Agent of Strange: Arrival Walkthrough for Episodes 1-3

Agent of Strange: Arrival serves up a tantalizing taste of the upcoming RPG thriller Agent of Strange, laying out the backstory of the Conspirator across its first three episodes. Right from the start, you’re thrown into a distinct experience that blends narrative depth with role-playing choices, where your decisions truly shape the world around you. Many players, including myself, felt overwhelmed by the choices, especially the early ones that set the tone for the entire game.

As you navigate through these episodes, you’ll grapple with character Aspects and Principles, which affect your gameplay and interactions. It’s crucial to pay attention to these elements early on, or you might find yourself at a disadvantage in the gripping story unfolding before you.

Before jumping into the details of each episode, take time to familiarize yourself with your character options. Deciding on your gender and choosing the right childhood upbringing can influence your journey significantly later in the game.

In this narrative journey, you’ll embark on three major episodes. Here’s what to expect:

• Episode 1: Show Me a Hero
  • Birth & Finding Yourself
  • Childhood in a Wealthy Family
  • The Red Door and the Traum Family
  • The Collapse of Brocken
  • Gaining a Face
  • The Longest Night & The Morning After
  • Leaving the City
  • Arrival at the Capital
  • The Big Score & Prison
• Episode 2: A Guest from Nowhere
  • Waiting for the Guest
  • The Mysterious Guest
  • Confrontation with the Guest
• Episode 3: The Mystery of Room 451

Episode 1: Show Me a Hero begins with an intriguing setup. As the player, you find yourself in a surreal situation as the Conspirator inside a leather womb. Your first move is to click the Emerge button, and then select your character’s gender. I chose male, but this early decision is just the tip of the iceberg.

Next, you’ll meet the Lady in White and Gold, a mysterious figure who guides you as you emerge. Here, you’ll learn about the five Aspects that play a crucial role in the game:

• Body
• Heart
• Nerves
• Voice
• Shadow

These Aspects will dictate your successes in various tasks throughout the game. Once you’re ready, select Get Up and continue your journey.

Episode 1: Show Me a Hero

Birth & Finding Yourself

Confrontation with the Mysterious Guest shifts the narrative. It’s a moment of conditional choices where you move from passive participant to someone who actively influences the narrative. Negotiation and submission create diverging paths that either weaponize your will or illustrate your capitulation.

Securing the address to the Golconda Hotel ignites curiosity about the Dead Man’s Gang. Once your apartment’s safe, you’ll have to make a significant decision: leave quietly or burn it down. The stakes feel high, and adding tension to the decision-making process sparks excitement for what happens next.

Episode 3: The Mystery of Room 451 looms large, and more content is on the way. As you progress, keep in mind the importance of what you’ve built from the ground up. Your character’s development through traits and interactions weighs heavily on how your story unfolds.

Stay tuned for more updates as new choices and challenges arise that will further explore the dark world of Agent of Strange: Arrival.

Thank you for exploring the depths of Agent of Strange: Arrival. The numerous choices, layered narratives, and emerging dilemmas all blend together to define a unique gaming experience.

Keep an eye out for more walkthroughs as we navigate this stellar indie title together.

• The Body
• The Heart
• The Nerves
• The Voice
• The Shadow

Next, you’ll find yourself close to your Father, which opens another opportunity to boost a specific Trait. Here, mastering the skill of finding loopholes in documents boosts your Shadow Trait. As with other decisions, gathering different memories enriches your character, as you choose how these experiences define you.

Later in this section, your journey leads to a significant rendezvous with the Traum Family, influential figures in the city of Brocken. What you choose during this interaction unveils more about your character’s backstory and abilities.

Once you’ve made your way through the challenges, the captivating Lady in White and Gold will make her grand entrance once again. As you approach her, you’ll face an intriguing choice. In my own adventure, I stuck with a specific option that proved intriguing, and I’ll share that with you:

• Give a Cheerful Greeting

As the morning light breaks through, it’s time to decide how you want to welcome the day:

• Embrace the radiance of dawn (+Heart)

Make a dash for the torch and grasp it firmly in your hands. Doing so will bestow upon you the powerful Inner Fire Trait. The Lady in White and Gold will reward your bravery with the Home Principle. Remember, while Aspects can be seen as your individual traits, Principles serve as the very core of who you are, shaping your journey in profound ways.

Upon learning about the Red Door from a neighbor, you have the chance to either join or abandon the search, which impacts your story arc. Choosing to find the door can lead to a resolution filled with intrigue and impact on your future endeavors.

