Cube Escape: The Cave

*This article is about the game. For the location, see The Cave.*

**Cube Escape: The Cave** is the ninth game in the Cube Escape series, released in March of 2017. The player controls Mr. Crow as he explores a mysterious cave, helping a familiar guest in order to descend deeper into Rusty Lake.

## Characters

* Corrupted Souls
* Dale Vandermeer
* Laura Vanderboom
* Mr. Crow
* Mr. Owl
* The Dog

## Locations

* The Cave
* The Submarine
* The Forest

### The Cave

Outside
* Click to move through the rocks to enter the Cave.

Dog/Stand
* Focus on the dresser. Pick up the petri dish.
	+ Take the matches from the top drawer.
	+ Take the knife from the middle drawer.
* Defocus, then go right.

Diver/Bat
* Focus on the diver. Click on the helmet to talk to him.
Help!
* Defocus, then focus on the torch.
* Light the torch with the matches. You can now see a bat in the crevice.
* Defocus, then go right.

Door
* Pick up the wood.
* Go right.

Cabinet/Mirror
* Focus on the mirror. Talk to your reflection.
I need my drink
* Defocus.
* Focus on the upper shelf. Take the melting pot.
* Defocus.
* Focus on the microscope. Put the petri dish down on the microscope.
* Defocus.
* Focus on the cabinet to the left.
* Slide the three locks to open the door.
	+ To solve the puzzle, you must prevent the spider from getting to the insects by severing strands of the web.
		- Always click a strand that directly connects to an insect.
		- Always click a strand that connects to a junction where two strands directly connect to two insects.
	+ After completing each level, a background will flash. Click the gray background of the cabinet for the next level out of five. There is a short time delay before clicking to the next level.
* Click to remove the three web strands, then take the book.
* Defocus, then go left twice.

Diver/Bat
* Focus on the fire pit.
* Put the wood into the pit and light it with the matches.
* Place the melting pot on the pit.
* Defocus, then go left.

### Chapter 1: The Vanderbooms

Dog/Stand
* Focus on the stand. Put the book down and open it.
* Focus on the family tree on the right page.
* Arrange the cards to resemble the Vanderboom Family tree.

	+ Top Row: Laura
	+ Second Row: Frank, Leonard, Rose
	+ Third Row: Emma, Ida, Samuel, Albert
	+ Fourth Row: Mary, James
* Click on Laura's card. It unfolds and becomes William's card. Take the card.
* Defocus, and focus on the left page.
* Put William's card down. Notice the red pattern.
* Defocus out, then go right twice.

Door
* Focus on the center piece on the door.
* Draw the pattern from William's page. The lower-right light will turn on.
* Go left twice.

Dog/Stand
* Focus on the light on the wall to the left.
* Drag the objects from the shelf to the pedestal in order to complete the shapes.
	+ Fourth row, right.
	+ Fourth row, left.
	+ Third row, left.
	+ Second row, left.
	+ First row, left.
	+ Third row, right.
	+ Second row, right.
	+ First row, right.
* Give the Elixir to William, on the right. Click on him to make him drink it, then die and become a Corrupted Soul enveloped in a tree. Click again, and he becomes the Woman, then the Soul again. A black cube rises from his body, which links to all of the shapes.
* Give the Elixir to Aldous. Click on him to make him drink it and become Mr. Crow.
* Pick up the moth that flies down.
* Defocus, then go right.

Diver/Bat
* Focus on the torch, then into the crevice with the bat.
* Give the bat the moth.
* Click on the bat to make it fly away. Take Dale's card that is left behind.
* Defocus out, then go left.

### Chapter 2: The Detective

Dog/Stand
* Focus on the stand. Click on the arrow on the upper-right corner of the stand to flip the page.
* Focus on the left page. Put Dale's card down. Notice the red pattern.
* Defocus out, then go right twice.

Door
* Focus on the center piece on the door.
* Draw the pattern from Dale's page. The upper-left light will turn on.
* Go left twice.

