Finding every single one of the Episode 1 secrets Project Absentia has to offer requires mastering Abby’s dash-glide mechanics and scouring the darkest corners of the Orkan Corporation’s facilities. With Waffle Iron Studios dropping the highly anticipated 1.0 release on June 6, 2026, speedrunners are already tearing through the GZDoom-powered architecture. Achieving 100% completion in this flashcore boomer shooter is a brutal test of verticality, momentum, and keen observation. If you are struggling to survive Insane mode's punishing 50-health cap or simply want to uncover the deepest mid-2000s forum lore, you need tactical superiority. This comprehensive guide walks you through every hidden item, breakable wall, and developer room.
Why Episode 1 secrets Project Absentia Are Essential for Survival
Unlike modern linear shooters where hidden items are mere cosmetic trophies, Project Absentia treats secrets as mandatory survival caches. Built on the highly modifiable GZDoom engine, the game leverages extreme verticality. You play as Abby, an angelic protagonist armed with a vintage Tommy Gun and ethereal wings, fighting to rescue her girlfriend Aurora and best friend Orion from the Orkan Corporation.
On Normal difficulty, you might scrape by relying on standard ammo drops from downed Enforcers. On Insane mode, where your base health is hard-capped at 50, missing a hidden Mega-Health or a concealed armor plate means instant death against hitscan enemies. SanyaWaffles and the level designers at Waffle Iron Studios intentionally placed the most critical gear in areas that demand mastery of Abby's physics. You are not just looking for misaligned textures; you are looking for skybox anomalies, out-of-bounds ledges, and split-second glide opportunities.
Level-by-Level Breakdown: Episode 1 secrets Project Absentia
Tracking down every hidden cache requires a methodical approach to map clearing. Here is the exact distribution of secrets across the most critical levels of the first episode.
Infographic: Episode 1 secrets Project Absentia level distribution
E1M1: Construction Zone
The opening map serves as a tutorial for Abby's mobility, but it hides four crucial secrets that set you up for the rest of the episode.
- The Spawn Point Reversal: Do not immediately run forward. Turn 180 degrees at the spawn point and dash-glide across the scaffolding behind the starting crane. A misaligned crate texture hides your first major armor pickup.
- Early Tommy Gun Stash: Before entering the primary Orkan Corp processing facility, look for a cracked ventilation grate near the red key door. Shoot it, crouch-slide through the shaft, and claim an early Tommy Gun alongside a lore terminal detailing the Orkan Corporation's hostile takeover.
- The Crane Drop: Climb to the highest point of the yellow construction crane. Instead of dropping into the main arena, glide to the isolated concrete pillar to the east to find a hidden health cache.
- Sub-basement Vent: Behind the exit elevator, a seemingly solid wall has a slight texture warp. Interact with it to reveal a stash of shotgun shells.
E1M4: Processing Plant
This mid-episode gauntlet introduces environmental hazards and ramps up the hidden item count to five.
- Toxic Waterfall Glitch-Jump: Near the green toxic sludge spill, there is a small, unlit ledge behind the waterfall. You must time a dash perfectly to bypass the radiation damage and secure the Mega-Health inside.
- Conveyor Belt Reversal: Ride the scrap conveyor belt backward into the incinerator room. Just before you hit the fire, jump to the maintenance catwalk above to find an ammo backpack.
- Crusher Puzzle Bypass: In the room with the hydraulic crushers, look up. There is a destroyed catwalk grating you can glide through to bypass the puzzle entirely and grab a hidden armor vest.
E1M7: Orkan Dam
Widely considered the architectural masterpiece of the episode, Orkan Dam contains six deeply buried secrets, including some of the game's best voice acting triggers.
Annotated Diagram: Orkan Dam underwater tunnel secrets
- Underwater Tunnel: Dive into the cyan reservoir below the main dam. You must dash-glide through the submerged turbine shaft before your oxygen depletes.
