The Atomic Heart has puzzles that pose a unique challenge in the FPS game. In this guide, we will take you through how to open the gate by solving the Atomic Heart ballerina puzzle.

This particular puzzle comes at the end of your time at the Theatre. It serves as the final barrier preventing you from reaching Petrov. 

So, let’s find out how you can solve the Atomic Heart ballerina puzzle and open the gate to access Petrov!

How to solve the ballerina puzzle and open the gate in Atomic Heart

This puzzle is part of the ‘Ascending the (Gallows) Stage’ objective, which requires you to find a way to open the gate. The ballerina puzzle is distinct from the typical puzzles you’ll encounter in the game. However, its environmental clues can be easily missed. 

Unlike the other ballerinas in the Theatre, the ballerinas in this particular corridor are set to debug mode, allowing you to manipulate them into a variety of ballet positions through dialogue options. While doing so, you might hear Petrov encouraging you to “paint pictures of the future” – the only hint the game provides for this puzzle.

To solve the Atomic Heart ballerina puzzle, the solution is a macabre one. You will need to recreate the deaths of the suspended personnel. To do this, you’ll need to position the ballerinas in such a way that the shadows they cast on the wall behind them appear to deliver the killing blow. Once you’ve successfully manipulated one ballerina, you’ll receive the ‘Art is Sacrifice’ objective.

Here are the correct positions for the ballerina puzzle, starting from the entrance of the corridor:

• Croisée in the fifth position, arms placed in the third position.
• Relevé in the fifth position. Effacé with arms upright and loose in an allongé.
• Attitude with the leg backwards.
• A la seconde, with the arms free.

Once you’ve arranged the ballerinas as Petrov desires, the gate will open, allowing you to proceed to the main stage. Now you know how you solve the ballerina puzzle in Atomic Heart! Make sure to check out our other guides such as how to access testing ground 9 and how to get the gold rings.