Resident Evil 7 - Happy Birthday tape, how to light the birthday cake and clean the dirty telescope
A complete walkthrough and guide to each area in Capcom's survival horror adventure.
Resident Evil 7's Happy Birthday tape is one of several optional VHS tapes you can find in the game.
Discovered inside the Attic above the Kid's Room, similar to other tapes, it offers a preview of an upcoming area, but the set-up is a little different to the rest, as Baker family member Lucas pits you against a series of puzzles in a room escape-style game.
If you're after help for parts of the game, consult our complete Resident Evil 7 walkthrough and guide.
On this page:
How to clean the dirty telescope in the Happy Birthday tape
Grab the Candle from the clown model behind you, and walk north into the next room, then take a right towards the birthday cake.
You'll be showered by water as you walk through to the room, lights will come on, and you'll be told of the challenge; put a lit candle on the birthday cake. Of course, with the shower of water when you enter the room, this proves difficult.
Head back to where you started, where there is a toilet off to the side. Flush it and retrieve the 'Dirty Telescope' from the basin. To clean it, go to the corridor by the birthday cake and stand by the flowing showers. Use the item to look through it, cleaning it in the process.
Use the now clean Telescope on the television screens in the central room, displaying three shapes; a swinging child, a crow on a rock, and a fetus. Go through to the room with the birthday cake and investigate the lock on the wall, and input those symbols to open it and get the Straw Doll.
Use the Straw Doll on the hob in the kitchen to get the Dummy Finger (a nice nod to the Resident Evil 7 demo).
Next, go to the kitchen and turn on the hub. Use the Candle to light it, and use it on the doorway to the north and burn the rope. Inside is a room full of balloons, which you can joyfully pop by crouching and walking through with the lit flame. Somewhere on the floor on the northern wall is a Deflated Balloon.
Return to the previous central room, and to the west is a broken gas pipe. Use the Deflated Balloon on that, giving you the Quill Pen.
Finally, go to the room with the birthday cake, and investigate the keg to get the Winding Key.
Want more help? Our Resident Evil 7 walkthrough provides step-by-step instructions on how to survive the main story, as well as finding the Shotgun, Grenade Launcher and the game's many Lockpicks and Treasure Photos. Meanwhile, our Antique Coins locations, Mr Everywhere statue locations and File locations lists will help you find every available collectible on Normal and Easy difficulties.
How to light the birthday cake in the Happy Birthday tape
Now you have the three items you need to interact with the clown model. Use the Dummy Finger on the arm, then the Quill Pen so it'll hold it. Next, use the Winding Key on the clown's chest. It'll then grab you and draw the word 'Loser' on your arm.
Go back to the balloon-filled room to the north, where there's a locked door with a password mechanism. Insert the password 'Loser', and inside grab the Valve Handle from the wall.
Take this to the valve opposite the birthday cake to stop the shower from splashing you with water whenever you walk through.
Finally, light the candle from the hob in the kitchen and successfully take it to the cake. Enjoy the ending!