My Friendly Neighborhood: How to Solve The Punch Card Puzzle

Mar 28, 2024

There are many puzzles throughout My Friendly Neighborhood, but without the code, the punch card puzzle might be one of the more frustrating ones.

There are many puzzles in My Friendly Neighborhood, and the punch clock puzzle comes early in the game as players seek to infiltrate the production studio. The studio once hosted a popular children’s television show with friendly puppets until the show stopped production. With the doors closed, the puppets have taken over the facility and have recently begun airing a new show.

Described as a cross between Sesame Street and Resident Evil, My Friendly Neighborhood is another indie horror title to receive a lot of attention. After the free Demo was released last year, the game is full of scares, puppets, and puzzle elements. One of these puzzles early in the game involves a punch clock that will allow players to pass through the security room and progress to the next stage.

The punch clock is found in Ray’s Basement, the second main part of the game, which was also featured in the game’s Demo. At this point, players should have already found the Novelist Shotgun in My Friendly Neighborhood, as well as Ray’s Workshop. Players must have found the Power Source from within Ray’s Workshop to operate the punch card machine.

After powering up the punch card machine, go to the other door to inspect the safe room and find a note on the side with shapes and numbers. This note will allow players to solve the puzzle and contains the following information:

As seen in the video by the Youtube channel Coddle Musk, there are three clocks with boxes under them, all labeled with various Roman numerals. All the clocks are set at XII (or 12), and the boxes are labeled from left to right with III (3), X (10), and IX (9), but the last one is crossed out. Looking closer at the clock, it appears VII (7) is circled. My Friendly Neighborhood players will have to get these numbers by using the machine to generate an equation that equals each number.

For the first clock, head back to the machine and punch in Square, Square, Triangle. This is the same as 2+2-1, which equals 3 and matches the Roman numeral taped under the first clock. Insert the punch card into the machine and click the lever on the left side of the box. The clock’s hand will move to III. Return to the device and press Circle, Square, Square, or 6+2+2, which will equal the 10 needed for the second clock.

After putting in the punch card and pressing the lever, return to the machine and punch in Circle, Square, Triangle, or 6+2-1, to equal 7, and put it in the box the same way as the other two, activating the last clock and allowing players to pass through the previously locked door. Having solved the punch clock puzzle, players can now pass into the tunnels and continue exploring the joy and terror of My Friendly Neighborhood.

Source: YouTube/Coddle Musk