Step-by-step method
- Find the pointed end of the scalpel. The player who asked had mistaken the other end for the tip.
- Ignore the width of the handle and most of the blade. Use the pointed tip as your steering marker.
- Move the tip into the center of the first opening.
- Use short mouse movements. Large corrections make it easier to cross an edge.
- Pause before a narrow turn. Re-center the tip, then move around the corner in small steps.
- Keep watching the tip until it has fully cleared the edge.
The first two steps come directly from the answered player discussion. The remaining steps are a practical way to apply that visual reference; they are not claims about invisible checkpoints or exact pixel dimensions.
Why the scalpel looks too large
The visible scalpel sprite is wider than the point players report needing to guide. If you try to keep the entire blade away from every edge, the first gap can appear impossible.
Use this mental model:
| What you see | What to track |
|---|---|
| Full scalpel sprite | Ignore it as the main alignment guide |
| Pointed scalpel tip | Keep this inside the open path |
| Tight corner | Stop, center the tip, then turn gradually |
If you keep failing at the first obstacle
- Make sure you are watching the pointed end, not the handle end.
- Move the tip through the middle rather than tracing one wall.
- Reduce the size of each mouse movement near corners.
- Do not assume the whole visible blade must fit perfectly inside the gap.
Exact collision-box dimensions, mouse sensitivity, and timing windows have not been measured. The useful confirmed point is the part of the scalpel to watch.
Sources and verification
- Steam discussion: “How do you even do the operation minigame?” — two players say to guide the scalpel tip, and the original poster thanks both after realizing they had watched the wrong end.
Checked on July 28, 2026. This is a player-confirmed solution from the full-release launch build, not an official hitbox diagram.