Rusty Lake Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Paradox
Paradox Icon
Commercial Free / Premium
OfficialLink Official Link
GooglePlay Google Play
AppStore App Store
Steam Steam
Itch.io Itch.io
RustyLakeBoat Video Walkthrough

Cube Escape: Paradox is the tenth game in the Cube Escape series. It was developed alongside a short film of the same name, and was released on September 20th, 2018. Despite being a Cube Escape game, and not one of the separate Rusty Lake titles, this game is available on paid services and contains a second chapter of DLC, which must be purchased. The first chapter does not.

In this game you play as Dale Vandermeer, who is trapped in an ominous room without any recollection of his past. Dale must solve increasingly challenging puzzles to escape the room and recover his memories.

Characters Characters[]

Locations Locations[]

Walkthrough Walkthrough[]

Chapter 1[]

Where am I?
Have I been here before?
Is she here?
Dressing Area
  • Go right.
  • Focus on the covered cage. Click to remove the cloth to see Harvey inside.
  • Defocus, and focus on the dresser.
  • Open the box on the left and get the key.
  • Focus on the sliding puzzle.
    • Slide the tiles until each one rests atop its marker.
  • Open the puzzle and retrieve a photo piece.
  • Defocus and go right.
Lounge
  • Focus on the painting.
  • Pick up the photo piece.
  • Defocus and go right.
Door
  • Pick up the jacket.
  • Focus on the dresser drawers.
  • Open each unlocked drawer to retrieve a pencil, a photo piece, and a pair of scissors.
  • Use the key on the bottom drawer to retrieve a wooden cube.
  • Defocus and go left twice.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the mirror.
  • Put your jacket on.
    I should check the lights.
  • Defocus and go right twice.
Door
  • Pick up the photo piece from the floor.
  • Focus on the light switch.
  • Flip the switch.
  • Defocus and go right.
TV
  • Focus on the left light to retrieve a photo piece.
  • Defocus, then go right two.
Lounge
  • Focus on the photo frame on the table to the left.
  • Assemble the photo from your inventory.
    • Note the text: "the woman".
  • Defocus and get the cigar.
  • Defocus and go right.
Door
  • Focus on the typewriter.
  • Focus again, and type: the woman
  • Focus on the sheet of paper pulled from the typewriter.
  • Use the pencil to fill in the outline of Dale, the door, Laura, the cut on Laura's neck, and the key.
  • Get the key.
  • Defocus out and go right.
TV
  • Focus on the cords under the TV.
  • Plug in the right-hand cord.
  • Defocus, then focus on the base of the cabinet.
  • Use the key on the left-hand door of the cabinet, then click to open it.
  • Unlock the rolling part of the cabinet with the same key.
  • Get the grip.
  • Focus on the books and note the titles.
    • J. Eilander: My Family
    • A. Vanderboom
    • Vincent Van Gogh
    • C. Eilander
    • Robert Hill: False Accusations
    • Ida Reiziger: The Art of Fortune Telling
  • Defocus, then focus on the file called "Evidence".
  • Retrieve the newspaper article, slide, and cassette tape.
  • Defocus out, then focus on the base of the cabinet.
  • Click the arrow tab to pull out the slide holder.
  • Put the slide in, then insert the holder.
  • Click the knob at the top to turn on the light.
  • Defocus out, then go left twice.
Lounge
  • Focus on the painting.
  • Put the grip on the projection screen.
  • Pull the screen down so the three lines matches the top of the covered cage.
  • Note the circled number: V
  • Pull the screen down so the painting square on the screen matches the painting.
  • Note the circled number: IV
  • Retrieve the photo.
  • Defocus, then go right.
Door
  • Focus all the way in on the clock.
  • Change the time to 4:25 (IV V).
  • Retrieve the matches.
  • Focus on the tape player.
  • Put the cassette tape in the tape player.
  • Click play.
    Mr. Vandermeer, tell me about your dream.
    I was watching TV.
    It was me, on the screen.
    But I looked different, more real.
    And then I said:
    enin xis xis lennahc
    Did I talk backwards?
  • Click on the reverse button.
    channel six six nine
  • Defocus out, then go left twice.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the mirror.
  • Put the cigar in Dale's hand.
    It's not lighted.
  • Use the matches on the cigar.
  • Click the cigar for Dale to blow smoke symbols:
    • O with dot, S, square with line, Z, spiral.
  • Defocus, then go left.
TV
  • Focus on the base of the cabinet.
  • Click the left door and focus on the puzzle.
  • Enter the symbols:
    • O with dot, S, square with line, Z, spiral.
  • Retrieve the tape.
  • Defocus out, then focus on the cords under the TV.
  • Apply the tape to the broken cord on the left.
  • Plug in the cord.
  • Defocus, then focus on the TV.
  • Change the channel to 669, then click play.
  • Change the channel to 012, then click play.
  • Change the channel to 067, then click play.
    A place of relaxation.
    A place to empty the mind,
    reflect on the past
    and the future.
  • Get the new phrase: "the lake".
