Forever Ago Resort Walkthrough: Buccaneers' Retreat

The Forever Ago resort walkthrough covers one of the game's longest and most puzzle-dense chapters: Captain Marley & the Buccaneers' Retreat. This abandoned island resort hides a bolt cutter, a locked arcade, a souvenir shop, and a boat ride that pulls Alfred back into his memories. If you're stuck at a locked door, a flooded walkway, or the Guardian Lord machine, this guide walks you through every step in order.

Whether you're chasing the platinum or just want to finish Alfred's road trip without wandering in circles, the section-by-section breakdown below matches the order the game expects you to complete each objective.

Check out beginner guide for more details.

Forever Ago Resort Walkthrough: Chapter Overview

The Buccaneers' Retreat chapter is a linear-but-tricky section. You'll arrive at an abandoned pirate-themed resort, grab a day ticket, and slowly unlock the property using a bolt cutter you find early on. The chapter mixes exploration, a nightmare sequence, an arcade mini-game, and a flashback boat ride with Audrey.

Here's the high-level flow before we dive into specifics:

If you've been using your camera throughout the game, keep it handy. Several prompts in this chapter are photo-triggered, and missing one can stall your progress until you notice the on-screen hint.

Arriving at the Abandoned Resort

Your journey brings you to the resort after the Sam detour. The property is fully abandoned when you arrive, which is your first clue that the "day ticket" system is more about atmosphere than actual guests.

Start by looking inside the entrance booth — there's someone there you'll want to interact with. From there, follow the linear path forward to reach the main reception area. The game doesn't hide the route, but the resort's overgrown layout can make it feel like there are more options than there actually are. Stick to the path and you'll hit reception without detours.

Getting Your Day Ticket

At the entrance, interact with the ticket booth to receive a day ticket. You need this to pass through the main gate into the resort proper. Without it, the gate won't open — so if you're stuck outside wondering why nothing works, this is almost always the missing step.

Once you're inside, head to the right side of the resort and pass under the narrow area there. This is the intended route; the left side leads to dead ends or scenery-only spots.

Inside the Resort: The Captain's Galley and Nightmare

After passing under the narrow section, continue straight ahead and take a left at the end. This brings you to the captain's galley — a pirate-ship-themed building that serves as the gateway to the chapter's nightmare sequence.

Head up the stairs to trigger the nightmare. These dream sections in Forever Ago are intentionally disorienting, but the solution is always the same: keep moving forward and interact with anything that blocks your path.

Once you're out of the dream, you're back in the resort and the real puzzle-solving begins.

Bridging the Broken Floor

Right after the nightmare, follow the linear path ahead. You'll hit a gap in the floor that you can't jump. Look for planks nearby — place them across the gap to create a bridge.

Cross to the other side and you'll find the bolt cutter. This tool is the single most important item in the chapter. It unlocks almost every gated area in the resort, so grab it before doing anything else. If you somehow leave without it, you'll be locked out of the arcade, souvenir shop, and harbor.

Using the Bolt Cutter: Every Lock in the Resort

The bolt cutter opens four locks in the Buccaneers' Retreat. The order matters less than making sure you hit all four, but here's the recommended sequence based on player experience:

Balcony Lock and Ladder

Break the balcony lock first and use the ladder there to descend. This gets you to the lower level where the arcade and other locked areas are. Skipping this lock means you'll be climbing back up and down repeatedly, which wastes time.

Skull & Coins Arcade

Use the bolt cutter to access the Skull and Coins arcade. Inside, pull the lever to turn the lights on — the arcade is pitch black otherwise, and you won't be able to see the machine you need.

Make your way to the very back of the arcade. You're looking for the Guardian Lord machine. Play it and try to set a new high score to complete one of the chapter's objectives. Good news: even if you can't beat the high score, the objective still completes. So don't stress about mastering the mini-game.

Souvenir Shop and Mascot Tickets

Exit the arcade and head straight ahead while staying on the right side. You'll find another lock to break with the bolt cutter. This opens the souvenir shop.

Inside, pick up the mascot tickets. They're on the shelf next to the parrot — a detail that trips up a lot of players who scan the whole shop before spotting them. Grab the tickets and exit through the door near the parrot.

Boat Ride, Flashback, and the Tree Carving

From the souvenir shop, continue straight ahead toward the docks. Break the lock on the harbor to access the boat inside.

Take the boat out to the island in the middle of the water. Partway through your ride, capture a photo — this triggers the flashback sequence. If you don't take the photo, you'll reach the island but the memory sequence won't fire, and you'll be stuck.

Steering With Audrey

In the flashback, you're steering the boat alongside Audrey. Wait for Audrey to steer first, then follow up with your own steer. Matching her movements is the whole mechanic — don't try to lead.

Once you reach the island, follow Audrey to trigger a cutscene. When you're back in the present, create another carving on the tree. This is the chapter's emotional payoff and also the final required action before you can move on.

Common Stuck Points in the Resort Chapter

A few spots consistently trip up players. Here's a quick troubleshooting table:

Community reports suggest the boat photo prompt is the most commonly missed step, because it appears mid-transit and players are focused on steering. If you reach the island and nothing happens, that's almost certainly why.

Tips for a Smooth Run

A few habits make this chapter much less frustrating:

• Keep your camera out. Photo prompts are the game's main progression trigger, and the resort chapter has at least two.
• Do the balcony lock first. It saves backtracking and gives you a clear mental map of the resort layout.
• Don't sweat the Guardian Lord high score. The objective completes either way.
• Check the parrot shelf specifically. The mascot tickets aren't hidden, but they're easy to walk past.
• Take the boat photo early in the ride. Waiting until you're near the island can make the prompt feel like it didn't register.

If you're following a full Forever Ago resort walkthrough in order, this chapter sits between the Sam detour and the Winslow Lighthouse section. Everything you pick up here — especially the boat access — is self-contained, so you don't need to worry about carrying items forward.

What Comes After the Resort

Once you finish the tree carving, the resort chapter ends and your road trip continues. The next stop involves a detour to an animal shelter before you reach the Winslow Lighthouse, where a photography sequence with Charles awaits.

For the complete main story from Woolson Falls onward, the official Forever Ago Steam page is the best source for updates, patches, and achievement info. Player experience varies slightly on puzzle timing, but the objective order in this guide reflects the standard progression path.