Stray: The Ultimate Guide to Navigating a Cyberpunk Dystopia – Walkthrough, Secrets, and All Collectibles
Welcome, fellow adventurers, to Gaming News’s definitive guide to Stray. We understand that stepping into the neon-drenched alleys and derelict rooftops of this futuristic dystopia as a cute little cat can be both exhilarating and, at times, a touch overwhelming. Developed by the talented minds at BlueTwelve Studio and brought to us by Annapurna Interactive, Stray offers a unique and deeply immersive narrative adventure that has captured the hearts of players across PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. This is not just a game; it’s an experience, a meticulously crafted world that begs to be explored with every ounce of your feline agility.
At Gaming News, we believe in providing you with the most comprehensive resources to conquer any virtual world. Our journey through Stray has been nothing short of captivating, a testament to its innovative gameplay and compelling storytelling. We’ve delved deep into its mechanics, uncovered its hidden secrets, and chronicled its every nook and cranny. This guide is the culmination of our exploration, designed to equip you with everything you need to not only complete Stray but to truly master it, uncovering every secret and achieving every goal. Forget those other fragmented guides; here, you’ll find a fully integrated walkthrough, the precise locations of all collectibles, tips to unlock all trophies (including the coveted Platinum trophy), and answers to your most pressing frequently asked questions. Prepare to walkthrough, explore, and collect like never before.
The Beginning: Waking Up in a Strange New World
Your journey in Stray begins with a jarring fall, separating you from your feline companions and plunging you into the shadowy depths of a forgotten city. This initial section serves as a gentle introduction to the core mechanics: jumping, climbing, and navigating your environment with unparalleled cat-like grace.
Early Movement and Interaction
As you awaken, your primary objective is survival and understanding your surroundings. You’ll learn to utilize your nimble paws to hop between ledges, scramble up pipes, and squeeze through tight gaps. Pay close attention to the contextual prompts that highlight interactable objects. These might be simple things like knocking over paint cans to create a distraction or scratching at doors to alert the robotic inhabitants.
Meeting B-12: Your Lifeline in the City
The crucial turning point in the early game is encountering B-12, a small, flying drone that becomes your constant companion. B-12 is indispensable; it translates the robot language, provides vital information about the world, and acts as your inventory and flashlight. The initial moments with B-12 are critical for understanding the narrative and your purpose in this Walled City.
Chapter 1: The Slums – A First Taste of Dystopian Life
The Slums are your first real introduction to the post-apocalyptic world of Stray. This area is a relatively open environment that allows you to experiment with movement and begin your quest to escape the city.
Navigating the Rooftops and Back Alleys
The Slums are a maze of interconnected rooftops, narrow alleyways, and precarious walkways. Your cat senses are your greatest asset here. Look for visible pathways, often indicated by glowing neon signs or scaffolding. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your jumps; the game is designed to reward exploration.
Key Areas and Objectives in The Slums
- Finding the Entrance to Midtown: Your initial goal will likely involve finding a way to progress further into the city. This often requires interacting with specific robots or finding hidden passages.
- Gathering Items for the Barter Robot: You’ll encounter robots who need specific items. These might include music sheets or other small objects scattered throughout the environment. Collecting these is essential for advancing quests.
- Avoiding Sentinel Patrols: The Sentinels are the primary threat in this early chapter. These flying drones will attack you if they detect you. Use cover, shadows, and your agility to evade them. Learn their patrol patterns to navigate safely.
First Collectibles in The Slums
The Slums are home to your first set of collectibles. These are crucial for trophy hunters and completionists.
Where to Find the 4 Music Sheets
These are essential items needed to progress. Each music sheet is hidden in a distinct location, often requiring some puzzle-solving or careful observation. You’ll typically find them in small rooms, on shelves, or near specific robots.
Where to Find the 3 Badges
The Badges in The Slums are often linked to specific actions or locations. One might be found after completing a particular task, while another might require reaching a challenging platform.
Where to Find the 2 Vests
These are often found on robots in the Slums, or in areas you might initially overlook. Exploring thoroughly is key to their discovery.
Chapter 2: Robotic Lives – Understanding the Inhabitants
As you venture deeper, you’ll encounter more complex areas and a wider array of robotic inhabitants. This chapter focuses on understanding their lives and how you can assist them.
