The retro-inspired horror game, Heartworm, unfolds across three acts, each presenting unique environments to explore and intricate puzzles to unravel, culminating in a formidable boss battle. This guide focuses on the first act, encompassing the Abandoned House and Neighborhood. Whether you`re stuck on a particular puzzle or prefer a complete step-by-step walkthrough for Heartworm`s initial segment, this guide provides all the necessary details.
Table of Contents
- Abandoned House
- Grandfather Clock Puzzle Solution
- Abandoned House Locked Door Solution
- Archive
- Neighborhood
- Chess Puzzle Solution
- Garage Fuse Box Solution
- Funeral Parlor Candles Puzzle Solution
- Spider Boss
- Archive (Return)
Abandoned House
Upon starting the game, retrieve the Camera located on the car.
Proceed down the road until you arrive at an abandoned house. Enter it via the door positioned on the far left.
Inside, advance and enter the door to your left to access a Safe Room. It`s advisable to store the Cigarettes from your inventory here, as they serve no purpose in progression and occupy a valuable slot.
Exit the Safe Room and use the adjacent door on the back wall.
In this spacious room, enter the door on the wall just before the kitchen area.
This is the dining room. Continue straight and pass through the door on your left to locate a staircase. Ascend the stairs.
At the top of the staircase, navigate around the loft until you discover another door. Enter it.
Examine the paper in this room and note the time: 12:15.
Go back into the last room, then advance and enter the open door on the back wall.
Grandfather Clock Puzzle Solution
Within this room, set the hands of the clock to 12:15, matching the time noted from the paper.
Once the closet opens, proceed through it to find an Emblem Piece. Also, remember the word ROSE.
Exit this room. Before descending, go to the room to the right of the door you just came through. Traverse the bedroom to collect the Attic Key.
Return to the initial room of the house.
Abandoned House Locked Door Solution
A locked door is present here. Input the letters R-O-S-E to unlock it.
In the basement, move the series of shelves to clear a path to a hidden room, where you`ll find another Emblem Piece.
With both pieces acquired, combine them in your inventory to form the Heart Emblem.
Go back to the house`s main entrance room again.
Ascend the stairs, then circle around the loft and enter the door at its furthest end.
Pass through this room and climb another set of stairs. Use the Attic Key to unlock the door, then discard the key.
Proceed through this room to the end, then apply the Heart Emblem to the red door.
Enter the door.
Descend the stairs, then continue along the lengthy, winding staircase.
At the base of the winding staircase, you`ll encounter a locked door. Ascend back up the stairs.
Near the top, an attack will occur. Quickly return to the door to pass through.
Archive
Upon regaining control, you will find yourself in the Archive, which serves as Heartworm`s central hub.
Advance into the room containing a large book.
Behind the book, you`ll find a computer, similar to those in Safe Rooms, which you can use to save your progress.
A machine is situated to the left of the book. Throughout the game, you can collect up to three photos to insert into this machine.
The following information reveals details about the game`s endings and is therefore placed in a spoiler block. Skip this section if you prefer to discover ending variations on your own.
The number of photos you insert influences the ending: 0 photos for the bad ending, 1-2 for the good ending, and all 3 for the true ending.
When you`re prepared to advance, proceed down the hallway to the left of the book until static obstructs your way. Use your camera to take a picture of the static to clear it.
Interact with the red static further within this area.
Neighborhood
Upon regaining control, conserve your ammunition; there`s no need to waste it on the ghost in this area.
A Safe Room is available in the first house on the left (beyond the chainlink fence) if you wish to save. Otherwise, head right towards a store.
Enter the store and retrieve the House Key from the back counter.
Return to the house where you began. Use the House Key to unlock the front door and enter.
Proceed into the living room. Enter the door there and follow the long, winding path to Sam`s bedroom.
Chess Puzzle Solution
Sam`s bedroom contains a chessboard. Sit at the table and move the Bishop from E3 to G5.
Solving this puzzle correctly rewards you with the Burst Mod for your camera. Access your inventory, select the camera, and attach the mod. This upgrade enables you to take three pictures simultaneously, increasing damage output against enemies.
After completing the chess puzzle, exit the house, go around to the garage, and open its door. Discard the House Key.
Maneuver around the floor hole to discover a movable shelf, behind which lies a fuse box.
Garage Fuse Box Solution
Activate the first, third, and fifth switches by moving them to the right. This will illuminate the fuse box green and lower a staircase.
Ascend the stairs to locate the Camera Bag. Use it from your inventory to expand your carrying capacity to eight slots.
