The Witness: Allocation of 523 Campaign Puzzles and 49 Audiologs

Screenshots of 523 puzzles (unsolved) that increase your puzzle count.
Screenshots of 49 Audiologs.

Overview

This guide is supposed to provide a systematic account of all the puzzles that count towards the main puzzle score. The purpose is to identify each puzzle in the game that increases the main puzzle count and, if possible, to identify the purpose of it.

!!!! This guide does not contain any puzzle solutions !!!!

However, it discusses the purpose of those puzzles that (i) are not necessary to finish the game, or (ii) have multiple purposes. It also reveals purposes of some puzzles that are not obvious and some secret areas. It also contains the number and screenshots of all audiologs in each area. As such it contains heavy

As to the terminology, puzzles are classified as follows:

• Solution Puzzles:
  Puzzles that are part of the "campaign". As such it is required to complete them in order to
  (i) exit the Entry Area,
  (ii) access an area that is otherwise unreachable,
  (iii) activate a laser, or
  (iii) finish the game.
  -> Exception: Vault Access Puzzles (see below).
  
• Access Puzzles:
  Puzzles that open (or close) a path AND are not required to activate a laser or access an area.
  -> Exception: Vault Access Puzzles (see below).
  
• Triangle Puzzles:
  Puzzles that contain triangle symbols only in one square of the panel.
  
• Vault Access Puzzles:
  Puzzles that grant access to vaults with solution boxes.
  
• Remaining Puzzles:
  Puzzles that serve other, or no apparent, purposes.

In case a puzzle has a purpose other than progressing in the campaign, or no apparent purpose at all, this is mentioned with the screenshot of that puzzle.

The following map from The Witness blog is used for purposes of allocation:

Tabular overview of all 523 puzzles and 49 audiologs:

Area	Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
Entry Area	29	8	3	1	1	16		4
Symmetry	44	38	-	1	-	5		2
Desert	29	26	-	1	1	1		1
Quarry	50	45	2	1	-	2		1
Logging	22	22	-	-	-	-		2
Keep & Shipwreck	13	5	-	2	1	5		5
Tree House	63	53	8	2	-	-		4
Marsh & Bay	56	36	5	-	-	15		2
Greenhouse	16	16	-	-	-	-		1
Tropical Forest & Peninsula	14	13	-	1	-	-		5
Monastery	12	10	1	-	1	-		1
Hub (w/o Windmill/Theater)	29	21	3	2	-	3		5
Windmill / Theater	12	2	2	1	-	7		-
Orchard	5	5	-	-	-	-		-
Mountain (w/o Greenhouse)	54	50	-	2	1	1		9
Cave	50	2	5	-	-	43		4
Challenge Area	25	2	2	-	21	-		3
TOTAL	523	354	31	14	26	98		49

Entry Area

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
29	8	3	1	1	16		4

1. Solution Puzzles
   
   
   
   
   
   #1-5
   
   
   #6: In conjunction with Solution Puzzles #1-5,7, this puzzle is required to access Solution Puzzle #8. An alternative solution of this puzzle is required to open a path to Access Puzzle #1.
   
   
   #7
   
   
   #8: All solutions for this puzzle but one (see below Access Puzzle #3) will open the gate.
   
   
2. Access puzzles
   #1: Provides access to Triangle Puzzle #1 (see below) and Audiolog #3 (see below).
   
   #2: Provides direct access between Entry cliffs and Entry path.
   
   #3: There is one solution of this puzzle that will close the gate, thereby enabling an environmental puzzle that grants access to a secret area. So this puzzle panel has a puzzle count of two:
   
   • 1 for all the solutions that open the gate (see above Solution Puzzle #8);
     
   • 1 for the one solution that closes the gate.
   
   
3. Triangle Puzzle
   #1: Access through Access Puzzle #1 (see above).
   
   
4. Vault Access Puzzle
   #1: Located on the Entry path.
   
   
5. Remaining Puzzles
   #1: Activates Remaining Puzzle #2.
   
   #2:This puzzle is required to complete the town obelisk.
   
   #3-16: These puzzles appear to have only tutorial purposes.
   
   
6. Audiologs
   #1
   
   #2
   
   #3: Access through Access Puzzle #1 (see above)
   
   #4

Symmetry

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
44	38	-	1	-	5		2

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1: Grants Access to the Glass Factory. Also affects which of the vases inside the Glass Factory will be lifted (required for completion of the desert obelisk).
   