Midtown: A Hub of Robotic Society
Midtown is a bustling, multi-layered environment. It’s here that you’ll begin to see the intricate social structures of the robots and the challenges they face. The architecture is more complex, with verticality playing an even greater role.
Solving Puzzles and Assisting Robots
Many quests in Midtown involve solving environmental puzzles. This could be anything from knocking down boxes to create a path for a robot, luring a Sentinel into a specific trap, or fetching items for residents. Your ability to jump, climb, and interact with the environment is paramount.
The Antlion Invasion: Dealing with Environmental Hazards
Midtown also introduces new environmental hazards, most notably the Antlions. These swarming creatures are a significant threat, and you’ll need to learn how to avoid them. Stealth and smart use of the environment are your best defenses.
Using B-12’s Flashlight Effectively
B-12’s flashlight is not just for illumination; it’s also a weapon against the Antlions. A direct blast of light can deter them. Mastering its use is crucial for survival in Antlion-infested areas.
Collectibles in Midtown
Midtown offers a significant number of collectibles, often tied to more intricate exploration.
Where to Find the 6 Music Sheets
Similar to The Slums, these are vital for progressing certain storylines and unlocking rewards. They can be found in various locations, from bars to hidden rooms.
Where to Find the 4 Badges
These badges are often awarded for completing specific tasks or discovering hidden areas within Midtown. Keep an eye out for unusual environmental elements.
Where to Find the 3 Scratch Puzzles
These are interactive puzzles that require you to scratch at specific surfaces in a sequence to unlock hidden items or pathways. They are often indicated by subtle visual cues.
Chapter 3: The Dead End – Facing the Seam of Society
The Dead End represents a darker, more dilapidated section of the city. This chapter often focuses on stealth and evasion as you navigate through areas with heavier Sentinel presence and more dangerous environments.
Stealth and Evasion Tactics
In The Dead End, direct confrontation is rarely the answer. You’ll need to rely heavily on stealth. This means using shadows to your advantage, distracting enemies by knocking over objects, and learning enemy patrol routes.
Utilizing Environmental Cover
The environment itself becomes your greatest ally. Crates, dumpsters, and debris offer ample cover. Learn to move between cover points quickly and quietly.
Dealing with the Zurks
The Zurks are a new and formidable threat, particularly in The Dead End. These small, aggressive creatures swarm and can quickly overwhelm you.
The Zapgun and Its Utility
You’ll acquire the Zapgun in this chapter, a tool that can temporarily stun or destroy Zurks. Learn its firing rate and its limitations. It’s crucial for clearing paths and defending yourself.
Collectibles in The Dead End
The Dead End holds some challenging collectibles that require careful exploration.
Where to Find the 2 Music Sheets
These might be found in more obscure locations, often requiring you to venture into less-traveled paths.
Where to Find the 3 Badges
Keep a close watch on the rooftops and behind certain environmental obstacles. Some badges are well-hidden.
Where to Find the 1 Cat Toy
This particular collectible might be found in a very specific, often poignant, location within The Dead End.
Chapter 4: The Sewers – A Descent into the Undercity
The Sewers are a claustrophobic and dangerous environment, filled with environmental puzzles and more Zurks. This chapter often involves navigating complex underground tunnels and machinery.
Navigating the Treacherous Waterways
The Sewers are characterized by flowing water, dangerous currents, and limited platforms. You’ll need to master precise jumping to traverse these areas.
Solving Puzzles with Water Flow
Some puzzles in the Sewers involve manipulating water flow, perhaps by activating pumps or blocking pipes. Understanding how these systems work is key to progression.
The Serpent and Its Territory
A significant threat in the Sewers is the Serpent, a giant Zurk-like creature. You’ll need to evade this boss-like enemy through clever use of the environment and timed movements.
Collectibles in The Sewers
The Sewers offer a unique set of collectibles that are often guarded by environmental challenges.
Where to Find the 2 Music Sheets
These might be located in small alcoves or on submerged platforms.
Where to Find the 2 Badges
Thorough exploration of every pipe and tunnel is necessary to find these.
Where to Find the 1 Flea
This is a peculiar collectible that might require you to interact with a specific robot or solve a small puzzle.
Chapter 5: Jail – The Heart of the Machine
Jail is a grim and oppressive environment where you’ll encounter more direct threats and must utilize all your learned skills to survive and progress.
