With all the talk of Lady Dimistrescu, Mother Miranda, missing fingers, and giant fish in Resident Evil Village, it's easy to forget that there is a moment when Ethan is trapped within Donna Beneviento's dollhouse. Actually, it's only easy to forget for those who are part of the online discourse. For those who have been trapped here and can't figure out how to leave, this can be well over half of the game.
And, for others, this can be as far as the game goes before quitting. This stage has a puzzle that needs multiple visits and even more steps. Plus, the player has all of their weapons taken upon entering. Throw in a monster that eats Ethan alive in a single hit for good measure and it isn't hard to see why so many players are throwing in the towel. Don't give up, the complete step-by-step solution is here!
Start The Encounter
- Go to Donna Beneviento's manor
- Enter and Explore the House
- Interact with the Doll
That photo players have been holding since the very first part of the game will finally have a practical purpose; use the Family Photo on the door to the manor to enter. Continue forward, through the elevator, and into a room with what appears to be a bridal doll in front of a dead body.
Upon interacting with the doll, the entire house will become a dollhouse. Ethan won't realize it right away, but he will remark that his weapons have disappeared along with the rest of his inventory. The rest of this encounter must be completed without traditional weapons and items.
Interacting With The Surgical Dummy
- Remove the right shoulder cover to get the Silver Key
- Twist off the right arm and memorize the decorative pattern in the forearm
- Remove the Blood Covered Ring from the left hand
- Roll the left eye to the side and memorize the pattern
- Remove the Winding Key from the left leg
- Use Tweezers to remove the Film from the mouth
- Use Scissors to cut the bandages and take the Brass Medallion out of the heart
In addition to all of Ethan's weapons being stripped away, the dead body in the middle of the room is revealed to be a surgical dummy. It has several parts that need to be examined for clues and progression.
Players will be able to pull off and move various body parts and each will provide a small piece of the puzzle necessary for escaping.
There is a save point in this room and it's highly recommended to use it now. There is only one enemy, but it is invincible and will eat Ethan alive in one hit. To avoid losing any progress gained on the doll puzzle, use the typewriter and make a new save file.
Mind that there are three different doors to exit this room: one with a key symbol on it, one with brass engravings on it, and the way back into the hallway which now has a padlock on it. All three of these rooms will be used at some point, but it's wise to see where they are now because a monster will soon be chasing Ethan around and a wrong turn means death.
Puzzle Solving
- Use the Silver Key on the door
- Wash the Blood Covered Ring in the sink
- Get the combination code from the inside of the Wedding Ring
Use the Silver Key on the door that has the icon of the Silver Key on it. This isn't too hard to figure out, it should be the only key in Ethan's inventory. To the left, turn on the faucet and wash off the Blood Covered Ring. It will become the Wedding Ring. Examine the Wedding Ring; the inside of the band has the code for the combination lock.
There is a locked door in this room that will be needed to escape from the monster. Make a mental detail of it, then exit back into the hallway using the newly acquired code of 052911.
When Ethan approaches, the previously locked door on the left side will swing open just a crack. Enter this room.
Solve the music box solution by switching around the cylinders until the scratches on each piece syncs up with the scratches on the pieces next to it. Then use the Winding Key, wait for a moment, and collect the Tweezers. Go back and remove the film from the surgical doll's mouth.
Yet again, exit into the hallway and go to the now unlocked room right by the elevator, past the music box room. There is an old-fashioned camera there. The puzzle here asks for Ethan to put the film pieces in the correct order.
The correct order is stuffed animals, book, baby, music box, and wedding ring. Do this and hit "play movie." The movie will show an upcoming room, but, more importantly, will open the way to a tight room behind the bookshelf.
Pick up the scissors in this room from a doll's hand. These will allow players to complete the last step on the surgical doll. Have Ethan use them to leave the room. This new hallway has a door that requires a small metallic Relief of a Baby in order to progress. Again, make a mental note of this location, it will be visited later on.
Grab the Brass Medallion from the surgical doll, then go back to the door with the other brass engravings on it.
Put the Brass Medallion in its place, then Ethan will be prompted to interact with the other two symbols on the door. These correspond to the decorations found on the surgical doll, the left one is a bird, and the bottom one has three bumps.
This leads to the same room as the one pictured in the film from earlier. Climb down the well and pick up the Breaker Box Key, then attempt to go back to the breaker box next to the elevator.
Avoiding The Giant Baby Monster
The trip will be cut short by a Giant Baby Monster who will then chase Ethan back into the room that had the surgical doll in it. Do not slow down during this part, if the monster so much as touches Ethan, it will eat him.
Go through the room that had the film in it to get to where the monster was first spotted, then unlock the fuse box. Gather the Relief of a Baby from inside. Ethan doesn't have the fuse yet, so unfortunately players will have to wait before escaping the basement of the dollhouse.
Cut through the film room and go to the door that required the Relief of a Baby. Place it in the door, head down the stairs, and then go through the door on the left.
Take the Fuse from the box in this room. Please note that Ethan can hide under the bed in this room as he will be forced to do so in just a few moments.
Sure enough, when trying to go back up the stairs the Giant Baby Monster will burst through the door. Hide under the bed until the monster is gone (Ethan is kind enough to automatically turn off his flashlight).
Return to the fusebox, which will glow green after the Fuse has been replaced. If the Giant Baby Monster is hot on Ethan's heels, run into the room with the film and kite it around the table in the center. Then return to the elevator and get on, there will just barely be enough time.
Defeat Donna Beneviento And Escape
- Find Angie three times
Out of the frying pan and into the fire is par for the course for Resident Evil Village, and sure enough, Ethan has to deal with the boss, Donna Beneviento before transforming the dollhouse back into a regular house.
After getting to the top of the elevator, take a few steps into the next room. The fight with Donna Beneviento and her doll will begin after a brief cutscene.
This sequence plays out like a game of deadly hide and seek. Ethan must find the white doll (Angie) three times and this will defeat Donna Beneviento. However, taking too long to find the doll means that several other living dolls will slice up Ethan's arms. Just a few of these attacks and it's curtains, so be quick about running around.
Head upstairs to find the doll in front of a dresser in the bedroom. The doll always appears in this bedroom location first. After that, it can be anywhere in the house.
After discovering Angie for the third time, a cutscene will play out. No spoilers will be provided here, but know that this will also eliminate the threat from Donna Beneviento and, at long last, will allow Ethan to be able to see clearly, dispelling the dollhouse vision entirely.
Ethan will pick up the Unborn Key. Combine the Unborn Key with the Four-Winged Key to make the Four-Winged Unborn Key, a necessary tool for progressing in the main quest. Also, don't forget to pick up Angie as well. She's not handy for combat, but the Duke will purchase her for a sizable sum.
At long last, Ethan's inventory and weapons will be returned to him and the front door will be unlocked. Head outside, possibly stopping by the Garden area to complete some nearby secrets, before going back to the Altar and dealing with Moreau.
Congratulations on escaping the dollhouse! This can be mentally excruciating, so take a breather and do some light fishing and exploring before tackling the next big boss.