Maid of Sker is a survival horror game featuring two endings. Both can be unlocked during a single playthrough by reloading the last save after the credits.

Luckily, there is only one point of no return in the entire game. It's right at the beginning, after entering the hotel for the first time. Make sure to interact with the first piano and the first phonograph before passing this point. Towards the end of the game - when you talk to Elisabeth in person - you can backtrack to all other locations and clean up missed collectibles (excluding Phonograph #14). However, you won't have the Phonic Modulator anymore. So, make sure to use all charges before you approach Elisabeth in the attic.

The monsters are blind. Only your walking / coughing noises and ringing bells will alert them, environment noises like moving statues or opening doors won't. Therefore, keep quiet, always crouch and hold your breath in dusty rooms or when you are close to fireplaces. Note, that the sounds of the monsters can be highly confusing. Double-check if they have detected you before wasting a charge or running away.

At least two playthroughs are required to unlock all achievements that are tied to the main game. However, it's strongly recommended to complete the game at least three times.




Play the game on easy difficulty and get familiar with the environment of the hotel. Find all collectibles, answer each of Elisabeth's calls, ring all bells, interact with all instruments, use all Phonic Modulator charges and go inside every room. Also, save the game as often as you want and interact with each phonograph at least once. At the end, you will be able to unlock both endings.

Please, refer to the below listed walkthrough for additional information. It covers all of the above-mentioned actions.




Complete the game on hard difficulty. Keep in mind that your saves are limited. You can use the phonographs only ten times. During my playthrough, I saved here:

• Phonograph #3
  
• Phonograph #5
  
• Phonograph #7
  
• Phonograph #8
  
• Phonograph #10
  
• Phonograph #11
  
• Phonograph #12
  
• Phonograph #14
  
• Phonograph #15

I highly recommend you to follow the main objectives without searching for collectibles. Also, make sure to pick up all cylinders as soon as possible (you can ignore the music sheets).




Play the game on easy difficulty, ignore the phone calls, don't get hit, don't use the Phonic Modulator and save the game only once. This is easier than it sounds. Since you have already completed the game twice, you will be able to efficiently navigate through the hotel and avoid the monsters without any effort. Unfortunately, it's impossible to trigger the last boss without saving the game at Phonograph #15! Hence, you shouldn't save the game before.

If you got hit, don't worry. You can get this achievement in another, less stressful playthrough.




In case you got hit during the previous playthrough, start a new game on easy difficulty. Feel free to save as often as you want. Unfortunately, hits even count after loading the previous save (you can track your stats by pressing Esc key). However, you can backup your save files and reload them after getting hit. They are in:

The developers implemented a total of 30 Steam achievements. Almost all of them are missable. You can find more information in the roadmap and walkthrough sections.

Maids of Sker
Find all the musical dolls


Scholar
Find all notes


Easy Listening
Listen to all Gramophone recordings


Ending on a High Note
Play all musical instruments in game


Chief Butler
Ring all ground floor bells


Wales Interactive
Interactive with the Whale sculpture (graveyard entrance, behind bushes)


Sker Explorer
Visit every location and room in the Sker Mansion and grounds



Note on Sker Explorer: If the achievement doesn't unlock after following the walkthrough and finishing the game, check your maps. Unvisited locations are black and visited locations are grey. There are no missable locations in areas which aren't covered by the maps.

Smooth Operator
Listen to all Speaker Phone messages


Nuisance Caller
Ignore Elisabeth's calls




Phonic Boom
Use all Phonic Modulator charges


Luddite
Don't use the Phonic Modulator

Perfect Harmony!
If Thomas plays the four pieces of the Counter Song on the Harmonium


Rapturous Applause!
Thomas gives Elisabeth the four brass music cylinders



For the bad ending, you must find all four cylinders and trust Elisabeth at the end. For the good ending, you must find all four music sheets and play the song yourself at the end.



Hard Times
Complete the game on hard setting


Dodgy Geezer
Don't get hit by the enemies at all in the game


Life Saver
Complete the game saving one time or less



Note on Life Saver: Unfortunately, it's impossible to trigger the last boss without saving the game at Phonograph #15! Therefore, you shouldn't save the game before.

Animal Lover
Pet The Dog (at Sker Point)


Choking Hazard
End up coughing 10 times


Don't Breathe
Hold your breathe more than 50 times


Bull in a China Shop
Bump into furniture 250 times

The Long Night
Complete Challenge "The Long Night"


The Longest Night
Receive an "A*" Grade in "The Long Night"


In Darkness
Complete Challenge "In Darkness"


In Complete Darkness
Receive an "A*" Grade in "In Darkness"


Axe of Kindness
Complete Challenge "Axe of Kindness"


Axeman
Receive an "A*" Grade in "Axe of Kindness"


Nightmare at the Hotel
Complete Challenge "Nightmare at the Hotel"


Hell at the Hotel
Receive an "A*" Grade in "Nightmare at the Hotel"



You can access the challenges via the main menu. Grade A* requires a 100,000 score. Tips:

• Use the axe for normal enemies in challenges 1 and 2.
  