- Dr. Atmosphere's Observation Deck: Deep within the dam's infrastructure, breaking a reinforced glass window drops you into a hidden observation deck. This triggers a unique, taunting voice line from Dr. Atmosphere (voiced brilliantly by Gianni Matragrano), who mocks your attempts to rescue Aurora.
- The Spillway Glide: Leap off the main dam structure and deploy your wings at the last possible second to reach a concrete outcropping that holds a Mega-Health stash.
- Sniper Nest Ammo Cache: Above the main courtyard, an Orkan sniper nest contains a fake wall panel leading to a massive stockpile of rockets.
E1M13: The Zenith
The final map of Episode 1 is a massive vertical climb holding eight secrets, demanding perfect execution of every movement mechanic learned so far. The most notable is the dev room entrance, hidden behind a sequence of invisible platforms near the final elevator, requiring a blind leap of faith.
Advanced Movement: Reaching the Hardest Episode 1 secrets Project Absentia
Knowing where a secret is located is only half the battle; actually reaching it is where most players fail. Project Absentia's movement physics are heavily inspired by mid-2000s momentum shooters, meaning your velocity scales based on your dash timing.
Comic Grid: Executing the dash-glide to reach hidden armor
To cross the massive gaps in Orkan Dam or reach the highest platforms in The Zenith, you must execute the "dash-glide cancel." Jump from the highest Orkan Corp platform you can find. At the apex of your jump, engage the dash, and immediately deploy Abby's wings to lock in that forward momentum. This technique is the only way to bypass the Insane mode 50-health cap by consistently reaching out-of-bounds armor pickups that the developers placed specifically for speedrunners.
Top Easter Eggs and Lore Drops
The DNA of Project Absentia is deeply rooted in internet subculture, flash cartoons, and the rich history of Doom modding. The developers embedded several easter eggs that reward longtime fans of Waffle Iron Studios.
Analysis Report Poster: Orkan Corporation lore and easter eggs
- The Scoot Hard DX Legacy: In E1M13, a hidden terminal displays textures and code snippets from Scoot Hard DX, SanyaWaffles' previous GZDoom total conversion.
- Gay Angel Gaming: Scattered throughout the Orkan Corporation's sterile offices are motivational posters branded with "Gay Angel Gaming"—a nod to the game's unapologetic aesthetic and marketing tagline.
- The Waffle Iron Dev Room: Hidden in the final level, this massive secret area contains NPC representations of the development team, complete with developer commentary nodes explaining the shift from the original flash-style sprites to the polished 1.0 release assets.
Secret Count by Level
| Level | Map Name | Total Secrets | Key Item |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1M1 | Construction Zone | 4 | Early Tommy Gun |
| E1M4 | Processing Plant | 5 | Mega-Health |
| E1M7 | Orkan Dam | 6 | Dr. Atmosphere Lore |
| E1M13 | The Zenith | 8 | Dev Room Key |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many secrets are in Project Absentia Episode 1? There are exactly 42 documented secrets across the first episode's maps. Achieving a 100% rating on the end-of-level tally screens requires finding every single one, which unlocks a special achievement on Steam.
How do I break cracked walls in the Orkan Dam? Unlike standard doors, cracked walls require explosive damage or sustained fire from heavy weaponry. Your starting pistol will not work; use the Tommy Gun or explosive barrels placed nearby to shatter the concrete.
What is the Insane Mode health cap? On Insane difficulty, Abby's base health cannot exceed 50 through normal health vials. You must rely on hidden armor caches and Mega-Health pickups (which temporarily over-heal) to survive encounters with heavy Orkan Enforcers.
How do I find the Waffle Iron Studios dev room? The dev room is located in E1M13: The Zenith. Near the final boss elevator, look for a series of slightly discolored pixels in the skybox. You must execute a blind dash-glide onto an invisible platform to reach the entrance.
The Orkan Corporation didn't build their facilities to be looted, but with the right momentum and an eye for architectural anomalies, Abby's arsenal can be maximized before the credits roll. Master the glide, check every vent, and never trust a solid wall.