  • Defocus, then go left.
Door
  • Focus on the typewriter.
  • Type: the lake
  • Focus on the sheet of paper.
  • Use the scissors on the second line on the paper.
  • Drag the bottom part up to make: "CALL 14335".
  • Defocus out, then go left.
Lounge
  • Focus in on the telephone.
  • Dial: 14335
  • Click Dale's responses to continue the conversation.
    V: Detective Vandermeer.
    D: Hello?
    V: I do hope you are enjoying your stay.
    D: Where am I?
    V: A place to empty the mind.
    D: What?
    V: Be warned, some find this place hard to leave.
    D: How do I get out?
    V: Look through the keyhole.
    D: ...
  • Defocus, then go right.
Door
  • Focus on the doorknob.
  • Look through the keyhole.
  • Notice the dot at the top, and the cross at the left.
  • Defocus out, then focus in on the clock.
  • Change the time to 12:45.
  • Retrieve the triangle key.
  • Defocus and go left.
Lounge
  • Focus on the left-hand stand's drawers.
  • Put the triangle key in the slot on either drawer.
  • Open each drawer as needed.
    • Click E.
    • Go right for Caroline Eilander: Book 6.
    • Go right for Jacob Eilander: Book 4.
    • Out, then click G.
    • Go right to Vincent Van Gogh: Book 2.
    • Out, then click H.
    • Go right to Robert 'Bob' Hill: Book 1.
    • Out, then click R.
    • Go right to Ida Reiziger: Book 5.
    • Out, then click V.
    • Get Aldous Vanderboom: Book 3.
    • Drag right to Laura to get a prescription.
  • Defocus out, then go left twice.
TV
  • Focus on the top part of the cabinet.
  • Focus on the books.
    • Rearrange them according to above: Hill, Van Gogh, Vanderboom, J. Eilander, Reiziger, C. Eilander
  • Click on the book.
  • Turn the right page and get the glass eye.
  • Turn the right page twice and get the iron cube.
  • Defocus out, then go right twice.
Lounge
  • Focus on the right-hand stand's drawers.
  • Use the triangle key to open the bottom drawer.
  • Retrieve a handkerchief.
  • Use the triangle key to open the top drawer.
  • Retrieve slide 2.
  • Defocus, then go right twice.
TV
  • Focus on the bottom part of the cabinet.
  • Focus on the slide projector.
  • Replace the slide with slide 2.
  • Defocus out, then go right twice.
Lounge
  • Focus on the painting.
  • Put the screen back up.
  • Note the number: TV / 588
  • Note the other symbols:
    • Corrupted Soul: S
    • The Woman: triangle with line
    • Vial: square with line
    • Dale: Z
    • Mr. Crow: upside-down T
  • Defocus, then go right twice.
TV
  • Focus on the TV.
  • Change the channel to 588, then click play. Note the order the characters appear:
    • Mr. Crow, Dale, Laura, the Vial, and the Corrupted Soul.
  • Defocus, then focus on the base of the cabinet.
  • Focus on the puzzle on the left.
  • Enter the symbols:
    • Upside-down T, Z, triangle with line, square with line, S.
  • Retrieve the globe key.
  • Defocus out, then focus on the globe.
  • Use the globe key on the globe.
  • Focus on the globe further.
  • Draw lines from start:
    • Up to the left of the woods.
    • Right to the right of the woods.
    • Right and down to just below the mountains.
    • Down to the left of Dark Town.
    • Right, between town and the theatre.
    • Right, across the water, to between the home and Seasons Peak.
    • Up and right past the home.
    • Right, to that squarish island in the middle.
    • Right and down to below the Cabin.
    • Right through the passage toward the mill.
    • Up to the point between the mill and the trees.
    • Right to the mountains.
    • Down to the end.
  • Click to open the globe.
  • Retrieve the newspaper article.
  • Retrieve the glass cup.
  • Focus on the bottles.
  • Put the matches in the right bottle.
  • Click to break the bottle and retrieve a fishing hook.
  • Defocus out and focus on the tree.
  • Use the scissors to cut off a twig.
  • Defocus, then focus on the globe and bottles.
  • Put the twig in the middle bottle.
  • Click to have the caterpillar eat the twig, then cocoon, then emerge as a black moth. Click to release it.
  • Defocus out, then go left twice.
Lounge
  • Focus on the upper left part of the couch.
  • Click away the maggots.
  • Use the scissors on the tear.
  • Retrieve some string.
  • Defocus out, then go left twice.
TV
  • Focus on the top part of the cabinet.
  • Use the glass cup on the jar to get a glass of water.
  • Defocus, then focus on the globe and bottles.
  • Remove the cork.
  • Tie the string to the cork.
  • Put the fishing hook on the string.
  • Pour the glass of water into the bottle.
  • Pull out the cork and get a glass eye.
  • Defocus out, then focus on the deer skull.
  • Put both glass eyes into the eye sockets.
  • Defocus.
  • Drag the black flies over the deer head.
  • Go left.
Door
  • Drag the black flies over the clock.
  • Drag the black flies over the typewriter.
  • Go right.
TV
  • Drag the black flies over the TV set.
  • Go left one.
Door
  • Drag the black flies over the door.
  • Go left twice.
Dressing Area
  • Drag the black flies over the mirror.
  • Focus on the mirror.