• Max brightness and gamma for challenge 2.
  
• Kill many enemies (60++ kills)! That's more important than avoiding hits or healing yourself.
  
• But, avoid witches and (most) electro enemies in challenge 4. Just run past them.
  
• Be fast! Finish challenges 1-3 in ~15 minutes and the last one in ~20 minutes.
  
  
• Enemies cannot enter the main elevator.
  
• Enemies will stop chasing you after a while (useful in challenge 4)
  
  
• The axe deals more damage than usual in challenge 3.

References that might be useful:











Make Love, Not War
Finish any challenge with less than 10 kills


Head of the Hotel
Finish any challenge with more than 150 headshots



Note, that your stats persist if you load the last checkpoint. For "Head of the Hotel" you can shoot the boss in the head several times, load your last checkpoint and repeat until you have accumulated 150 headshots. For "Make Love, Not War" just run to the exit. All enemies will stop chasing you after a few seconds. Keep in mind that the boss will spawn six normal enemies.

The below listed walkthrough covers all puzzle solutions, collectibles and secrets. It's optimized and will guide you through the entire game step by step. Use the maps for a better orientation.


Notes:

• Click on a map to zoom in.
  
• Not listed collectibles are in "no map areas". These areas are marked in the walkthrough.

Legend:

• Blue number ➟ note, matches numbering in walkthrough
  
• Yellow star ➟ musical doll
  
• Green flash ➟ Phonic Modulator charge
  
• Pink triangle ➟ instrument
  
• Red circle ➟ bell
  
• Orange cross ➟ cylinder
  
• Purple diamond ➟ music sheet

Ground Floor



Basement



Gardens



First Floor



Second Floor



Attic

- No Map Area Start -

Watch the intro to receive the first note [Note #1 | Elisabeth's Letter]. After arriving at the train station, pick up the music sheet [Music Sheet #1 | Thomas Evans], leave the train and follow the linear path until you reach a pavilion. Interact with the phonograph [Phonograph #1] and with the piano [Instrument #1]. Continue to follow the path, open the gate and enter the hotel (point of no return).

- No Map Area End -

Answer the call in the entrance hall. Go up the stairs and interact with the organ [Instrument #2]. Find a note on the counter at the reception [Note #2 | Isaac's Grand Reopening Note] and a map in a box behind the counter. Ring the bell [Bell #1] and press each of the six buttons on the wall. Now, head towards the chapel and enter the first room on the left to find a phonograph [Phonograph #2]. Leave the room and speak to the man behind the door on the right. Now, enter the chapel and find a note in front of the statue with the skull [Note #3 | Williams Family Bible], the first cylinder [Cylinder #1 | Cerberus] and a bell [Bell #2]. Leave the chapel and enter the first room on the left. Find a musical doll on a table in a corner [Doll #1] and follow the small passage to a bloody trail. Try to call the elevator door and interact with the nearby power switch after the blackout. Open the elevator door and reach floor B.

Leave the elevator, enter the room on the right and interact with the phonograph [Phonograph #3]. Now, follow the linear path until you hear someone crying. You can't avoid getting hurt, but luckily you will find medicine just a few steps further. Find a note in the next room [Note #4 | Isaac's Ledger Deaths & Disappearances], leave through the first door (not the one close to the note) and find a musical doll at the end of a short hallway [Doll #2]. Now, follow the path through the second door, open a locked box and pick up the basement map. Leave through one of the doors and answer the second phone call.

Follow the path until you reach the cooling chamber. Inside, pick up a musical doll [Doll #3] and proceed through a narrow hallway. Prepare to hold your breath with LMB. The monster will disappear and you will be able to proceed through the next section without any pressure.

- No Map Area Start -

After leaving the basement, interact with the phonograph [Phonograph #4]. Find a doll on a crate in the open area with a monster [Doll #4]. Pick up a note just a few steps further [Note #5 | Mysterious Note] and leave the monster behind. Before entering the graveyard, go through the collision-free bushes on the left to find the whale statue. At the graveyard, interact with the tombstone to trigger a cutscene.

