden in the 4 dial combination box.
The Ceramic Hoop is located somehwere in the closet/cupboard at the top of the stairs.
(Solve The Direction Puzzle Box for the key to this small storage room.)
The Ceramic Disc is hidden in the 4 dial combination box.
The Ceramic Hoop is located somehwere in the closet/cupboard at the top of the stairs.
(Solve The Direction Puzzle Box for the key to this small storage room.)
The Chest
For the chest combination code you need to activate the electrical device on the shelf with lettered dials.
Have you opened the compartment of the device below the dials?
The old fuse has blown, it needs replacing but don't electrocute yourself when you remove the old one.
You have replaced the fused and turned the device on at the wall. Why is there still no power?
You have remembered to turn the 7th small/black trip switch back on in the kitchen and the main power. The lettered dials of the device are now lit. The dials can rotate. There is a circular slot in the side of the box, you need to place something in here that can turn the dials.
How do the coloured letters of the device relate to the letters on the chest? You need some kind of key. You will find it hidden in the bottom drawer of the wardrobe under the paper lining on the left. Place it over the dials of the chest. (If you have difficulty with seeing colours, tapping on a letter of the dial when lit will tell you its colour.)
The first lettered dial of the device is for the first lettered dial of the chest. Match the colour from the laminated card of the first dial with the first dial on the device. Keep tapping on the crank handle to rotate the dials until the first letter is pink. The first letter is J.
(If you have difficulty with seeing colours you can tap the colour of the laminated card and also the letters of the device when lit to read what the colour is.)
JQQZVK
The Toilet Cistern
Press the toilet flush... something is not right. Remove the lid of the toilet cistern.
Try to put your hand in the larger brown area of water on the left.
Use an item that would protect your hand from the unpleasantness of the brown water.
Once the blockage is removed try flushing again...
Hmm... the flush is broken now. What thin metal item could be made into a hook to attach to the flush mechanism?
You need to have the Wirecutters in your inventory for this to work.
When the flush is fixed what next?
Is there something beneath the water?
How can I stop the water refilling when I flush?
Is there something beneath the water?
How can I stop the water refilling when I flush?
Flushing the toilet again with the water turned off will empty the cistern.
Press the toilet flush handle. Remove the toilet cistern lid. Try to touch the area of brown liquid.
Collect the rubber gloves from under the sink in the kitchen.
Using the gloves remove the blockage in the cistern.
Flush the toilet again.
Collect a wire coathanger from the wardrobe in the bedroom.
You must have the wirecutters in your inventory. (These are located in the metal compartment inside the bureau.)
Use the coathanger on the flush mechanism.
Turn off the water supply in the kitchen, under the sink.
Flush the toilet again.
Move to the close-up view and remove the metal plate.
Collect the item that falls from behind the plate.
Collect the rubber gloves from under the sink in the kitchen.
Using the gloves remove the blockage in the cistern.
Flush the toilet again.
Collect a wire coathanger from the wardrobe in the bedroom.
You must have the wirecutters in your inventory. (These are located in the metal compartment inside the bureau.)
Use the coathanger on the flush mechanism.
Turn off the water supply in the kitchen, under the sink.
Flush the toilet again.
Move to the close-up view and remove the metal plate.
Collect the item that falls from behind the plate.
The Shed
There is no key to the padlock for the shed. You will have to find another way to get in.
Have you looked for all possible points of entry into the shed?
You need to get in through the window, without damaging anything. What items do you have that may be able to take it apart?
You need a flat item to remove the window frame (battens) that hold the glass in place.
Collect the pallet knife / metal spatula from a drawer in the kitchen (to the left of the cooker / stove). Use this on each of the 4 battens of the window frame of the shed. Then remove the glass.
The Animal Box
You will need to collect all 5 wooden animal pieces to complete this puzzle.
Only one animal piece is hidden in the same room as the box. All the other pieces become available after solving other puzzles.
One piece is somewhere in the study.
One piece is somewhere in the bathroom.
One piece is somewhere in the front room at the top of the stairs.
One piece is in the room with the chest.
With all 5 animal pieces inserted into the box. You must rotate the top. Tap one of the 4 sections between the animals. Now the box needs winding up somehow.
Collect the wooden elephant from under the armchair cushion.
Collect the wooden newt from the metal compartment inside the bureau.
Collect the hedgehog from the puzzle box on the table opposite the bed in the room at the top of the stairs.
Collect the wooden bird from the toilet cistern.
Collect the dragonfly from inside the chest.
Insert all of the wooden pieces into the box. Tap one of the sections between the animals to rotate the lid. Insert the winding key into the hole on the side of the box.
(The winding key is hidden in the birdbox. You need the ladder to reach the birdbox. You need to have read the bird book to open the birdbox.)
Collect the wooden newt from the metal compartment inside the bureau.
Collect the hedgehog from the puzzle box on the table opposite the bed in the room at the top of the stairs.
Collect the wooden bird from the toilet cistern.
