Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

Puzzle 131: How to Escape?

Original diagram for Puzzle 131: How to Escape?

A man tied with a long rope among several posts can kick posts out of the way, so which ones must go?

Chapter
Chapter 7
Location
Storage Room
Picarats
40 picarats
Type
Mark Answer
Region
Same in all versions
Hint 1: A gentle nudge. Tap to flip.
Hint 1

Most of the posts only look as if they're in the way.

Tap to flip back
Hint 2: The key idea. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Hint 2

Imagine pulling the rope tight. Which posts end up inside a loop?

Tap to flip back
Hint 3: Almost there. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Hint 3

Shade the area the rope encloses. Only a post inside it can catch.

Tap to flip back
Answer: See the answer. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Answer

The answer is just one post: the one on the middle right.

Tap to flip back
Solution, FAQ and sources

Solution

Follow the rope and mark the area it actually encloses. Posts outside that area will slip free as he runs; only a post trapped inside a loop of rope will stop him.

Only **one** post, the one on the middle right, is inside the loop. Pull that one up and he can run. (We can't redraw the picture; two independent sources agree on this post.)

About this puzzle

A man is tied up with a long rope that winds among several posts. He can’t undo the knots, but he can use his legs to pull up posts. Which posts would actually snag the rope if he stood up and ran?

Unofficial fan guide, not affiliated with LEVEL-5 or Nintendo. Puzzle description, hints and solution written by Hint by Hint.

Similar puzzles: Puzzle 111: How Many Turns?, Puzzle 120: Tug of War, Puzzle 119: The Fake Coins, Puzzle 113: A Stack of Dice

All Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box puzzles

FAQ

What is the answer to Puzzle 131, How to Escape?, in Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box?

The answer is just one post: the one on the middle right.

Where do you find Puzzle 131 in Diabolical Box?

Puzzle 131 appears in Chapter 7, in the Storage Room area.

How many picarats is Diabolical Box Puzzle 131 worth?

40 picarats.

Sources

Facts checked on November 14, 2026

Unofficial fan guide. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by LEVEL-5 Inc. Professor Layton, The New World of Steam, and all related names, characters, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.