There is definitely something very satisfying about looting everything you can find in a game. From breaking boxes to opening secret chests, Resident Evil 4 is one of the few games in the franchise that lets you explore this deeply satisfying experience, and the newest Remake of this classic Survival Horror masterpiece is no exception. There are several treasure maps you can trade from the merchant to see them all on your in-game map, but some of them are a little trickier to get. Rest assured! I’ve made this guide to help you collect every single small key to open every single locked drawer in the game. Read below for more information, descriptions, and screenshots of the exact locations.
Also, in case you want to grab all collectibles and unlock the primal knife on Resident Evil 4 Remake, make sure to read my guide of all Clockwork Castellans locations.
Small Keys, Locked Drawers, and How to Find Them
The locked drawers are scattered around the village and castle sections of the game (there’s none of them on the island) and they contain valuable treasures inside them. In order to open them, you need to collect the corresponding small keys. There is a total of 8 locked drawers around the game, which means there are also 8 small keys to collect.
Keep in mind that these drawers can be unlocked with any of the keys, they aren’t necessarily tied to a specific drawer. However, this guide focuses on gathering all keys and opening all treasures in the most optimal way possible. You can collect the keys and open the drawers in whatever order you see fit. But, I insist, you will not miss any of them and you will be able to get them all by following this guide.
Without any further ado, let’s begin the hunt, stranger.
Small Key #1
This key can be obtained in Chapter 2. This is essentially the main area of this Chapter where, after fighting a few enemies with your knife and taking back your stuff, you will have to go look for the hexagonal emblem. This area is full of enemies and most players go through it trying to not waste too many resources here, so this item can be easily missed.
Small Key #1.
The key is located inside the large cabin where the hexagonal emblem is, inside the small room at the entrance. The key is lying inside a small box on a shelf. Interact with it to grab it and make sure to grab the hexagonal emblem on the top of this cabin for story-related purposes.
Small Key #1 Location.
Locked Drawer #1
Use the previously acquired key to open the locked drawer inside the small factory. This drawer is inside the very room where you gather your stolen gear at the beginning of the Chapter.
Locked Drawer #1.
Inside this drawer, you will find an elegant mask. Make sure to combine it with a blue, red, and yellow stone before selling it to the merchant so you can get the maximum profit from it.
Locked Drawer #1 Location.
Small Key #2
This key can be acquired at the end of Chapter 2, or at the very beginning of Chapter 3. After dealing with (or escaping from) the chainsaw guy and entering the chief’s manor, you will be able to grab the key on the first floor.
Small Key #2.
The key is lying in a corner on top of a small table. You will be able to use it later on.
Small Key #2 Location.
Locked Drawer #2
You will be able to use the previous key on this drawer at the beginning of Chapter 3. After getting out of the chief’s manor you will go back to the village where you fought the first horde of the game. It’s possible that you saw this drawer in Chapter 1, but this is the first opportunity you have to open it.
You will find the locked drawer inside a small house, the nearest one to the biggest house in this area (where you find the shotgun). There’s an enemy hiding inside the closet in this house, so be careful!
Locked Drawer #2.
Inside this drawer, you will find a vintage compass, which you can sell to the merchant at a high price.
Locked Drawer #2 Location.
Small Key #3
At the end of Chapter 3, you will reach the Fish Farm area. Here you will have to look for a fuel tank for story-related objectives. However, inside the small shed near the one where the fuel tank is there is a small table where a small key is hiding.
Small Key #3.
Interact with the table in order to open the drawer and grab the key in it. Check the image below for the exact spot on the map.
Small Key #3 Location.
Locked Drawer #3
The locked drawer for the previously acquired key is found near the merchant right before the area where the boat can be initially found. Drop down the ladder and head to the right to reach the drawer.
Locked Drawer #3.
Inside this drawer, you will find a pocket watch, which you can sell to the merchant (who is conveniently close to this drawer) at a high price.
Locked Drawer #3 Location.
Small Key #4
This key can be only obtained in Chapter 4. It can be found inside an optional area while using the boat. Now that you have the insignia key, head to the lakeside settlement with the boat (on the northwest part of the lake) and head to the spot shown on the map below.
Small Key #4.
After climbing up a ladder inside a small torture room you will get to the forest altar. Head to the left here to grab a few items, the small key among them.
Small Key #4 Location.
Locked Drawer #4
The locked drawer is on the lakeside settlement as well, inside the big house where you first met Luis in Chapter 1.
Locked Drawer #4.