Dog/Stand
* Focus on the new light on the wall on the right.
* Click anywhere to make Dale come down on the elevator. Dale can only move forward past the Souls if the diver is on the black cube corresponding to the Soul in front of him.
	+ Move the diver to the lower-right cube. Move Dale past Mr. Deer's soul.
	+ Move the diver to the upper-left cube. Move Dale past Ms. Pheasant's soul.
	+ Move the diver to the upper-right cube. Move Dale past Mrs. Pigeon's soul.
	+ Move the diver to the lower-left cube. Move Dale past Mr. Boar's soul.
	+ Move the diver to the lower-middle cube. Move Dale past Mr. Rabbit's soul, and to the exit.
* Notice the large crack in the wall.
* Defocus, and go left.

Cabinet/Mirror
* Focus on the bottom part of the cabinet with the microscope. It is locked with a colour/symbol combination. The insects freed from the spider reveal the combination, and they are scattered around the Cave.
	+ Yellow - By the dog.
	+ Blue - By the torch.
	+ Red - By the mirror.
	+ White - By the shelf.
* Input the combination.
	+ Square, Hourglass, Circle, Triangle.
* Click to open the cabinet, and take the pickaxe.
* Defocus, and go right.

Dog/Stand
* Focus on the crack. Use the pickaxe on the crack until a hand comes out, and the arm is fully exposed. Notice the knife tattoo on the arm.
* Give the hand the knife. Click on it until it severs the arm.
* Take the arm.
* Defocus, and go left.

Cabinet/Mirror
* Focus on the grinder.
* Put the arm in, and click the handle to grind it.
* Pick up the dog food.
* Defocus, and go right.

### Extract of the Last Elixir

Dog/Stand
* Focus on the stand. Click on the arrow on the upper-right corner of the stand to go through the pages until you flip the book over.
* Focus on the paper.
	+ Dog ➝ Petri Dish ➝ Bottle ➝ Mr. Crow
* Defocus twice.
* Focus on the dog. Put the dog food into the bowl. Click on the dog to make it eat the food.
* Click on the dog again to make it poop. Take the dog turd.
* Defocus, and go right.

Diver/Bat
* Focus on the hole above the diver.
* Move the pedestal to catch drops of water from the stalactites according to the diagram on the wall. The fourth stalactite acts as an eraser.
	+ Black, White, Black, Brown, Black, Black, Brown, Brown, Black, White, Black.
* Use the pickaxe on the crow statue until it is completely destroyed.
* Take the bottle with water.
* Defocus, and go right twice.

Cabinet/Mirror
* Focus on the microscope. Put the dog turd on the petri dish.
* Click on the microscope.
	+ To solve the puzzle, drag each cell so that none of the lines intersect. The red lines have to be moved so they are not crossing with another line, to make the lines all black.
* Click on the petri dish to defocus and take the Elixir.
* Place the bottle of water on the tray to the right of the microscope. Add the Elixir into the bottle, then pick up the completed Elixir.
* Defocus, and focus on the mirror.
* Give the Elixir to your reflection. Click on him to make him drink it. Continue clicking until he becomes Mr. Crow, and squawks.
* Click on the shard of mirror in the upper-right corner to remove it.
* Focus in on the corner. Take Aldous' card.
* Defocus out, then go right.

### Chapter 3: The Cubes

Dog/Stand
* Focus on the stand. Click on the arrow on the upper-left corner of the stand to flip the book back to the third page.
* Focus on the left page. Put Aldous' card down. Notice the red pattern.
* Defocus out, then go right twice.

Door
* Focus on the center piece on the door.
* Draw the pattern from Aldous' page. The upper-right light will turn on.
* Defocus, then go left twice.

Dog/Stand
* Focus on the new light on the wall in the upper-left corner.
* Follow where the fish point to move Aldous and collect the objects in order.
	+ Black Cube, Octopus, White Cube, Angler Fish, Blue Cube, Golden Cube
* Move Aldous to the exit. Notice the crack in the wall.
* Use the pickaxe on the crack, and take the ore.
* Defocus, and go right.

Diver/Bat
* Focus on the fire pit. Place the ore in the pot, and click it to make it melt.
* Pick up the liquid metal.
* Defocus, and go right twice.

