To crack the lock in the Study, Player 2 must find the broken pocket watch in the Basement stopped at 7:45 and send the Chemical Battery up via the Dumbwaiter System. Player 1 then inputs the time 7:45 on the safe's central dial, inserts the battery, and aligns the Lion emblem to unlock it.
If you and your co-op partner are banging your heads against the wall trying to figure out how to open the safe in Escape From Crimson Manor, you aren't alone. Escape From Crimson Manor: Trapped Together thrives on asymmetric communication. MediaCity Games didn’t just slap a combination lock on a wall and call it a day. The safe puzzle is a masterclass in forced cooperation, requiring two players isolated in completely different areas of a dark Victorian estate to share resources and synthesize clues.
Forget the lazy trial-and-error of standard escape room games. If you try to brute-force this lock, you will fail. Here is the definitive, step-by-step breakdown of the logic, the item locations, and the exact sequence required to secure Hadley Strange's legacy.
The Asymmetric Setup: Finding the Safe in Escape From Crimson Manor
The core mechanic of "The Alliance"—the game's story-driven 2-player co-op campaign—is separation. When you wake up in the mansion, you are immediately split into two different wings. Player 1 is trapped in the opulent upper floors, primarily navigating the Study and the Art Room. Player 2 is banished to the mechanical underbelly, forced to navigate the Basement and the Wine Cellar.
Player 1 will find the safe almost immediately upon entering the Study. It is a massive, cast-iron vault laced with strange carvings and Hadley Strange’s personal insignia. However, inspecting the safe reveals a problem: the dial is completely dead, and the symbols etched into the metal make no sense on their own.
To understand the flow of this challenge, you have to map out the division of labor. Player 1 is locked in "The Study", staring at the "Cast-Iron Safe". Meanwhile, Player 2 is trapped in "The Basement", where they must locate the "7:45 Pocket Watch" and the "Chemical Battery". The only way these two environments connect is through the "Dumbwaiter System", a mechanical service elevator that allows you to pass physical objects between floors.
Player View Comparison
| Player 1 (The Study) | Player 2 (The Basement) |
|---|---|
| Primary Obstacle: Cast-Iron Safe | Primary Obstacle: Clock Weights Puzzle |
| Key Tool: Monocular | Key Tool: Heraldic Lion Emblem |
| Required Action: Input the final code | Required Action: Supply power & time clues |
| Dumbwaiter Access: Upper Hatch | Dumbwaiter Access: Lower Hatch |
Step 1: Using the Dumbwaiter System to Trade Clues
The safe requires an external power source to activate its electronic locking mechanism—a highly advanced piece of tech for a Victorian setting, hinting at Hadley Strange's eccentric genius. Player 1 cannot proceed without it.
Player 2 must navigate through the Wine Cellar to find the Chemical Battery. It is hidden behind a minor puzzle involving wine barrels and a locked grate. Once Player 2 secures the battery, they must locate the lower hatch of the Dumbwaiter System.
The actual exchange is a tense moment of walkie-talkie coordination. Player 2 will load the item into the wooden lift and announce, "Sending the battery up now!" As the pulleys grind and the rope pulls the lift through the dark brick shaft, Player 1 waits by the receiving hatch in the lavish study. Once it arrives, Player 1 confirms, "Got it. Heading to the safe." This back-and-forth is the beating heart of Trapped Together.
Step 2: Decoding the Time Code (7:45)
Powering the safe is only half the battle. You still need the combination.
While Player 1 is inserting the battery, Player 2 needs to investigate the back room of the Basement. Here, they will find a ruined grandfather clock and a pocket watch belonging to the late railroad magnate. The watch is permanently stopped at a specific time: 7:45.
Simultaneously, Player 1 must use the Monocular—an item found earlier in the Library—to inspect the strange carvings on the safe door. The Monocular reveals hidden fluorescent paint, showing three Heraldic Emblems: a Lion, a Shield, and a Blue Knight. Player 2 must confirm which of these emblems corresponds to the Strange family crest found in the Basement. (Spoiler: It's the Lion).
