Resident Evil Requiem's final puzzle is the kind of video game mystery we just don't see anymore

Secrets are hard to come by in video games these days. We exist in a world where millions of gamers play through the latest blockbusters at launch and share their thoughts in real time. It has not only drastically changed our spoiler culture, but also how we collectively consume media in the modern landscape. The end is declared within days of something being released, and it's become harder and harder to go radio silent and experience something on your own terms.

I'm in the fortunate position of covering video games for a living and, more than most, get to test drive them before the minds of the masses spill out into the world. As for last month's Resident Evil Requiem, I hit the credits twice before writing my review and still I'm chasing every trophy like I'm Leon Kennedy trying to kick Ramon Salazar. It's been a lot of fun, and now I get to enjoy seeing the community witness all of these great character moments and solid gameplay for the first time as well.

And to my surprise, players are largely respectful about skirting spoilers and giving the game time to breathe on its own terms. Not only that, but they're also trying so hard to figure out the solution to a puzzle that has baffled the entire fandom.

What is the final puzzle in Resident Evil Requiem?

During my run through the review, there were a handful of odd challenges in the game that raised an eyebrow. You obviously have your usual “finish the game on hard difficulty” or “hit credits in under four hours” and all that jazz, but one that stood out above the rest was “The Final Puzzle” with its cryptic description: “Let the cute couple hear the voice.”

This puzzle is so obscure that I didn't even pick up the first item needed to solve it until my second playthrough, which was the severed hand of The Girl torn from her body when Grace Ashcroft and Emily escaped their clutches at the Rhodes Hill Critical Care Center. It turns out that you have to take your hand, stick it in a nearby machine and follow several steps before you finally meet the final solution. Be sure to check out our full guide if you're curious to solve it yourself, but be warned that it requires two playthroughs and so many unorthodox steps, from flushing a toilet eight times to finding some creepy dolls.

A player who completes the final puzzle in Resident Evil Requiem.

What I love most about this puzzle is how it's devilishly obscure purely for the satisfaction of sending players on a wild hunt for a solution that likely can't be guessed without working together. Heck, the only reason we stumbled upon the solution so quickly was because data miners ruined the surprise for themselves and Twitch streamers who stumbled upon the solution by accident. There's no reward for this puzzle beyond in-game currency to be spent on unlockable weapons and items either, so it's all for the love of the game.

It doesn't contribute to the Platinum Trophy, which is a huge relief considering the amount of time and effort required to solve this puzzle even once.

More video games need to be like Resident Evil Requiem

I didn't have time to crack this unusual puzzle before the review embargo was lifted, but that only meant my heart felt even warmer when I saw dozens of people on social media trying in vain to find the solution, even going so far as to recruit other players to the cause if and when they got any potential tips.

Triple-A video games are so used to handing us everything on a silver platter for fear we'll miss out. Requiem does that too in places, but Capcom also knows the essential beauty of secrets and easter eggs. As Leon explores the RCPD, there are some well-hidden files and collectibles that aren't part of the game's glossary, rewarding people who spend extra time in this place so steeped in nostalgic history. Agent Tofu, a character you can unlock and play as in the original Resident Evil 2, also peeks through a window for a few precious seconds if you manage to catch him.

Grace looking scared and holding a small gun in resident evil requiem.

Requiem is filled with wonderful little moments like this that reward multiple playthroughs and thinking outside the box, offering ways for passionate fans to engage with the experience far beyond the relatively short campaign. We all know how to solve the final puzzle now, but I will always remember the handful of days spent scratching our heads looking for answers. You can't just jump on Google and skip the busy work, you have to put in the effort and engage with the game on its own terms whether you like it or not. It's something special.