After navigating the complexities of your childhood, a catastrophic event—the Collapse of Brocken—forces you to select a Talent to help your family. Being diplomatic can save your family’s finances, a choice that alters your future paths significantly. Don’t underestimate how these decisions follow you!

Now it’s time to decide how you want to put your Torch to good use:

• Illuminate the Lighthouse

By doing this, you’ll unlock the Spiritual Backbone Principle, giving you some cool insights into the game.

Keep chatting with the Lady in White and Gold, and you’ll be faced with a choice about your Childhood, which is pretty important!

As events spiral out of control, you encounter another major decision: coping with mental turmoil, specifically Melancholy. Your options range from hiding from it, which boosts your Shadow Trait, to facing it head-on. Striking a balance here could make or break your experience moving forward.

Over time, as the Traum Family chooses to disappear under mysterious circumstances, you’ll need to decide which aspect of yourself you want to embody the most, leading to a further increase in your Heart Aspect. Each choice here weaves into your character’s narrative, ultimately shaping who they’ll become.

Following up is the phase of Gaining a Face, where character creation takes center stage. This allows you to uncover your character’s aesthetic, shaping their final outlook. Selecting traits like Education or how to interact with society will further define who your character is.

Your character’s name and style are essential; click Continue when you’re ready to receive your Passport. This is just the beginning as you now brace for interactions that affect your journey ahead.

Childhood in a Wealthy Family

The narrative culminates in a striking sequence known as The Longest Night & The Morning After. Faces of tyranny emerge as masked men terrorize the city. How you respond to this chaos—whether to take to the street in protest or cower in fear—will build your character’s traits through dignity or submission.

With this event marking a significant low point, your relationship with the Traum Family ultimately comes full circle, as you are summoned and put on trial for crimes against a kingdom you once felt a part of. Navigating these last choices carefully could determine your path out of Brocken.

• Crafting snow castles (+Body)

A handy tutorial box will appear, guiding you through the ropes of how Conditions function in the game. You’ll get the hang of it in no time!

Start off by clicking on those Snowdrifts to begin your journey of constructing the mighty Fort. Once you’ve gotten things rolling, move on to click the Bucket, and then wrap it all up by clicking on the Snow Castle. And just like that, your very own Fort is complete! This awesome addition will give a nice boost to your Body Aspect.

Next up, you’ll need to reflect on your childhood and make a choice about which parent you held closer to your heart. It’s a pivotal moment that can really shape your gaming experience.

• Father

Once you’re chatting with your Father, another thought-provoking question will emerge. This query will give you the chance to enhance a specific Trait once during each episode, allowing you to customize your character’s development.

• Find loopholes in documents (Cunning)

To impress your Father and showcase your progress, activate your Cunning skill to give your Shadow Trait a nice boost. After that, don’t forget to click the button situated above your character to complete the skill check successfully.

You’re about to embark on a nostalgic journey that will whisk you right back to your younger years. When reflecting on those precious memories that are etched into our hearts, I couldn’t help but pick:

• A moment of beauty.

Take a moment to gaze out your window and let your eyes wander over the charming courtyard. This simple act will grant you the wonderful Memory: A Moment of Beauty Trait.

The Red Door and the Traum Family

As the adventure unfolds, you’ll catch wind of an intriguing Red Door through a chat with a neighbor boy. I found myself compelled to:

• Join his search

Once you locate the mysterious Red Door, you’ll see the neighbor boy step through it just as it vanishes from view. Now, you’ll face another decision to make:

• Make sure to keep an eye out for him

Unfortunately, the boy was never located.

As you let the tale unfold, eventually the Clerk will approach you with the delightful news that you’re invited to the Traum Family Reception. The Traum Family, being the esteemed benefactors of the City of Brocken, has a tradition of welcoming all children in your age group to meet them.

You’ll only catch a glimpse of the silhouettes of the four members of the Traum Family:

• Grand Dame Traum
• Commander Traum
• Madam Traum
• Young Traum

Once they are introduced, you will have the exciting opportunity to choose one gift from four available options. Personally, I opted for the Black Box, and within it, I discovered a dazzling Kaleidoscope. If you’re feeling undecided, you can always choose not to select a gift by clicking on the door to your right instead.

With everything wrapped up, the Traum Family offers you their heartfelt send-off, marking the end of your time with them.