Cabinet/Mirror
* Focus on the microscope.
* Use the liquid metal on the key mold. Close the mold and reopen it, and take the key.
* Defocus, and go right.

Dog/Stand
* Focus on the dresser. Use the key on the bottom drawer.
* Open it and take the duct tape.
* Defocus, and go right.

Diver/Bat
* Focus on the diver. Use the duct tape to patch the hole in the tube.
* Turn the handle until the machine's arrow indicator is in the red (4 times).
* Remove the diver's helmet and talk to him.
Give me the extract
* Give him the Elixir. Click on him to make him drink it, and again until he becomes Mr. Owl. He sits up and becomes the man again.
* Talk to him.
Dale's journey is about to start
You have to gather the memories
We need them for our future, the full elixir
Descend into the great depths of the lake
Take care Aldous
* Click on him, and focus on the box in his hand.
* Open the lid, and take the diamond. Pick up Laura's card.
* Defocus out, and go left.

### Chapter 4: A Higher Consciousness

Dog/Stand
* Focus on the stand. Click on the arrow on the upper-right corner of the stand to flip the page.
* Focus on the left page. Put Laura's card down. Notice the red pattern.
* Defocus, then go right twice.

Door
* Focus on the center piece on the door.
* Draw the pattern from Laura's page. The lower-left light will turn on.
* Go left twice.

Dog/Stand
* Focus on the new light on the wall, in the bottom right-hand corner.
* Notice where the green and red arrows are pointing.
* Defocus, and go right twice.

Door
* Click on the door to open it.
* Go further into the cave.
* Focus on the lever. Turn the dials to correspond to the arrows in the other room.
	+ Left Dial - North-East
	+ Right Dial - North-West
* The lightbulb is now on. Pull down the lever to drop the cubical submarine.
* Click on the submarine. Turn the handle to open the hatch, and go inside.

### The White Cube

GPS
* You instantly acquire matches.
* Focus on the lower shelf. Pick up the empty ink pot and the shell.
* Focus on the paper to the left. Notice the coordinates.
	+ 3 to the left, and 2 down to the cube.
	+ Depth = 40
* Defocus, then focus on the map to the right.
* Move the pins to correspond to the directions.
	+ Place one pin over the Hotel to start. (6,3)
	+ Move left three lines with another pin. (3,3)
	+ Move down two lines with the last pin. Note the coordinates: X = 3, Y = 5
* Defocus out, and focus on the GPS (machine in the middle).
* Input the coordinates.
	+ X - 3
	+ Y - 5
	+ D - 40
* The GPS has now pinpointed the location of the white cube. The screen on the upper-left shows where the submarine is compared to the cube. You now have to move the submarine onto the cube's location.
	+ Note the distance: 5 lines up, and 4 lines to the left.
* Defocus, and go left.

Periscope
* Focus on the machine to the left.
* Put the diamond into the small diamond-shaped hole on the left.
* Turn the dial to 5, and pull down the lever. This moves the submarine up five lines on the GPS. Notice that the submarine is still facing north, and needs to turn.
* Defocus.
* Focus on the compass (below the periscope). Drag the lever to the west. This moves the submarine to face the left.
* Defocus, and focus on the machine to the left.
* Turn the dial to 4, and pull down the lever. The submarine is now on top of the cube.
* Defocus, and go right.

GPS
* Focus on the machine at the top with the red wheel.
* Turn the red handle 4 times. This gets the submarine to 40 depth.
* Defocus, and go right.

Claw
* Focus on the glass.
* Move the lever to the left over the white cube. Pull the handle down to grab onto the cube, then pull it back up.
* Move the lever to the left over the pipe. Pull the handle down, then press the button.
* Defocus, and focus on the pipe to the right. Pull the lever down.
* Defocus, and go left.

GPS
* Focus on the machine to the left.
* Push the lever up.
* Click twice on the white cube in the screen; this takes you into Laura's memories.
* Align the mountainscape to fix the picture.
* Click on Harvey, who squawks.
* Defocus, then take the white cube from the machine.
* Defocus, and go right twice.

