Cronos: The New Dawn lives and dies on tension. Its dark, foreboding environments compel players to creep into every corner nervously, aware that disgusting creatures are just about to jump out around the next corner.
Progression frequently relies on finding keys or codes hidden throughout the map, and one of the most crucial ones early on is the Shelter Key.
If you can’t locate it, here’s exactly where you have to go.
How to Get to the Shelter
Not long after you’ve defeated your first boss, you’ll find a Dive Point that sends you to Edward’s apartment. There, a locked safe opens and opens up a note which reads the Shelter. Exiting through the front doors of the apartment takes you to a new, snowy world with undestroyed buildings.
From here, go down towards the fountain on your left—the Shelter door will be waiting for you there. But you can’t go in yet, of course—you’ll need the key.
Finding the Shelter Key
Turn away from the Shelter entrance and head to the right of the Hardware Store. A path leads forward, where you can see a cat running to an alley. Follow the cat, then descend the stairs into the underground section of an apartment building.
Right of you is a records room.
To your left, there is a chained door that may be cut open by the Boltcutter. In there are productive resources and a worthwhile item, which may be sold at any Workstation for Energy, the currency required for weapon upgrades.
Descend another staircase further along until you see a big metal container. Push it aside to get through to the next room. There, an enemy comes out of Unit 94—deal with him, then search around to gain the Shelter Key.
Harden yourself: gaining the key triggers additional spawns of the enemy. If you’ve lost ammo or health, you can withdraw by pushing the container back to where it was and avoiding the fight.
Back to the Shelter
As soon as you’re outside again, you can test the key immediately. Unlatch the door to the left of the space, which enters a playground where you’ll find Karol the cat. After a chat with Karol, return to the Shelter door by the fountain and unlash it with the key, progressing the story.