Collect the dragonfly from inside the chest.
Insert all of the wooden pieces into the box. Tap one of the sections between the animals to rotate the lid. Insert the winding key into the hole on the side of the box.
(The winding key is hidden in the birdbox. You need the ladder to reach the birdbox. You need to have read the bird book to open the birdbox.)
Gramophone Puzzle
You will need a paper clue to solve this.
Collect the paper clue from one of the drawers inside the bureau. You will need the three instruments on the paper clue. You will also need additional items to play two of the instruments.
Follow the sequence of items on the back of the paper clue with the frog. Place each one in turn on the stand in front of the gramophone horn and play the instrument. An LED will light green for each part of the sequence which is correct. You can press the reset button if you get any wrong and start again. (If you have difficulty seeing the colours red and green, tapping the LED lights on the side of the gramophone box will tell you what colours are currently lit.)
Place the chimebar on the wooden stand in front of the gramophone horn. Use the beater on the chime bar once. Place the chimes on the wooden stand. Touch the metal part of the chimes once. Place the frog on the wooden stand and use the green stick on the wooden frog.
(The chimes can be found in the tree near the birdbox. The green stick is holding the slide together, you must replace it with the nut and bolt. The frog will be available when you have solved another puzzle.)
(The chimes can be found in the tree near the birdbox. The green stick is holding the slide together, you must replace it with the nut and bolt. The frog will be available when you have solved another puzzle.)
Opening The Manhole Cover
To open the manhole cover you need to activate the panel on the wall.
You need access to the inner circuit board. Remove the 4 screws of the cover with with the crosshead screwdriver.
Create an octagon.
Switch the switches to select either the top or bottom chip in each case. Images on all selected chips combined must make a complete octagon with no overlapping segments.
When you think you have the correct switch combination you need a key.
Remove the panel of the device on the wall with the crosshead screwdriver.
Select the following chips with switches in the left column: bottom, bottom, bottom.
Select the following chips in the right column: top, bottom, top.
Insert the round key into the keyhole. Turn the handle. Congratulations!
(The round key is hidden in the compartment of the device where you replaced the fuse earlier.)
(The round key is hidden in the compartment of the device where you replaced the fuse earlier.)
Finding The Elusive “Missing” Achievement
This is the only achievement that requires you to perform two actions to get the achievement. It is the only one that is not automatically received in the process of solving all the puzzles to complete the game. As such, it’s probably best attempted on your second play-through.
This achievement is related to safety.
The first action is related to electricity and about insulating yourself. If you already removed the old fuse and didn’t use something to insulate yourself, then you won’t be able to get the achievement on this play-through.
In the box room upstairs, when facing the device on the right, switch off the power at the wall. Open the compartment (do not pick up the old fuse yet!). Open the inventory and select the rubber gloves. Then tap the old fuse while using them, it will give you a different comment (quite a long one). This safety precaution is related to the fact that you can still get an electric shock off some electrical items / equipment even though they are no longer connected to the mains power. The comment itself effecively warns you that electricity and water do not mix well, don’t touch anything with wet hands or wet gloves. (Educational huh!?)
Having completed the above action. The second action is about making something safe for playing on outside. When you swap one item for another, it is only tightened by hand. You can use another item on it after the swap. An item you might have previously wondered “Hang on I didn’t use this?” or “What was the point of using that?”. Well it was to get the very well hidden achievement.
In the box room upstairs, switch off the device at the wall.
Open the small compartment.
Select the rubber gloves.
Then tap on the old fuse.
When you have the nut and bolt, swap it for the green stick wedged in the slide.
Then tighten the bolt with the spanner / monkey wrench, to receive the achievement. Dun dun dun! (Imaginary dramatic music)
Now you know how to get the missing achievement you can sleep soundly at night.
Easter Eggs (Hidden Odd Bits And Pieces To Try) - Revealed August 2025
When you are in the study at the front of the house downstairs and are in the screen with the desk drawer open (the one where you collect the new fuse and key from). Tap / touch the black faux leather chair for an amusing comment about what it’s made of.
When you have solved the Unusual Looking Box puzzle and picked up the key from inside. Tap the indentation where the key was for another comment.
After removing the 4 battens around the shed window, select the rubber gloves and using them, tap the shed window pane (while it's still in the window) to remove it. You will get a different comment to the regular one.
While still using the gloves collect the ladder for a different comment to when you collect it without gloves.
Once the ladder is collected, tap inside the shed where the window used to be for a comment about what else remains in there. (Non collectable).
After you collect the ladder, don’t immediately place it in front of the tree, take it upstairs. Close the wardrobe/closet. Select the ladder and use it on the wardrobe/closet doors near the top for a comment.
When in the lounge on the screen facing the chairs where you lift the seat cushion to collect the wooden elephant piece. Tap the path, which you can see through the window in the top left of the screen next to the curtain. You will get a comment that makes an obscure reference to a text adventure game I played in primary school. (Granny’s Garden, on the BBC Micro.)