What if every mistake you made could be fixed by jumping to another hour of the same day? Schedule I lets you do exactly that. This indie time-loop game mixes detective story, puzzle rooms, and fast action. You play Lena Halberg, a rookie archivist who finds a pocket watch that rewinds time in 60-minute chunks. Each loop keeps clues you found but resets the world, so every run feels like a fresh attempt at a giant escape room.
In this 1,100-word guide, you will learn how to beat the main story, unlock the three secret endings, and even start speed-running. The course is split into easy, digestible steps: core mechanics, early game, mid-game, late game, secret content, and pro tips. Ready to bend time? Let’s dive in.
Core Mechanics You Must Grasp First
The 60-Minute Loop
Every time the in-game clock hits 14:00, the world resets to 13:00. Items in your inventory stay; objects in the world reset. Your goal is to gather key items and information fast, then trigger the main puzzle before the hour ends.
Memory Markers
Lena’s diary records everything you read or hear. Open it with Tab. Yellow text means information that remains after a reset; white text means flavor story.
Focus Meter
Sprinting, fighting, and heavy lifting drain Focus. When it hits zero, time rewinds automatically. Keep snacks in slot 3 to refill it.
Color-Locked Doors
Each zone (Archive, Rooftop, Canal, Catacombs) has a door that only opens if you hold an item of the matching color aura. Colors change daily. Note the cycle order: Red → Blue → Green → Purple.
Early Game: Loops 1–5
1. Grab the Pocket Watch and Head to the Archive
Right after the intro cutscene, pick up the watch on the desk. Rotate it with the mouse wheel to learn controls. Sprint straight to the Archive (north wing) and collect:
- Rusty key (shelf A3)
- First snack pack (drawer under microfilm reader)
- Diary page 1 (inside cardboard box)
2. Unlock the Rooftop Shortcut
Use the rusty key on the fire-escape door. Climb the ladder to find the wind vane piece; this is needed much later, but grabbing it now saves two loops.
3. Trigger Your First Fail Safe
Jump off the roof after 10 minutes. You will respawn at 13:00 but keep items. This teaches you the safe way to skip time when you have what you need.
Mid-Game: Loops 6–15
4. Learn NPC Routines
Three NPCs walk fixed paths:
- Janitor Mo: cleans Canal at 13:10, smoke break Archive 13:35
- Guard Vega: patrols Catacombs 13:20, coffee 13:45
- Courier Pix: rooftop delivery 13:30, Archive exit 13:55
Use them to open locked areas. For example, follow Vega to Catacombs when she swipes her card.
5. Solve the Weight Puzzle in the Canal
Pick up three concrete blocks (12 kg each). Place them on the left scale; your own weight (shown near Focus meter) balances the right scale at 72 kg. This opens the sluice gate and reveals the Blue Aura Lantern.
6. Open the Blue Door to the Catacombs
Hold the Blue Lantern and rush to the Catacombs by 13:25. Inside, find:
- Skeleton Key Half A
- Diary page 2 (mentions the “Seven Bells”)
- Focus Booster (+50 max)
Late Game: Loops 16–25
7. Craft the Complete Skeleton Key
Combine Key Half A (Catacombs) with Key Half B (Rooftop toolbox, appears after loop 12). In inventory, drag one half onto the other. This unlocks the Master Clock in the Archive basement.
8. Set the Master Clock to 12:47
Why 12:47? That starts a hidden 73-minute loop. You will now reset at 14:00 as usual but start at 12:47, giving you 13 extra minutes.
9. Collect the Four Bell Clappers
The Seven Bells puzzle only needs four clappers. Locations:
- Archive rafters (use climbing hook)
- Canal boat (appears after sluice gate drained)
- Guard room locker (steal during Vega’s coffee break)
- Catacombs altar (requires Purple Aura day)
10. Ring Bells in Correct Order
Order is hinted by diary page numbers: 1-3-2-4. After ringing, a vault opens behind Lena’s desk. Inside is the Paradox Chip, which you need for the main ending.