Read the note on the coffin on the left [Note #6 | Jebediah's Cult Letter]. Now, hug the right wall to find a room with a phonograph inside [Phonograph #5]. Follow the path and you will eventually find a treasure and a note [Note #7 | Isaac's account of HMS Providence]. Interact with the red button to move the rail car and solve the next puzzle: activate two switches and unlock both door bolts on the right. Use the elevator to leave the area.

Inside the church, find an easily missable note on a book behind the row of seats on the right [Note #8 | Jebediah's Ritual Notes]. Ring both bells and leave the church. Walk to the right and pick up the musical doll at the end of the path [Doll #5]. Now, turn around and follow the other path, watch the short cutscene and head back to the hotel.

- No Map Area End -

Enter the small building on the left to find a phonograph [Phonograph #6]. In the first maze, you can find a doll [Doll #6] if you stay on the right. At the end of the second maze, answer the phone call. Then, pick up the map in the locked box and open the door opposite of the telephone booth. Take the doll [Doll #7] and make your way to Sker Point. As soon as you reach Sker Point, free the dog and ring the bells in the following order: E-W-E-N (if you made a mistake, check the compass above the chair for the next bell). Obtain the second cylinder [Cylinder #2 | Hero] and head back to the room with the telephone booth. Leave through the door on the left.

Inside the laboratory, find a note on a table [Note #9 | Isaac's Plans] and pick up the Phonic Modulator. Head through the door on the left and pick up two Phonic Modulator charges [Phonic Modulator charges #1 and #2], and go through the door on the left. Interact with the phonograph [Phonograph #7]. Now, you will have to find two switches to open the gate. The switches are on the right and the gate is on the left. Also, there's an easily missable doll in the center of this area [Doll #8].

Back inside the hotel, take a Phonic Modulator charge [Phonic Modulator charge #3]. Enter the next room and open the chest at the stage to receive the Kraken key. Unlock the door and follow the path to the right. Answer the phone call and pick up a Phonic Modulator charge [Phonic Modulator charge #4]. Leave the room and pick up a part of the map as well as a newspaper article [Note #10 | Morning Herald Newspaper], ring the third bell [Bell #3] and interact with each of the six buttons. Find a phonograph behind the next door [Phonograph #8]. Now, you will have to backtrack a bit. Follow the way back to a locked door leading to the main hall. Head to the reception and find a locked room. Use the Kraken key and take the Beer tap as well as a note [Note #11 | Isaac's Audio-Visual Notes]. Now, go back to the bar and mount the tap. Interact with the taps in this order: 1-3-2-4. Climb up the secret ladder behind the statue in the main hall.

Answer the call and enter room 107. Find a note [Note #12 | Isaac's Journal] and a Phonic Modulator charge [Phonic Modulator charge #5]. Then, reach the next room through the destroyed wall in the bathroom. Find a note [Note #13 | Jebediah's Journal], leave the room and head through the big door on the left. Go through the next door on the left and interact with the phonograph [Phonograph #9]. Now, follow the path to the right and find a map in room 104. Leave the room again, pass room 105 and reach the storage. Take the red crank wheel and crawl through the small passage (take the left path). Back in the main hall of the first floor, follow the central path to a model ship. Interact with the bells: 3-2-4-1.



Find a broken crest piece inside the model ship. Go through the door on the left and walk to the right. The Music key is in the back of the next room - take it. Before you leave through the second door, pick up another Phonic Modulator charge laying on a table [Phonic Modulator charge #6]. At the end of the short narrow path, find a note on a table [Note #14 | Isaac's Reprimand of Abraham] and use the valve to proceed. After pressing the red button, turn around and leave the small passage. Approach the red room from the other side and find another broken crest piece inside. Head back to the telephone booth and answer another call. Open the big door on the left with the Music key.

Follow the path to the right until you find a green door. Interact with the phonograph [Phonograph #10]. Leave and go through the next door on the left. Interact with the music box to trigger a dream sequence.

- No Map Area Start -

During this scene, you'll find a doll [Doll #9] and a music sheet [Music Sheet #2 | Matilda Norton].

- No Map Area End -

Now, walk back all the way to the telephone booth. Find a note [Note #15 | The Siren in Greek Myth] in room 108 and take the crest piece in the bathroom.

Open the portholes to find a crank wheel (random) to be able to escape from the trap. Now, follow the path to rooms 109-110 and enter the broom closet between these rooms. Find a map in room 110 and enter the bathroom. In the bathroom, open the mirror cabinet on the left and interact with the switch to extinguish the fire. Take the doll [Doll #10]. Now, enter the library. Again, your goal is to find all switches. Both of them are upstairs, as well as a Phonic Modulator charge [Phonic Modulator charge #7]. After obtaining the broken crest piece, head back to the telephone booth and repair all coats of arms. Use the elevator to reach the ground floor.

