The DOORS Archives Update is finally here, and there is a lot more content than I expected. In this update, we get the new Archives area, changes to the Hotel, new rooms, new items, badges, and several other additions that are easy to miss if you are just playing normally.
In this post, I will go through the biggest changes in the DOORS Archives Update and explain what you can find in the new areas. I will also cover the secret Mines subfloor, the new entities, Hotel changes, Admin Panel additions, the redesigned lobby, and the new Journal feature.
There are quite a few secrets in this update, so I recommend exploring everything instead of simply rushing through the main path. Some of the most interesting content is hidden away, including a secret subfloor in the Mines that you might never discover unless you know where to look.
DOORS The Archives Update Guide – Stairwell, All New Entity
The biggest surprise in the Archives Update is probably the secret Mines subfloor.
This was not something that was clearly announced beforehand. Players discovered it while exploring the Mines, which makes the whole thing feel like a genuine secret rather than another area that the game simply tells you to visit.
The secret subfloor is located around Door 152.
At this location, you can find a broken wall that leads into an underground area. From there, you can reach the entrance to the secret subfloor known as the Stairwell.
This area is particularly interesting because it contains new content, including several badges and entities.
How to Enter the Stairwell
Getting into the secret subfloor isn’t completely straightforward.
You cannot simply enter it from the DOORS lobby, and you cannot use modifiers to access it. The Admin Panel also does not count for entering the area.
Instead, you need to actually play through the Mines.
You also need to complete the Grumble Nest section before you can reach the secret area.
The other important thing you should bring is a Skeleton Key.
This is probably one of the most annoying parts of accessing the Stairwell because Jeff’s Shop appears after the area where you need the key. That means you need to bring a Skeleton Key with you from the Hotel or obtain one through a Rift.
So, if you’re planning to explore the secret subfloor, make sure you prepare before starting your run.
What Is Inside the Stairwell?
Once you enter the Stairwell, you will immediately notice that the area is built around a huge number of stairs.
You will continue moving upward, but eventually you will reach stopping points where you can enter rooms and collect different items.
These items can then be traded for Gold, giving you another reason to explore the area instead of simply running straight through it.
However, you also need to be careful because the Stairwell contains multiple entities.
There are reportedly five entities in this area. Four have already been encountered, while another remains undiscovered or wasn’t encountered during the original exploration.
Creek Entity
One of the most important new entities in the secret subfloor is Creek.
Creek was shown in the trailer, so many players were wondering where this entity actually appeared after the Archives Update launched.
It turns out that Creek is connected to the secret Mines subfloor.
Creek is described as a dangerous entity that can attack you when you’re not paying attention. Because of this, you need to be careful about what is happening around you instead of focusing only on moving forward.
The TV Entity
Another strange entity found in the Stairwell is a TV-like entity.
This entity follows you while you move.
The interesting part is that if you stop moving, it stops as well.
Its behavior is similar to a remote control with a play-and-pause effect. You can keep moving and the entity follows, but stopping can also cause it to stop.
It’s a pretty unusual mechanic compared with the more traditional chase or attack behavior used by many DOORS entities.
Ball Entities
The Stairwell also contains ball-like entities.
These can be popped by throwing objects at them multiple times.
They are another obstacle you need to deal with while exploring the subfloor, so don’t assume every strange object you see is harmless.
The Sticky Entity
The fourth encountered entity is a sticky entity.
This one is generally harmless, but it can still cause problems because it works similarly to a gate.
That means it can potentially trap or block you in an inconvenient situation.
Even if an entity isn’t directly trying to kill you, it can still become dangerous when you’re already dealing with other threats.
New Badges in the Secret Area
The Stairwell isn’t only about discovering new entities.
There are also several new badges connected to the area.
Some of these badges remain hidden until you actually enter the secret subfloor for the first time. This means you might look at your badge progress beforehand and wonder why certain badges aren’t visible.
The developers clearly wanted some of this content to remain hidden until players discovered the area naturally.
This also gives you another reason to explore the Mines even after you’ve already completed the main progression.
Hotel Changes
The Archives Update doesn’t only add new content to the Archives and Mines.
The Hotel also received several changes.
Some of these changes are small visual improvements, while others introduce completely new rooms and routes.
New Sofas and Chairs
One of the first things you may notice is the addition of new sofas.
The sofas come in different colors and can be interacted with.
You can actually sit on them now, which makes the Hotel feel more interactive.
The update also makes many indoor chairs usable.
Some chairs can even be moved when other players push them. This is a small feature, but it adds more interaction to the environment.
Carpet Changes
The Hotel carpets have also received a small visual update.
Previously, some carpet sections appeared as one continuous piece.
Now, there are gaps between separate carpet sections, making the flooring look more realistic.
It is a small detail, but these kinds of environmental changes help make the Hotel feel less static.
New Hallway Room
A completely new room has also been added to the Hotel.
It is referred to as the new hallway room, and it comes with two variants.
One version is mirrored, so you can encounter the room in different orientations while progressing through the Hotel.
This gives the Hotel’s room generation a little more variety.
Door 60 Basement Room Changes
The old basement room around Door 60 has also been changed.
The previous room was removed and replaced with a new room containing a sub-room.
This sub-room can lead toward the entrance of the Archives.
There are also multiple routes and additional sub-rooms that you can discover.
Some of these areas can contain Gold, so it’s worth checking them instead of immediately leaving.
New Archives Entrance Room
The entrance leading into the Archives has also been redesigned.
