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Trace Game Intro Screen
Screenshot by The Escapist

Full Trace Walkthrough

Get out of the strange house in Trace

For those who love a good escape room but don’t want to leave the house, Trace on Cool Math Games offers a virtual option. The game puts players into a virtual escape room, where they must use logic to find their way through.

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If you’re looking for a little help making your way out of the virtual escape room, our full Trace walkthrough has all the tips and tricks you need.

How to Get Out of the Bathroom in Trace

The Trace journey begins in a strange bathroom, and players will need to explore and locate clues to find their way out. Take a moment to review the tools available to you, including the Notes and Camera on the lefthand side. Then, begin exploring the room to find your first clues.

First Room in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

To begin, get your bearings by looking around the room using the arrows. You will notice that the door is locked and requires a key to open. It’s time to search the room to find it.

Trace Bathroom Locked Door
Screenshot by The Escapist

Behind the painting on the wall, you will also notice a combination lock that you’ll surely need to open to escape.

Hidden Combination Lock in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

Now that we have some sense of next steps, let’s begin our search for clues!

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Unlock Your First Clue with the Pentagram Arrows Under the Toilet

Below the toilet, find a Pentagram pattern with several arrows. Line up the arrows so that following the path will light up the entire Pentagram. When done correctly, clicking the button will unlock the cabinet to the left.

Correct Arrow Direction for Star Puzzle in Trace Bathroom
Screenshot by The Escapist

Click on the cabinet to open it, and you will find a few important clues. On the wall, zoom in to view the number written there. On the floor of the cabinet, click on the object to find half of a pair of scissors.

Clues in Left Cabinet Trace
Screenshot by the Escapist

You can click on the magnifying glass to examine the item, noting that you need to find the other half of the scissors. Thankfully, they’re nearby.

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Complete the Scissors & Get the Red Key

From the toilet area, hit the right arrow to face the sink. Then, click to zoom in on the area. From there, click on the sink to inspect it. Click on the item lodged inside the sink to acquire the other half of the pair of scissors.

Click on Item in Trace Sink
Screenshot by The Escapist

Now that you have both halves of the scissors, drag one of them onto the other in your inventory to combine and create a functional set of scissors. Now, use the scissors to cut the rope on the red key hanging to the left of the sink.

How to get the key by the sink in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

Use the key on the metal box sitting behind the toilet.

Use red key on this box
Screenshot by The Escapist

Inside, you will see another number – .35 in the third slot. There is also a crumpled-up piece of paper inside – grab it, then use the magnifying glass to read it. You will need to click on it again to uncrumple it.

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Use the Strange Illustration to Get Another Clue

LIne the illustration up with the scene of the sink to find a secret tile.

Strange Illustration Clue in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

Click on it for a clue about another pattern to draw on the Pentagram below the toilet.

Fish Drawing Clue
Screenshot by The Escapist

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Draw the Fish Using the Pentagram Arrows Under the Toilet

Line up the arrows to create this shape to unlock the cabinet on the right side of the toilet.

Arrow Directions for Fish Drawing
Screenshot by The Escapist

Click on the right cabinet and zoom in on the plate to read the clue written on it. This is undoubtedly another hint to the combination for the lock behind the painting.

Plate in Cabinet
Screenshot by The Escapist

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Put Together the Combination to Open the Lock

To get another piece of the number puzzle, click on toilet paper roll to find the number 5. Notice that the 5 is above the line, whereas the numbers on the plate are below. This suggests they may be fractions. 5 divided by 1 is 5, so this is the first number for the combination lock.

The number from the metal box was .35, which would be divided by .05., giving us 7.

Meanwhile, the number inside the first cabinet was 16 in the fourth slot, which divided by 8 gives us 2. So, we have 5_78 as our combination so far.

To get the last number, we need to open the larger metal box on the bottom shelf of the toilet. Click on the circles and they’ll light up, suggesting we need the right pattern to open the box. The pattern hint is above the sink – match the lights on the box to the lights above the sink and you’ll be able to open it, getting the last number for the combination.

