Embark on a mind-bending journey through Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 as you unravel the mysteries of the Hiddenfolk puzzles in Chapter 3. Discover the precise locations of the elusive carved stone balls and master the art of manipulating the environment to unlock secret paths and overcome daunting obstacles. Whether on PC or Xbox, this guide reveals every step you need to please the Hiddenfolk and progress through their intricate challenges. Dive into the enigmatic world where perception shifts and reality bends-your path to solving all Hiddenfolk puzzles starts here.
To solve the puzzles, you’ll have to collect stone balls from nearby and return them to the puzzle’s central pillar. It’s not as straightforward as just walking around, though, and involves some mind-bending visuals.
Our Hellblade 2 guide will show you where to find the carved stone balls in all three of the hiddenfolk puzzles.
Hiddenfolk puzzle solution #1
The first Hiddenfolk puzzle in Hellblade 2 begins just outside Fargrimr’s house, where you follow a path down a cliff to a depression in the rocks with a short stone pillar at its center. To solve the puzzle, you must find and place carved stone balls on this central pillar. The first stone ball is located to the left of a fractal gate, up a path leading to a pedestal. Picking up this ball causes the world to mirror, transporting you to a cave. Simply retrace your steps back to the pillar and place the ball there. This action triggers a series of water droplet rings that you must align by focusing on them, which then allows you to progress further by revealing new paths and additional stone balls to collect and place, ultimately solving the puzzle and advancing in the game.
Leave Fargrimr’s house and follow the path down the cliff. Keep following the path until you come to a depression in the rocks with a short stone pillar in the center. Drop down in to start the puzzle.
First stone ball location
Facing the fractal gate that opens, head to the left to find a path. Just a little way up, you’ll find a pedestal with the first stone ball.
Pick it up, and the world will mirror, leaving you in a cave. It’s weird, but you just have to walk back the way you came and place the first ball at the central pillar.
Second stone ball location
When you place it, three rings of water-like droplets will appear off to the right. Treat them like a target – stand so that the rings are concentric like a bullseye. When you’re in the right place, they’ll condense into one droplet and you can focus on it.
Doing so will move the rock blocking your path from the ground to the mirrored version on the ceiling. Walk through and take a right. Follow the path to the second stone ball. Return it to the center to open the gate.
Hiddenfolk puzzle solution #2
The solution to the Hiddenfolk puzzle #2 in Hellblade 2 involves collecting three stone orbs scattered around a clearing. First, after entering the area, head to the right side of the pedestal and climb a small hill to retrieve the first orb, which changes the environment once picked up. Then, interact with floating bubbles to open a ledge on the right, climb up to find the second orb, and use the bubbles again to swap the environment so the orb reappears. Finally, focus on the bubbles to bring down a bridge, cross it, and interact with more bubbles to lower the third orb from the ceiling. After collecting all three orbs, place them on the pedestal in sequence to complete the puzzle and proceed.
A bit of a walk later, you’ll come to another drop and another short pillar. You might even see the first stone ball before you spot the central pedestal(s).
First stone ball location
As soon as you drop down to the puzzle, take a right. Follow the path up and to the left to find the first stone ball. The world will mirror again. Walk it down to the center and place it. More of the water droplets will appear when you do.
Second stone ball location
Head back toward where the first stone ball was. There will be some water rings on your left. Line them up and focus on them to move a bridge from the ceiling to the floor.
Loop back up to the platform where you found the first stone ball. You’ll be able to cross the bridge you just moved this time.
At the far end, use the water rings on your right to move the second stone ball to the floor. You won’t be able to get to it yet.
Backtrack down to the floor and use the first set of rings to move the bridge back to the ceiling. Now you can pass through the gap and take a left to find the second stone ball.
Third stone ball location
The third ball is off to the left side of the gate. You can even see the stone ball on its pedestal, but you can’t get to it. Use the rings on that side to flip the two ledges – moving the stone ball to the ceiling, but dropping a climbable ledge.
Climb up the ledge and focus on the water again to drop the third stone ball. Focus on the water one more time to get the ledge back. Drop down and place the third stone ball to unlock the gate.
Hiddenfolk puzzle solution #3
The third Hiddenfolk puzzle in Hellblade 2 takes place at a large lake after crawling through a tunnel. To solve it, start by collecting the first orb from the hill to the right at the water’s edge and place it on the altar. This activates a bubble that summons a hill with the second orb. After collecting the second orb, use the bubble again to move the hill back to its original position. Place the second orb on the altar to extend the hill on the right side, allowing access to the third bubble. Activating this bubble triggers a Draugr attack, which must be defeated. Then, reactivate the second bubble to restore the rocks near the cliffside. With all bubbles correctly set, follow the cliff path to retrieve the third orb and place it on the altar to reveal the Hiddenfolk’s realm entrance, completing the puzzle.
A bit more walking and a quick crawl through a cave will bring you to a mirror-like lake. This is where you’ll find the third Hiddenfolk puzzle.
First stone ball location
As you approach the lake, you’ll see the first stone ball over to the left. At the same time, you’ll be able to see the main pedestal over to the left. Go grab the stone ball to flip the world and deliver the first ball.
Second stone ball location
When you place the first stone ball, more water droplet rings will appear. Use the rings directly ahead of you to flip down a second stone sphere. Head off the right to find a path up to the second stone sphere. Grab it and return it to the center.
Third stone ball location
Before you go too far, flip the water rings you just used again – there’s another pedestal on the other side that you’ll need to get to.
Head back toward where you started the puzzle. There will be a ledge you can climb on your left. Hop up and then turn around to find more water rings. Use them to flip a path down on your left.
Turn around and head away from the rings. There’s a ledge on the right that will lead you back to the path you just flipped. At the far end, use the rings to move a big chunk of rock out of your way, but.
You’ll get attacked by draugar before you can do much else. Handle the four that attack you, and you’ll be able to continue.
Backtrack down to the main floor, and use the water rings to (re)flip the path you just used. Head away from the central pillars to find the end of the path you’ve just created. Take a right, duck under the rock you flipped earlier, and follow the path back to the third stone ball. There’s a ledge right next to it so you can drop down and finish the puzzle.
What are the most challenging steps to find all stone balls in Hellblade 2 puzzles
The most challenging steps to find all stone balls in Hellblade 2’s Hiddenfolk puzzles involve complex environmental manipulation and perception shifts. Particularly in the third puzzle, players must navigate a series of intricate steps: after placing the first stone ball, they need to focus on water-like droplets to open new paths and use these droplets to move ledges and bridges, often flipping parts of the environment between floor and ceiling. This includes climbing ledges, defeating Draugar enemies, and carefully timing the use of Focus on water drops to raise or lower platforms to access the final stone balls. The puzzles require precise positioning and observation of visual cues like concentric water rings to progress, making the last puzzle notably the most difficult due to its multi-layered platforming and combat elements.
Which step in collecting stone balls requires the most perception shifts I need to master
The step in collecting stone balls in Hellblade 2 that requires the most perception shifts to master is the third Hiddenfolk puzzle, where players must repeatedly flip parts of the environment between floor and ceiling by focusing on water-like droplets. This puzzle demands acute attention to visual cues, such as concentric water rings, and skillful manipulation of the environment to raise or lower ledges and bridges, effectively shifting the player’s perception of spatial orientation multiple times. Mastering these perception shifts is crucial to navigate the complex platforming and access the final stone balls hidden behind these illusions. This step challenges the player’s ability to adapt to changing visual perspectives and environmental transformations, making it the most demanding in terms of perception shifts.