   #2-6: Aside from activating Solution Puzzle #7, completing these will also grant access to the boat through the Glass Factory.
   
   #7-9
   
   #10-12
   
   #13: Grants Access to Symmetry Island.
   
   #14-18
   
   #19-24
   
   #25-31
   
   #32: Grants Access to the laser section of Symmetry Island.
   
   #33-35
   
   #36-38
   
   
2. Triangle Puzzle
   #1
   
   
3. Remaining Puzzles
   
   
   
   
   
   #1-5: No apparent purpose. I figure these puzzles are supposed to serve as a tutorial for Solution Puzzle #11 of the Hub (see below).
   
   
4. Audiologs
   #1
   
   #2

Desert

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
29	26	-	1	1	1		1

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1-8
   
   #9-11
   
   #12-16
   
   #17-19
   
   #20
   
   #21
   
   #22-23
   
   #24
   
   #25
   
   #26
   
   
2. Triangle Puzzle
   #1: Located at the left end of the beach.
   
   
3. Vault Access Puzzle
   #1: Located on the beach right next to the stairs.
   
   
4. Remaining Puzzle
   #1: One of the most mysterious puzzles for me. No apparent purpose. The puzzle is raised and lowered with the water level. Solution can only be seen once the light above it is activated and the puzzle is completely lowered.
   
   
5. Audiolog
   #1

Quarry

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
50	45	2	1	-	2		1

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1-2: Grant access to the Quarry. The Quarry can also be accessed through the Logging, nonetheless I don't file them as Access Puzzles because each area should be considered in itself.
   
   #3-4
   
   #5
   
   #6-10
   
   #11
   
   #12-16
   
   #17-20
   
   21-23
   
   #24-25
   
   #26-27: This puzzle has a double on the upper floor and thus has a puzzle count of 2. However, since there's another puzzle linked to this one, sometimes the puzzle count is increased by 3.
   
   #28-33
   
   #34-35: This puzzle has a double on the upper floor and thus has a puzzle count of 2. However, since solving Solution Puzzle 26 sometimes appears to solve the double, the puzzle count is only increased by 1 in that case. In any event, solving the correctors #26 and #34 will add 4 to the puzzle count.
   
   #36-38
   
   #39-41
   
   #42-43: Solving puzzle #43 does not only activate Solution Puzzle #44 but also Remaining Puzzle #2 (see below).
   
   #44: Solving this puzzle does not only activate Solution Puzzle #45 but also Access Puzzle #2 (see below)
   
   #45: It should be noted that #45 is the only Solution Puzzle in the entire game that directly activates a laser. In all other cases, activating the laser is done by a simple straight-line switch that does not add to the main puzzle count. Why?
   
   
2. Access Puzzles
   #1: Grants direct access to the upper floor of the Concrete Factory,
   
   #2: Grants direct (though slow) access from the Quarry Walls to the Quarrry. Required to complete the obelisk in the Logging area.
   
   
3. Triangle Puzzle
   #1: Located on the roof of the Concrete Factory.
   
   
4. Remaining Puzzles
   #1: Used to move the crane. Required to complete the obelisk in the Logging area.
   
   #2: One of the most mysterious puzzles for me. No apparent purpose. It can be noted though that it is a duplicate of the Vault Access Puzzle in the Entry Area with the only difference that it exchanges the only possible starting point of the latter puzzle for a tripod symbol. Is there anything that can be concluded from that?
   
   
5. Audiologs
   #1

Logging

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
22	22	-	-	-	-		2

1. Solution Puzzles
   
   
   
   #1-3: Puzzle #3 also grants access to the Quarry.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   #4-8: Puzzle #8 also activates Solution Puzzle #17.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   #9-16: Puzzle #16 opens one of the laser gates.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   #17-21: Puzzle #21 opens one of the laser gates.
   
   #22
   
   
2. Audiologs
   #1
   
   #2

Keep & Shipwreck

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
13	5	-	2	1	5		5

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1-5: Alternatively, Remaining Puzzles #1-5 (see below) on the other side of the tower can be solved to activate the Keep laser.
   