Instead of simply reusing the previous entrance design, the update introduces a completely different room.
This makes the transition into the Archives feel more like entering a new part of the game.
The Strange Ritual Room
One of the more mysterious discoveries is a small secret sub-room.
This room looks very different from the surrounding areas.
It contains candles placed on the floor and three chairs arranged inside the room.
The whole setup gives the room a strange ritual-like appearance.
At the moment, the exact purpose or lore behind this room isn’t completely clear.
Because the Archives Update adds more story and lore elements, though, I think this is the type of location worth remembering.
It could potentially have a connection to the Archives’ story or the game’s wider lore.
Seek Chase Animation Changes
The Seek chase starting animation has also been changed.
The camera angle now shifts differently compared with the previous version.
Personally, I think the older animation felt smoother, but this could also be a bug or an early version of the new animation.
Either way, if you’ve played DOORS for a long time, you’ll probably notice the difference immediately.
Admin Panel Changes
The Archives Update also changes several things inside the Admin Panel.
The icon for the entity section has been changed, making it look different from the previous version.
The item section has also been reorganized.
This is actually useful because it should make it easier to find specific items instead of searching through a messy list.
Doorsman Morph
A new Doorsman morph has been added to the Admin Panel.
This allows you to turn into the Doorsman using the panel.
It’s mainly a fun addition, but it’s still one of the new options worth checking out if you regularly use the Admin Panel.
A90 and the New Ransom Entity
The old A90 entity option has been removed from the Admin Panel.
However, it has been replaced with an updated version called Ransom.
Ransom comes with different mechanics, making it more interesting to experiment with compared with simply using the previous A90 option.
New Admin Panel Items
The update also adds new items to the Admin Panel.
One of the notable additions is the Pocket Mirror.
When you use the Pocket Mirror, it breaks on the ground and creates a glass copy of your character.
The copy then mirrors your movements.
It even copies the items you are holding, which makes the whole thing look surprisingly creepy.
The strangest part is that the copy moves based on your mirrored movements.
So, in a way, you are basically creating something that scares you using your own movements.
God Mode Has Been Improved
God Mode also received a useful change.
Previously, certain entities could still detect you in situations where you might expect God Mode to protect you completely.
With this update, Figure cannot hear players while they are in God Mode.
That makes God Mode more useful when testing different things through the Admin Panel.
The Lobby Has Been Redesigned
The entire DOORS lobby has also been changed.
The new design is based around the Archives theme, giving the lobby a completely different atmosphere.
The large previous Coming Soon area has been removed.
In its place, there is now a smaller gate that still carries the same general idea.
The developers also added several decorative elements around the lobby.
New Lobby Decorations
The update adds more animations and interactive-looking decorations to the lobby.
One of the most noticeable additions is a fish tank.
The fish inside the tank are animated as well, which gives the environment more life.
These details don’t directly change gameplay, but I really like additions like this because they make the game world feel more believable.
The New Journal Feature
One of the most useful additions in the Archives Update is the Journal.
The Journal provides information about entities and other parts of the game.
This is especially helpful if you’re trying to understand what you’re encountering instead of simply memorizing what each entity does.
The Journal also contains lore-related information, giving players more clues about the game’s world and the entities inside it.
For new players, this can also make learning the game much easier.
New Badges
The Archives Update adds a large number of new badges.
There are also hidden badges that won’t appear until you discover certain parts of the update.
The update appears to contain more than 30 badges, with additional progress badges connected to hidden content.
The secret Mines subfloor is likely responsible for some of the hidden badge progress.
So if you’re trying to complete every badge, don’t focus only on the normal Archives route.
You’ll need to explore the secret areas as well.
Archives Content and New Entities
Of course, the biggest part of the update is the Archives itself.
The update introduces new entities, new items, new rooms, and additional secrets.
There are also hidden areas connected to the story.
Some rooms appear to contain information that could reveal more about the player’s past and the overall lore of DOORS.
This makes the Archives more than just another place to survive.
If you enjoy the lore side of DOORS, it’s worth taking your time and checking the rooms carefully.
Flower Entity and Honcho
Two of the entities that players have reportedly been struggling with are the Flower Entity and Honcho.
Honcho focuses heavily on speed and precision, meaning you need to react quickly and accurately.
The Flower Entity is more focused on anomalies, making its mechanics different from a simple chase or attack.
If you’re having trouble with either of these entities, you’ll probably want to learn their mechanics before repeatedly attempting the Archives.
The DOORS Archives Update adds a surprising amount of new content to the game. The Archives themselves are obviously the main attraction, but some of the smaller changes are just as interesting.
The secret Stairwell subfloor in the Mines is probably my favorite surprise because it was hidden from players and discovered naturally. With new entities, badges, rooms, and the mysterious Creek entity, it gives the Mines another reason to explore.
The Hotel also received plenty of improvements, including new sofas, usable chairs, carpet changes, new rooms, a redesigned Archives entrance, and a strange ritual-like room that may have some connection to the lore.
The Admin Panel has also been updated with new organization, the Doorsman morph, Ransom, the Pocket Mirror, and improvements to God Mode. Meanwhile, the redesigned lobby and Journal feature add more polish and useful information for players.
Overall, this is a pretty substantial update. If you’re returning to DOORS after some time away, there is a lot to discover, so I would recommend exploring the Archives, checking the Journal, hunting for badges, and eventually making your way into the secret Mines subfloor.