  • Click out each of the black flies.
What is happening to me?
I have to arrange my memories.
Skull Puzzle
  • Moving first:
    • Move the yellow room to match with Dale's room.
    • Click the dot, then move Dale to the photo in the yellow room.
    • Click the dot to exit.
  • Water:
    • Move the tiles so the middle row is brown with pipe and picture, pink, and yellow, and the bottom left is brown with gear.
    • Click the dot, then move Dale to the room with his parents.
    • Click the dot, then move Dale to the room with the glass.
    • Click the dot to tip the glass of water over.
    • Move to the lever, then click the dot to open the pipe.
    • Move to the photo, then click the dot to exit.
  • Water wheel:
    • Set the tiles:
      • Middle left and middle: brown with pipe and picture, green.
      • Top center: brown with gear, brown with down pipe.
    • Click the dot, then move Dale to the brown room with the lever.
    • Click the dot to turn the wheel until the water is gone.
    • Move to the photo, then click the dot to exit.
  • Theatre:
    • Set the tiles: the room that Dale's in to the top right, red in middle row center, and room with pipe and water middle row right.
    • Click the dot, then enter the submarine.
    • Click the dot to dive, then click the arrow to go left.
    • Stand in front of the curtains and click the dot.
    • Click the dot again to exit.
  • Exit:
    • Move the red room to match the nose.
    • Click the dot, then move Dale out of the puzzle.
My head hurts.
Door
  • Focus on the blood on the floor.
  • User your handkerchief to mop up the blood.
  • Move the floorboard.
  • Retrieve the part of flyer.
  • Defocus, then go left.
Lounge
  • Focus on the telephone, then on the flyer.
  • Turn the flyer over.
  • Put the part of flyer on the flyer.
  • Match it up to get a new word: "burn".
  • Defocus out, then go right one.
Door
  • Focus in on the typewriter.
  • Type: burn
  • Focus on the paper.
  • Use the scissors to cut the page in half.
  • Cover the top part with the bottom part.
  • Use the burning cigar to burn the following items: dynamite, candle, cigar, matches.
  • Note the new word: "life".
  • Defocus, then focus on the typewriter.
  • Type: life
  • Focus on the paper.
  • Use the scissors to cut the page in half.
  • Cover the top part with the bottom part.
  • Use the burning cigar to burn the following items: fish, bug, shrimp.
  • Note the new word: "red".
  • Defocus, then focus on the typewriter.
  • Type: red
  • Focus on the paper.
  • Use the scissors to cut the page in half.
  • Cover the top part with the bottom part.
  • Use the burning cigar to burn the following items: rose, strawberry, tomato, lips, heart.
  • Note the number: 910.
  • Defocus out, then go right one.
TV
  • Focus on the TV.
  • Select channel 910, then click play.
    Look behind you!
  • Defocus, then go right.
Lounge
  • Focus on the folding screen.
  • Open the screen.
  • Focus on Laura.
    • Move her face in the opposite direction to where her eyes are pointing.
  • Click her to put the Corrupted Soul back.
  • Move her face in the opposite direction to where her eyes are pointing, until she disappears.
  • Defocus once, and pick up a dress patch.
  • Defocus, then go left.
TV
  • Focus on the bottom part of the cabinet.
  • Focus on "Case 23".
  • Open the case.
    • In evidence A, put the photo.
    • In evidence B, put the newspaper article about the murder.
    • In evidence C, put the prescription.
    • In evidence D, put the newspaper article about the contest.
    • In evidence E, put the dress patch.
  • Note the symbols.
  • Defocus, then focus on the puzzle.
  • Move the symbols:
    • Triangle with line, upside-down T, circle with dot, S, square with line.
  • Retrieve the tape Harvey's Song.
  • Defocus out, then go left.
Door
  • Focus on the tape player.
  • Put Harvey's Song in the tape player and press play.
  • Defocus out, then go left twice.
Dressing Area
  • Watch Harvey fly away.
  • Enter the cage and get the glass cube.
  • Defocus, then focus on the dresser.
  • Put the cubes into the box slots in the middle: wooden cube, iron cube, glass cube.
  • Defocus, then focus on the cabinet doors.
  • Open the door and get the red vial.
  • Defocus, then focus on the mirror.
  • Give Dale the red vial.
  • Keep clicking on Dale until you retrieve a key.
  • Defocus, then go left twice.
Forest
  • Use the key in the door.
  • Open the door.
  • Follow the bird to Mr. Crow.
  • Talk to him:
    Did you make the right choice?
  • Take the map.
  • Follow the map to each X.
    • At the X, follow the steps to get three statues: the crow statue, woman statue, and man statue.
    • Before the man statue, there is a Corrupted Soul by the deer head. Click the circled area on the Corrupted Soul until it disappears.
  • When you have all three statues, go to the arrow at the top.
  • Put the statues in the holes.
  • Keep going forward.
  • Click on Laura until she disappears.
  • Click on the black cube.
  • Click on Dale.
Where am I?
Have I been here before?
I feel different


