Ultimate Guide to Solving the Bookshelf Puzzle in the Reading Room

The Silent Hill 2 Remake offers an array of intriguing puzzles, with each challenge presenting a fresh conundrum. While some are easily solvable, others delve into complexity, pushing players’ logic to the limits.

One of the enigmatic challenges within Silent Hill 2 is the Hotel Book Puzzle. Situated in the Reading Room on the second level of Lakeview Hotel, this puzzle involves arranging missing books on a shelf, and its solutions can be quite elusive.

1. How to tackle the Bookshelf Puzzle in Silent Hill 2 Remake?

Reading Room Bookshelf Puzzle Location — Location of the Reading Room Bookshelf Puzzle | Source: In-game screenshot

To successfully solve the Bookshelf Puzzle in Silent Hill 2 Remake, players should adhere to the following three steps:

Collect four distinct books from the reading room.
Examine the painting located on the wall.
Organize the books on the shelf according to clues.

The four notable red books, titled “Pride Before The Fall,” “Revelations: A New Understanding,” “Stalwart To The End,” and “The One Who Soared,” are thoughtfully placed throughout the room, allowing for easy identification.

2. Discovering the hint from the painting

After gathering all four books, focus on the painting displayed across from the bookshelf. The figures depicted in the artwork correlate with how the books should be arranged on the shelf, as they are also illustrated on the spines of the books.

Book Title	Symbols Depicted in the Painting
The One Who Soared	Eagle
Revelations: A New Understanding	Winged Man
Stalwart To The End	Bull
Pride Before The Fall	Lion

If you take a closer look, you’ll notice that the spears in the artwork are directed downwards, whereas those on the emblem of the shelf are oriented upwards. This serves as a reminder to invert the image for the correct hint.

3. Arranging the Books on the Shelf

Place the Books on the Shelf — Arranging the Books on the Shelf | Source: In-game screenshot

Now that you’ve deciphered the clues, it’s time to position the books on the shelf according to this specific order:

Position “Revelations: A New Understanding” in the top left slot.
Put “The One Who Soared” in the top right slot.
Set “Stalwart to the End” in the bottom left slot.
Place “Pride Before the Fall” in the bottom right slot.

Completing the Reading Room Book Puzzle will cause the bookshelf to shift, unveiling a hidden space situated between the Restroom and Room 208. Inside, you will find a mirror alongside a broken bulb and a locked suitcase.

4. Overview of Silent Hill 2 Remake

Silent Hill 2 Remake is an anticipated survival horror game developed by Bloober Team and released by Konami. Launching on PlayStation 5 and Windows on October 8, 2024, it aims to modernize the 2001 classic.

This remake marks the first significant addition to the Silent Hill series since the release of Silent Hill: Downpour back in 2012.

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