Snowdin/Puzzles

Puzzles are a prominent component in Undertale. In Snowdin Forest, the protagonist finds puzzles set up by Papyrus and Sans. If the protagonist is on the Genocide Route, most puzzles are skipped as they have already been solved. Some of these puzzles are implied to have been solved by Flowey.
== The Invisible Electricity Maze ==
The Invisible Electricity Maze is one of the first puzzles encountered in Snowdin Forest. This puzzle always begins electrocuting Papyrus, who is holding the electric orb and is on the exit, no matter where the protagonist enters the maze. Papyrus then walks to the protagonist in order to give them the orb while accidentally leaving footprints that show the correct path. The maze cannot actually harm the protagonist if they touch the "invisible wall" and get electrocuted.
If the protagonist attempts to walk away from this puzzle, Papyrus asks the protagonist not to be rude since they made the puzzle for them. Backing away again causes Papyrus to ask if the protagonist treats their mother the same way when she makes them a puzzle. Afterwards, he just responds with "HUMANS...."
On the Genocide Route, the protagonist walks to the middle of the maze while Papyrus is monologuing. Papyrus becomes nervous, and then believes that the protagonist is having culture shock and explains that it is a tradition in the Underground to suffer through puzzles. The protagonist then walks closer to Papyrus; Papyrus gets nervous but then complains about the protagonist not liking puzzles and leaves.
== Ball Game ==
The Ball Game is an optional puzzle game found immediately after the Invisible Electricity Maze. The game works similar to a game of mini-golf where the protagonist must push the ball into the hole at the end of a tampered snow course. Once the ball is pushed, it must be continuously pushed or else it shrinks and melts, then returns to the beginning of the course. There are ice tiles near the end of this course that inhibit movement and cause the ball to shrink faster.
Sinking the ball into the hole causes a flag of a certain color to spring up out of the hole. These flags provide a description of how the ball was handled, which is thought to be related to the personalities of the six humans that fell into the Underground prior to the protagonist and after the first human, and then awards the protagonist with a certain amount of GOLD. Checking the hole before the ball is pushed into it brings up an excited reaction to the hole.
If the kill counter for Snowdin is exhausted (on a Neutral or Genocide Route), the ball disappears, and the game cannot be played. Checking the hole just says "There's a hole here."
There is a glitch in which if the ball is made small enough, it can be pushed out of the rink and off the cliff.
=== Results ===
Flag 	Description 	Requirement
None 	Ah! Wow! Woah! It's a "Hole". 	The game was not completed.
 	LIGHT BLUE - "Ball" is "Small." You waited, still, for this opportunity, ... then dethroned "Ball" with a sharp attack. (You are awarded 4G.)	Play in any way, but wait for the ball to become small, and then get it into the hole.
 	PURPLE - Even when you felt trapped, you took notes and achieved the end of "Ball." (You are awarded 2G.) 	Get the ball in the hole after 20 seconds have elapsed.
 	GREEN - Your concern and care for "Ball" led to a delicious victory. (You are awarded 1G.) 	Get the ball in the hole between 15 and 20 seconds.
 	BLUE - Hopping and twirling, your original style pulled you through. (You are awarded 2G.) 	Get the ball in the hole between 11 and 15 seconds.
 	YELLOW - Your sure-fire accuracy put an end to the mayhem of "Ball." (You are awarded 3G.) 	Get the ball in the hole between 8 and 11 seconds.
 	ORANGE - You are the kind of person who rushes fists-first through all obstacles. (You are awarded 5G.) 	Get the ball in the hole between 6 and 8 seconds.
 	Bravery. Justice. Integrity. Kindness. Perseverance. Patience. Using these, you were able to win at "Ball Game." (You are awarded 50G.) 	Get the ball in the hole within 6 seconds for the first time.
(Twice)	RED - Try as you might, you continue to be yourself. (You are awarded 10G.) 	Earn the red flag twice or more on the current SAVE file.
== Monster Kidz Word Search ==
The Monster Kidz Word Search is an unsolvable word search puzzle that Sans sets up to trap the protagonist. The word search contains a bear-faced ice cube named "Ice-E." The puzzle can contain a snowman with Ice-E's face named "Nightmare" that only appears when the fun value is set to 56 or 57. If the protagonist attempts to leave back to the room to the left, Papyrus complains to Sans that the latter made the puzzle too hard. The word giasfclfebrehber is not present in the word search, as the top line reads giasfclfubrehber.
 