   
2. Triangle Puzzles
   #1
   
   #2
   
   
3. Vault Access Puzzle
   #1: Located on the lower level of the Shipwreck.
   
   
4. Remaining Puzzles
   #1-5
   
   
5. Audiologs
   #1
   
   #2
   
   #3
   
   #4
   
   #5

Tree House

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
63	53	8	2	-	-		4

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1: Taking the boat is required to get to the Tree House area. This puzzle can be completed on any boat call panel.
   
   #2
   
   #3
   
   #4
   
   #5-7
   
   #8-10
   
   #11-13
   
   #14
   
   #15-17
   
   #18-19
   
   #20-22
   
   #23-25
   
   #26
   
   #27-29
   
   #30-32
   
   #33-35: Note that #35 has three exit points which gives it many purposes.
   
   #36-38
   
   #39-41
   
   #42-44
   
   #45-47: Note that #45 has three exit points which gives it many purposes.
   
   #48-50
   
   #51-53
   
   
2. Access Puzzles
   #1-3
   
   #4-6: Note that #4 has three exit points which gives it many purposes.
   
   #7
   
   Acces Puzzles #1-7 provide access to Triangle Puzzle #2 (see below) and an Audiolog #3 (see below). They are also required to complete the obelisk on the Cliffside Path.
   
   #8: Grants access from the Tree House area to the main land and vice versa. It should be noted that #8 is one of the few Access Puzzles that do not have an irreversible effect. Why should the player be allowed to close the gate again?
   
   
3. Triangle Puzzles
   #1
   
   #2: Access through Access Puzzles #1-7 (see above).
   
   
4. Audiologs
   #1
   
   #2
   
   #3: Access through Access Puzzles #1-7 (see above).
   
   #4

Marsh & Bay

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
56	36	5	-	-	15		2

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1
   
   #2-3: This panel has a double in the underground room right next to the bridge which is why solving one panel adds 2 to the main puzzle count.
   
   #4-7
   
   #8-11
   
   #12-15
   
   #16
   
   #17-20
   
   #21-25
   
   #26-30
   
   #31-34
   
   #35-36: This panel has a double on the opposite side of the structure which is why solving one panel increases the main puzzle count by 2.
   
   
2. Access Puzzles
   #1-2: Provide access between Marsh and Bay area.
   
   #3: Provides access between Marsh and Mountain.
   
   #4-5: Provide access between Marsh and Mountain.
   
   
3. Remaining Puzzles
   #1-6
   
   #7-14
   
   These puzzles serve no apparent purpose but to the teach the player the puzzle mechanics with tetrominos.
   
   #15: Another mystery. No apparent purpose.
   
   
4. Audiologs
   #1
   
   #2

Greenhouse

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
16	16	-	-	-	-		1

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1
   
   #2-6
   
   #7-10
   
   #11
   
   #12
   
   #13
   
   #14-15
   
   #16: Even though this panel has to be solved multiple times with different solutions only the first valid solution will add 1 to the main puzzle count.
   
   
2. Audiologs
   #1

Tropical Forest & Peninsula

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
14	13	-	1	-	-		5

1. Solution Puzzles
   
   
   
   #1-3
   
   
   
   
   
   #4-7
   
   #8-13
   
   
2. Triangle Puzzle
   #1
   
   
3. Audiologs
   #1-2
   
   #3
   
   #4
   
   #5

Monastery

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
12	10	1	-	1	-		1

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1
   
   #2
   
   #3
   
   #4
   
   #5
   
   #6
   
   #7
   
   #8
   
   #9
   
   #10
   
   
2. Access Puzzles
   #1: Grants direct access between Monastery and Mountain.
   
   
3. Vault Access Puzzle
   #1
   
   
4. Audiologs
   #1

Hub (w/o Windmill / Theater)

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
29	21	3	2	-	3		5

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1
   
   #2
   
   #3: This panel opens door #1 of the tower.
   
   #4
   
   #5
   
   #6-10: Solution Puzzle #10 opens door 2 of the tower.
   
   #11
   
   #12
   
   #13
   
   #14: This panel has three required solutions but it only increases the puzzle count by 1.
   
   #15: This panel opens door 3 of the tower.
   
   #16-20
   
   #21: This panel opens door 4 of the tower.
   
   
2. Access Puzzles
   #1: Grants access to Triangle Puzzle #1 (see below).
   
   #2-3: Grants access to Remaining Puzzles #1-3 (see below).
   
