Atomic Heart hides locks at every corner. Some unlock shortcuts back to the last location, others conceal drawings and various resources behind them. This guide outlines all lock types found in the game and explains how to open them.
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- How to break locks and solve puzzles in Atomic Heart – how to open all the doors in the game
Remark: When a lock is breached, time does not freeze. A nearby robot may notice and attack. It is wise to start hacking only when nearby foes have been dealt with.
Over time, locks can become tougher, and players may reach dead ends. If that happens, step away from the door and reactivate the hack by pressing the refresh action on the keyboard or controller.
Some fortresses incur two puzzle types. Keys allow switching between them for progress.
How to open a lock with clicks
This is the first lock type encountered. To open it, players must snap their fingers in rhythm so fuse pins align and lights turn green.
The active pin glows. In the beginning it is simple. The challenge comes when many lights are green and pins are aligned; a mistimed click can misalign the pin and require a reset.
Note that each successful fuse click can reverse the light direction, which may be confusing at first. Focus on the sound rather than the image.
The universal pattern for this lock is: click-click-skip-click-skip-skip-click. Do two clicks, skip a beat, click again, skip two beats, then click, and so on.
With practice, timing becomes instinctive. If timing feels tight, the timers reset when time runs out, allowing another attempt.
How to open a lock with colored dots
This may be the hardest lock type. The goal is to align dots so their colors match the fuses’ colors.
Two actions exist: rotate the knob and move three points. Rotating shifts all points three places left or right. Moving the three points happens at the bottom of the fortress. Each click shifts the first two points right while the third moves from the right edge to the left edge. Screenshots can help clarify this setup.
Often two or three points must be placed correctly. A practical approach is to connect one pair first, then adjust the rest based on their dial positions.
Remember that colors and their positions change each activation. If a given solution feels too difficult, exit the minigame and try again later.
How to open graphic locks
Graphic locks resemble classic key diagrams. Light specific lamps to open them. Due to many combinations, a hint drawing nearby can guide which bulbs to energize.
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Since P-3 dislikes leaving waste behind, players may need to memorize the correct bulbs or capture a quick screenshot to reproduce the pattern on the lock panel later.
How to open a cookie lock. Where can I find the electronic key?
Cookie locks resemble dotted combos but do not require memorization. The key is a cookie-shaped item found in the environment. Return to the fortress and use it to unlock the door, provided the inventory contains the necessary key card. Nechaev handles the key insertion at the well.
Only a few cookie locks appear in the game, and most often they show up in places tied to story moments. An exception is access to a bunker at a landfill site, where the key sits in a less obvious spot. This guide helps players locate all polygons in the game.
How to solve puzzles with power relays and dials
These locks seal important areas. Opening them requires solving a compact puzzle: several rotating discs and three colored lasers on a wall or floor converge toward three lamps.
The laser colors must match the lamps they illuminate. For example, if the top and center lamps are green, the top and center lasers should project green beams at the focus point.
Turn the discs to align beams. Some nodes feature splitters, which direct beams as needed. The splitters only move up and down, not left and right, which keeps the logic straightforward.
How to open a padlock with a keyhole
Keyholes are common in employee offices or living quarters. The process resembles lockpicking from classic RPGs: move the mouse, adjust antenna angles, and repeatedly press the left mouse button to test if the lock yields.
If the keyhole turns steadily, you are on the right track. Master keys are not present; perseverance wins.
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Other locks appear later in the story and follow scripted events rather than a fixed mechanic. For instance, entering the next Enterprise location may require telekinesis to shift a statue and slip through before it settles back.
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Source: VG Times