The Missing Key Quest Guide (Kitchen Cellar)

Back to the Dawn is one of those games that makes you value every mundane item and look for ways to make the most of it. One such item is the Cheap Key, which many players encounter early in the game.

As a story-driven, detective-style RPG, this acclaimed prison escape sim offers multiple ways to use the seemingly random key. And each comes with its own benefits.

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In this Back to the Dawn guide, I’ll explain what the Cheap Key is and what it does in the simplest way possible. I’ll also break down its different uses across various missions, so you can decide how you want to use it.

How to Get the Barbershop’s ‘Cheap Key’

You can buy the Cheap Key from the Barbershop for $150. The store in question is located to the right of the Gym in the Recreation Yard. In the Barbershop’s quest list, the key appears as “Bargain Price” with a description referring to a key no one knows the purpose of.

If you don’t have enough money to buy the Cheap Key, remember you can sell unwanted items to the Barbershop. For example, you can forage Mushrooms and Mints from the yard and sell them for a small profit. It’s also worth checking trash cans for contraband items, which fetch a good price at the shop.

What to Do with the Cheap Key

The Cheap Key unlocks a secret room in the Kitchen Cellar known as the liquor storage. You have two options: either give it to Captain Bruce to complete the Missing Key quest and earn Good Conduct, or keep it for yourself to unlock and loot the liquor storage.

Give the Cheap Key to Bruce to Complete the ‘Missing Key’ Quest

The conventional way to use the Cheap Key is by giving it to Captain Bruce during the Missing Key quest. Here’s how:

1. Accept the Missing Key quest from Captain Bruce.
2. Talk to Diego the Alpaca and ask about the missing Kitchen Key.
3. Convince Diego to reveal what he did with the key. You may need to reconcile with him and raise your friendship level before the interrogation.
4. Diego will admit he sold the key to the Barbershop.
5. Buy the key from the Barbershop for $150 and keep it.
6. Talk to Captain Bruce and give him the key to complete the Missing Key quest.

Keep the Cheap Key to Unlock the Kitchen Cellar’s Liquor Storage

Another way to use the Cheap Key is to loot the secret room in the Kitchen Cellar with it.

How to Unlock the Kitchen Cellar Fence Gate

1. Buy the Cheap Key from the Barbershop ($150).
2. Avoid starting the Missing Key quest altogether.
3. Use the door in the top left corner of the Cafeteria to enter the secret poker room.
4. Ask the chef to use the Kitchen bathroom—you’ll need to pay $20 to convince him.
5. Once inside the Kitchen, head to the Kitchen Cellar.
6. Interact with the fence gate on the left.
7. Select “Use a Key” and then choose the Cheap Key from your inventory.
8. Loot the room before your “Free Movement” time ends.

In the Kitchen Cellar storage, you’ll find Premium Liquor, one of the valuable items in Back to the Dawn. It boosts your Mind, Max HP, and Base ATK for two hours and makes a popular gift for most characters.

Back to the Dawn

Systems

Released

November 3, 2023

Developer(s)

Metal Head Games

Publisher(s)

Spiral Up Games

PC Release Date

November 3, 2023

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