The Collapse of Brocken

The story jumps ahead to another fateful day when the radiant Sun inexplicably vanishes from the skies of Brocken, right in the middle of the day. This catastrophic event weighs heavily on your family, leaving you with a difficult choice. You have to tap into one of your lifesaving Talents (choice) to protect them from tumbling into financial ruin.

• Diplomacy

It’s time to have a chat with the bustling Clerk. You need to negotiate wisely to secure that all-important Talent. As the city reshapes itself to cope with the disaster, you find yourself spiraling into a dark place, plagued by feelings of melancholy.

During your time spent in bed, you receive an unexpected visit from Melancholy. This forces you to make a vital choice about how you want to deal with these heavy emotions.

• Hide from melancholy (+Shadow)

As the once-bustling city around you starts to fall apart, the brave citizens come together in a moment of desperation and seek the assistance of the Traum Family. There’s a shadowy deal that forms in the air, something unspoken, a secret that no one seems to dare mention again. Yet, in a moment of unexpected solidarity, the Traum Family agreed to lend their support. What they requested in return remains a mystery, whispered behind closed doors, adding to the intrigue of the city’s fate.

And then, just like that, the Traum Family vanished without a trace, leaving nothing but questions in their wake.

Suddenly, the Lady in White and Gold graces you with her presence once more, her ethereal figure shimmering. She poses a thought-provoking question: which part of your being do you find yourself leaning on the most?

• Share with me the essence of your Heart.

This choice will elevate your Heart Aspect to new heights. You’ll receive a valuable glimpse into the qualities and traits you’ve amassed from your younger years, shaping who you’ve become.

Now, go ahead and click Accept Yourself to take that next step forward on your journey.

Gaining a Face

In this part of the journey, we dive into the fun of character creation! Start by hitting that Uncover Your Face button to take off the mask and reveal your character’s true appearance.

Next up, you’ll want to explore the various options available to craft your character just the way you envision. This is where your creativity can really shine through!

As you shape your character’s identity, don’t forget to choose both a first and last name that resonate with you. Once you’ve made those choices and feel ready to proceed, just click on Continue to receive your very own Passport — what an exciting moment!

You’re also given the chance to select a unique Talent, which will help define your character’s abilities and strengths. Make sure to choose wisely!

• Get Education

As you transition into adulthood, it’s crucial to ponder your path and think about what calling you want to embrace in this vibrant city. Your choice will shape your adventure ahead!

• (Nerves) It’s time to step into the shoes of a teacher!

Your journey isn’t complete until you get the chance to personalize your character’s look. Dive into the customization options and pick out the perfect combination of pants and a top layer that reflects your unique style.

Shortly after, you will encounter the enchanting Lady in White and Gold again. This time around, she won’t be offering you any gifts, so you’ll have to continue your adventure without her usual blessings.

The moment you’ve been waiting for finally arrives when the Traum Family makes their grand return. Your Father poses an intriguing question that’s bound to get you thinking:

• Let them give it a shot!

The Longest Night & The Morning After

As you progress through the storyline, you’ll notice that the city is progressively facing harsher challenges. During this time, the Lady in White and Gold appears once more, urging you to dig deep and find your inner strength. This marks the beginning of a long, treacherous night for the inhabitants of Brocken.

Your arrival at the Capital ushers in new dynamics. You must choose alliances wisely, with the potential to become a criminal or even join forces with the gang. Each choice transforms the narrative and how other characters interact with you, which is exciting but can also lead to unforeseen challenges.

Lastly, as you face life behind bars or return to pleading innocence, the raw journey you’ve carved is a reflection of the decisions right from your childhood. As days fold into weeks, being stationed in the Big Score & Prison unveils not merely survival but a spectrum of choices that prove profound.

As the longest night approaches, the game presents you with a pivotal choice about your actions and behavior.

• Take to the streets (Dignity)

By choosing to hit the streets in protest, you will be granted a new Principle that reflects your stand and commitment to change.

When the sun rises the next day, the city appears to have forgotten the events of the night, slipping back into its routine. However, it isn’t long before you’re called in front of the Traum Family.

This time around, the Traum Family you face is a far cry from the warm and welcoming folks you remembered from your childhood days. Instead, you’re accused of wrongdoing and put on trial. You have the option to abandon your Principles and Ask for Mercy, but my choice was clear.

• Save your dignity.

After being punished by the Traum Family, you’re cast out from the city, and a colossal red finger seems to touch you just before everything fades from your grasp.

