How to Solve the Cave Puzzles in Resident Evil 4 Remake

One of the trickier early puzzles in the Resident Evil 4 remake comes in Chapter 4 when you’re exploring the caverns around the lake. Your only clue is a big console full of buttons nearby. So, here’s how to solve the cave puzzles in the Resident Evil 4 remake.

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How to Solve the Cave Puzzles in RE4

To solve the cave puzzles in the Resident Evil 4 remake, you need to match the yellow graffiti on the cavern walls as clues to push buttons on corresponding mechanisms in order.

The first puzzle is in a small building in a smaller cavern on the northeastern side of the lake. (“Northeastern” here assumes you’re looking at your map under its default settings, where it has a fixed orientation.) There aren’t any enemies here, so it’s safe to disembark and look around.

Resident Evil 4 Remake Cave Puzzle 1

The three parts of the puzzle’s code can be found written on the walls that surround you. The first is right on the wall at the base of the ladder to the second floor, with no gimmicks.

Leon approaches a marked wooden door. This image is part of an article about how to solve the cave puzzles in Resident Evil 4 remake.

The second is painted half on the wall of the cavern, out over the water, and half on the wall at the top of the ladder, next to the unlocked bureau. If you stand in the right place, you can see the correct symbol.

Leon aims his pistol at yellow graffiti. This image is part of an article about how to solve the cave puzzles in Resident Evil 4 remake.

Finally, the third part of this puzzle’s clue is written both on the cavern’s wall and the side of the building. If you stand in the right place, you can see both halves of the code at once, next to each other.

Leon aims at yellow graffiti of three fish. This image is part of an article about how to solve the cave puzzles in Resident Evil 4 remake.

The code indicates you should push the buttons at roughly 9 o’clock, 7:30, and 4:30 on the console, as circled below.

Buttons are highlighted on the first puzzle's console. This image is part of an article about how to solve the cave puzzles in Resident Evil 4 remake.

This opens the gate and lets you take the Blasphemer’s Head. Don’t forget to clean out the building before you go, particularly the treasure on the second floor of the statue room (a Ruby) and a piece of the hexagon puzzle you passed earlier in the game.

From here, head southwest into the cave tunnels off the lake to the dock south of the Merchant’s hangout. Collecting the second statue head requires you to deal with a pack of Ganados, and reinforcements will arrive when you’ve got it.

Related: How to Repair Your Knife in Resident Evil 4 Remake

Resident Evil 4 Remake Cave Puzzle 2

The solution to the second cave puzzle consists of three parts that are written on the cavern’s walls in yellow paint, but it’s darker in here, and there’s a lot more opposition, so they’re easier to miss.

The first clue is on the wall next to the ladder that leads up to the locked gate.

Leon shines a light on a cave puzzle. This image is part of an article about how to solve the cave puzzles in Resident Evil 4 remake.

The second is painted on two pillars directly across from the gate on the cavern’s second floor.

Leon aims at puzzle clues on stalagmites. This image is part of an article about how to solve the cave puzzles in Resident Evil 4 remake.

Finally, the third clue is on the wall just past the pillars, on the closer side of the rickety wooden bridge.

Leon shines a light on moon-shaped graffiti

Go back to the console and hit the buttons at roughly 6 o’clock, 10:30, and 1:30.

The buttons to the second cave puzzle console are highlighted

Now, you can grab the Apostate’s Head before fighting your way back to the boat. Next, you must return to the weird open-handed lock you saw earlier and place both heads to receive the Church Key. It doesn’t appear to matter what head you put in what hand. Either way, you’ll have solved the cave puzzles in Resident Evil 4 and will now be able to head back to the Church to save Ashley.

And that’s how to solve the cave puzzles in the Resident Evil 4 remake.

The above article was updated on 3/28/2024 by Sam Stone to clarify information about the Resident Evil 4 remake.


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Author
Thomas Wilde
Thomas Wilde, for his sins, has been writing about video games since 2002. He began as a guides writer for UK magazines before breaking into the U.S. market as a critic and reporter. His work outside of the Escapist can be found on GeekWire, Bloody Disgusting, and GameSkinny, among other places. He also wrote, co-wrote, or edited most of the guides from the late, lamented DoubleJump Books, and was the executive editor during the original print run for Hardcore Gamer magazine. Thomas is from the Chicago area, but currently lives and works in Washington state. He likes bad movies, good fiction, cooking, zombie media, and collecting dozens of blank pocket notebooks for no obvious reason.
Author
Sam Stone
Sam Stone is a longtime entertainment news journalist and columnist, covering everything from movies and television to video games and comic books. Sam also has bylines at CBR, Popverse, Den of Geek, GamesRadar+, and Marvel.com. Sam remembers what restful sleep was. But that was a long time ago.