Chapter 2[]

Where am I?
Have I been here before?
I feel different
TV
  • Focus on the windmill.
  • Turn the strut with the dots matching the window, to match the position lit up in the X, until the window opens.
  • Retrieve a paper piece.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the dresser top.
  • Focus on the sliding puzzle.
    • Slide the tiles until each one rests atop its marker.
  • Open the puzzle and retrieve a paper piece.
  • Defocus and go right twice.
Door
  • Focus on the dresser drawers.
  • Open the top and third-down drawers to retrieve a paper piece and a screwdriver.
  • Defocus, then focus on the light switch.
  • Use the screwdriver to remove the switch plate.
  • Solve the puzzle by rotating the wire fragments to make a connection.
  • Click the plate to close it.
  • Flip the switch.
  • Defocus, and go right.
TV
  • Focus on the left light to retrieve a paper piece.
  • Defocus, and go left.
Door
  • Focus on the clock on the dresser.
  • Focus on the photo frame.
  • Put the paper pieces in the frame.
  • Note the TV channel: 945
  • Defocus, and go right.
TV
  • Focus on the cord under the TV.
  • Plug in the cord.
  • Defocus, then focus on the TV.
  • Change the channel to 945 and press play.
    Go deeper into your mind
    Look at the painting
    And burn your soul
  • Defocus, and go left twice.
Lounge
  • Focus on the surface of the side table to the left.
  • Get the burning cigar.
  • Defocus, then focus on the painting.
  • Use the burning cigar on the Corrupted Soul to reveal a key.
  • Defocus, and go right twice.
TV
  • Focus on the bottom part of the cabinet.
  • Use the key on the cabinet, then click to open it.
  • Get the knife.
  • Defocus, then focus on the top part of the cabinet.
  • Get the eye.
  • Focus on the books.
    • Stack the books from widest to narrowest, such that the colors line up, and it is stacked to the right.
    • You can only stack smaller books on larger ones.
  • Click the book.
  • Move forward 3 pages to get the photo.
  • Defocus out, and go right.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the red blanket to the left.
  • Click to have a hand reach out.
  • Give the hand the knife.
  • Click until you receive a heart.
  • Take the knife back.
  • Defocus, then focus on the mirror.
  • Use the knife on Dale's forehead.
  • Remove his skull to retrieve his brain.
  • Defocus, and go left.
TV
  • Focus on the bottom part of the cabinet.
  • Open the folder.
  • Pick up the "Bedroom in Arles" label painting.
  • Put the photo in the first slot.
  • Defocus out, and go right.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the painting.
  • Put the label painting on the frame.
  • Move things in the painting to match their silhouettes.
  • Get the ear.
  • Defocus, and go left.
TV
  • Focus on the top part of the cabinet.
  • Put the organs into the jars in the correct order so the liquids inside are balanced.
    • Heart, eye, ear, brain.
  • Review the label on the rightmost jar.
  • Defocus out, and go left.
Door
  • Focus on the side table drawers.
  • Open the second drawer and focus on the fish.
  • Use the knife on the fish.
  • Arrange the spines so the markers match up.
  • Get the triangle key.
  • Defocus out, and go left.
Lounge
  • Focus on the right end table.
  • Use the triangle key to unlock the top drawer.
  • Get the magnifying glass.
  • Defocus, then focus on the left end table.
  • Open the top drawer and focus on the directory.
  • Open the directory.
  • Turn the page to the one with the birthday advert.
  • Notice the coffee recipe.
    • Ground coffee, water, fuel.
  • Use the magnifying glass to find the listing for Vanderboom A.: 36772.
  • Defocus out, then focus on the telephone.
  • Dial: 36772
    A: Detective Vandermeer
    D: Hello?
    A: My name is Aldous Vanderboom.
    D: What can you tell me?
    A: Are you looking for a new, present mind?
    D: Yes I am
    A: I am confident the new mind is not far away.
    D: Where should I look?
    A: You have been looking before.
    D: What do you mean?
    A: Watch yourself, channel 412.
    D: Ok
  • Defocus, and go left twice.
TV
  • Focus on the TV.
  • Change the channel to 412 and press play.
    • Note the magnifying glass symbol appearing on the screen.
  • Defocus, and go left twice.
Lounge
  • Focus on the phone, then on the flyer.
  • Use the magnifying glass and focus on the line below the mountain on the far right.
  • Note the numbers: 492.
  • Defocus out, and go left twice.
TV
  • Focus on the TV.
  • Change the channel to 492 and press play.
    • Note the magnifying glass symbol appearing on the screen.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the folding screen.
  • Use the magnifying glass on the screen's topmost left pane.
  • Note the numbers: 879.
  • Defocus out, and go left.
TV
  • Focus on the TV.
  • Change the channel to 879 and press play.
    • Note the magnifying glass symbol appearing on the screen.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the dresser top.
  • Use the magnifying glass on the red box.
  • Note the numbers: 278.
  • Defocus, and go left.
TV
  • Focus on the TV.
  • Change the channel to 278 and press play.
    • Note the magnifying glass symbol appearing on the screen.
  • Defocus, and go left.
Door
  • Focus on the side table drawers.
  • Open the second drawer and focus on the inside of the drawer.
  • Move the square and retrieve a globe key.
  • Defocus out, and go right.
TV
  • Focus on the globe.
  • Use the globe key on the globe.
  • Focus on the globe further.
  • Draw lines from start:
