[Strange Tile

Special tiles featuring symbols (scale, bird, lion, and anvil) collected by solving puzzles and used to unlock the secret exit of the library.

Verification: Human verified

Strange Tiles are a set of four collectible tiles, each stamped with a distinct symbol — a scale, a bird, a lion, and an anvil — that you gather by solving individual puzzles throughout the Burning Library level ("Where There's Smoke"). You need all four to open the cabinet that unlocks the library's secret exit. They are an Item-type collectible, so watch for them inside chests and behind puzzle gates rather than out in the open.

How to Complete

The Strange Tiles are not found together. You must clear four separate puzzle sequences in the Burning Library to collect one tile from each. The walkthrough below follows the order most guides use.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1. The Scale Tile (Chest Code 2257)

Early in the level, look for scrolls that connect the names "Cogito" and "Ergo" to the numbers 2, 5, and 7. The clue "Think Twice" tells you to use Cogito's number twice, giving the four-digit code 2257. Enter it on the lock to open the chest and pick up the Strange Tile with a scale on it — the first tile you need for the secret exit [src-6bdc604a49]. Other walkthroughs confirm the same 2257 solution [src-e1ae555f25].

2. The Bird Tile (Upside-Down Ladder Room)

Return to the main area and use your Crank Handle on the middle slot of the wall clocks. Crank each handle until all three clocks show a 6 (VI) at the bottom; this reveals a button that opens the upside-down room [src-6bdc604a49]. Inside, drag the tall ladders through the maze-like grooves in the floor until they reach the upper platforms. Climb the ladder furthest from the doorway first to activate a switch, then climb the other ladder to grab the Strange Tile with a bird on it [src-6bdc604a49]. A web walkthrough describes the same two ladders as silver and gold, with the switch at the top of the silver one and the tile at the top of the gold one [src-e1ae555f25].

3. The Lion Tile (Inverted Skull Chest)

At the end of the upside-down room is an inverted chest with four skulls displayed beneath it: human, bird, human, goat (a web guide lists the order as bull, human, bird, human) [src-6bdc604a49] [src-e1ae555f25]. Go back to the glass display cases in the previous room to read the numbers beside each skull: goat/bull = 6, bird = 8, human = 9 [src-6bdc604a49] [src-e1ae555f25]. That makes the code 9896 from the chest's own perspective — but because the chest is upside down, you enter it as 6869 [src-6bdc604a49]. Open the chest to claim the Strange Tile with a lion on it [src-6bdc604a49].

4. The Anvil Tile ([Hourglass and Globe Rooms)

With three tiles in hand, find the hourglass puzzle and place the hourglass you collected earlier. Match each hourglass to the stained-glass window above, saving the top-right one (sand flowing) for last [src-6bdc604a49]. The door opens into a room of globes with a letter-shift puzzle (B pointing to A means shift letters by one) [src-6bdc604a49]. Solving this sequence yields the fourth and final tile, the anvil.

Using the Tiles — Unlocking the Secret Exit

Once you hold all four tiles, go to the cabinet on the far side of the level. Insert the tiles in the correct arrangement — the guides describe placing a green flower in the top row, a green corn and black flower in the second row, and a blue flower in the third row — to pop the cabinet open and expose the secret exit [src-cc415a0c9f]. Note that the material's flower descriptions don't map cleanly onto the scale/bird/lion/anvil symbols, so treat the arrangement as the cabinet's own visual puzzle rather than a tile-order list.

Tips

• The library door crumbles behind you after certain rooms, so grab every tile and item before leaving an area [src-6bdc604a49].
• The skull chest is far easier in co-op: one player stays at the chest while the other reads the display cases [src-e1ae555f25].
• Don't try to memorize the ladder maze — back out of dead ends and retry; there's only one solution path [src-cc415a0c9f].

Rewards

Collecting and using all four Strange Tiles opens the cabinet containing the gasoline and propane you need to refuel the chainsaw and finish the level's exit sequence [src-cc415a0c9f]. Completing the level also pops its achievement/trophy [src-59f8d3957c].

Details

type

Item

Sources

• Escape Academy Walkthrough | ALL Achievements / Trophies
• Escape Academy: How To Escape The Burning Library
• Escape Academy - All Achievements/Trophies Walkthrough - 100% Puzzle Solution Guide (Xbox Game Pass)
• Escape Academy Where There's Smoke Walkthrough