Morse Code Puzzle Solution
The flashing poster in the Main Tent is one of the most missed puzzles in The Freak Circus. It contains a Morse code message that spells the Ringmaster's true name — and solving it is mandatory for the Truth Ending.
📍 Where to Find the Puzzle
The Morse code poster is located in the Main Tent during Day 1, on the left wall near the entrance. It looks like a normal circus advertisement poster, but if you click on it, you'll notice the lights on the poster flash in a pattern.
How to Identify It:
- • The poster has a subtle glow effect that other posters don't have
- • Clicking it triggers a close-up view where the flashing becomes visible
- • The flashing pattern repeats every 30 seconds
- • You can also find it in the Mirror Maze on Day 2 (reflected version)
⚠️ Easy to miss: Many players walk right past this poster. It's the #2 most common reason for failing the Truth Ending path (after accepting a rose).
📡 How the Morse Code Works
The poster uses a simple light-based Morse code system:
⚡
Short Flash
= Dot ( · )
~0.3 seconds
💡
Long Flash
= Dash ( — )
~1 second
Timing Guide:
- Between signals in a letter: ~0.5 second pause
- Between letters: ~1.5 second pause
- Full message repeats: ~3 second pause before restart
🔑 The Complete Solution
The Morse code spells out:
TERESA
The Ringmaster's true name
Letter-by-Letter Breakdown:
—
One long flash
·
One short flash
· — ·
Short, long, short
·
One short flash
· · ·
Three short flashes
· —
Short, long
⌨️ How to Input the Answer
After observing the Morse code, the game presents a text input field. Here's what you need to know:
✅ Correct Input
Type TERESA — must be ALL CAPS. The game is case-sensitive.
❌ Common Mistakes
- • "teresa" (lowercase) — Rejected
- • "Theresa" (wrong spelling) — Rejected
- • "RINGMASTER" (wrong answer) — Rejected
- • Leaving it blank — Closes the puzzle, but you can try again
⚠️ Important
You get 3 attempts. After 3 wrong answers, the poster stops flashing and you're locked out of the Truth Ending for that playthrough.
👑 Who is Teresa?
⚠️ MAJOR SPOILERS for the Truth Ending below.
Teresa is the original Ringmaster of the Freak Circus. Centuries ago, she was a traveling performer who made a deal with a supernatural entity to keep her circus alive forever. The price was the humanity of everyone within it.
The current "Ringmaster" you see in the game is Teresa herself, preserved by the curse. She watches the endless cycle of performers falling in love, betraying each other, and consuming visitors — all while being unable to stop it.
Knowing her name is the key to breaking through her facade. When you confront her with "TERESA," she drops her mask for the first time, leading to the Ringmaster's Tear hidden scene and the Truth Ending path.
🧩 Other Puzzles in The Freak Circus
The Morse code isn't the only puzzle. Here are the others:
The Rhythm Minigame
Music Tent (Day 1)Match Pierrot's melody pattern. Failing 3 times loses Pierrot affection.
Knife Throwing Minigame
Main Tent (Day 1)Hit targets in sequence. Perfect score needed for Harlequin's True Ending.
Mirror Maze Navigation
Mirror Maze (Day 2)Find the correct path. The exit changes based on your affection balance.
The Diary Lock
Backstage Office (Day 2)A 4-digit combination lock. The code is hidden in Jester's play dialogue.
❓ Morse Code Puzzle FAQ
Q: I can't see the flashing. Is it a bug?
Make sure you clicked on the poster to get the close-up view. The flashing is subtle in the normal view. Also check your screen brightness — the flashes can be hard to see on dim screens.
Q: Can I solve this puzzle on Day 2 instead of Day 1?
Yes! The poster also appears as a reflection in the Mirror Maze on Day 2. However, it's easier to decode on Day 1 since the Mirror Maze version is reversed.
Q: What if I already used all 3 attempts?
You're locked out for that playthrough. Start a new game or load an earlier save to try again.
Q: Is the Morse code the same every playthrough?
Yes. The answer is always TERESA. The flashing pattern never changes.
Now that you've solved the puzzle, continue the Truth path: