How to solve the Silent Hill 2 Remake Rotating Cube puzzle

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Rotating cube combinations
Rotten Area
Desolate Area
Ruined Area
Optional photo

The Silent Hill 2 Remake rotating cube puzzle appears at the center of the Labyrinth, found between Maria's cell and the corridor filled with arms. It's the center piece puzzle for this area and you'll be here for a while trying to complete it.

Depending on how you rotate the head sculpture that controls the larger cube it can cause new bridges to extend out to doorways you can then reach through the inside of the cube itself. The layout remains the same as it rotates, but the angles you turn it to changes how you can explore it in Silent Hill 2 Remake.

This challenge appears after you complete the prison area via the Silent Hill 2 Remake gallows poem puzzle and acts as a kind of crossroads through the Labyrinth. Using it lets you reach three new areas: the Rotten Area, the Desolate Area and the Ruined Area. You'll need to progress through all of them to escape, and working out the angles required is more art than science. So if you want help with this weird cube puzzle, I'll show you what you need to do.

Silent Hill 2 Remake rotating cube puzzle solutions

Silent Hill 2 Remake rotating cube head — (Image credit: Konami)

The rotating Labyrinth cube puzzle has four angles you can turn it to: three will allow you to access new areas, while the fourth allows you to retrieve a strange photo collectible from inside the cube itself.

Here are all the symbols you need and where they'll take you, I'll go into more detail about how to set them further on.

Up-pointing triangle with cross beneath: Go into the cube, upstairs and through the South doorway (using the cardinal directions of the map) towards the Rotten Area
Infinity symbol with an up-facing line, cross through twice: Go into the cube, upstairs and through the North doorway (using the cardinal directions of the map) towards Desolate Area
Down-pointing triangle with cross beneath: Go into the cube, downstairs and through the West doorway (using the cardinal directions of the map) towards the Ruined Area
(Optional) No symbol, side axis of the cube mechanism. Go into the cube and downstairs to find the optional strange picture "Your Best Buddy!"

It's also worth mentioning that you won't find any Silent Hill 2 Remake maps to help you get around here. Instead, James will fill in a blank page as you explore. So you will have a full map eventually, you just have to do it yourself.

How to get to the Rotten Area in Silent Hill 2

Silent Hill 2 Rotten Area — (Image credit: Konami)

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To reach the Rotten Area in the Labyrinth, turn the Rotating cube to match the above. Go inside, ascend the stairs and go through the Southern doorway on the map.

The Rotten Area is focused on bringing down a suspended cage, which involves assembling a lighter from several pieces you can find as you explore, to burn the rope that's holding the cage up. Once you've done that, you'll be brought back to the center of the Labyrinth and the cage again.

How to get to the Desolate Area in Silent Hill 2

Silent Hill 2 Desolate Area — (Image credit: Konami)

The Desolate Area is found by setting the rotating cube to the above position. Once that's done, head inside, up the stairs and through the North doorway on the map.

This is a multi-level maze you need to find your way through, securing valves and keys, opening a handcuffed gate, and all while avoiding Pyramid Head - back for one of your first proper encounters since the Silent Hill 2 Remake Pyramid Head boss fight back in the Apartments.

How to get to the Ruined Area in Silent Hill 2

The Ruined Area is reached when you set the rotating cube to the position above, with the inverted triangle as opposed to the up-pointing one. Once inside, head downstairs and West to the Ruined Area itself.

This is the most straightforward area of the three consisting of just a gauntlet of combat challenges. James is dropped into rooms full of enemies and must fight them all off before he's allowed to progress to the next stage. Simple doesn't mean easy though so prepare for some protracted battling. If you picked up the Silent Hill 2 Remake rifle back in the prison, now is the time to start using it.

How to get the optional Rotating Cube photo

The final, largely optional combination is shown above and allows you to get a Strange Photo collectible called "Your best buddy! (#3)". Set the cube, head inside and rather than leaving the cube, go downstairs where you'll find the photo at the bottom, lying on the ground.