    • Down to Rabbit Path.
    • Up and right through the woods.
    • Into the sea between the two islands.
    • Right to the entrance of the pathway.
    • Right into the pathway.
    • Down and left between the mountains and the theatre.
    • Right to the tip of this continent.
    • Down and right to the tip of the next continent.
    • Right and uppish to the top of this continent.
    • Up to the bay with the forest.
    • Right through the woods.
    • Ashore next to the mill.
    • Down past the chapel.
    • Right between the mountains.
    • Down and right to the bay between the buildings.
    • Right and up to the end.
  • Click to open the globe.
  • Click on the brain enough to open a puzzle.
  • Play the tower defence game. Place the spheres on the X-marked spots to stop the bugs from reaching the center.
    • Horizontal sphere at the third top spot.
    • Small sphere at the top fifth spot.
    • Large sphere at the bottom first spot.
    • Vertical sphere at the bottom second spot.
    • Small sphere at the bottom third spot.
  • Defocus, then keep clicking on the brain/globe until you receive a present mind.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the mirror.
  • Open Dale's skull.
  • Put the present mind in, then close his skull.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Lounge
  • Focus on Mr. Crow. Talk to him:
    Welcome to your present mind.
    Thank you for having me as your counsel.
    Let's examine your current state of mind.
    But first, make me some coffee.
  • Click on Mr. Crow and get his cup.
  • Focus on the book on the floor.
  • Open the book to get a cassette tape and a seed.
  • Defocus out, and go right.
Door
  • Focus on the projector to the right.
  • Click on the SSSS panel until oil leaks out.
  • Use the cup to get a cup with oil.
  • Defocus, and go right.
TV
  • Focus on the bottom part of the cabinet.
  • Focus on the coffee.
  • Put the cup with oil into the bottom compartment.
  • Defocus out, then focus on the pot to the left.
  • Put the seed in the pot.
  • Defocus, then focus on the top part of the cabinet.
  • Use the cup on the jar of brain to get a cup with water.
  • Defocus, then focus on the pot.
  • Pour the cup with water into the pot.
  • Retrieve the coffee beans.
  • Defocus, then focus on the top part of the cabinet.
  • Use the cup on the jar of ear to get a cup with water.
  • Defocus, then focus on the bottom part of the cabinet.
  • Focus on the coffee.
  • Put the cup with water into the middle compartment.
  • Defocus out, then focus on the windmill.
  • Put the coffee beans into the window of the windmill.
  • Turn the windmill until you can get some ground coffee.
  • Defocus, then focus on the bottom part of the cabinet.
  • Focus on the coffee.
  • Put the ground coffee into the top compartment.
  • Use the burning cigar to light the fuel.
  • Pour coffee into the cup, then retrieve the cup with coffee.
  • Defocus out, and go left twice.
Lounge
  • Focus on Mr. Crow.
  • Give him the cup with coffee.
  • Click until he drinks it, then burps out a bit.
  • Focus on the folder on the floor.
  • Open the folder.
  • Click through all the pages:
    • Corrupted Soul (S), Crow (square with line), Moth (triangle on stick), Murder (upside-down T), Fear (|), Spider (circle with dot).
  • Defocus out, and go right.
Door
  • Focus on the tape player.
  • Put the cassette tape into the player and press play.
    V: Mr Vandermeer,
    V: I will show you 5 images.
    V: Tell me what you see.
    D: One... I see a moth
    D: Two... A crow
    D: Three... Murder
    D; Four... Fear
    D: Five... I see my Corrupted Soul
    V: Thank you Mr. Vandermeer
  • Defocus out, and go right.
TV
  • Focus on the bottom part of the cabinet.
  • Open the left door.
  • Focus on the puzzle.
  • Enter the symbols in order:
    • Triangle on stick, square with line, upside-down T, line, S.
  • Get the light bulb.
  • Defocus out, and go left twice.
Lounge
  • Focus in on the machine next to Mr. Crow.
  • Put the light bulb in the socket to the right.
  • Turn the switch.
  • Drag the papers to the appropriate slot, representing love, fear or confusion.
  • Continue until you get a psychological file.
  • Get the mind from the past.
  • Defocus out, and go left.
Dressing Area
  • Open Dale's skull.
  • Take out the present mind.
  • Put the mind from the past in, then close his skull.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Lounge
  • Focus on Dale's parents. Talk to them:
    Happy birthday son!
    Please prepare the decorations.
  • Defocus, and focus on the birthday flags.
  • Rearrange the birthday flags to match shapes.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Lounge
  • Focus on the birthday flags.
  • Rearrange the birthday flags in order of number of spots on the flags.
  • Defocus, and go right twice.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the birthday flags.
  • Rearrange the birthday flags in order of number of color blocks on the flags.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Lounge
  • Focus on your parents. Talk to them:
    Happy birthday son.
    Time to party!
    Please call mr. Eilander, the Magician
  • Defocus, then focus on the left end table.
  • Look up Eilander D. in the directory: 57671.
  • Defocus out, then focus in on the telephone.
  • Call: 57671
    E: Good morning, D. Eilander Magic show.
    D: When will you arrive?
    E: I am already here.
    D: Where?
    E: In front of the door.
    D: ...
  • Defocus, and go right.
Door
  • Focus on the doorknob.
