Riddle School 2 Walkthrough: The Definitive Guide to Phil Eggtree’s Escape

I have spent way too many hours helping Phil Eggtree escape various educational institutions, and let me tell you, Riddle School 2 is a classic for a reason. Whether you are playing the 2006 original Flash version or the much cleaner 2020 Legacy Edition, the goal is the same: get Phil out of Riddle Middle School without getting caught.

When I first revisited this game recently, I realized that while it seems simple, there are some hidden mechanics and lore bits that most people miss. For example, did you know that the total economy of the school is exactly $1.75? You only need $0.75 to beat the game, but finding every cent is the key to that 100% completion feel. I have broken down every step of the process below to make sure you do not miss a single pixel or a single dime. If this is too easy for you try your hand at Riddle Transfer 2.

Starting the escape by getting out of the Bandroom

My journey always starts in the Bandroom, where Phil is stuck listening to a teacher who clearly loves the sound of his own voice. To get out, you need a distraction, and that comes in the form of a whistle from Phred Whistler.

• First, you need to find four quarters scattered around the room to pay Phred.
• One quarter is sitting right on the music stand in front of Phil.
• Another is glinting on the floor near the back-left corner where Phred is sitting.
• I found a third one on the floor along the right-side wall.
• The trickiest one is hidden behind the drum kit; you have to click the lower-left edge of the drums to snag it.

Once I have the full dollar, I click on Phred to buy the whistle. A little fun fact I noticed in the developer commentaries: Phred is named Whistler specifically because his only role in this game is providing that whistle! After getting it, I just click the whistle in my inventory, and the noise is enough to make the teacher faint, letting me slip into the hallway.

Scavenging the hallways for cash and supplies

Once I am out in the hall, I have to act fast. There is a hall monitor named Chubb blocking the way to the office, and I know from experience that he will not move for anything less than a snack.

• My first stop is always Mrs. Sleep’s classroom. Inside, there is a desk with a lid that is slightly open.
• I always grab the 30 cents and the bottle of trombone slide oil from inside that desk.
• Back in the hallway, I head right toward the bathrooms.
• I have found that the lockers are not just for show. Look for the one near the women’s restroom that has only two vertical slits instead of the usual three. Clicking that one gives me an extra dime.

Solving the great bathroom dilemma

Now that I have some oil and some cash, I head to the far right of the hallway. There is a rusty vent here that looks like it has seen better days.

• Use the trombone slide oil on the vent to pop it open.
• Inside, find a roll of toilet paper. I know it sounds weird, but trust me, this is Phil’s ticket to the next item.
• Take that toilet paper over to the men’s restroom and give it to the guy in the stall (his name is Joe, by the way).
• Once Joe finishes up and leaves, you can grab the mop he leaves behind. Phil is not exactly a janitor, but you will do what you have to do for freedom.

Earning the final cents from the staff

With the mop in my inventory, head to the janitor’s closet. In the original version, I used to wait for the dialogue, but I found a pro tip for the Legacy Edition: click the mop on the janitor as soon as you enter. It saves a few seconds of dialogue!

• The janitor rewards me with a dime (or 5 cents depending on which version you are running) and tells me not to spend it on the school’s cheesy pencils.
• At this point, you usually have about 50 cents, but you need 75 cents for the vending machine.
• Head into the teacher’s lounge. It does not matter what I say to the teachers; they are going to kick me out anyway.
• The real reason I go in there is to trigger a state change. Once I have been kicked out, Mr. Sum will move from the lounge back to his own classroom.
• Head to Mr. Sum’s room and click the papers on his desk to find the final quarter you need.

Bypassing Chubb and the Principal’s office

Now you should have the $0.75 needed for the main path. Head back to the teacher’s lounge, which is now conveniently empty.

• The vending machine is unplugged at first. I had to squint the first time I played, but the cord is in the shadowy area at the bottom right of the machine. Click there to plug it in.
• Buy the cookie and head back to the hallway.
• Give the cookie to Chubb, the hall monitor. He falls over in a sugar-induced bliss, which lets me into the office.
• Inside the office, I head into Mr. Mister’s room. After a quick cutscene where Phil basically talks his way out of school, I get the final key.
• Walk all the way to the left side of the hallway and click the double doors. That is it! Phil is free.

Hidden secrets and lore you might have missed

One of the things I love most about the Riddle School series is how much depth Jonochrome tucked away in these simple games. If you are a lore nerd like me, you might appreciate these extra nuggets of information gain.

• The Janitor’s Fate: If you play the special features in Riddle School 4, you find out the janitor from this game actually got locked in that closet right before the school was demolished. It is a pretty dark ending for a guy who just wanted his mop back!
• The HAM Clock: If you click the clock in the hallway, Phil mentions that he is not sure if it is 5 AM or 5 PM, but it could also be HAM. This is a recurring gag that even shows up in Jonochrome’s other series, One Night at Flumpty’s.
• Legacy Changes: In the Legacy Edition, Phil’s sprite is actually the one used in Zack’s dream from Riddle School 5. It is much higher quality than the original 2006 version.
• The Economy: While you only need 75 cents for the cookie, you can actually find up to $1.75 if you click every locker and desk. I always try to get the max amount just to prove I can.

The original Riddle School game had its own challenges, but I’d say the second is much harder. Luckily, you should be good now.