Infiltrating the Prison
This chapter often involves stealth and puzzle-solving to navigate the prison’s security systems and guards.
Working with Other Robots
You might need to collaborate with other robots to create distractions or bypass security measures.
Dealing with Sentinels and Security Measures
Expect increased Sentinel activity and more sophisticated security systems. Learning to disable cameras, avoid laser grids, and outsmart patrols will be crucial.
Collectibles in Jail
Jail can be a challenging place to find all the collectibles.
Where to Find the 1 Music Sheet
This sheet might be hidden in a cell or a guard’s quarters.
Where to Find the 2 Badges
These could be located in restricted areas or awarded for completing specific objectives within the chapter.
Chapter 6: The Antvillage – A Community Under Threat
The Antvillage is a vibrant but precarious community. Here, you’ll experience a different side of robotic life and face significant challenges in protecting its inhabitants.
Understanding Antvillage Society
The Antvillage is home to a close-knit robotic community. You’ll interact with its residents, learn about their struggles, and often be tasked with helping them.
Restoring Power and Finding Supplies
Many quests will involve restoring power to different sections of the village or finding essential supplies for the inhabitants.
The Antlion Horde: A Major Threat
The Antvillage is constantly under threat from Antlion swarms. You’ll often find yourself in scenarios where you need to defend the village or guide its inhabitants to safety.
Collectibles in The Antvillage
The Antvillage has a good number of collectibles, rewarding thorough exploration.
Where to Find the 4 Music Sheets
These are often found within the homes or communal areas of the Antvillage robots.
Where to Find the 3 Badges
Keep an eye out for hidden nooks and crannies within the village structures.
Where to Find the 1 Cat Toy
This might be found in a particularly cozy or overlooked spot within the village.
Chapter 7: The Outskirts – Towards Freedom
The Outskirts represent the final stretch of your journey, leading you towards the possibility of freedom but also presenting the game’s most significant challenges.
Navigating Open but Dangerous Terrain
The Outskirts are more open, but this doesn’t mean safety. You’ll face continuous waves of Zurks and Sentinels.
Utilizing the Environment for Survival
The environment here might offer more opportunities for using explosive barrels or environmental traps to clear out enemies.
The Final Confrontation
This chapter culminates in a series of challenging encounters that test your mastery of Stray’s mechanics.
Collectibles in The Outskirts
The Outskirts contain the final set of collectibles, often in hard-to-reach or heavily guarded areas.
Where to Find the 2 Music Sheets
These are often in areas you’ve already passed through but might have missed on your first attempt.
Where to Find the 2 Badges
Look for hidden pathways or areas that require precise platforming.
Unlocking All Trophies and the Platinum
For the dedicated players seeking 100% completion, unlocking all trophies is a significant undertaking. Many are awarded for progressing through the story, but others require specific actions.
“A Cat Among Us” Trophy: Complete the game.
“Meow” Trophy: Press the ‘meow’ button. (This is simple and easily done by repeatedly pressing the designated meow button.)
“Cat Nap” Trophy: Have a nice nap. (Find a cozy spot and interact with it to take a nap.)
“Long Story Short” Trophy: Come back before the time runs out. (This likely refers to a specific timed event or puzzle within the game.)
“Energy Drink” Trophy: Drink from a different bartender. (Explore different bars and interact with the bartenders.)
“Hot Dog” Trophy: Scratch the DJ’s couch. (Find the DJ and scratch their couch.)
“Kleptomaniac” Trophy: Steal something from each Neighbor. (This requires visiting various robots and stealing specific items.)
“This Cat Got Your Tongue?” Trophy: Have B-12 interact with each. (Ensure B-12 scans or interacts with all relevant characters or objects.)
“Garbage Coder” Trophy: Scratch the two rugs. (Find specific rugs and scratch them.)
“The Human’s Best Friend” Trophy: Pet 5 different cats. (Find and pet 5 distinct feline NPCs.)
“Curiosity Killed the Cat” Trophy: Use the cat’s curiosity. (Likely involves interacting with certain objects to trigger events.)
“Cat on the Edge” Trophy: Jump over the garbage truck. (Find a specific garbage truck and perform a jump.)
“Feline Friend” Trophy: Get an Afgan. (This involves collecting a specific item from a robot.)