Exit the garage and head back towards the store where you obtained the House Key. At the intersection, turn right and follow the street until you reach an opening on your right leading to a baseball field.
Collect the Baseball Bat from the bleachers, then depart.
Go back to Sam`s bedroom. Mount the Baseball Bat on the wall plaque to receive the Model Train.
Return to the garage. Go upstairs to where you found the Camera Bag, then look on the opposite side of the room for a model train set. Use the Model Train here to acquire the Padlock Key.
Exit the garage and approach the chainlink fence behind the house. Use the Padlock Key to unlock the door, then discard the key.
Enter the door. Clear the static here by shooting it to obtain the Garden Photo, the first of three photos required for the game`s true ending.
Exit this area and return to the street. Go to the very end and enter the final house on the right by interacting with the static-filled window.
Inside, proceed straight and enter the door directly ahead. You will emerge onto a snowy street.
A funeral parlor is situated directly across the street. Head there and observe the three unlit candles in the window. A nearby note explains that you must find and light three candles throughout the neighborhood.
Funeral Parlor Candles Puzzle Solution
Exit the funeral parlor and walk down the street until you spot a stop sign. Turn right, then ascend some stairs to enter an apartment.
Eliminate the enemy (or avoid it) and navigate through the apartment`s rooms until you discover the first candle. Use the Lighter from your inventory to ignite it.
Return to the street, then go back to the house across from the funeral parlor and proceed to the main street.
Head to the end of the street and enter the house situated to the left of the store.
This house is flooded. Exercise caution with the enemy, go upstairs, and enter the door at the top.
At the end of the hallway, a door on the right leads to the second candle. Use your Lighter to ignite it.
Go back to the baseball field.
On the field, a candle is caged on the pitcher`s mound. To unlock it, rapidly run the bases from home plate before the lights extinguish. Successfully doing so grants access to the third candle. Use your Lighter to ignite it.
Return to the house with the static window at the end of the street, then proceed back to the funeral parlor.
Enter the funeral parlor. Inside a room within this building, interact with a casket to be transported downtown.
Proceed into the downtown area and follow the street to the right. Continue for some distance until you find a door on the right, which leads to a Safe Room.
Enter the Safe Room and save your game, as a boss encounter is imminent. While there, place the Lighter in the storage box, as it is no longer needed.
Exit the Safe Room and walk straight down the street until you encounter a right turn. Follow this street until you reach a lit alleyway, then proceed through it until you arrive at a fork.
Head towards the warehouse door marked by a red light above. Interact with it to gain entry.
Enter the next room and ascend the stairs in the back right corner. Follow the walkway around until you reach a blue door. Unlock it to establish a shortcut back to the Safe Room.
Within the warehouse, descend the stairs in front of the blue door, then go around and enter the space between the two large shelves.
An enemy will appear and pursue you through dimly-lit shelves. Navigate through this maze, weaving in and out until you reach the end, where falling boxes will block the enemy and end the chase. If caught, it results in a game over, so frequent saving is advised.
Proceed a few screens further to a fenced door. Enter it and collect the Crowbar from this area.
Go back to where you emerged after the shelf chase and use the Crowbar to remove the wooden planks from the nearby door, opening a path back to the warehouse entrance.
Exit the warehouse via your original entry point, then traverse the alleyway to return to the street.
Head north to find a bus.
Use the Crowbar on the bus to trigger the game`s first boss encounter.
Spider Boss
The initial boss of Heartworm is a formidable spider. Ensure your Burst Mod is equipped, as this arachnid requires approximately 40 camera hits to defeat. The battle is generally direct, but restricted mobility can make it challenging.
The spider employs a rapid melee attack at close range, which can be challenging to evade. It also shoots webs that, while not highly damaging, will knock you down. Agile movement allows for dodging these attacks.
Occasionally, it will execute a powerful charge attack. Counter this by photographing it as it approaches.
After sustaining damage, the spider may momentarily retreat, unleashing numerous smaller spiders that chase and explode upon contact. Maintain constant movement and avoid cornering yourself. While individual explosions inflict minor damage, cumulative hits can be significant.
The arena provides several rolls of film and a healing item; collect them as needed.
Defeating the spider grants you the Neighborhood Page.
Archive
You will reawaken in the Archive. Proceed to the machine on the left and, if desired, insert the Garden Photo.
Next, use the Neighborhood Page on the large book in the Archive`s center to open a massive gate to the north.
Pass through the gate and follow the path leading to a door. Open it to commence the second act of Heartworm.