Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion takes place entirely indoors in the mansion. Below is the list of environments (rooms) with all the key findings in each area.
Quick List:
- Nancy’s room
- Upstairs hallways
- Abby’s room
- Downstairs hallway
- Main Foyer
- Dining room
- Basement
- Parlor
- Library
- Attic
Nancy’s Room
The player starts out in Nancy’s room, which is red and filled with Chinese furnishings and decorations. It is located on the top floor at the end of a side hallway. This is the only area that you can change the clock to go backwards or forwards in time.
Key elements found here:
- Alarm clock to set the time
- Four-poster bed
- Puzzle: stuck banister. See this guide here.
- Nancy’s suitcase
- The tapestry
- The small jade Chinese dragon
- Hidden puzzles (click on each for the guide): wall zodiac. Safe. Moon/Sun flip. Phoenix slider.
Upstairs Hallways
When leaving Nancy’s room, the player can navigate through the hallways, which are shaped in a Y. There is a dead-end area where renovation work is being done. From here, you can locate Abby’s room, the upstairs dumbwaiter, the back staircase, and the main grand staircase. Once the ladder becomes available, another environment will be accessible with the right tools.
Key elements found here:
- Wall vent
- Dumbwaiter
- Ladder (after you talk to Rose and complete the first chore)
- Puzzle: paint scrape. See guide here.
- Abby’s door
- Hall mirror next to Abby’s door
- Back stairwell
- Exit to main grand staircase
Abby’s Room
From the upstairs hall, across from the dumbwaiter and next to the mirror is Abby’s room. Once you know when Abby is available, you can talk to her from her door. If you know when Abby leaves, you can snoop her room before she returns.
Key elements found here:
- Trunk
- Wall picture
- Jewelry box on a shelf
- Side table with book
- Desk
- Corner bookshelf
- Wardrobe
- Puzzle: see guide here.
Downstairs Hallway
A single, windowless hall connects the downstairs rooms. At one end, the double doors lead to the dining room, the stained glass door at the other end leads to the foyer. A side door leads to the basement, and there is access to the back stairway.
Key elements found here: downstairs dumbwaiter.
- Puzzle for dumbwaiter. See guide here only if you found the attic.
Main Foyer
This grand room (great hall) with high ceilings is the main entry for the mansion. It connects several areas. The stained glass door on the main level leads to the downstairs hall, the grand double staircase leads upstairs, and the door to the side, near the grandfather clock leads to the parlor, and then the library.
Key elements found here:
- Scaffolding
- Sitting area
- Chandelier rope tie
- Phoenix head posts
- Phoenix wood floor panel
Dining Room
The dining hall is located behind the double doors in the downstairs hall. Rose Green, your main contact is located here.
Key elements found here:
- Rose’s work space
- The wood tile inlay.
- Magazine alcove
- Butler’s cabinet
Basement
Located behind a door from the downstairs hall, you can step down into the basement. Here was once a saloon and is where Charlie can be found working on some renovations.
Key elements found here:
- Old papers
- Piano and bench
- Piano puzzle. See guide here if you have found the attic.
- Charlie’s work station
- Bar counter and cash register
- Table and chairs in the back corner
- Fireplace
- Puzzle: see guide here.
Parlor
The parlor is a fancy sitting room located just off from the main foyer. It is the only place to make a phone call and the player must pass through this room to get to the library.
Key elements found here:
- Desk with phone
- Fireplace with a box across from it
- Window curtains
- Phoenix side table
- Roses on display
- Corner cabinet with fire extinguisher
- Puzzle: fire. See guide here.
Library
The library can only be reached from the parlor. This is where Louis is located.
Key elements found here:
- Desk with laptop
- Puzzle: maze, see guide here.
- Sitting area with Mah Jong tiles
- Books
- Fireplace
- Puzzle: tiles missing. See guide here.
- Hidden: Spyhole and briefcase. See guide here.
Attic
The attic can only be found after you complete your first chore and talk to Rose. If you have the right tools, you will be able to access it. The access point is located where the ladder appears on the second floor in the halls.
Key elements found here:
- A writing desk
- Puzzle: unlock desk. See guide here.
- Puzzle: music sheet. See guide here.
- Trap door exit
- Puzzle: escape attic. See guide here.
- Wooden barrel with bottles
- Tool crate
- Stack of newspapers
