You’re staring at a blank canvas with a few characters and a prompt that feels like a dark comedy sketch. Edgar murders his wife storyteller level is one of those early "aha!" moments in the hit puzzle game Storyteller, developed by Daniel Benmergui and published by Annapurna Interactive. It sounds simple. It’s actually kind of brutal if you think about it too much. But in the world of this game, logic follows a very specific, visual grammar that focuses on heartbreak, jealousy, and the occasional blunt instrument.
Honestly, the game doesn't care about the morality of the situation. It just wants you to follow the rules of the narrative tropes.
If you’ve been stuck on this specific prompt—or its more complex variations—you aren't alone. The mechanics of Storyteller rely on building a "history" between characters across a timeline of frames. You can't just drop a murder scene in frame one and expect it to work. Why? Because Edgar needs a motive. Characters in this game don't just wake up and decide to be villains; they need to be pushed.
How the Edgar Murders His Wife Storyteller Level Works
To get the checkmark, you have to manipulate Edgar’s emotions. Most players try to jump the gun. They put Edgar and Lenore in a room, add a weapon or a "Death" scene, and wonder why nothing happens.
The game’s engine, which is basically a logic processor for tropes, requires a "Trigger." In the standard version of this puzzle, the most common solution involves the Marriage and Death (or sometimes Amnesia/Jealousy) mechanics.
Here is the basic flow that usually does the trick:
First, you have to make them love each other. It’s tragic, sure. Put Edgar and Lenore in the Marriage scene. Now the game recognizes them as a couple. This is the baseline state.
📖 Related: FC 26 Web App: How to Master the Market Before the Game Even Launches
Next, you need a catalyst. If you have the Ghost or the Heartbreak scene available, use it. Usually, the "murder" prompt is satisfied when Edgar is driven to madness or revenge. However, in the simplest version of the "Edgar Murders His Wife" prompt, it often involves a third wheel—Isobel.
If you place Edgar and Isobel in a scene where they fall in love, and then Lenore sees them, or vice versa, the jealousy meter redlines.
The Logic of the Crime
The game uses a "Memory" system. If you look at the thought bubbles above the characters, you’ll see what they are thinking about. If Edgar’s thought bubble shows Lenore with a heart, he’s happy. If it shows her with a skull or a broken heart, you’re on the right track for a homicide.
- The Wedding: Edgar and Lenore tie the knot.
- The Affair: Edgar meets Isobel. They fall in love.
- The Witness: Lenore walks in. Now Lenore is angry.
- The Confrontation: This is where the "murder" happens.
Wait. That's Lenore dying. To make Edgar the murderer, you often have to flip the script. If Lenore dies of natural causes (or "Old Age" in some levels) and Edgar marries someone else, only for Lenore’s ghost to return and haunt him, Edgar might snap.
Common Mistakes in the Edgar/Lenore Levels
People overthink the "how." You don't need a detailed forensic plan. You need a narrative arc.
👉 See also: Mass Effect Andromeda Gameplay: Why It’s Actually the Best Combat in the Series
One big mistake? Forgetting that the "Storyteller" level requirements are strict. If the prompt says "Edgar Murders His Wife," and you have him kill Isobel instead, the game won't give it to you, even if the "story" makes sense.
Also, pay attention to the Grave. The Grave is a powerful tool in Storyteller. It’s not just a place for dead bodies; it’s a place where characters go to mourn. Mourning leads to sadness, and in this game, sadness is only a few frames away from a total mental breakdown.
The "Double Murder" and Complex Variations
Later on, the game tosses some curveballs. You might see prompts like "Everyone Dies" or "A Murder is Avenged."
In these cases, Edgar becomes a serial killer. To get Edgar to murder his wife and then someone else, you have to use the Ghost mechanic. Ghosts in Storyteller are essentially "Evidence." If Lenore dies, she becomes a ghost. If she haunts Edgar, he gets scared. If he’s already in a relationship with Isobel, the haunting creates a cycle of stress that usually ends with another trip to the graveyard.
It’s dark. It’s weird. It’s exactly why the game went viral.
✨ Don't miss: Marvel Rivals Emma Frost X Revolution Skin: What Most People Get Wrong
Why the UI Can Be Tricky
Sometimes you'll place the right scene but the wrong character first. The order matters. In a "Marriage" scene, the person you drop in first is usually the initiator. In a "Murder" or "Death" scene, the placement determines who is the victim and who is the perpetrator.
If you put Lenore in the frame first and then Edgar, and it’s a scene with a weapon, Edgar might be the one who ends up on the floor. Pay attention to the silhouettes before you let go of the mouse or lift your finger from the screen.
Navigating the Later Chapters
As you progress past the initial Edgar and Lenore drama, the game introduces the Baron and the Knight. The logic stays the same, though.
- Love is the primary motivator.
- Jealousy is the primary weapon.
- Death is a transition state, not always the end of a character's journey.
When you're working on the "Edgar Murders His Wife" puzzles, remember that the game is basically a "if/then" machine. If Edgar is Married + If Edgar is Heartbroken = Potential for Murder.
Actionable Steps for Completion
To wrap this up and get you moving to the next chapter, here is exactly what you should check if you're still stuck on a specific Edgar murder prompt:
- Check the Motive: Open the "Thought Bubbles." Does Edgar actually have a reason to be mad at Lenore? If he doesn't have a "grudge" icon, the murder scene won't trigger.
- Reset the Timeline: Sometimes the game state gets messy. Clear all frames and start with the Marriage scene in Frame 1.
- Swap the Victims: If the prompt isn't triggering, try making Edgar the one who gets caught cheating versus the one who catches the cheater. The "Aggressor" role shifts based on who feels wronged.
- Use the Ghost: If a character is dead, use their ghost to interact with the living. This often triggers the "Insanity" or "Fear" states required for more violent endings.
- Watch the Prompt Closely: Ensure you are fulfilling the "Wife" requirement. If Edgar is married to Isobel but kills Lenore (the ex), it won't count as murdering his wife.
Once you master the Edgar levels, you'll have the foundational logic needed to tackle the Baron’s much more convoluted schemes in the later chapters. Just keep an eye on those heart and skull icons—they tell you everything you need to know about what's going to happen in the next frame.