As you regain consciousness outside, a Terrible Thought lurks in your mind, a constant companion that you can’t shake off. Your Inner Fire, that vital spark of energy, begins to flicker and dim, prompting you to select your Weakness:

• Migraine (Heavy Stress also diminishes your Nerve Aspect)

Weaknesses are those pesky flaws that complicate your adventures and make skill checks a bit trickier. They only come into play under certain specified circumstances, and don’t forget—you can acquire new Weaknesses along your journey too.

Leaving the City

Once you’re back on your feet, be sure to grab the Suitcase sitting on the ground. Inside, you might just find the treasured Traum Family Gift that you selected during your childhood days.

• Break the Kaleidoscope

Your Father steps in for a heart-to-heart. He expresses his regret over not being able to shield you more during these tough times.

• I’ll be back!

When Father leaves the room, head to the top of the staircase and take your first steps out of the city.

• Exit with confidence and pride!

Keep pushing forward, and before long, you’ll encounter the embodiment of Terrible Thought. Get ready for a skill check:

• (Heart) Rely on Home

Taking this step will definitely help you ease your Stress. As you look ahead, just click on that door, and you’ll find yourself stepping into the lively atmosphere of the Capital.

Arrival at the Capital

Once you finally arrive in the bustling Capital, you have the option to hit the hay immediately. But hey, before you dive into rest, consider taking a moment to interact with the pile of bags nearby. This will give you a chance to tackle a Day Labor job, and in return, you’ll earn some shiny Crowns to boost your finances.

If you’re up for it, you can also take a peek at the Job Board and have a quick chat with the woman standing near by. But to be honest, it might not be the most rewarding use of your time. Your best bet is to just interact with the bed and keep moving forward in your adventure.

Fast forward to the next day, and you’ll be greeted by the appearance of both the Sergeant and the Ringleader. Here’s your chance to make a choice about who you want to side with and how to shape your journey ahead.

• Become a criminal
• Join the gang

Your decision here will grant you the coveted Fugitive Fate.

After a whirlwind of events, you find yourself at the gang’s hideout. This is where the excitement truly begins! Here, you’ll have the opportunity to select a new trait to enhance your skills:

• Divert Suspicion

As part of your initiation, you’ll also undergo some combat training. This will help you earn a shiny new Talent that could change the game for you:

• Put a knife to the throat (+Stealth)

As the gang gears up for an epic heist, it’s time for you to take initiative and select your role in this thrilling escapade:

• Con Artist

The Big Score & Prison

The heist was supposed to be thrilling, right? But as the rookie in the crew, you’re stuck playing the lookout. Things go south fast when the police roll in, catching you off-guard, and just like that, you find yourself behind bars while the others slip away.

Dragged off to prison, your new life begins in isolation. The days stretch endlessly, where your only companion is the faint chatter from the radio, echoing snippets of the outside world. You sit and stew, wondering how you ended up here—each moment heavy with solitude.

But don’t worry, you will have choices to make that will define how you navigate your time in this prison:

• Endure prison life (Dignity)

Eventually, liberation comes your way. As you settle into solitude back at your apartment, a strange gift crosses your path—the Fracture: Escape to Nowhere. This becomes more than just a burden; it’s a part of you that grapples with your demons yet offers a lifeline in moments of distress—saving you from failure up to three times when the stakes are high.

When the sun rises the next day, make sure to engage with the radio tower. You’ll catch wind of the events unfolding in Brocken, where whispers of Conspirators taking a stand against the Traum Family fill the air, and your heart beats faster at the thought of rebellion and chaos.

The reason behind your return to your childhood city is totally up to you, and that’s part of the adventure!

• (Home) Reclaim your roots and take back your childhood home.

If you feel like it’s best to stay away, you have the option to not return at all, which wraps up the game right then and there.

Expect to receive a visit from the Lady in White and Gold when you arrive back at your home in the capital. She’ll engage you with questions and check up on how you’re doing. Here’s how I navigated the conversation.

• I remember.
• Giving up your home is a defeat!

She will then inform you about the Guest who is set to arrive and guide you back home.

To wrap up the first Episode, simply interact with the bed and let your character drift off to sleep. Your journey continues this way, so rest up before diving into what comes next!

Episode 2: A Guest from Nowhere

Waiting for the Guest

As we kick off the second episode, we find the Conspirator anxiously waiting in his cramped little apartment right in the heart of the capital. To top it all off, he’s being plagued by the Terrible Thought, which is turning up the volume on that lingering inner anxiety. Just so you know, your Stress meter is bound to increase until you reach your breaking point, so stay alert!

