How to find Dead Island 2 keys and where to use them

Dead Island 2 keys are common to find in pretty much every area, along with the locks that you can open with them. The Hell-A map in Dead Island 2 is big so it can feel daunting to look at the list of keys you've acquired and wonder where to use them all. However, it's worth tracking it all down, as there's cash, materials, and some of best Dead Island 2 weapons behind those locked doors. To get you on the right track, I've got the lowdown on how to find keys in Dead Island 2, and then what you can do to work out where to use them.

How to find keys in Dead Island 2

Finding one of the Dead Island 2 keys — (Image credit: Deep Silver)

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There are two ways to find keys in Dead Island 2. The first being to just discover them lying around - sometimes you'll be guided towards them as part of a quest, and other times you'll see them as you explore the world. So keep an eye out for a tell-tale white aura that highlights them.

A named zombie holds one of the Dead Island 2 keys — (Image credit: Deep Silver)

The other way to get Dead Island 2 keys is to defeat named zombies. If you target an enemy and see a unique name appear with their health bar rather than a generic zombie type, then they're definitely worth fighting. These are often tougher than your average enemies, and a key isn't guaranteed for eliminating them, but you'll almost always get some form of reward for taking them down.

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We have individual guides for where to find the following keys in Dead Island 2:

Where to use Dead Island 2 keys

Descriptions shown for Dead Island 2 keys — (Image credit: Deep Silver)

The next step is figuring out where to use keys in Dead Island 2. If you open your Inventory and move to the Keys tab, you can scroll through the list of what you've collected and see a short description for each one with a clue for where you can use it. If you check your map for the designated area, you may also see an icon for a safe or lockbox you passed before that can help you pinpoint where you need to go, and you can use Dead Island 2 fast travel to get to the right zone quickly.

Finding where to use Dead Island 2 keys — (Image credit: Deep Silver)

When you approach the correct lock with the right key you'll see the prompt say 'Unlock' along with a unique name rather than the usual generic 'Open' prompt. Pop it open, and whatever reward was locked inside is now yours.