### The Black Cube

Porthole
* Focus on the glass. Use the two circular objects to guide the fish towards either the button or the pipe. Each circle can only be used once, and the fish will turn when they enter the light area around the circle.
	+ Move one circle to the lower-middle to guide the fish to the pipe. Defocus and focus on the pan to the lower-right, and pick up the fish.
	+ Move one circle to the upper-middle to guide the fish down. Move one circle to the lower-right to guide the fish to the pipe. Defocus and focus on the pan, and pick up the fish.
	+ Move one circle to the upper-right to guide the fish down. Move one circle to the lower-right to guide the fish to the pipe. Notice the catfish that comes toward the glass. Defocus and focus on the pan, and pick up the fish.
	+ Move one circle to the middle-left to guide the first fish to the button. Move one circle to the lower-middle to guide the second fish to the pipe. Defocus and focus on the pan, and pick up the fish.
	+ Move one circle to the upper-middle to guide the first fish to the button. Move one circle to the lower-left to guide the second fish to the pipe. Defocus and focus on the pan, and pick up the fish.
	+ Move one circle to the middle-right to guide the first fish to the button. Move one circle to the lower-left to guide the second fish to the pipe. Defocus and focus on the pan, and pick up the fish.
* Defocus, and focus on the smoker to the left.
* Click the name plate to open the case. Use the matches to light the fire.
* Place the fish on the first three hooks, lowering them to reveal the second row of hooks. Arrange the fish to the balance the yellow ornaments on the tops.
	+ Left Hook - Orange, Light Brown/Thin.
	+ Middle Hook - Blue Pufferfish, Dark Brown.
	+ Right Hook - Dark Blue, Light Beige.
* Close the case. Reopen it to find the fish burnt to crisps, and note the letters "*OWL*" burnt into the wood.
* Defocus, and go right.

Periscope
* Focus on the machine to the right with the gear.
* Move the three letters to spell O-W-L. The cog on the side spins.
* Defocus. Notice the crab dropping from the machine.
* Focus on the crab. Give it the shell. Click on the crab to have it open the shell, and pick up the pearl inside.
* Defocus, and go right.

GPS
* Focus on the lower shelf, and focus on the small chest.
* Place the pearl into the hole, and click to open it.
* Take the protractor.
* Unfold the paper, and focus in to read it.
	+ Notice that the three points of the triangle rest on the Hotel, the Chapel, and the sun.
	+ Depth = 30
* Defocus, and refocus on the map.
* Put down the protractor. Turn it to align the protractor so that the longest point aligns with the Chapel, and the right point aligns with the Hotel. The left point reveals the coordinates: X = 2, Y = 2
* Defocus twice, and focus on the GPS.
* Input the coordinates.
	+ X - 2
	+ Y - 2
	+ D - 30
* The GPS has now pinpointed the location of the black cube. Note the distance: 3 lines up, and 1 line to the left.
* Defocus, and go left.

Periscope
* Focus on the machine to the left. Put the white cube into the leftmost square hole.
* Turn the dial to 1, and pull down the lever. This moves the submarine left one line on the GPS. Notice that the submarine is facing left, and needs to turn.
* Defocus.
* Focus on the compass. Drag the lever to the north, to move the submarine to face up.
* Defocus, and focus on the machine.
* Turn the dial to 3, and pull down the lever. The submarine is now on top of the cube.
* Defocus, and go right.

GPS
* Focus on the machine at the top.
* Pull the lever down once. This gets the submarine to 30 depth.
* Defocus, and go right.

Claw
* Focus on the glass.
* Move the lever to the left over the black cube. Pull the handle down to grab onto the cube, then pull it back up. Move the lever to the left over the pipe. Pull the handle down, then press the button.
* Defocus, and focus on the pipe to the right. Pull the lever down.
* Defocus, and go left.

Wall 1
* Focus on the machine to the left.
* Pull the lever down. Click on the black cube in the screen, then click it again. This takes you into Laura's memories.
* Align the words "*There will be blood*" to fix the image.
* Click on Laura; she slits her throat, and a Corrupted Soul emerges.
* Click to defocus.
* Take the black cube from the machine.
* Defocus, and go right.