Your main objective right now is to find ways to kill some time until the Guest makes their appearance while also shaking off the grip of the pesky Terrible Thought that’s hanging around. You’ll want to find a strategy to manage your mindset as you wait.

• (Body) Make sure to gather your Strength.

If you manage to successfully pass the skill check, congratulations! You’ll find yourself able to rise from the bed and explore the apartment a bit more. Don’t forget to rummage through the various boxes and drawers—you might stumble upon some handy items that you can pick up along the way!

Keep in mind that taking actions will consume some Time. You’ll need to pass Time a total of five times before your special Guest arrives. Luckily, there are several avenues to explore to do just this. Here are a few things I tried out:

• Start by rummaging through those boxes in the cozy bedroom and toss away the pesky Ring.
• Next up, head to the study room on your right and delve into the Secret Stash—make sure to grab that handy Shiv while you’re at it.
• Take a moment to check out the Wash Basin and give yourself a refreshing wash.
• Don’t forget to inspect the Bathtub for a relaxing bath session to feel invigorated.
• Finally, interact with the clothes draped over the mannequin in the bedroom and destroy them. Out with the old!

And don’t skip over the chance to examine the Investigation Board—doing so will let you unlock the clue known as The Dead Man. It’s a key step!

After accomplishing all of those tasks, you’ll notice a Guest has popped up at your front door. Take a moment to interact with the closet located in the leftmost room, which will grant you the Ordinary Citizen Appearance. Now you’re ready to open the door!

The Mysterious Guest

Once you’ve welcomed him with open arms, go through his dialogue options. He’ll settle into a chair in your bedroom and soon request that you dim the lights for ambiance.

The light switch you’re looking for is conveniently placed on the left wall of the bedroom. Interact with that rope to extinguish the light and then return to converse with the Guest once more.

If you haven’t bid farewell to the Attack of the Terrible Thought yet, fret not! The Guest will offer to help you out with that little nuisance—just look into his eyes, and he’ll work his magic. This encounter will provide you with a new clue: The Guest: His Eyes.

Keep the dialogue flowing with him, and he’ll drop the info that you need to clear a few Tests before he can bring you into the fold of the Conspirators. The very first step is to pledge your commitment to follow all of the Conspiracy’s Orders. Nail this down, and you’ll have completed the initial test.

Once you give him the nod, he’ll prompt you to harm yourself a little. If you’ve managed to grab the Shiv earlier on, this is your chance to use it and make a cut on your hand. Wrap up that little endeavor, and you’ll have passed the second test.

The next challenge that lies ahead is to shave your head. You can take care of this by popping over to the bathroom and checking out the Wash Basin—that’s where the magic happens!

As for the final test, he’ll ask you to strip down and get on all fours. This is where I personally balked and said, “No thanks!” It’s definitely a line that many players might not want to cross.

At this point, you can try to call him out on his dishonesty, which might ramp up the tension between you, but be warned—you’ll need to ace a series of skill checks to make it work. Ultimately, I decided to go with the option of Refuse to Obey Orders! instead.

Confrontation with the Guest

Then things take a dramatic turn, and you find yourself face to face with the Mysterious Guest. He reveals that he has stepped away from the Conspiracy and then pulls out an incendiary bomb, threatening to set it off unless you can talk him down. The stakes couldn’t be higher right now!

I kicked things off by attempting to negotiate with him, but running through every single dialogue option didn’t really lead me anywhere productive.

Eventually, what really did the trick was Admitting Defeat. Just select the Surrender option, and he’ll hand over the address to the Golconda Hotel, where you can find the infamous Dead Man’s Gang gather.

After that, you’ll find yourself back in your apartment. Make your way to the front door and be sure to pick up the Suitcase. This is your chance to gather up all your important belongings and any cash you might have.

Before wrapping up this Episode, you’ll have to make a final decision: do you want to leave without a fuss or go all out and burn down the apartment? Personally, I couldn’t see the benefit of setting the place on fire.

And there you have it, this is where the second episode wraps up.

Episode 3: The Mystery of Room 451

Just a heads up, this walkthrough is still a work-in-progress, so hang tight for more updates down the line.

We truly appreciate you taking the time to read our guide for Agent of Strange: Arrival. If you’re looking for more captivating articles about indie games, be sure to explore the links we’ve provided below. There’s a treasure trove of info waiting for you!