Quick Answer
The remake has 8 Small Keys and 8 locked drawers, all in the Village and Castle. The usual failure point is not missing one specific key. It is leaving an area before you loop back and spend the key. Treat the route as a cleanup schedule instead of a last-second collectible hunt.
Route Summary
| Area | Chapters | Main goal | Warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village | Chapters 2-5 | Collect and spend the first 5 keys | Clear the Village before the Chapter 5 bridge push |
| Castle | Chapters 8-12 | Collect and spend the last 3 keys | Finish the Castle drawer cleanup before Clock Tower and Salazar |
| Island | Chapter 13 onward | No new Small Key route value | You should already be done |
Recommended Flow
Village phase
| Key phase | Best approach | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 2 Valley and Manor | Grab keys as they appear and spend them on early drawers | Minimal extra backtracking |
| Chapter 3 Fish Farm | Pair the key pickup with your nearby resource line | Keeps lake-area cleanup compact |
| Chapter 4 Lake and Church | This is the most efficient Village cleanup window | The Insignia Key route naturally overlaps with treasure loops |
| Chapter 5 before the bridge | Do one final Village audit | You will not come back after this |
Castle phase
| Key phase | Best approach | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 8 around the Bindery | Spend the nearby key quickly | The route is still compact here |
| Chapter 9 Grand Hall side routes | Bundle drawer cleanup with Hall and Ashley-related detours | Fewer return trips later |
| Chapter 12 Ballroom side | Treat this as the last Small Key window | Clear it before Clock Tower and Salazar |
Three Cleanup Checks That Matter Most
- Before crossing the bridge in Chapter 5: this is the final Village audit.
- Before Castle backtracking starts shrinking in Chapter 10: unfinished drawer business gets messier fast.
- Before the Clock Tower and Salazar push in Chapter 12: this is the real final Castle cleanup point.
When To Open A Drawer Immediately
- Open it now if it sits within the next few minutes of your main route.
- Delay it only if it creates major cross-area backtracking, then pin it to the area’s final audit point.
- If you are routing S+, protect the timer first and treat drawer cleanup as optional.
Common Questions
Can I save the keys for the Island?
Not in any useful way. The Small Key route matters in the Village and Castle, so those keys should already be spent before the Island stretch.
Should I open every drawer the instant I get a key?
Not always. The real rule is to avoid turning “I will do it later” into “the region is permanently closed.”
Are Small Keys the same as Wayshrines or Square Lock Boxes?
No. Small Keys open drawers only. Wayshrines and Square Lock Boxes are separate systems.