Why It Happens
When an early area stalls just short of 100%, it is easy to start retracing the same path like one last shard rolled out of sight. In The Artisan of Glimmith, that usually points to world discovery or later progression. Hidden overworld puzzles matter here, and the better hint for finding them does not come until the end.
Area progress covers more than the clear main-path stops. Steam's store page specifically calls out hidden paths, secret puzzles, and optional finale puzzles, and the launch post says hidden glassworks can turn silver frames into gilded ones. Players have also reported that some windows seem to hold a few puzzles past the gold target, while Lunarch says many players will reach the end before they metallicize every window and then come back for the harder leftovers. In plain terms: a zone can look polished well before it is truly complete.
How To Get Unstuck
- If you are early or mid-game, push the main restoration path forward first. Backtracking later is part of the intended rhythm.
- Do one calm hidden-puzzle sweep instead of wandering at random. Thinky Games specifically notes puzzles hidden under bridges, behind walls, and under tree canopies, where the fixed camera can hide them from the wrong angle.
- If you are searching on handheld, switch to a mouse or trackpad if you can. Thumbstick hunting can make precise scanning feel fussier than it needs to.
Tip: Treat cleanup the same way you treat the logic boards. Do not keep repainting pieces you already set correctly. If an area will not hit 100%, the better bet is a hidden puzzle or a later unlock, not a board you already cleared somehow needing a second pass.
Precision Window Shortcut: If your missing cleanup is in Precision Window, the solutions page is the direct checklist for every board location and can help you confirm which hidden puzzles are still between you and a true 100% clear. Open the Precision Window Puzzle Solutions page.