🎬 Getting Started

Essential information before you begin your journey

📋

Pre-Game Preparation

Set yourself up for success with proper preparation and understanding of game mechanics.

📝 Recommended Setup:
✅ Enable Multiple Save Slots
Create saves before major decisions to explore different paths
✅ Prepare Note-Taking
Keep track of important dialogue, numbers, and item locations
⚠️ Audio Settings
Set audio to comfortable levels - subtle audio cues are important
💡 First Playthrough Tip: Focus on experiencing the story naturally. Don't worry about finding everything - the game is designed for multiple playthroughs!

🏪 Chapter 1: First Contact

Meeting the cashier girl and initial exploration

1

Store Entrance & First Impressions

You'll find yourself inside what appears to be a ordinary convenience store. Take time to observe your surroundings before interacting.

🔍 Initial Observations:
  • 🏪

    Store Layout

    Notice the unusual cleanliness and perfect organization

  • 💡

    Lighting

    Fluorescent lights with slight flickering - not random

  • 🎵

    Background Music

    Generic retail music with subtle distortions

2

Meeting the Cashier Girl

The cashier will greet you with a friendly welcome. Your response here sets the tone for your entire relationship and affects which ending paths become available.

💬 Dialogue Options:
✅ "This place seems interesting"
Opens curious/investigative path, builds rapport
✅ "You seem friendly"
Establishes trust, unlocks helpful hints later
⚠️ "Just browsing"
Neutral response, keeps all paths open
❌ "Something feels wrong here"
Increases suspicion meter, leads toward horror ending
❌ "I want to leave"
Triggers early ending sequence, blocks true ending path
⚠️ Critical Choice: Avoid expressing fear or desire to leave early. These responses lock you out of the true ending and push you toward the horror ending.
3

First Exploration Phase

After your initial conversation, you're free to explore the store. This is your first opportunity to find hidden items and observe environmental details.

🔍 Items to Find:
  • 📸

    Photo #1

    Behind cereal boxes on the third shelf from the left

  • 📋

    Visitor Clipboard

    Behind counter, accessible when cashier is distracted

  • 🍄

    Unusual Produce

    Produce section - examine vegetables with strange growth

💡 Exploration Tip: Click on everything that seems even slightly unusual. The game rewards thorough investigation and many secrets are only visible on close examination.

🕵️ Chapter 2: Deeper Investigation

Uncovering secrets and the pale man's first appearance

4

The FEMA Notice Discovery

This is the most crucial discovery in the game. The cashier will mention "government regulations" - this is your cue to investigate the wall poster.

🔍 Investigation Sequence:
✅ Wait for regulation comment
Cashier says: "We follow all government regulations here"
✅ Examine nutrition poster
Click on the poster behind the counter
✅ Find hidden document
FEMA notice becomes accessible
⚠️ Critical Secret: The FEMA notice reveals this facility is "Site 4472" conducting psychological experiments under Project Mindscape. Reading this document is required for the true ending.
5

First Pale Man Encounter

After discovering the FEMA notice, the pale man will appear. Your reaction determines whether you continue investigating or head toward the horror ending.

👤 Pale Man Behavior:
  • 👁️

    First Appearance

    Appears in peripheral vision behind shelves

  • 🔇

    Silent Observation

    Never speaks, communicates through presence

  • ⚡

    Response Trigger

    Your reaction determines his future behavior

💭 Response Options:
✅ Continue investigating
Shows courage, maintains true ending path
⚠️ Acknowledge but stay calm
Neutral response, keeps options open
❌ Express fear or panic
Increases pale man appearances, horror ending path
6

Hidden Photo Collection

Now that you've proven yourself capable of handling secrets, it's time to collect the remaining hidden photographs.

📸 Photo Locations:
  • 📸

    Photo #2

    Inside cash register drawer (when cashier steps away)

  • 📸

    Photo #3

    Taped underneath checkout counter edge

💡 Timing Tip: The cashier will step away briefly to "check inventory" - this is your window to access the cash register. The counter photo requires crouching/looking underneath.

🎭 Chapter 3: The Truth Unveiled

Final confrontation and ending determination

7

Building Maximum Trust

With all evidence collected, the cashier girl will become more open. This is your opportunity to build the trust needed for the true ending.

💬 Trust-Building Dialogue:
✅ "I understand you're trying to help"
Acknowledges her difficult position
✅ "What can you tell me about this place?"
Direct but respectful inquiry
✅ "I trust you"
Maximum trust response, unlocks special dialogue
❌ Question her motives
Damages trust, blocks true ending
8

The Final Confrontation

The pale man will appear for the final time, blocking your exit. This is the moment that determines your ending. All your previous choices culminate here.

⚔️ Confrontation Options:
✅ "I know what this place really is"
True ending: Demonstrates knowledge and courage
✅ "I'm not afraid of you"
True ending: Shows you've overcome fear
⚠️ "What do you want?"
Ambiguous ending: Neutral stance
❌ "Let me leave!"
Horror ending: Shows defeat and fear
❌ Try to run away
Horror ending: Ultimate failure response
🎯 Ending Requirements Summary:
True Ending: Found FEMA notice + All 3 photos + Built trust + Confronted pale man
Horror Ending: Showed fear + Avoided investigation + Tried to escape
Ambiguous: Partial investigation + Neutral choices + Mixed responses

🏆 Advanced Strategies

Completionist tips and optimal playthrough paths

🎯

Multiple Playthrough Strategy

Plan your playthroughs strategically to unlock all achievements and see all content efficiently.

📋 Recommended Playthrough Order:
🥉 Playthrough 1: Horror Ending
Easy to achieve, gets the "bad" ending out of the way
🥈 Playthrough 2: Exploration Run
Focus on finding all secrets, items, and easter eggs
🥇 Playthrough 3: True Ending
Most satisfying ending, save for last
🌟 Playthrough 4+: Speedrun & Secrets
Achievement hunting, developer room, etc.
⚡

Speedrun Route (Sub-20 Minutes)

For the "Speed Runner" achievement, follow this optimized path.

⏱️ Speedrun Checklist:
  • 💨

    Skip All Optional Dialogue

    Only choose required dialogue options

  • 📸

    Photo Route Memorization

    Go directly to all 3 photo locations

  • 📄

    Quick FEMA Access

    Trigger regulation comment immediately

  • 🎯

    Direct to True Ending

    Choose confrontation path without hesitation

🔗 Master Every Aspect

Complete your mastery with these specialized guides:

🔚 All Endings Guide
Detailed breakdown of every ending and how to achieve them 🏆 Achievement Guide
100% completion with hidden achievement strategies 🔍 Secrets & Easter Eggs
Hidden content, codes, and developer secrets 👥 Character Analysis
Deep psychological profiles and character secrets