There are tons of side areas that you’ll run into inClair Obscur: Expedition 33. Some will be boss battles, others are going to be a little different, like puzzles. The longer you play the game, you’ll start to notice that lots of things aren’t as straight-forward as they first seem.

The Esoteric Ruins are one of these moments. It’s a strange place with an even stranger puzzle that have caused many players to get lost in how to complete it. Since the objective of the puzzle isn’t explained well or isn’t told clearly, this guide will walk you through every step.

Sciel looking at a large monster that’s in front of her in Clair Obscur: Expedititon 33.

How To Find The Esoteric Ruins

Getting to this area is the easy part. Once you’ve found Monoco Station, the next story markerwill take you to Old Lumiere.

Before going into Old Lumiere, you can head to theleft side of the old city to reach another location called the Esoteric Ruins.

The location of the Esoeric Ruines located in the map of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

You’ll need toprogress the story past Monoco Station to get access to this side of The Continent.

When you enter the ruins,follow the path till you reach a large opening. Drown down from the ledge, andinteract with a ball of energyin the center of the room.

Sciel on a cliff looking at large swords in the ground off in the distance in Clair Obscur Expedition 33.

After talking to the NPC,climb up the wall behind the ball of energy. This will take you to the starting point of the puzzle. Once you make it to the top of the wall,turn right and follow the pathgoing downward.

How To Complete The Esoteric Ruins Puzzle

This puzzle isn’t really a puzzle butrather a mazethat will have you shooting balls to open certain doors. The only issue is that you won’t know which ball to shoot other than the starting one.

Every time a ball is shot, a door will open that might not be the direction you’re supposed to go. This can result in the puzzle taking longer to complete. So, verify you follow the steps below.

Sciel shooting a ball with another in front of her in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

How To Solve The Maze

To start the maze,shoot the first ball. This should open bothleft and rightdoors at the entrance of the maze. While staying in the room with the first ball,look to your right, and shoot the ball in that room.

Next, head to theleft-hand side, directly beside the first ball you shot in the maze. When you’re in the left room,shoot the ball. It should open the doorto the room in frontof the one you’re currently in.

Sceil looking at ball. There is another one behind the enterance on her right in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Upon entering this room,shoot the ball twice. This opens theright and the far right doors. Then, navigate to thefar right room.

In the new room you’re in, shoot the ball, and it’ll open the doorgoing backwards. This door leads you to thesecond ball you hit after the maze began. In the same far right room you’re in,shoot that second ball, and then head into the room that ball is in.

From here,hit the starting ball, and head back to thatfar right room where you initially came from.

Now, you’ll be able to shoot the ball in themiddle section beside the room you’re in. Then, in the room you’re in, thedoor on the north sidewill be open.

It will have a ball,but do not shoot it.The left-hand door and the exit are going to be open. Simply walk out, and you’ve completed the puzzle.

Once you’re out,directly in front of the exitthere will be a reward, which isWood Boards. Afterwards,turn around, and you’ll see grapple pointstaking you back to the ball of energy NPC.

Give it the Wood Boards, and in exchange, you’ll get the real reward, which is theProtecting HealPicto.

When you hand in the boards,the ball of energy will transform into a bigger Nevron. Upon interacting with it in its new form, you have the optionto fight the Nevron if you choose to.This is a fight against a regular Nevron, so you’re able to simply say you’re leaving to avoid it with no consequence.