Looking at the "SAFE CRACKING LOGIC", it becomes clear that this is "Hadley Strange's Final Test" for the players. The puzzle is divided into distinct modules: the "Time Clue" (7:45), the "Heraldic Order" (Lion / Shield / Knight), the "Power Source" (Chemical Battery), and the "Mechanism" (Dumbwaiter System). Statistically, the workload is split with "Study Clues 40%" and "Basement Clues 60%". Your ultimate "Reward" for synthesizing these elements is the "Ballroom Hall Key".
Step 3: How to Open the Safe in Escape From Crimson Manor (The Final Combination)
With all the pieces in play, communication must be flawless. If Player 1 inputs the wrong sequence, the safe mechanism resets, and Player 2 may have to re-verify the clues.
Once the items are traded and the clues are communicated, executing the solution requires precise timing. Player 1 must first "Insert the Chemical Battery into the top slot." This powers the electronic components of the Victorian lock. Next, they must "Set the central dial to 7:45." With the time locked in, the next step is to "Align the Lion emblem on the left." Finally, to disengage the heavy internal bolts, Player 1 must "Turn the brass handle clockwise."
Here is the exact sequence Player 1 must execute:
- Power Up: Slide the Chemical Battery (received via the dumbwaiter) into the receptacle on the top right of the safe door. You will hear a mechanical whir as the dials unlock.
- Input the Time: Rotate the central combination dial until the needles align with 7:45.
- Set the Crest: Shift the outer brass ring until the Lion Emblem sits at the 9 o'clock position (the left side).
- Unlock: Pull the heavy brass handle downward and turn it clockwise.
The heavy iron door will swing open, completing one of the most satisfying collaborative puzzles in the game.
What’s Inside the Safe? (Hadley Strange's Legacy)
Opening the safe rewards Player 1 with the Ballroom Hall Key and a torn journal page detailing Hadley Strange's descent into madness.
Getting this key is a massive progression milestone. It allows Player 1 to leave the Study and unlock the grand double doors leading to the Ballroom, which eventually provides a pathway to reunite with Player 2.
A quick note for competitive players: If you are playing "The Blood Harvest" (the dynamic 3v1 asymmetric horror mode), the safe puzzle is heavily modified. The Alchemist moves too quickly for you to safely coordinate a complex dumbwaiter exchange, so the code is usually randomized and written in blood on the walls of the Art Room, bypassing the need for the battery entirely.
FAQ: How to Open the Safe in Escape From Crimson Manor and Other Puzzles
Can I open the safe playing solo? No. Escape From Crimson Manor: Trapped Together is built exclusively for two players. You cannot access both the Study and the Basement simultaneously to get the required items.
Where is the Chemical Battery located? Player 2 can find the Chemical Battery in the Wine Cellar, tucked inside a locked barrel grate that requires the Escutcheon (Shield) key to open.
What do I do if the Dumbwaiter System is stuck? If the dumbwaiter won't move, Player 2 hasn't restored power to the Basement grid. Go back to the breaker box near the starting area and flip the main switch.
Why isn't the 7:45 code working? You must insert the Chemical Battery before you input the dial code. If the safe has no power, the internal tumblers will not register the 7:45 position, no matter how perfectly you align it.
Does the Monocular have other uses? Yes. Keep the Monocular in Player 1's inventory. You will need it later in the Library to reveal hidden ink on the Penny Dreadfuls scattered around the room.
The bottom line: surviving Trapped Together requires you to talk to your partner. The safe puzzle is the game's first real skill check, designed to punish players who try to play a co-op game like a solo speedrun. Master the dumbwaiter, communicate your surroundings, and Hadley Strange's secrets will be yours.
Sources
- MediaCity Games: Escape From Crimson Manor: Trapped Together (Steam Next Fest Demo Build, Feb 2026)
- Official Exophase Achievement Tracking
- r/playmygame Developer AMA & Announcements