   
3. Triangle Puzzle
   #1: Accessible through Access Puzzle #1 (see above)
   
   #2
   
   
4. Remaining Puzzles
   #1
   
   #2
   
   #3
   
   Accessible through Access Puzzles #2-3 (see above).
   
   These three Remaining Puzzles are certainly some of the most interesting and mysterious puzzles on the Island. #1 changes the lighting situation in the room which causes puzzles #2 and #3 each to show three different square/starburst patterns that have to be complied with in order to solve them. #2 and #3 don't have any apparent purpose but to make the player use puzzle #1. Now the player also needs puzzle #1 in order to complete the town obelisk. Puzzles #2 and #3 still seem too elaborate to just serve as a red hering.
   
   
5. Audiologs
   #1-2
   
   #3
   
   #4
   
   #5

Windmill / Theater

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
12	2	2	1	-	7		-

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1: Grants access to the Windmill.
   
   #2: Grants access to the Theater.
   
   
2. Access Puzzles
   #1-2: Grant direct access between Theater and Hub.
   
   
3. Triangle Puzzle
   #1
   
   
4. Remaining Puzzles
   #1: Activates the Windmill. Required to complete the Symmetry obelisk.
   
   #2-7: This panel serves no purpose than to progress with the town obelisk (it also provides some nice food for thought ;). It has six valid solutions each of which adds 1 to the main puzzle score. The solutions can be found in boxes hidden in the six vaults that are located in:
   
   • Entry Area (see above),
     
   • Desert (see above),
     
   • Shipwreck (see above),
     
   • Monastery (see above),
     
   • Mountain (see below),
     
   • Challenge Area (see below).

Orchard

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
5	5	-	-	-	-		-

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1
   
   #2
   
   #3
   
   #4
   
   #5
   
   Solving these puzzles grants access to an area on the side of the Windmill. Is there any other purpose aside serving as a tutorial for Solution Puzzle #13 in the Hub?

Mountain (w/o Greenhouse)

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
54	50	-	2	1	1		9

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1
   
   #2: This panel requires three solutions but it only adds 1 to the main puzzle count.
   
   #3
   
   #4-8
   
   #9-15
   
   #16
   
   #17
   
   #18
   
   #19
   
   #20
   
   #21-25
   
   #26
   
   #27-32
   
   #33
   
   #34
   
   
   
   #35-38
   
   #39
   
   #40-41: These two puzzles are procedurally generated.
   
   #42
   
   #43
   
   #44
   
   #45
   
   #46
   
   #47
   
   #48
   
   #49
   
   #50: Solving this puzzle adds 1 to your puzzle count. The game will reset but there's an autosave linked to the puzzle so you can return to that save. Note that the puzzle count in that autosave will consider that Solution Puzzle #50 has been solved even though the puzzle technically wasn't solved when and where the autosave was triggered! Anyway, the puzzle count is increased by 1.
   
   
2. Triangle Puzzles
   #1
   
   #2: Accessible from the mountain elevator.
   
   
3. Vault Access Puzzle
   #1: Located in a tunnel found on the way up to the mountain.
   
   
4. Remaining Puzzles
   #1: No apparent purpose. Could this puzzle simply serve as a "tutorial" for environmental puzzles since it is clearly shaped like the river below?
   
   
5. Audiologs
   #1
   
   #2
   
   #3
   
   #4
   
   #5
   
   #6
   
   #7
   
   #8
   
   #9

Cave

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
50	2	5	-	-	43		4

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1: Is only activated through solving a Solution Puzzle of the Mountain a second time with a different solution.
   
   #2
   
   
2. Access Puzzles
   #1: Activates the elevator.
   
   #2: Calls the elevator up.
   
   #3: Calls the elevator down.
   
   #4: Provides access to the northern lower mountain path.
   
   #5: Provides access to the northern higher mountain path.
   
   
3. Remaining Puzzles
   #1
   #2-6
   
   #7-8
   
   #9
   
   #10-14
   
   #15-18
   
   #19
   
   #20
   
   #21
   
   #22
   
   #23-26
   
   #27-31
   
   #32
   
   #33-40
   
   #41-43
   
   None of these puzzles appear to have purpose except for increasing the puzzle count by 1 each.
   