Get inside the aforementioned house and go to the left to spot the drawer. Inside it, you will find a gold bar, which you can sell to the merchant at a high price.
Locked Drawer #4 Location.
Small Key #5
This key can be found at the end of Chapter 4, right before securing Ashley. Once you’re inside the church, you will have to solve a puzzle with the Los Illuminados symbol. To the right of this puzzle is a small table with the key on it.
Small Key #5.
Make sure to grab this key before proceeding, since it will be much more difficult to grab it later on when Ashley is with you and the area is full of enemies.
Small Key #5 Location.
Locked Drawer #5
You probably saw this locked drawer back in Chapter 3, but Chapter 5 is the right time to open it. Once you secure Ashley and you’ve both successfully escaped the church, head to this small save room after the conversation with Hunnigan (check the map below for the exact spot).
Locked Drawer #5.
Inside this drawer, you will find a yellow diamond, one of the most valuable gems in the game. Make sure to hold on to it until you find a treasure you can combine it with before selling it.
Locked Drawer #5 Location.
Small Key #6
This is the first key that can be found inside the castle. Once you get separated from Ashley in Chapter 8, you will meet Ada for the first time in a cutscene. After solving a puzzle you will open a door to keep progressing in the game, but first, take a look at the spot shown on the map below to find the key.
Small Key #6.
The key will be lying on a book on top of a big chest. The corresponding drawer is very near, so you will only have to backtrack a little bit.
Small Key #6 Location.
Locked Drawer #6
It’s very likely that you saw this locked drawer when you met Ada in the previous cutscene, so go back to the bindery and open the locked drawer here. It’s literally right next to the door you used to enter this area for the first time, it can’t be missed.
Locked Drawer #6.
Inside this drawer, you will find a pocket watch, which can be sold to the merchant at a high price.
Locked Drawer #6 Location.
Small Key #7
This key can be obtained in Chapter 9 after meeting up with Ashley again and clearing the courtyard maze. Right before getting to the armory (where you will have to fight a few knights to grab a key item to keep making story progress), you will find a small cabinet on the left.
Small Key #7.
Make sure to interact with the cabinet to open it and grab the small key hiding inside it.
Small Key #7 Location.
Locked Drawer #7
You will have to backtrack a little bit in order to find this locked drawer. You can still open it in Chapter 9, but it’s recommended to wait until Chapter 10 before doing so (when you get separated from Ashley again, so you don’t have to protect her from the enemies here).
In any case, do you remember the castle battlements where you faced an armored giant in Chapter 8? You need to go back here (you’ll need to backtrack through the courtyard or the bindery, your choice).
Locked Drawer #7.
Head to the spot shown on the map below (be careful, there are more enemies waiting for you in this area) and open the locked drawer using the previously acquired key. Inside it, you will find an ornate beetle, which can be sold to the merchant at a high price.
Locked Drawer #7 Location.
Small Key #8
The last key can be found in Chapter 12 before heading to the clock tower where you will have to fight Salazar. As soon as you emerge from the depths after the knife fight against Krauser, you will reach a merchant and a small cable car that leads to the clock tower. To the right of the cable car, you will find a small box.
Small Key #8.
Make sure to interact with the small box to open it and grab the final small key of the game.
Small Key #8 Location.
Locked Drawer #8
In order to go and open this locked drawer you will have to do a very long backtrack. From where you grabbed the key, open the door that leads back to the ballroom and travel all the way back to the main hall. Once you’re there, go inside the room where the merchant is and go through the door here to use the cart that leads all the way back to the audience chamber, where the last locked drawer is.
In case you’re unsure where the audience chamber is, it’s the room where you first met Ramon Salazar back in Chapter 7, right before the Garrador boss fight. You very likely saw this locked drawer back then, but it’s now in Chapter 12 where you want to go back and open it.
Locked Drawer #8.
You will also have to deal with the enemies that will be waiting for you inside the audience chamber once you get back to this room (there are some annoying enemies here, so make sure to come prepared). In any case, as soon as you deal with them head to the spot shown on the map below to find the drawer. Use the small key to open it and you will find another gold bar that you can sell at a high price, stranger.
Locked Drawer #8 Location.
Where to Buy the Game
Those were all the small keys and locked drawers locations in Resident Evil 4 Remake. The game is available on Steam, PS4 & PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Also, in case you’re interested in collecting every single treasure in the game, you can also buy or upgrade to the deluxe edition on the aforementioned digital stores. This edition includes another treasure map that unlocks even more treasures to make money much faster in the game. I’d sure buy that at a high price, stranger.
