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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.