11. Confront the Hidden Antagonist
Return to the rooftop by 13:50 with the Paradox Chip. Courier Pix turns hostile. Dodge her drone strikes, then place the chip in the satellite dish. Scene triggers, Lena blacks out, and you wake at 13:00 holding the True Watch.
Secret Endings
A. Archivist Ending (Easy)
Do not install the Paradox Chip. Instead, hand it to Janitor Mo during his 13:35 smoke break. He thanks you; credits roll. Time line stays broken, but Lena survives.
B. Loopbreaker Ending (Normal)
Install the chip, defeat Pix, then smash the True Watch by sprinting into the Canal’s grinder. This stops all loops. Cutscene shows Lena at 18:00 for the first time.
C. Cosmic Librarian Ending (Hard)
Before installing the chip, gather all seven diary pages (pages 3–7 spawn after you lengthen the loop). Read them in order inside the Archive reading room. A secret portal appears. Enter it to archive time itself. This is the golden ending and unlocks New Game+.
Speed-Run Path (Any% NG+)
In New Game+, you start with the climbing hook and Focus Booster.
- Loop 1: Sprint to Archive rafters, grab clapper.
- Jump off roof to reset.
- Loop 2: Drain Canal, get clapper two.
- Loop 3: Follow Vega, steal clapper three.
- Loop 4 purple day: Blue Lantern + Catacombs = clapper four.
- Craft Skeleton Key (both halves now present).
- Set Master Clock to 12:47, ring bells, grab chip.
- Run to rooftop, install chip, defeat Pix.
- Grind the True Watch in Canal.
World record is 7 minutes 42 seconds. Aim for sub-10 first.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Forgetting Focus: Always keep at least one snack in slot 3. Out of Focus equals forced rewind.
- Ignoring diary colors: Yellow text matters; skim white later.
- Missing Aura cycle: Memorize Red-Blue-Green-Purple. Plan loops around it.
- Wasting time on non-essential NPC chats: Only Mo, Vega, and Pix affect progress.
- Over-collecting items: Inventory space is four slots. Pick what you need, drop the rest near the Archive for quick grabs.
Modding and Community Challenges
PC players can install the official Loop SDK. Popular mods include:
- Infinite Focus – Remove stamina drain for casual exploration.
- Randomized Auras – Colors shuffle each loop for extra brain burn.
- Hardcore Clock – Loops shorten to 45 minutes.
Every Sunday, the Discord runs a “Seeded Loop” challenge. Everyone uses the same RNG seed and tries to set the best time. Winners earn special name colors in the chat.
Accessibility Options
Schedule I has solid settings for all players:
- Time-Slow Mode: Press F1 to cut game speed to 50% without affecting loop clock.
- Color-Blind Palettes: Three modes adjust aura hues and UI.
- Auto-Diary Read: Voice reader speaks new yellow entries aloud.
- Subtitles Size: Scale from 80% to 200%.
Recommended Gear Setup
A stable 60 FPS helps timing puzzles. Even modest rigs can achieve this: GTX 1050 Ti, 8 GB RAM, SSD. Controllers work, but a mouse gives faster item drag-n-drop, saving up to 30 seconds per loop.
Conclusion: Your Roadmap to Temporal Mastery
Schedule I rewards smart planning more than raw reflexes. Learn the loop, track Aura days, and keep Focus high. Start with the Archivist ending to see credits fast, then chase the golden Cosmic Librarian route. Once you finish New Game+, join weekly speed-run races to test your skills.
Useful quick tips to remember:
- Yellow diary lines = progress keys; check them after every loop.
- Set the Master Clock to 12:47 as early as you can for extra minutes.
- Store surplus gear in the Archive entrance for one-step pickup.
- Snacks are better than med-kits because Focus is life.
- Fail safe jumps (like rooftop dives) are great when time is low.
Time is a circle only if you let it be. Grab that watch and bend it to your will. See you in the next loop, Archivist!