   
4. Audiologs
   #1
   
   #2
   
   #3
   
   #4

Challenge

Total # of Puzzles	Solution Puzzles	Access Puzzles	Triangle Puzzles	Vault Access Puzzles	Remaining Puzzles		Audiologs
25	2	2	-	21	-		3

1. Solution Puzzles
   #1: Even though this puzzle is located in the Cave area, it is allocated to the Challenge because it is the first puzzle that requires solution in order to access the Challenge.
   
   #2
   
   
2. Access Puzzles
   #1: Provides access from the Challenge to the Theater and to Access Puzzle #2. It also opens the path to the solution for Access Puzzle #3 in the Entry Area (see above).
   
   #2: Provides direct access from the Challenge to the Hub.
   
   
3. Vault Access Puzzles
   The main purpose of the Challenge appears to be granting access to the a vault with a solution for the Theater puzzle. It is comprised of 14 puzzles that have to be completed in a particular order and within a time limit. Each completed puzzle will add 1 to your puzzle count. However, upon completion of all 14 Challenge puzzles your puzzle count is additionally increased by 7. So the Challenge puzzles account for a total of 21 puzzles in the main puzzle count.
   
   Since the Challenge puzzles are generated procedurrally the following screenshots will only show the basic location and general order of the puzzles. In general, each section of the Challenge always has the same types of puzzles.
   
   #1-3
   
   #4
   
   #5-8: Puzzles appear in random order.
   
   #9-10: In each of two sets of three puzzles you have to provide one solution to advance. So far it appears that in each set of three puzzles there are two unsolvable puzzles.
   
   #11-12: Located in a maze that changes every run.
   
   #13-21: The final two puzzles are mirror column puzzles. Solving the second one will add 8 to the main puzzle count.
   
   
4. Audiologs
   #1
   #2
   #3

Conclusion

I hope I didn't miss anything. Comments are very welcome!

The main reason for writing this guide is to provide a systematic approach to the puzzles on the island and their purpose. As can be seen there are still quite a few puzzles that serve no apparent purpose or are sort of "out of line" of comparable puzzles. Maybe this guide will help find some hidden secrets that have not been uncovered yet ... if there are any ;)

[Innocentive]

Oooh, I do not remember that. It's been too long since i played The Witness. Can't even remember the statue in the lake o_O Sorry...

[Grey.]

Hey, I just got every puzzle and audio logs, but I have something thats bothering me. I can't find whether the statue in the lake should be holding a flickering lantern or one that is off. Mine is holding a flickering light and I've seen people say that's how she looks after 100% and say that she should hold an unlight lantern close to her chest after 100%. How does she look for you?

[Innocentive]

Congrats! Well done...

[ErRoR_LeV]

Yay i found it at the end elevator(i think its elevator). I thought i had it but maybe when i loaded last save it didn't save

[Innocentive]

Yeah, sorry to read that! It is a shame that the game has no feature to simply find missing/overlooked puzzles. I suggest you go through each of the Remaining Puzzles and Triangle Puzzles mentioned in the guide. If you got all vaults this should help you find that one unsolved puzzle...

[ErRoR_LeV]

I've got 522 puzzels and i don't know where the last one is. But still thanks it's the best guide

[tenstairs]

What a great guide! Thanks for your time and hard work. I’m glad you didn’t include the environmental puzzles so as to keep this guide spoiler free.

[Innocentive]

Sounds reasonable. I`ll have a look at amending the guide but I probably won't incorporate that info because I read somewhere that each change will cancel all the votes received so far and given that this guide is pretty old...

[themonsterofthenet]

Well I don't have a screenshot or anything, but I remember that I was stuck trying to do the challenge because I had trouble with the very last pillar. I noted the number of completed puzzles then (first number on the save slot). Then I didn't do any other "regular" puzzles (environmental puzzles are counted separately) and then I managed to do the challenge. Before going to the theatre to enter the movie code (which would count as a puzzle), I looked at the save slot and to my surprise the number had gone up by 4. If you compared the puzzle number before and after doing the pillars and got a difference of 8, it means the other pillar is also worth 4.

[Innocentive]

Maybe, themonsterofthenet. I remember being extra careful in checking the increasing stat after every puzzle of the challenge but I may have been mistaken. Any proof for your claim?