The Sinking City 2 Holloway Manor DLC Guide
When to start the Holloway Manor DLC, where its point of no return is, and what the media-reported Occult Key candle puzzle asks you to collect.
Holloway Manor is a paid add-on, and most of what you find about it mixes confirmed facts with one unconfirmed puzzle solution. This page keeps them apart, so you can see which line you can rely on.
What the Holloway Manor DLC is
It is an additional story mission. It released on August 18, 2026, the same day as the base game.
The estate stands outside Arkham. The official store listing describes a manor “founded atop something far older”, with dark rites and bad blood in the family.
Finish the mission and you can carry the “Bucking Bronco” revolver back into the main game.
On Steam it is sold on its own at $12.99 (US). Prices and bundles differ by platform and region, so check your own storefront before buying.
When to start it
The game suggests clearing the hospital chapter first.
Two reasons. Story: the manor shows enemy types that otherwise appear in the middle of the main game, and meeting them early spoils that reveal. Pacing: arriving with better gear makes the fights easier.
Both points come from player reports, not from an official statement. Several players repeat the same answer.
The mission is standalone, though. It does not change the main plot, and you can leave it for later.
Where the point of no return is
The dividing line is the drop you take once the objective reads “find the living room”.
Do your unfinished business before that drop:
- safes you have not opened
- investigation notes you have not picked up
- optional investigations still running
Players who dropped first had to reload an autosave and replay the section. Make a manual save before you open the living room door — the game usually keeps a slightly earlier autosave as your safety line.
The Occult Key candle puzzle (media report, unconfirmed)
One third-party guide published on 2026-08-24 describes this puzzle. Frogwares has not confirmed it, and no second source repeats it. Treat it as a direction, not a guarantee.
What that report says:
- The puzzle sits in the old utility room, off Archive A.
- Collect three things first: candles from the ERC crate in Archives B, another set of candles in the Boiler Room, and Catherine’s photograph in the Museum.
- The answer follows Catherine’s death year, 1750. The reported candle order is 1, 7, 5, 0.
- The reward is the Occult Key.
One detail lines up with official documentation: ERC crates open with an ERC activator pen, and the pens lie in different places around the level. If you cannot find the candles, check whether you picked one up.
If the numbers do not work, do not brute-force them. The manor is built around gathering clues from several rooms first.
Before you buy
- Open your own storefront and confirm Holloway Manor is listed as a released add-on.
- Check whether it is a separate purchase or already included in your edition. Bundles differ by platform.
- Add-on progress is separate from the main story. Backing up your save first is the safer habit.
FAQ
Is Holloway Manor part of the main story?
No. It is a standalone investigation. The main plot runs without it, and the reward weapon carries back into the main game.
Can I play the DLC before finishing the main story?
You can start it, but the game suggests clearing the hospital first, mainly to avoid spoiling mid-game enemies.
Are the candle numbers official?
No. This page marks them as a 2026-08-24 media report: unconfirmed and unrepeated.
Can I go back for anything I missed?
Not after the “find the living room” drop. An autosave from just before it is your rollback.
Sources
- Steam store page: The Sinking City 2 – The Holloway Manor
- Frogwares Support: Gameplay Questions
- nerdschalk: Holloway Manor candle puzzle (2026-08-24, media report)
- Reddit: Point of no return in Holloway Manor? (2026-09-03)
- Reddit: When does Holloway Manor take place? (2026-08-20)
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