"Monkey Business" is the first level in the game, Dark Deception. It is playable in Chapter 1. This level takes place in an initially inviting establishment, but soon becomes a rather unsettling and nightmarish hotel where bellboy Murder Monkeys guard the many soul shards throughout the halls.
"What a charming little hotel... Bring back any memories?"
Said by Beirce at begining of level
The level begins in the lobby of the hotel in front of the entrance where various elements of a regular hotel are found around the area, as well as a portrait of a soul shard, an unsettling cutout of a monkey bellboy that appears to be welcoming the player, a welcome sign that mentions murder in an unsettling way and a service bell on the reception desk that summons a cutout after being rung several times and the portal emblem of the level is also found on the floor of the area.
Proceeding down the hallway will present another cutout, which jumpscares the player by collapsing just as they approach it. Heading right leads to a wide hallway with a row of elevators. The elevator at the end of the hallway will open as the player is proceeding, revealing a Murder Monkey in it, which appears to be unaware of the player's presence. When the player moves closer, the monkey leaps in surprise before the elevator doors close. After waiting for a little while, the elevator returns to take the player to an upper level of the hotel.
When exiting the elevator, the player will see the ring altar, along with two boarded-up entrances. Helen Bierce then instructs the player to collect all 289 soul shards (389 for S rank in later additions) in the area in order to deactivate the barrier protecting it. She then offers them a tablet, which displays every shard's location on the map, displays the number of shards left to collect and points towards their next objective, saying that it was left behind by the last guest that disappointed her. This tablet will be kept for the remainder of the game and will adapt to all levels it is brought to.
Bierce will warn the player about the monkeys before instructing them to break the boards and collect the shards. After traveling enough distance from the altar, the chase will begin.
Ringing the service bell 10 times at the reception desk will cause a cutout to pop up from behind the desk, earning the achievement, "Service, Please!"
Opening some doors in the hotel will reveal some Murder Monkeys where they will just stare at the protagonist and they will not try to kill them.
There are two secret rooms in this level
Room A is to the west of the Ring Altar
Room B to the south
Murder Monkeys will have a hard time entering the secret rooms, but there is a slight chance that they'll succeed. The Player may also get trapped inside this room due to the Murder Monkeys blocking the entrance. Both of these rooms will have files in them, which will unlock new content from the Art Gallery. Primarily 4 artworks of the Murder Monkeys.
The player will be awarded a soundtrack upon finishing the level.
Get a streak of 100 shards in Monkey Business.
Found a secret in Monkey Business.
Don't die for 2 mins in Monkey Business.
Rang the service bell 10 times.
Earn an S Rank in Monkey Buisiness.
Monkey Business is currently the first and only level to not have the same first letters in the title.
The level originally consisted of 4 monkeys. However, in the 1.1.2 update, the developers said they have improved the monkey's A.I., therefore deeming winning with 4 of them virtually impossible, resulting in the reduction of one monkey.
It is the only level available to play in Chapter 1.
289 Soul Shards in total (389 with the S-rank)
"Elementary Evil" is the second level in the game, Dark Deception. It is playable in Chapter 2. This level takes place in a nightmarish school inhabited by Agatha, joined by Malak in the final act of the level. This level includes two zones and allows players to utilize their newly-obtained speed mechanic.
"Looks like school is back in session"
- Bierce when the player begins searching for soul shards
The level begins in a circular room serving as the school's entrance. After Bierce notes on the player's connection to the school, they must utilize their speed power to break the red barrier laid ahead of them. The door opens to a crashed school bus in the wall, and the hallway ahead leads to the school's auditorium.
When the player proceeds into the auditorium, the stage lights activate, music will play and Agatha will teleport onto the stage to welcome the player. She then explains that she prepared a welcoming party for her, and, after conversing with the player a little bit in an unsettling manner, disappears. The school bell rings, and Bierce notes that "school is back in session". The player must now collect the 283 (433 for the S rank) shards across the map to beat the level, just like in the previous level. This time, however, there are two zones to explore, meaning the player must collect shards in two separate areas.
The player must then proceed through the left auditorium entrance to begin the chase in zone 1, which contains 127 soul shards.
In one of the corners of the playground there's a slide which, if the player interacts with it, the achievement Playtime! will be unlocked.
A large secret room can be found that contains a drawing depicting Agatha and her mother's presumable death as they drown in a burning, sinking car. The father described in the drawing stands on a cliff above the accident, smiling maliciously at his crime. The walls of the same room left quotes like "They trusted you" and "No forgiveness", as the words seem to be directed at the protagonist, and along with the message given after the level (the protagonist saying "She was about the same age"), it is speculated that the protagonist might have did similar actions against his own family prior to the events of Dark Deception, thus the need for them to 'redeem' himself.
