Secrets & Easter Eggs
MIO: Memories in Orbit contains numerous secrets, hidden areas, and collectibles scattered throughout The Vessel. This guide covers secret endings, hidden collectibles, and easter eggs that enhance the game's lore and exploration experience.
Note: Many secrets require specific abilities or progression milestones. Return to areas with new abilities to discover previously inaccessible secrets.
Secret Ending (True Ending)
The True Ending, also known as the Secret Ending, unlocks the "Welcome Home" trophy and provides the complete conclusion to MIO's story. You can get both the standard ending and the True Ending in a single playthrough—after either ending, you load back to just before the final boss and can continue exploring or pursue the other ending.
Overview: Steps to Unlock True Ending
- Collect the five Voices: Seek out The Breath, The Blood, The Eye, and The Hand, and bring their Voices back to where The Spine is (at the start of the game). Defeat The Hand to progress.
- Find the Severed Fingertip: The fingertip is in the pit beneath the Vaults—return to the Vaults to where The Hand first grabbed you and kicked you out, then drop into that pit and head far to the east to find it.
- Activate The Wheel in the Lab: From the Network Gate in the Lab (directly above where you fight The Hand and its minion), climb up to find The Wheel and a broken mechanical hand missing a fingertip. Use the Severed Fingertip here to repair the hand and activate The Wheel.
- Solve The Wheel puzzle: Rotate the upper part of The Vessel to positions 0, 120, and 240 (see "The Wheel & Puzzle" below) to unlock the Vault Shuttle, platform up the tube, and reach The Crucible.
- Complete The Crucible: Finish two very hard platforming challenges in The Crucible to receive the final traversal ability, Flowing Steps.
- Reach The Library via Canopy: Use Flowing Steps to climb gloom water (e.g. the gloom waterfall in the Canopy). At the top you reach The Library; take the elevator at the eastern end—the third level triggers the secret final boss.
- Defeat the secret final boss: Beat Boss Shii to see the True Ending.
💡 Tip: The True Ending path is significantly more challenging than the standard ending. The Crucible platforming sections are very difficult and may take considerable time. Ensure you have upgraded abilities and a strong modifier build before attempting them.
The Wheel & Puzzle (Fast Travel)
The Wheel is in the Lab, above the Network Gate and above where you fight The Hand. Once you repair the broken mechanical hand with the Severed Fingertip, you can rotate the entire upper part of The Vessel to three positions: 240 (starting position), 120, and 0. You cannot fast travel between the upper and lower parts of The Vessel—you must use a fast travel point in the upper area to return to the Vault Shuttle Network Gate.
Puzzle sequence
- Turn the wheel to 0. Go down to the Network Gate below and send the Torn Overseer (just to the west) to Vault Shuttle.
- Turn the wheel to 120. This places the upper part of The Vessel over the shuttle tube in the Vaults (east of the Lab). Fast travel to the Vaults. There is no shuttle—you must platform all the way up the tube. At the top, activate the Vault's Shuttle Network Gate, then drop back down and fast travel back to The Wheel.
- Set the wheel back to 240 and head up to the upper part of The Vessel. With the wheel at 240, the shuttle tube now leads down to The Crucible.
Platforming up the tube (position 120)
- Use the Strider (wall cling) ability without jumping until you reach maximum height, then jump to a nearby platform to save the ability.
- Near the top, use slippery momentum on the icy sections to reach the far side—MIO can get caught on the ice while wall clinging.
Sol & Vin optional: Some guides say you must defeat Sol and Vin (above the Dwellings and Metropolis) for the secret ending. This is not required—you can reach the True Ending without fighting them. They are optional and reward extra lore; you can find them via the hidden path near the Metropolis gates.
Pearl Records
Pearl Records are special collectible items that expand the game's story and lore. While they don't contribute to trophy completion, they provide significant background information about The Vessel and its history. Pearl Records appear in your inventory in the order you find them.
Pearl Record Locations
- "Our Fault" – Climb up to the hole in the lift shaft and navigate around the outside of an inverted building structure.
- "Beginning of The End" – Located in plain sight in the room to the left of the Lab area.
- "Positive Report" – Found below a large orb at the very top of the map.
- "Premature Conclusion" – Sitting in plain sight once you go through the door into the area.
- "No Future" – Drop down a hole in the floor and find the record resting on a ledge partway down the shaft.
- "Final Instructions" – Located inside the telescope room. Interact with the computer in that room to download the data.
About Pearl Records
Pearl Records provide deep lore insights into The Vessel's history, the Promised Land mission, and what happened to the human inhabitants. Reading these records in order reveals a complete narrative thread.
Collection Order: Records appear in your inventory based on discovery order, not story chronology. Consider collecting them in sequence for the best narrative experience.
Hidden Areas & Secret Passages
The Vessel contains numerous hidden alcoves, secret tunnels, and concealed passages that reward thorough exploration. Many of these areas require specific abilities or clever navigation to access.
Vault Hidden Areas
The Vault area contains drawers that conceal passages leading to the Vault Overseer area. Look for interactive drawers in large rooms that can be opened to reveal hidden paths.
Access Method: Activate pumps in the area and jump down pipes at the end to reach hidden sections.
Canopy, Gloom Waterfall & The Library
The Canopy is reached through a secret passage in the Bell Tower at the top of Haven. After obtaining Flowing Steps (earned by completing the two platforming challenges in The Crucible), use it to climb the gloom waterfall in the Canopy. At the top you reach The Library.
The Library: An elevator at the eastern end leads to three levels—the first has lore, the second has lore and a save point, and the third triggers the secret final boss of the game.
Access Method: Complete The Crucible to get Flowing Steps, then return to the Bell Tower (top of Haven) and follow the secret passage to the Canopy. Climb the gloom waterfall with Flowing Steps to reach The Library.
Inverted Building Structure
An inverted building structure contains hidden passages and the "Our Fault" Pearl Record. Navigation requires careful platforming around the outside of the structure.
Access Method: Climb up to the hole in the lift shaft and navigate around the outside of the inverted building.
Metropolis Hidden Hole
A hidden hole on the stairs in Metropolis leads to Dr Halyn's Experiment #223 boss encounter.
Access Method: Look for a concealed opening on the stairs and drop down to access the hidden boss arena.
Easter Eggs & References
MIO: Memories in Orbit contains various easter eggs, references, and hidden details that reward attentive players. These range from environmental storytelling elements to subtle nods to other games.
Environmental Storytelling
- • Abandoned Areas: Many rooms contain environmental details that tell stories about The Vessel's past inhabitants and their departure.
- • Robot Interactions: Repairing damaged robots throughout The Vessel reveals additional lore and context about the ship's history.
- • Hidden Messages: Some areas contain subtle environmental clues that hint at larger story elements.
- • Visual References: The hand-drawn art style contains numerous details that reward close examination.
💡 Exploration Tip: Break everything and attack suspicious walls. Many secrets are hidden behind destructible barriers or require using abilities on environmental objects.
Secret Collectibles
Beyond standard collectibles, The Vessel contains several secret items with cryptic purposes that become clear only after collection.
Candles
Candles are cryptic collectibles found throughout The Vessel. Their purpose remains unknown until collected, and they may be related to hidden mechanics or future content.
Collection Strategy: Keep an eye out for candles in hidden alcoves and secret areas. Their placement often indicates nearby secrets or important locations.
Related Guides
Explore these related guides to discover more secrets and complete your collection: