Unlocking the Secrets of Once Human’s Ringing Telephone Booths

I’ll never forget the first time I stumbled across one of those old, weathered telephone booths in Once Human. It was dusk, the sky a bruised purple over the Dayton Wetlands, and I was just minding my own business, scavenging for scrap and avoiding those creepy crawlies. Then I heard it—a faint, tinny ringing drifting through the misty air. At first I thought my ears were playing tricks on me, but nope, there it was again: brrrring, brrrring. It felt almost… alive, like the booth itself was calling out, lonely and insistent. Boy, was I confused at first! But curiosity got the better of me, and I’m glad it did, because what followed turned into one of the most charming little side diversions this game has to offer.

This isn’t your standard brain-teaser. The telephone booth puzzle is more of a scavenger hunt wrapped in eerie small-town atmosphere. You see, scattered around the Brookham farm region—right in the heart of the Dayton Wetlands starting area—are several phone booths that just love to ring when nobody’s around. Nobody knows exactly why they’re still working in a post-apocalyptic world crawling with Deviations, but hey, I’m not one to question free loot. If you’re anything like me, juggling a dozen quests and a half-built base, you might overlook these unassuming little kiosks. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out.

Finding them all is a little adventure in itself. The phones don’t exactly line up like a neat little connect-the-dots, but Once Human does a solid job of helping you out once you’ve discovered the first one—it gets marked on your map for future reference. I remember circling the farm like a lost tourist, my ears straining for that metallic chirp. The world sounds in this game are so rich: the rustle of mutated crops, the distant howl of a monster, and then—ring ring—a sudden, almost cheerful noise cutting through the silence. That the telephones have a sort of personality, you know? They’re not just props; they’re practically waving at you, desperate for someone to pick up.

If you’re having trouble spotting them (and believe me, in that perpetual gloom it’s easy), here’s a pro-tip from someone who’s spent way too many late nights wandering the wetlands: come back between 7 PM and 6 AM in-game time. For some reason, the phones seem to… enjoy the nighttime. Maybe it’s the vibe, or maybe the developers just wanted to add a little extra spookiness. Also, if the booths still refuse to spawn, try switching to a different world instance. It’s not something most players will need, but it’s a handy little trick that’s saved my sanity more than once.

Now, the puzzle itself—if you can even call it that—is wonderfully simple. All you have to do is interact with every ringing phone. That’s it. No cryptic riddles, no elaborate button sequences. Each booth answered feels like a small act of kindness, like listening to a forgotten ghost. Once you’ve picked up that last receiver, the game rewards your patience with a delightful little pop: a rewards chest spawns right at the geometric center of all the booths. It’s as if the telephones collectively whisper, “Thanks for lending an ear, here’s a present.” I swear, there’s something oddly satisfying about that moment. After all the gunfire and base-building, it’s a quiet little victory.

Open that chest, and you’ll be greeted by a treasure trove of goodies that’s surprisingly valuable, especially in the early game. Let me break down what you’ll find, because each item has a special place in my post-apocalyptic heart.

• Energy Links: The lifeblood of your journey. I use them for everything—teleporting across the map when I’m too lazy to walk, upgrading my weapons so they don’t shoot like peashooters, and unlocking those oh-so-important memetics. Farming Energy Links can get real tedious, so this bonus feels like finding a crisp $20 bill in an old jacket.

• Controllers: Oh man, these are the unsung heroes. Whenever you clear a boss fight or a Securement Silo run, you’ll see those tempting reward chests. Without a Controller, the loot is… well, it’s like opening a birthday gift from a distant relative who doesn’t know you well. With a Controller, though? Jackpot. Full rewards, baby. I make sure to hoard these like a dragon hoards gold.

• Stardust Source: This one’s for the crafters and the fighters. Need to craft AP ammo or Quick Activators? Stardust Source is your best friend. It’s the kind of material that sneaks up on you—you don’t think you need it until you’re staring at an empty inventory with a tough boss around the corner.

• Stellar Planula: Now this is the rarest gem of the bunch. You can only get these from quests, and they’re the currency for the Stellar Planula store, packed with exclusive goodies. It takes a long, long time to gather enough to buy everything, so every single Planula counts. Seeing a few drop from that chest always makes me do a little happy dance.

The thing is, Once Human doesn’t always shower you with easy rewards. A lot of the best stuff is tucked behind anomalies just like this one—quirky, ambient events that make the world feel bigger and more mysterious. The telephone booths… they’ve become a sort of ritual for me. Every new character, every fresh start, I find myself drawn to that farm, waiting for the ring. It’s like meeting an old friend. A friend who gives you free stuff and only asks for a moment of your time. So next time you’re out there, and you hear that faint ringing on the wind, do me a favor: pick up. You never know what might be listening on the other end.