### The Blue Cube

Claw
* Focus on the small box to the upper-left of the glass. Note the anglerfish, along with a small orange fish.
* Focus on the paper. It details how to use Morse code. There are arrows at the bottom of the page.
* You need to use the Morse code to move the angler fish to eat the small fish. The two buttons on the left of the box are for Morse code, and the buttons on the right are to erase and to use the lightbulb to send the code to the angler.
* Defocus.
* Click on the angler fish, it lights at you.
* Use Morse code to move the anglerfish up. Press the upper-right button after each letter.
	+ U = Dot, Dot, Dash.
	+ P = Dot, Dash, Dash, Dot.
* Use Morse code to move the anglerfish left. Press the upper-right button after each letter.
	+ L = Dot, Dash, Dot, Dot.
	+ E = Dot.
	+ F = Dot, Dot, Dash, Dot.
	+ T = Dash.
* The anglerfish eats the small fish. Click on the anglerfish for it to light you a Morse code.
	+ Dot, Dot = I
	+ Dash, Dot = N
	+ Dash, Dash, Dot, Dash = K
* Defocus, and go right twice.

Periscope
* Focus on the machine to the right.
* Move the three letters to spell I-N-K. The cog on the side spins.
* Defocus. Notice the octopus tentacles hanging out from the machine.
* Focus on the tentacles. You need to pop out all of the suction cups. The tentacle you click pops two cups, and pops one cup on the tentacle next to it.
	+ First Tentacle - two times
	+ Second Tentacle - one time
	+ Fourth Tentacle - eight times
* The first tentacle is now curled, and squirts ink when clicked. Use the empty ink pot to collect a full ink pot.
* Defocus, and go right.

GPS
* Focus on the lower shelf, and focus on the map.
* Use the ink on the map, which spills across the paper and stops at the next coordinates: Depth = 00, X = 4, Y = 6
* Defocus twice, and refocus on the GPS.
* Input the coordinates.
	+ X - 4
	+ Y - 6
	+ D - 00
* The GPS has now pinpointed the location of the blue cube. Note the distance: 2 lines to the right, and 4 lines down.
* Defocus, and go left.

Periscope
* Focus on the machine to the left. Put the black cube into the middle square hole.
* Defocus.
* Focus on the compass. Turn the lever towards the east: this moves the submarine to face right.
* Defocus.
* Focus on the machine. Turn the dial to 2, and pull down the lever. This moves the submarine right two lines on the GPS. Notice that the submarine is facing right, and needs to turn.
* Defocus.
* Focus on the compass. Turn the lever towards the south; this moves the submarine to face down.
* Defocus, and focus on the machine.
* Turn the dial to 4, and pull down the lever. The submarine is now on top of the cube.
* Defocus, and go right.

GPS
* Focus on the machine at the top.
* Pull the lever down three times. This gets the submarine to 00 depth.
* Defocus, and go right.

Claw
* Focus on the glass.
* Move the lever to the left over the blue cube. Pull the handle down to grab onto the cube, then pull it back up. Move the lever to the left over the pipe. Pull the handle down, then press the button.
* Defocus, and focus on the pipe to the right. Pull the lever down.
* Defocus, and go left.

GPS
* Focus on the machine to the left.
* Pull the lever down. Click on the blue cube in the screen, then click it again. This takes you into Laura's memories.
* Spin the background to align it with the innermost pattern to fix the picture.
* Click to defocus.
* Take the blue cube from the machine.
* Defocus out, and go left.

### The Golden Cube

Periscope
* Focus on the periscope. Open the hatch and click to view. Notice the boatman on the lake with three empty fish hooks.
* Defocus, and go left.

Claw
* Focus on the glass. Use the two circular objects to guide the fish towards the hooks.
	+ Move one circle to the lower-right to guide the fish to the hook.
	+ Move one circle to the lower-left to guide the fish to the hook. Notice the shark.
	+ Move one circle to the middle to guide the fish to the hook.
* Defocus, and go right.