How to Open Large Bronze Box by Toilet
Screenshot by The Escapist

The number revealed is 8 in the second slot. Divided by 2, that gives us 4. So, our combination is 5478. Enter this combination in the lock behind the painting to open it and reveal the next clue – a lightbulb. If you examine it, you’ll get a hint to try putting it in the pumpkin in the cabinet on the left side of the toilet.

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Shed Some Light on the Pumpkin

Put the light in the pumpkin to reveal another pattern suggestion for the Pentagram puzzle.

Jack O Lantern Puzzle Pattern
Screenshot by The Escapist

Head back to the Pentagram to create the next shape and unlock the final cabinet below the sink. This one can be a little tricky, as the pattern is on its side. Put the arrows in this configuration to proceed.

Solution for Pumpkin Light Puzzle in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

This unlocks the cabinet under the sink, where you’ll find the red key tile sitting on a roll of toilet paper. Grab it and get ready to escape the bathroom in Trace.

Pick up key card
Screenshot by The Escapist

Insert the key card block into the lockbox on the door to reveal a puzzle you’ll need to solve to unlock the door. The goal is to move the shapes so you can place the key over the lock in the puzzle.

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Solve the Door Puzzle

Here’s how to move the blocks to get to stage one, with the key most of the way to the lock.

Door Puzzle Stage One Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

Now move the purple blocks out of the way so you can slide the yellow one over, freeing the path to put the key block over the lock.

Door Puzzle Stage 2 Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

At this point, the bathroom door should unlock and you can step out into the next room.

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How to Get Out of the Hallway / Living Room in Trace

Upon exiting the bathroom, the door will lock behind you. You’ll find yourself in a hallway that leads to a living room. It’s time to seek out your next clue.

Collect Items in Living Room

Head down the hall to the red couch in the living room. Click on the cushions to search under them, where you’ll find a battery. Be sure to look under the couch as well, so you can pick up the metal star. Both items will come in handy.

Inspect Couch in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

While you’re there, check out the potted plant to the right, where you’ll find a small figure of an ogre to add to your list of items. Next, head for the desk to grab one more item – a toy horse in the top drawer.

Grab Toy Horse from Desk Drawer
Screenshot by The Escapist

Now that we’ve got these items, it’s time to tackle our first puzzle.

Solve Bay Window Puzzles

Look around the room until you find the window with a pyramid sculpture sitting near it. Beneath the window is a cabinet with a puzzle inside. Match the sliders to the planets on the window, then hit the red button to retrieve the broken metal tablet.

Planets for Living Room Trace Puzzle
Screenshot by The Escapist
Trace Bay Window Puzzle Solution
Screenshot by The Escapist

Next, light up the Pyramid lights. The key here is to make sure every light is a different color, so that it looks like the planets but tilted on their side. The correct color order is below.

Trace Windwsill Pyramid Puzzle
Screenshot by The Escapist

Click the top of the pyramid to get a key.

Fix the Metal Tablet

Now, head back down the hallway to the window near the bathroom. Interact with the metal horse, clicking once to extend the neck, then clicking on each section of the neck to line it up with the drawing on the window. The eye hole should line up with the diamond on the drawing, like below.

Use Horse Figure to Solve Window Puzzle
Screenshot by The Escapist

Then, press the button on the giraffe to get the missing piece of the metal tablet.

Drag the broken piece over to the tablet to repair it. Then, turn to the left and click on the painting next to the window to reveal a puzzle with familiar symbols.

Metal Plate Code for Painting Puzzle
Screenshot by The Escapist

Match the symbols in the wooden slots to those on the metal tablet. A red button will appear, but it won’t do anything just yet. First, we need to find & press the other red buttons.

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Press the Red Buttons

The buttons are located in the following locations and should be pressed in this order to reveal the next clue. The hint for the proper order is on a painting on the wall.

