What we have actually seen
Video-tested experience: a full-game playthrough captures a potion becoming lodged under furniture. The player cannot retrieve it, suspects a collision issue, takes a screenshot and plans to contact the developer.
That proves the situation can occur, but it does not prove that every missing potion is a bug.
Safe recovery checklist
- Re-check the nearby floor and pile edges; the videos show many bottles hidden inside dense color piles.
- Use the game’s item-highlight assistance on the selected potion puzzle when available.
- Check whether the bottle was placed on the wrong color shelf rather than truly lost.
- If the object is visibly inside geometry and cannot be selected, capture a screenshot and report the location/version to the developer.
Unverified: this page deliberately does not claim a specific respawn-menu command because the supplied post-launch videos do not reliably verify one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main objective in Shelve the Potions!?
Sort more than 2,000 potions back onto shelves by discovering the rule for each handcrafted shelf puzzle.
Are all shelves solved the same way?
No. The developer says the game contains many unique puzzle rules; the videos show number, liquid level, color, Greek-letter, compass, clock, weather and other clue types.
Can the game reveal a puzzle answer?
Yes. The magical-cat assistance system can highlight relevant items and can reveal a puzzle solution when you are stuck.
Can I find missing puzzle items with an ability?
Yes. The videos show a highlight ability designed to mark items associated with the selected potion puzzle.
Is there a penalty for taking too long?
The official Steam description says the game has no timers or penalties.
How many unique puzzles are there?
The developer devlog says 28 unique puzzles were created. The store page uses the broader wording “20+ handcrafted puzzles.”
Do some puzzles require collecting pieces first?
Yes. Video playthroughs show missing chess pieces, clock parts, pages, books and other clue objects that must be found before some answers become clear.
What should I do when a shelf order looks right but does not complete?
Check whether you are using the correct shelf and whether the puzzle clue points to a different attribute such as liquid amount, bottle size, cork size or an environmental sequence.
Does the tutorial teach mechanics used later?
Yes. The tutorial demonstrates number order, liquid-level order, color sequencing and an environmental-object method using the crow.
Can potions get physically stuck?
A full-game video shows a potion becoming stuck under furniture due to collision behavior. Treat that as a player-observed issue rather than a universal bug.