The first puzzle you’ll encounter in Hell Is Us is the ruins code puzzle, taking place during Act One’s Family Reunion Investigation. It requires finding three symbols that are hidden around the entrance to the ruins in the forest.
Here’s IGN’s complete guide to the first ruins code puzzle in Act One of Hell Is Us, including what the code is and how to input it.
How to Get into the Ruins
Once you’ve spoken to the wounded soldier and given them the medkit from the nearby camp, you’ll be given the Ancient Mechanism. It opens the ruins once a code has been input.
Climb up the ladder to the left of the solider, then go up the next ladder you find.
At the top, follow the path along and look out for a stone pickaxe slab. This is one of the symbols that makes up the code for the ruins.
On the stone wall, there’s a strange tablet, featuring an unknown language.
Follow the path around and through the archway to find another tablet with an unknown language, followed by a pedestal where you can insert the ancient mechanism.
To successfully get into the ruins and find the Sargent, you’ll need to insert the mechanism into the pedestal. This will reveal three pillars.
They’ll pop up with the first two showing a pickaxe and the final one showing an eye. The hints for the puzzle can be found in the next room over, displayed above Remi’s head on a high-up wall.
You’ll need to use these pillars to represent the code.
From left to right, the code is crown, eye, and pickaxe. Interact with the pillars individually to spin them around and display the right symbols.
Once you’ve input the code, the ground will rumble. The door near the wounded soldier will now be open, so make your way back down and get ready to enter your first combat sequence of the game.
From here, you’ll be able to continue with Family Reunion and get stuck into the rich story of Hell Is Us. Make sure to check out our How-To Hub if you run into any issues with the fights inside the ruins.