Leave the elevator and find a doll on the right [Doll #11]. Open both gates and head back to the elevator. Reach the second floor and answer the call. Find a Phonic Modulator charge in front of the closed gate [Phonic Modulator charge #8]. Follow the linear path and find a note on a table [Note #16 | Prudence's Letter to Elisabeth]. Leave the room and go to the right. Try to take the Bird key, turn around and walk straight until you find a locked box with a map. Now, follow the central path and open the first door on the left (kitchen). Find another doll [Doll #12].

Follow the path and ignore the next big door on the left. Stay left and find another doll [Doll #13] as well as a note [Note #17 | Elisabeth's Lyrics for Counter Song] in the nursery. Leave and walk through the door on the left. Find another phonograph [Phonograph #11] in a room close to the door you just went through (also, make sure to enter the other room close to the door). There's a note in the bedroom [Note #18 | Elisabeth's Counter Song Plan], as well as a Phonic Modulator charge [Phonic Modulator charge #9]. Backtrack a bit and go through the big door on the right. Follow the path to the left and be prepared for your first encounter with Abraham. Run away from the creature by following the path to the right of the broken wall. Open the door at the end of the hallway and find a note [Note #19 | Thomas Letter to Elisabeth]. Crawl through the small vent to avoid Abraham. Now, go through the broken wall and interact with the bells alternately (you need to be fast) - until both gates are open.

Head through the gate on the right and find a save room on the left [Phonograph #12]. Weaken the creature by interacting with the machine a few times. Then, make sure to answer the call and pick the Bird key from the body. Also, find a map and a Phonic Modulator charge nearby [Phonic Modulator charge #10]. Check the map and head to the locked door in the bottom left corner. Use the Bird key and find a newspaper [Note #20 | Article of a Tragic Loss] as well as a cylinder [Cylinder #3 | Siren]. Go through the door nearby and head upstairs. While walking upstairs, pick up another note [Note #21 | Elisabeth's Diary Entry 01]. In the attic, play the piano: fish - dog - bird - cage - deer. Continue your journey and find a note on a bed on the left [Note #22 | Elisabeth's Diary Entry 02]. Approach the woman (the Phonic Modulator will break, make sure to find and use all charges beforehand).

After falling off the attic, walk straight and find a note [Note #23 | Elisabeth's Diary Entry 03]. Go to the left and interact with the phonograph [Phonograph #13]. Follow the path and enter the first cell on the right to find a musical doll [Doll #14]. There's a note in the second cell on the left [Note #24 | Mythology]. Now, find the last cylinder [Cylinder #4 | Medusa] at the end of the path. Make your way to the locked music door in the basement and open it. Find a note [Note #25 | Isaac's Blueprint Notes] and interact with the piano [Instrument #3]. Navigate to the music sheet [Music Sheet #3 | Henry Hughes] and leave the basement (don't go back to the elevator).

- No Map Area Start -

After the cutscene, find a phonograph in the back [Phonograph #14] and escape. Note, that you won't be able to return to this area.

- No Map Area End -

Climb up the ladder and find the last save room [Phonograph #15]. Leave the room and find a note on the left [Note #26 | Elisabeth's Diary Entry 04]. Now, interact with the switches and press the big button in the piano room alternately to defeat the final boss. Make sure to stand still when the music stops. After using the amulet in the cage, find a key at the piano and leave the room.

Now, leave the area and stay right until you find a doll on a green table [Doll #15]. Turn around and go through the broken wall. Take the note [Note #27 | Page From Isaac's Journal] and interact with the projector. Follow the only available path until you find a drawing on a barrel [Note #28 | Crude Drawing] and crawl through the vent. Immediately turn right to find a doll [Doll #16]. Finally, head back to the main hall through the vents.

Now, backtrack to the first floor and the second floor, open all locked doors and enter all not yet greyed out areas. On the first floor, you will find a doll [Doll #17] and a piano [Instrument #4] and on the second floor a doll [Doll #18], a note [Note #29 | Hidden Room Plans] and a piano [Instrument #5]. Also, head back to the attic and examine the last room. Find a note [Note #30 | Elisabeth's Diary] and a doll [Doll #19] there. Finally, make sure to enter every room on the ground floor and use the crown key in the chapel. In the secret area behind the statue, find the last music sheet [Music Sheet #4 | Arthur Morris] and climb down the ladder.

- No Map Area Start -

Pick up the last musical doll [Doll #20]. Finally, head back to the main hall and talk to Elisabeth.

- No Map Area End -

⋗︎ For the bad ending, trust Elisabeth (requires all cylinders).
⋗︎ For the good ending, play the song yourself (requires all music sheets).