On the Neutral Route, regardless of if the protagonist looks at the puzzle or not, Papyrus gets enraged that puzzle has not done anything, and Sans mentions that he should have put down a crossword instead. The protagonist then has to decide if Crossword or Junior Jumble is harder, which alters dialogue from an NPC in the Snowdin Library and Sans's Lost Soul dialogue in the True Pacifist Route.
If the protagonist is on the Genocide Route and skips the puzzle, Sans instead mentions that he should have put down Junior Jumble. However, if the protagonist decides to look at the puzzle, Papyrus complains that the protagonist has not skipped the puzzle and exits.
Its name might come from a character that appears on one of Andrew Hussie's earlier works, "And It Don't Stop.""And It Don't Stop" - Page 14
== The Frozen Spaghetti ==
 
The plate of frozen spaghetti is a jape left by Papyrus designed to entice and distract the protagonist from progressing. Next to the frozen spaghetti is an unplugged microwave with spaghetti being the only settings and a note left by Papyrus explaining the purpose of the spaghetti. It also acts as a SAVE Point and another spot where a mouse is trying to get cheese.
At the end of the True Pacifist Route, the spaghetti becomes lukewarm, and it seems like whoever was trying to eat the spaghetti, presumably the mouse, just gave up. The note is then changed to announce that the spaghetti has been donated to the public.
== The Snow Puzzle ==
The Snow Puzzle is a room found in Snowdin Forest where the solution for removing the spikes is found underneath a sheet of snow that the protagonist can kick around. The switch itself is located in the upper right portion of the room surrounded by trees.
On the Genocide Route, the switch has already been pressed down by vines, meaning that the puzzle had already been completed before the protagonist entered the room.
== The XOXO Puzzles ==
The XOXO Puzzles are puzzles where the protagonist has to turn all the blue X-shaped fields into red O-shaped fields without stepping on the O-shaped fields after their transformation, causing them to turn into green triangle-shaped fields. Pressing on the switch found in each puzzle resets the switch if the puzzle is incomplete, pressing on the switch when all the tiles are red O-shaped fields solves the puzzle and turns them green. This puzzle is always reset upon leaving and reentering regardless of completion. There are three variants of this puzzle that can be found in Snowdin Forest.
 
The first version of this puzzle is a small puzzle only containing two tiles that need to be stepped on and rocks surrounding the switches. Completion of this puzzle gets rid of the spikes that bar the protagonist from proceeding.
 
The second version of this puzzle is a larger puzzle with 15 tiles that need to be stepped on. The puzzle can be solved by walking over the tiles correctly, but if the protagonist has difficulty solving the puzzle, they can ask Papyrus, who reveals that there is a switch on a nearby tree trunk. Completion of the puzzle gets rid of the spikes which bar the protagonist from proceeding and allows the player to view the right side of the room.
 
The final version of this puzzle is an even larger puzzle which has 12 tiles that need to be stepped on while sliding on ice. Completion of this puzzle creates a bridge that allows the protagonist to slide over to the other side of the room.
On the Genocide Route, most of the barriers that bar the protagonist from progressing on the next room have been removed.
== Multicolor Tile Puzzle ==
The Multicolor Tile Puzzle found in Snowdin Forest is always randomly generated upon its first appearance and when the puzzle is being generated, but always results in the same red and pink tile pattern if the protagonist claims to have understood the instructions. Papyrus first explains the instructions for the puzzle to the protagonist in an overly complex manner.
* Red tiles act as solid walls.
* Yellow tiles force the protagonist back to the last tile they stepped on (the player's controls are locked in the meantime).
* Green tiles sound an alarm and makes the protagonist fight a monster after the puzzle. During the puzzle, it functions the same as pink tiles.
* Orange tiles change the protagonist's flavor to "Orange."
* Purple tiles act similarly to the ice tiles in Snowdin Forest; they force the protagonist to the next tile in the direction they are facing (the player's controls are locked in the meantime). Additionally, purple tiles change the protagonist's flavor to "Lemon."
* Blue tiles vary in function depending on the following factors:
** If the blue tile is adjacent to a yellow tile, the blue tile functions identically to a yellow tile.
** If the protagonist's flavor is "Orange," the blue tile functions identically to a yellow tile.
** If neither of the above conditions is met, the blue tile functions identically to a pink tile.
* Pink tiles have no effect and can be walked on freely.
If the protagonist does not understand the instructions, Papyrus attempts to explain the puzzle again but gets the rules mixed up. If the protagonist says that they understand the rules even less, Papyrus leaves behind an illegible chicken scratch then tells the protagonist to do the puzzle when they understand the instructions.
This puzzle is activated when Papyrus uses the Mettaton-esque machine, but does not operate if the protagonist tries to interact with it.
On the Genocide Route, the protagonist walks to the middle of the puzzle before Papyrus can explain it. Papyrus complains to Sans that the protagonist keeps walking through his puzzles and japes when they are supposed to allow Papyrus to explain them. When Sans mentions that Undyne also does not like puzzles, Papyrus counters, saying that although she hates puzzles, she loves japes. Papyrus attempts to give the protagonist a choice between puzzles and japes, but when the protagonist fails to respond, he gives up trying to engage with them, leaving behind illegible instructions for the puzzle, and leaves.
== The Gauntlet of Deadly Terror ==
 