  • Look through the keyhole.
  • Defocus, and go left.
Lounge
  • Focus on your parents. Talk to them.
    Is he hiding somewhere?
  • Defocus, and go left.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the red blanket.
  • Click the blanket until Mr. Eilander disappears.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Lounge
  • Focus on your parents. Talk to them:
    Look at yourself son.
  • Defocus, and go left.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the mirror.
  • Click yourself so Mr. Eilander appears, then disappears.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Lounge
  • Focus on your parents. Talk to them:
    He is somewhere in the world.
  • Defocus, and go right twice.
TV
  • Focus on the globe.
  • Click the globe until Mr. Eilander appears, then click him to make him disappear.
  • Defocus, then focus on the deer skull.
  • Click on the skull.
  • Each time Mr. Eilander shows a hand, click the antler with the corresponding number of branches. Do this until he disappears.
  • Defocus, and go right twice.
Lounge
  • Focus on your parents. Talk to them:
    Turn on channel 369
  • Defocus, and go right twice.
TV
  • Focus on the TV.
  • Turn to channel 369 and click play.
    Look behind you!
  • Defocus, and go right twice.
Lounge
  • Focus on your parents. Talk to them:
    Is he still hiding?
  • Defocus, and go left.
Dressing area
  • Focus on the folding screen.
  • Push back the screen.
  • Click his head twice to have a hooked hand come out.
  • Click his head or pockets depending on where his hand is pointing. Do this until he disappears.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Lounge
  • Focus on your parents. Talk to them:
    Time to open your present!
  • Click on your present.
  • Click on Mr. Eilander three times until he shoots your parents and disappears.
  • Focus on your present.
  • Get the newspaper article.
  • Focus on the sliding puzzle.
  • Note the four Sanskrit words, from the top clockwise:
    • Present, ghost, future, past.
  • Defocus. Cycle through each of the rooms, clockwise.
    • Clock (door): ghost.
    • TV: past.
    • Dresser: present.
    • Painting: future.
  • Focus on your present, then on the puzzle.
  • Slide the pieces into the correct positions:
    • Dresser = North, TV = West, Clock = East, Painting = South.
  • Get the mind of the future.
  • Defocus out, and go left.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the mirror.
  • Open Dale's skull.
  • Take out the mind from the past.
  • Put the mind of the future in, then close his skull.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Lounge
  • Focus in on where your present was.
  • Open the envelope.
  • Get the key, flyer, and seal.
  • Read the letter from Mr. Owl.
Dear Dale,
As in a game of chess we all have
our role to play in Rusty Lake
Use all of your minds to find
our place on the board.
Please seal and return this
letter after reading
Mr. Owl
  • Put the letter back, and affix the seal to the envelope.
  • Use the burning cigar to melt the seal's wax.
  • Take the letter.
  • Defocus out, and go right.
Door
  • Focus on the side table drawers.
  • Use the key on the bottom drawer to retrieve the film tape.
  • Defocus, then focus on the projector on the right.
  • Put the film tape in the projector.
  • Click on the glowing part to focus on the tape itself.
  • Assemble the film pieces.
  • Defocus once.
  • Turn the red switch, then the other switch.
  • Defocus, and go left.
Lounge
  • Focus on the painting.
  • Pull down the projection screen until the wing matches the bird.
  • Move the screen to match Dale's tie.
  • Move the screen to match the Corrupted Soul.
  • Move the screen to match the dresser.
  • Move the screen to match Mr. Crow.
  • Move the screen to match Dale's face.
  • Move the screen to match the mountain range.
  • Move the screen to match the woman's upper lip.
  • Move the screen to match the woman's jawline.
  • Put the screen up.
  • Click the painting to remove it.
  • Get the funeral card.
  • Open the window. Note the symbols:
    • Left up, door, x
    • Left down, globe, *
    • Right up, deer, x
    • Right down, dresser, *
  • Click the open window and retrieve the corrupted statue.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Door
  • Focus on the clock.
  • Change the time to 3 o'clock.
  • Retrieve a sugar cube.
  • Change the time to 11:45.
  • Retrieve a coin.
  • Defocus, and go left twice.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the mirror.
  • Open Dale's skull.
  • Take out the mind of the future.
  • Defocus, then focus on the curtain.
  • Click to extend the hand.
  • Give the hand the letter.
  • Click again to retrieve an owl statue.
  • Defocus, then focus on the mirror.
  • Put the present mind in Dale's skull.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Lounge
  • Focus on Mr. Crow. Talk to him:
    This coffee is too bitter.
  • Put the sugar cube in his coffee, then click to have him drink it.
  • Click him again to retrieve a crow statue.
  • Defocus, and go left.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the mirror.
  • Open Dale's skull.
  • Put the mind from the past in Dale's skull.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Lounge
  • Focus in on the present.
  • Put the coin in the box on the left.
  • Open it and retrieve a man statue.
  • Defocus out, and go left.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the mirror.
  • Open Dale's skull.
  • Put the mind of the future in Dale's skull.
  • Defocus, and go left.
TV
  • Focus on the bottom part of the cabinet.