1. Fishtank on Desk

First Red Button in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

2. Fan on the Shelf

Second Red Button in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

3. On the Computer Monitor on the Desk

Third Red Button in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

4. Button by Planet Puzzle

Trace Bay Window Puzzle Solution
Screenshot by The Escapist

5. Button Behind the Painting in the Hall

Fifth Red Button in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

6. Grey Chest on the Table

How to Unlock Grey Box in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

By pressing the buttons in this order, the grey box should open when you reach it. Click the box again and you will be able to grab a green key and a box cutter.

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Use the Box Cutter on the Carpet

Under the table, you’ll notice a strange patch of carpet that looks different from the rest. Use the box cutter on this to reveal a puzzle. The solution requires another battery, which can be found on the porch outside.

The green key will unlock the green door, which leads to the porch. Drag the key to the doorknob to use it, then head onto the porch. Head down the hall to find the other side of the window near the bathroom. Grab that blue giraffe again and line it up with the blue drawing from the other side, then press the blue button again to reveal a second battery.

How to get second battery in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

Now head back to the table in the living room. Insert the batteries into the box next to the lamp to turn on the spotlight and reveal the solution to the puzzle. Be sure to look up at the heart on the ceiling, too.

How to solve heart and arrow puzzle
Screenshot by The Escapist

Line up the hearts and arrows accordingly, then press the red button to reveal a Yellow Submarine and a puzzle piece.

Heart and arrow puzzle in Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

Before you leave, grab the metal star stuck to the painting above the table. Now, let’s head back to the porch.

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Return Puzzle Piece to Table on Porch

Now, take that puzzle piece to its friends. There’s a table on the porch with an unfinished puzzle. Now that you have the final piece, put the puzzle together for your next clue.

Finish the Puzzle on the Porch Table
Screenshot by The Escapist

Make sure to grab the metal star hiding under the puzzle before you leave. Then, head to the wooden puzzle next to the door. To solve it, make sure each tile shows a different plant, in the order below.

Solve wooden plant puzzle Trace
Screenshot by The Escapist

Then, hit the red button to get another metal star. Before heading back inside, grab the vampire figure off the ledge near the green door.

Now head back to the couch, where you will now be able to zoom in on the arm by the potted plant. Use the box cutter to open it up and grab the gold key inside.

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Optional: Use Gold Key to Get Last Gold Star

Take the key to the drawing under the computer desk and line it up to find the code 923 highlighted by the triangle, circle, and pentagon shapes.

What to Do with Key from Couch
Screenshot by The Escapist

This is the password to use on the computer, for the Gear setting. Go here and click on the robot to get a hint for how to open the desk drawers. Hit the yellow arrow to climb the camera up and you will see the following pattern.

Desk Drawer Pattern
Screenshot by The Escapist

Use this pattern to open the desk drawers and grab a magnet, which you can use to get the gold star from the tube under the table. Affix the magnet to the star, then pull it towards the edge of the tube to get it out. You should now have 6 gold stars.

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Unlock the Bathroom Exit & Escape

Now, head back to the bathroom. Use the pyramid key to open the bathroom door, then use the golden key on the toilet lock. This will reveal the exit. Use the exit, and you’re free!

Exit from Trace Escape Room Game
Screenshot by The Escapist

The gold stars and action figures are for puzzles outside in the tower, which you could do if you wind up take another route through the escape room. With this route as described above, you can consider them a reward for a job well done!

And that’s all you need to know to escape the house in Trace!


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Author
Image of Amanda Kay Oaks
Amanda Kay Oaks
Contributing Writer
Amanda Kay Oaks has been a freelancer writer with The Escapist since February 2024. She's a lifelong gamer with an affinity for Pokemon, RPGs, and cozy games, especially The Sims. Amanda has an MFA in Creative Nonfiction, with prior work on pop culture and entertainment at Book Riot, Fanfare, and Gamepur.