REPLACED: Slave Cages Puzzle & Bonecrusher Code Guide
How to decode Bonecrusher’s terminal message and find the correct symbol order.
If you’ve found yourself staring at a locked terminal in Chapter 3 of REPLACED while a group of NPCs waits for you to play hero, you aren’t alone. This puzzle is a classic “read the fine print” moment. It catches players off guard because it preys on your instinct to just look at the environment and ignore the actual text. You see the symbols on the column, you punch them in, and nothing happens. It feels broken, but the game is actually just testing if you’re paying attention to Bonecrusher’s sloppy notes.
The Secret Hidden in Plain Sight
The control panel tells you exactly where to look, claiming the hint is “to the right of the device.” When you look over, you’ll see a stone column marked with four chalk symbols: a knife, a cross, a chain, and an eye. Most people read these from top to bottom and assume that’s the code. It isn’t.
The real trick lies in the terminal message itself. Among the broken grammar and ramblings of the Termites leader, Bonecrusher, there is a specific string of letters: CADB. While it looks like a typo or a glitch, it’s actually the cipher you need to translate those chalk drawings into a working password.
Mapping the Symbols
To make sense of the “CADB” code, you first have to assign each letter to a symbol based on their vertical position on the column. There is a large “B” carved next to the cross which acts as your anchor. Once you realize the letters follow the order of the symbols, the logic clicks into place.
| Letter | Symbol | Position on Column |
| A | Knife | Top (1st) |
| B | Cross | 2nd |
| C | Chain | 3rd |
| D | Eye | Bottom (4th) |
The Exact Sequence to Open the Cages
Since the password is CADB, you just need to follow that specific letter sequence and input the corresponding symbols. Forget the top-to-bottom order you see on the wall; that’s a total misdirect designed to waste your time.
- First, select the Chains (C).
- Second, hit the Knife (A).
- Third, choose the Eye (D).
- Finally, finish with the Cross (B).
Once the terminal flashes its “good day” message, you’re golden. A cutscene will trigger showing the freed slaves, and they’ll offer to help you clear out the rest of the Termites as you move toward the end of the tunnel. It’s a small detail, but REPLACED really excels at making you actually interact with its world rather than just sprinting through it. Just remember to always read the terminal logs before you start guessing.
For more walkthroughs and tips, feel free to check out my other general guides.
