There are 12 Time Runes in Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker. They’re spread across Horloge and the DLC’s other areas, with several tied to puzzles, challenges, or story progress. Use this checklist to find them all, then place the runes in Horloge’s giant clock to trigger the secret cutscene. The numbering below is a checklist, not a required collection order.
How to access Throes of the Watchmaker
The free DLC released on May 20, 2025, and requires the base game. To start it, download the DLC separately, load a save that has reached the end credits, return to the world map, accept Hortence’s message prompt, and speak with the pirate crew below deck on the Vespertine. Sabotage Studio describes the adventure as taking place in the miniature clockwork world of Horloge, with new areas, puzzles, dungeons, minigames, enemies, bosses, and music. Sabotage Studio’s DLC announcement and the Steam listing provide the release and access details.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Sea of Stars - Nintendo Switch | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Sea of Stars - Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41C2ebrSUoL._SL160_.jpg)
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Sea of Stars - Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Sea of Stars - Switch | $42.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Kirby Star Allies - Nintendo Switch | $52.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
All 12 Time Rune locations
The directions below follow Jesse Lab’s guide for The Escapist, last updated May 28, 2025. Runes may be found in a different order during play. Read the full guide.
- Horloge, southwest corner of town: Defeat the three Wheels players. To unlock the challenge, find the Warlock figurine in Were-Lake. The guide says you need one of each Goodie Bag type from the DLC’s three lakes to obtain the figurine.
- Goodies Pond: Search behind the waterfall.
- Rail Forest: Midway through the level, grapple onto the wall, then search the eastern side for a hidden puzzle room.
- Outside Ivory Towers: Look for the rune in the overworld outside the towers.
- Ivory Towers: Before entering the fourth tower, go south to a door. Solve the light puzzle by making a shadow in the Puppeteer’s face.
- Horloge, northeast: Solve the sliding-block puzzle. This rune is gated by completing Ivory Towers.
- East of Goodies Pond: Find the rune east of the pond.
- Wolf Rock: Cross the bridge and enter the cave to the east.
- Horloge, eastern tent: Complete the combat challenge.
- North of Goodies Pond: This rune is available after completing Ivory Towers.
- Big Top: After defeating Pantouf, look for a small cave in the upper room to the right.
- DLC completion: Finish Throes of the Watchmaker to receive the final listed rune.
Prerequisites to clear before backtracking
- Southwest Horloge challenge: Collect one of each Goodie Bag type from the three lakes, obtain the Warlock figurine in Were-Lake, then challenge the three Wheels players.
- Two Ivory Towers gates: Complete Ivory Towers before attempting the Horloge northeast sliding-block puzzle or searching north of Goodies Pond.
- Big Top cave: Defeat Pantouf first, then check the upper room on the right.
- Final rune: Complete the DLC story.
What to do after finding every rune
Return to Horloge and insert all 12 Time Runes into the giant clock. The guide identifies this as the trigger for a secret cutscene.
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