  • Open the black folder.
    • In the second page, put the psychological file.
    • In the third page, put the newspaper article in the slot.
    • In the fourth page, put the funeral card in the slot. Note that the numbers 207 are underlined.
    • In the fifth page, put the flyer in the slot.
  • Defocus out, then focus on the TV.
  • Change the channel to 207 and click play.
  • Defocus.
  • Click the eye or Laura, and turn in the direction indicated.
  • Get the woman statue.
  • Go left.
Lounge
  • Focus on Laura. Talk to her:
    Welcome to the future.
    One of us dies, the other will be enlightened.
    Please make the right move, Dale.
  • Defocus, then focus on the chessboard in the middle.
  • With A-E as the columns and 1-5 as the rows, place the statues on the board:
    • A1: Woman statue.
    • D1: Corrupted statue.
    • B3: Owl statue.
    • E4: Man statue.
    • C5: Crow statue.
  • Then move the pieces:
    • Owl to A2.
    • Man to C3.
    • Crow to B5.
    • Woman to E4.
  • Note the symbols and the statue positions:
    • Corrupted = triangle with dot
    • Owl = line
    • Man = S
    • Woman = upside-down T
    • Crow = hourglass
  • Defocus out, and go left twice.
TV
  • Focus on the evidence book.
  • Turn the pages to match items up:
    • 1/Corrupted, 2/Crow, 3/Man, 4/Woman, 5/Owl.
  • Defocus, then focus on the puzzle door.
  • Enter the symbols:
    • Triangle with dot, hourglass, S, upside-down T, line.
  • Retrieve the cassette Harvey's Song.
  • Defocus, and go left.
Door
  • Focus in on the tape player.
  • Take out the cassette tape and replace it with Harvey's Song.
  • Press the reverse button.
  • Defocus out, and go left.
Lounge
  • Focus on Harvey.
  • Click on Harvey.
  • Defocus, then focus in on Harvey again.
  • Click on Harvey to get a name: Johnsson.
  • Defocus out, then focus on the left end table.
  • Look up Johnsson in the directory: 54253.
  • Defocus out, then focus in on the telephone.
  • Call: 54253
    V: Hello, Johnsson Bird Food.
    D: Do you sell parrot food?
    V: Yes, we do.
    D: Do you deliver?
    V: Yes, we deliver.
    D: One packet of parrot food to Rusty--
    V: We will deliver in the future.
    D: Thank You
  • Defocus, and go left.
Dressing Area
  • Open Dale's skull.
  • Put the mind of the future in Dale's skull.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Lounge
  • Focus on the window.
  • Get the bird food.
  • Defocus, then focus in on Harvey.
  • Give the bird food to Harvey.
  • Click until Harvey lays a black egg. Retrieve this from Laura. Talk to her:
    We are back at where it all began: Harvey's Egg.
  • Defocus out, and go left.
Dressing Area
  • Open Dale's skull.
  • Remove the mind of the future from Dale's skull.
  • Defocus, then focus on the curtain.
  • Click to extend the hand.
  • Give the hand the egg.
  • Defocus.
  • Focus on the curtain again, and click until a man is fully revealed. Talk to him:
    I cannot think.
  • Use the knife on his skull. Click to show he has no brain.
  • Talk to him:
    Show me my present.
  • Put the present mind in his skull, then click him again to display Mr. Owl.
  • Talk to him:
    Dale, we meet again.
    Finding your corrupted soul is the final test.
  • Take the wooden cube from his hand.
  • Click to get the man's head back. Talk to him:
    Show me my past.
  • Put the mind of the past in his skull, then click him again to display a younger man.
  • Talk to him:
    Once I was a man, like you.
    But the lake helped me, to become something else.
  • Take the iron cube from his hand. Click to get the man back.
  • Talk to him:
    Show me my future.
  • Put the mind of the future in his skull, then click him again to display a fish.
  • Talk to him:
    My time is limited Dale.
    I need a successor, the ruler of the lake.
    Dale, continue your journey, and face your corrupted soul.
  • Take the glass cube.
  • Click the fish to make it disappear.
  • Defocus, then focus on the top of the dresser.
  • Put the cubes in the box in the center: iron cube, wooden cube, glass cube.
  • Defocus, then focus on the cabinet doors.
  • Get the blue vial.
  • Defocus, then focus on the mirror.
  • Give Dale the blue vial, and watch him become corrupted.
  • Defocus, and go left.
Wall
  • Click the black moth.
  • Go right.
Mirror
  • Click the black moth.
  • Go right.
Wall
  • Click the black moth.
  • Go right.
Door
  • Click the black moth.
  • Pick up the key.
  • Unlock the door.
  • Leave the room.
Forest
  • Follow the arrows on the trees until you reach Dale.
  • Take the map.
  • Follow the map to the X.
  • Talk to Mr. Crow:
    You know what to do.
  • Take the knife.
  • Walk around until you see a silhouette running around.
  • Follow the running silhouette. When you don't see it running, go forward.
  • Talk to the half-corrupted Dale:
    Please embrace you corrupted soul
  • Follow the map on the stone.
  • Get a corrupted statue.
  • Follow the knots on the tree from the bottom up to the arrow branch.
  • Get a corrupted statue.
  • Go left one, then follow the deer silhouette. When you don't see it running, pick a path that you haven't just left.
  • Talk to deer-Dale:
    I know you have made your choice.
    Use your corrupted soul.
  • Get a corrupted statue.
  • Go up and left until you reach the gate.
  • Put the corrupted statues in the slots.
  • Go forward to Laura in the lake.
  • Use the knife to slit her throat.
  • Click on the black cube to see Dale in the lounge.
  • Click on Dale.
Where am I?
Have I been here before?
Is she here?