The Gauntlet of Deadly Terror is the final "puzzle" encountered in Snowdin Forest found on a rock formation painted to look like a dangerous bridge. It consists of a spiky ball tethered by chains, two spears, the Annoying Dog, an oil drum fire pit, and a cannon. The gauntlet is supposed to activate when Papyrus says a certain word, but Papyrus retracts the puzzle since he considers it too straightforward and easy to capture the protagonist with, and he wants it to be fair.
On the Genocide Route, Papyrus just says that the protagonist would simply walk right through it if he activated it and mentions that it would not be fun. Papyrus then realizes that he has the wrong audience and saves the puzzle for Undyne.
== Trivia ==
* The Buttons in the XOXO puzzle could possibly be a reference to the Sony PlayStation's control scheme. Evidence includes the blue X symbols, red/pink circles, and green triangles which are prominent symbols of the PlayStation console line.
* In the Monster Kidz Word Search, the words: Monster, Skeleton, Mermaid, and Robot refer to the characters: Toriel, Papyrus/Sans, Undyne, and Mettaton. The words: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer may be referring to the areas in the game: Ruins, Snowdin, Waterfall, and Hotland, and their apparent seasons. The words: Cigars and Cig refer to fact that the person who made the word search smokes cigars all the time.Legends of Localization Book 3: UNDERTALE, page 68, ISBN 9781945908019
* Ice-E has been deemed the "greatest and most popular Undertale character" by Toby Fox.
* While Ice-E does not appear outside of the Word Search puzzle in Undertale, he is more prominent in Deltarune where he is the mascot of ICE-E'S P"E"ZZA in Hometown.
** In addition to this appearance, a puzzle in Cyber Field uses the word giasfelfebrehber, and it is later revealed that the word is his catchphrase.
* The Ball Game flag descriptions reference different colors of SOUL Modes and Attack Types, in addition to some weapons possessed by the previous humans:
** The light blue flag says "you waited" and mentions a "sharp attack." Light blue attacks require waiting, and the associated weapon of the light blue SOUL is the Toy Knife.
** The purple flag says "you felt trapped." The purple SOUL mode restricts movement. Additionally, the purple flag references notetaking; the associated weapon of the purple SOUL is the Torn Notebook.
** The blue flag references "hopping and twirling." The blue SOUL mode can jump, and the associated items of the blue SOUL are the Ballet Shoes and Old Tutu (associated with dancing).
** The yellow flag mentions "sure-fire accuracy." The yellow SOUL mode can fire a projectile, and the associated weapon of the yellow SOUL is the Empty Gun.
** The orange flag says "rushes fists-first through all obstacles." Orange attacks must be moved through, and the associated weapon of the orange SOUL is the Tough Glove.
** The green flag claims a "delicious victory." The associated items of the green SOUL are a Burnt Pan and Stained Apron, both used in cooking.
== References ==
de:Snowdin/Puzzles
fr:Couveneige/Puzzles
pl:Snowdin/Zagadki
ru:Сноудин/Головоломки
Category:Snowdin