“There Is Hope” Trophy: Bring the fireflies to the robot. (This involves collecting fireflies and delivering them.)
“Piece of the Pie” Trophy: Give a sticker to Clementine. (Find and give a sticker to Clementine.)
“Neon Ninja” Trophy: Jump on the DJ’s table. (Reach the DJ’s table and interact with it.)
“Don’t Step on the Grass” Trophy: Stick to the path. (This suggests completing an area without deviating from a specific route.)
“Scratch of the Century” Trophy: Scratch a vinyl. (Find a record player and scratch a vinyl.)
“Badges” Trophies: These are awarded for collecting all the Badges in specific chapters. You will need to find all Music Sheets, Scratch Puzzles, and other specific collectibles to earn associated trophies.
“I Am the Cat” Trophy: This is the ultimate Platinum trophy, awarded for unlocking all other trophies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stray
We’ve compiled answers to common queries players have while navigating Stray.
Q: How long is Stray?
A: The main story of Stray typically takes around 5-8 hours to complete. However, if you’re aiming for full completion, including finding all collectibles and unlocking all trophies, expect to spend 10-15 hours or more.
Q: Is Stray difficult?
A: Stray is generally considered to be of moderate difficulty. While there are challenging sections involving stealth and combat against Zurks and Sentinels, the game’s design is forgiving, and puzzles are rarely overly complex. Feline agility and B-12’s abilities are key to overcoming obstacles.
Q: Can I miss collectibles in Stray?
A: Yes, collectibles can be missed. However, the game is designed so you can replay chapters or revisit areas to find anything you missed. It’s advisable to explore thoroughly as you go, but don’t fret if you don’t find everything on your first pass.
Q: What platforms is Stray available on?
A: Stray is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Q: What is the main gameplay loop in Stray?
A: The core gameplay loop involves exploration, platforming using feline agility, solving environmental puzzles, stealth, and occasionally evading or fighting enemies with the help of B-12. You’ll be interacting with the world in unique ways that only a cat can.
Q: How do I use B-12’s flashlight?
A: B-12’s flashlight is activated by pressing the designated button. It’s crucial for navigating dark areas, interacting with certain robots, and fending off Zurks and other enemies.
Q: What are the main threats in Stray?
A: The primary threats are the Zurks, small swarming creatures that attack relentlessly, and the Sentinels, flying drones that patrol and attack on sight. Environmental hazards like Antlions also pose a significant danger.
Mastering Feline Agility and Environmental Interaction
The true magic of Stray lies in how you embody a cat. Your feline agility is not just for show; it’s your primary tool for navigating the world.
The Art of the Jump
Jumping in Stray is contextual. You can only jump to designated ledges and platforms, which are usually highlighted with subtle visual cues. Look for interactive surfaces, glowing signs, pipes, air conditioning units, and scaffolding. Don’t be afraid to experiment; if you can see it, you can probably jump to it.
Squeezing Through Tight Spaces
Cats are masters of fitting into small spaces, and Stray captures this perfectly. You’ll frequently need to squeeze through gaps in fences, under doors, or through ventilation shafts. These are often essential for finding hidden paths or collectibles.
Scratching and Knocking Things Over
These seemingly mundane actions are vital. Scratching can reveal hidden messages, open pathways, or even distract enemies. Knocking over objects (like paint cans or bottles) is a classic cat tactic to create noise, draw attention, or open new routes.
Using B-12 as an Extension of Yourself
Remember that B-12 is more than just a translator; it’s your tool kit. Its flashlight, its ability to interact with terminals, and its translation capabilities are all critical for solving puzzles and understanding the world around you. Always keep an eye on its battery level, as it can be depleted.
Conclusion: A Cat’s Tale to Remember
Stray is a remarkable achievement in narrative gaming, offering a unique perspective and a deeply emotional journey. By utilizing this comprehensive guide, you are now fully equipped to tackle every challenge, uncover every secret, and experience the full breadth of this cyberpunk dystopia from a perspective few games ever dare to offer. We at Gaming News hope this walkthrough, coupled with our detailed tips on collectibles and trophies, empowers you to not only finish Stray but to truly master it. May your nine lives be plentiful and your explorations in this unforgettable world be rewarding. The city awaits your paw prints.