There is a secret room close to the large secret room in the first part of the school.
There is a very small secret room in the first part of the school, somewhere on the outskirts of the map.
There is a secret room at the corner of the first part of the school. (This goes for the second part of the school as well.)
Another large secret room can be found in the second part of the school. Since that part mirrors the first, the room will be found in the same place. The room contains a large well, discovering this unlocks the achievement Peer into Darkness, suggesting said well is the spawning point of Agatha in zone 2.
Beat Elementary Evil without using any stun orbs.
Found Agatha's hiding place.
Slid down the playground slide.
Didn't touch any fake portals.
Earn an S-Rank in Elementary Evil.
In the 2014 build of the game, the school was originally called "Wilhelm Elementary".
Agatha can't teleport into the playground, making it a safe zone when all the doors are closed or alternatively, the player can trap Agatha in the playground, seeing as she can't teleport through the doors. (This only works for act 1)
This is the first level that Malak attempts to kill the player.
There are 283 Soul Shards in this level (there arer 433 with the S-Rank)
"Deadly Decadence" is the third level in Dark Deception, playable in Chapter 2. This level is comprised of two areas, the outdoor hedge maze, and the manor, and features the Gold Watchers, who can be combated with the teleportation power.
The player then enters a large courtyard, where Bierce remarks on its impressive landscaping, and discovers a statue saluting in the middle of it. As they pass it, the statue faces them and chuckles after turning away. The player then examines more writing on the walls, as well as two more signs stating they must tread no further, as "they are watching". The player, of course, has no choice but to proceed, and opening the gate to the maze will cause the statue from earlier to disappear.
Upon entering the maze, the gate will close behind the player, and the Gold Watchers will begin their chase with a maniacal cackle.
There is a secret room in the Manor that reveals the ring's power has been used to create the Gold Watchers. In order to access this room, the player must activate a lever within one of the hallways and head northwest to a section that sticks out from the other rooms. This confirms that each nightmare was created from their respective ring piece.
The corridor past the room containing the unfinished Gold Watchers contains a secret.
In another secret room, there are drawings on the walls that is telling that the protagonist does not need to help Bierce and leave the ring alone.
There is another secret hidden behind 2 separate walls in one of the corners of the map which the player must click on to open.
After finishing the maze, instead of heading inside the manor, the player can head right to the eastern outskirts of the maze to find a secret.
Completed the hedge maze in under 6 minutes.
Killed by every trap type in Deadly Decadence.
Didn't get killed by any traps.
Watched a Gold Watcher for 10 seconds.
Earned an S-Rank in Deadly Decadence
The word Decadence refers to being lazy or indulging in laziness or pleasantries, so much so that morals or cultural decline.
While escaping, the Giant Gold Watcher from the spawning point can be seen above the portal, suggesting that it is indeed alive.
Due to the behavior of the Gold Watchers and the traps, this has been considered as the hardest level in the game so far.
There are 354 Soul Shards in this level (504 with the S-Rank)
"Not afraid of a little sewer water, are you? Just don't get any of it in your mouth."
Said by Bierce on entering the level
"Stranger Sewers" is the fourth level in the game, Dark Deception. It is playable in Chapter 3. This level takes place in a sewer, and features the Dread Duckies. This is also the first level to introduce a boss enemy, the Doom Ducky.
The player begins in a water-filled hallway and must proceed straight ahead. Just as Bierce mentions the Dread Duckies, a set of lights will activate behind bars, revealing the duckies. After slowly opening the first sewer door, the player will come across a red barrier, which they must destroy with the speed ability.
Upon interacting with the second sewer door, the Doom Ducky will suddenly appear within the hole in the wall and extend its mouth at the player. the player will be introduced to the stun mechanic, which must be canceled off by mashing the F key. Bierce will then inform the player that the door is unlocked, allowing them to proceed to the first zone. Zone 1 begins on dry land, and branches into two different entrances to the water-filled halls containing the Dread Duckies.
Right at the beginning, there's a hidden door to your left (easier seen by the minimap). Open it, and you'll be led to a secret room at the top of a ladder. The room contains a file and two documents. One of the documents is about the protagonist's daughter, and one about medical biography. On the wall, it reads, "Remember? Your ugly duckling".
In Act I & II, the player can find elevators leading down to 3 different secrets. The elevators are not hidden, and are easily found.
Found something that floats
Opened every door in Stranger Sewers
Survived a Dread Ducky stun attack
Beat Doom Ducky without dying
Earn an S-Rank in Stranger Sewers