Alternate Endings[]

The Green Vial[]

  • Start Chapter 1.
  • Complete the other five hidden achievements for this chapter to get five symbols.
TV
  • Focus on the base of the cabinet.
  • Focus on the puzzle on the left.
  • Enter the symbols:
    • Upside-down T, square with line, S, triangle with line, spiral.
  • Take the green vial.
  • Defocus, and go right.
Dressing Area
  • Focus on the mirror.
  • Give Dale the green vial and have him drink it.
Dale's Mind
  • Click on Dale to move him towards Laura.
    She is waiting.
  • Click and hold on the cube, then move to Laura.
    Hold your memories.
  • Walk off to the left until you reach Laura.
    Find another way.
  • Move a couple steps to the left and stay there until the cube lowers down. Move to Laura.
    Take a deep breath in the right place.
  • Move the cube out of the way and move to Laura.
    Lift your memory.
  • Move in short bursts until you reach Laura.
    Take it easy.
  • Click on the crow and move to Laura.
    Kill the crow.
  • Move to Laura.
    You cannot save her.
  • Walk off the cliff.
    Unless you sacrifice yourself.
    The lake will be grateful.
  • Click on the cube above Laura's head.


The Golden Cube[]

  • Start Chapter 2.
  • Complete the other five hidden achievements for this chapter to get five symbols.
TV
  • Focus on the base of the cabinet.
  • Focus on the puzzle on the left.
  • Enter the symbols:
    • Hourglass, square with V, line, triangle with dot, circle with dot.
  • Take the diamond eyes and the golden cube.
  • Defocus, and focus on the deer skull.
  • Put the diamond eyes into its sockets.
  • Defocus.
  • Click to make the elevator rise up. Click to open it.

Soundtrack Soundtrack[]

The soundtrack for this game contains 14 specially composed tracks from composer Victor Butzelaar. It can be purchased via bandcamp.com.

Bugs Bugs[]

  • If you play channel 207 at some point that isn't during the walkthrough in chapter 2, you'll trigger the eye puzzle, but there's no resolution for it. You'll need to reset your game to use the TV again.
  • When using the magnifying glass on the Rusty Lake flyer, the D signature is further to the left than when not zoomed in.

Trivia Trivia[]

  • Following the release of the Steam version, Cube Escape: Paradox has 28 unlockable achievements.
  • If you dial 24355 on the telephone, the number of the Mill (as we see in Cube Escape: Case 23), Mr. Crow answers, "Hello, this is Rusty Lake." Dale asks if he could help him. Mr. Crow replies that Dale cannot be saved.
  • Some of the other TV channels, all live-action:
    • 133: An artist sketching for Paradox comic book.
    • 158: The family band from Rusty Lake: Roots playing music.
    • 247: Bob from Cube Escape: Theatre, after receiving the Bloody Mary and shooting himself in the head.
    • 315: A postcard of Rusty Lake & the Twin Peaks hotel.
      • 315 is the number from the room key in the show.
    • 465: Mr. Crow holding the knife; Dale holding the knife to Laura's throat.
    • 551: Dale saying "lobster donkey".
    • 566: The Chapel.
    • 726: Albert Vanderboom wearing his deer skull mask.
    • 749: The Corrupted Soul of Mr. Deer in the Lake.
  • An unique easter egg was hidden for Kickstarter donators. Every single one of them has received a pack of files by mail (postcards, photos etc.) containing 5 symbols in total. On using those symbols as a safe combination in chapter II you get a matryoshka-doll that can be accepted by Mr. Owl's hand.
  • Another easter egg was hidden in the video "5 Days of Christmas", which was released on YouTube on Christmas of 2018. In the video, 5 wooden cubes with different symbols were shown, each associated with different objects. Rearranging these symbols according to the things in the five Christmas socks, which were hung on the fireplace next to Mr. Owl at the end of the video, will give you a series of symbols to be entered on the puzzle. Entering these symbols will give you a Santa hat, and putting it on will trigger "Merry Christmas!".

Gallery Gallery[]



Rusty Lake Series
Cube Escape Series The Lake · Seasons · Arles · Harvey's Box · Case 23 · The Mill · Birthday · Theatre · The Cave · Paradox
Premium Games Rusty Lake Hotel · Rusty Lake: Roots · Rusty Lake Paradise · The White Door · The Past Within · Underground Blossom
Other Games Samsara Room (Original) · Samsara Room · Cube Escape Collection
Advertisement