Periscope
* Focus on the periscope. Click to view.
* The boatman has caught the three fish. Click on him, and he will sign you three letters: KIT.
* Defocus, and focus on the machine to the right.
* Move the three letters to spell K-I-T. The cog on the side spins.
* Defocus, and focus on the hook. Take the fishing hook.
* Go right.

GPS
* Focus on the bottled ship.
* Click to remove the cork from the bottle.
* Use the fishing hook to pull out a piece of the ship.
* Defocus, and focus on the lower shelf. Focus on the ship piece.
* Take the paper out of the piece, and click to unfold it. Notice the directions.
	+ 3 up and 1 right from the Chapel.
	+ Depth = 50
* Defocus, then focus on the map. Move the pins to correspond to the directions.
	+ Place one pin over the Chapel to start.
	+ Move up three lines with another pin.
	+ Move right one line with the last pin.
	+ Note the coordinates: X = 3, Y = 4
* Defocus twice, and focus on the GPS.
* Input the coordinates.
	+ X - 3
	+ Y - 4
	+ D - 50
* The GPS has now pinpointed the location of the golden cube. Note the distance: 2 lines up, and 1 line to the left.
* Defocus, and go left.

Periscope
* Focus on the machine to the left. Put the blue cube into the right-hand square hole.
* Defocus.
* Focus on the compass. Drag the lever to the north; this moves the submarine to face up.
* Defocus.
* Focus on the machine. Turn the dial to 2, and pull the lever. This moves the submarine up two lines on the GPS. Notice that the submarine is facing north, and needs to turn.
* Defocus.
* Focus on the compass. Drag the lever to the west; this moves the submarine to face left.
* Defocus, and focus on the machine.
* Turn the dial to 1, and pull the lever. The submarine is now on top of the cube.
* Defocus, and go right.

GPS
* Focus on the machine at the top.
	+ Turn the red handle 5 times. This gets the submarine to 50 depth.
* Defocus, and go left.

Periscope
* Focus on the machine to the left: it has broken. Take the white cube, black cube, and blue cube.
* Defocus, and go left twice.

Claw
* You see Mr. Boar's soul at the cracked glass.
* Focus on the glass. Click on it until it breaks open.

The Forest
* Click on the Corrupted Souls to pass by them to the right.
	+ Mr. Deer, Ms. Pheasant, Mr. Boar, Mr. Rabbit, and Mrs. Pigeon.
* Click on the white cube past Mrs. Pigeon's soul.
* Continue going towards the cube, and click for a door to appear. Enter the cube.

Dale
* Focus on Dale.
* Click on the machine above his head to lower it down.
* Throw the lever: he briefly becomes corrupted.
* Defocus, and go right twice.

Laura
* Focus on Laura.
* Click on the machine above her head to lower it down.
* Throw the lever: she briefly becomes uncorrupted.
* Defocus, and go left.

Machine
* Place the blue cube, white cube, and black cube into the slots.
* Focus on the top of the machine.
* Click on the drill-like piece once to move it into position.
* Click on the green button, and it creates the golden cube. Take the golden cube.
* Defocus, and go left twice.

Elevator
* Focus on Dale. Give him the golden cube.
* Click on the golden cube to defocus. He is now in the elevator.
* Click to close the door, and click again to send the elevator upwards.

## Soundtrack

The Soundtrack for this game contains 7 specially composed tracks from composer Victor Butzelaar. It can be purchased via bandcamp.com.

## Trivia

* Following the release of the Steam version, the Cube Escape Collection has 72 unlockable achievements.
* Cube Escape: The Cave is the first Rusty Lake game to utilize a built-in hint system, where advice on solving puzzles can be found without accessing a full walkthrough. A video walkthrough is still available.
* The achievement "The story continues" ends with an envelope with a broken timepiece, a photo of young Laura with a camera, a key with a keychain saying 6, a card for "The Golden Cube", and a card that says "reubtmoce" with the numbers 9827 on it.
	+ These are all references to Underground Blossom. "reubtmoce" rearranges to spell "Cube Metro".

## Gallery

Title Card for Cube Escape: The Cave.Introduction for Cube Escape: The Cave.More introduction for Cube Escape: The Cave.Ending Card for Cube Escape: The Cave.