RELATED: Things We Love About Stray
When compared to some of the other chapters in Stray, Chapter 1 is relatively short, with players able to complete it in a little over five minutes if they move at a brisk pace. There are no collectibles or side quests for players to worry about either, though those hoping to unlock the “Territory” achievement should make use of the scratchable tree near the beginning of the chapter.
How to Complete Chapter 1 of Stray
When players first assume control of the playable feline protagonist, they’ll find themselves in an enclosed area with three other cats. To progress the story, they’ll need to interact with all three of these kitties, which entails pressing the Triangle button while in close proximity. After doing so, the three cats will take a nap on a nearby piece of cardboard and players should join them, again, by pressing Triangle.
By the time the cats have finished napping, the storm that was raging during the opening section has passed over, allowing the felines to head out into the area inside the wall. After climbing down some metal pipes, players will get an onscreen prompt informing them that they can meow by pressing the Circle button. For the most part, this has no real purpose, though does come in handy during one of Stray’s many puzzles and is downright adorable to boot.
The two main commands that players will want to familiarize themselves with are run and climb, which, while playing on PlayStation, can be accomplished with the R2 and X buttons respectively. It’s worth noting that players can hold X down while running to automatically jump up and over any obstacles in their path. Alternatively, they can tap the X button for more precise jumping, which is generally advised while scaling taller structures.
Shortly after reaching the chapter’s main exploration section, players should keep an eye out for a cat scratching a tree to their left. If they approach this tree and then press the Triangle button, they too will be able to scratch the tree by pressing R2 and L2 consecutively. Scratching in every chapter is a requirement for unlocking the “Territory” trophy in Stray, so completionists will probably want to do this now to avoid having to replay the level later.
To complete Chapter 1 of Stray, players will simply need to follow the linear path in front of them, being sure to leap over any railings and pipes that block their way as they do so. After a few minutes, they’ll reach the end of the chapter and a short yet harrowing cutscene will play out. Once this cutscene is over, players will find themselves deep underground, and Stray’s second chapter, Dead City, will begin.
Side Content in Chapter 1 of Stray
“Territory” Trophy (1/12): Scratch the tree near the beginning of the exploration section.
Stray is available now on PS4, PS5, and PC.
