Doom: The Dark Ages Chapter 1 – Secret Key & Door Location in Khalim Village

Find the hidden Secret Key in Chapter 1 of Doom: The Dark Ages and unlock the secret door to grab a Life Sigil in the Village of Khalim.
Chapter 1 Secret Key Location – Doom: The Dark Ages (Khalim Village)
Doom: The Dark Ages doesn’t waste any time throwing secrets at you, and Chapter 1 sets the tone with its first hidden key and secret door. If you’re taking your time and exploring thoroughly in Khalim Village, there’s a Secret Key tucked away early in the chapter—and unlocking the nearby door nets you a Life Sigil, one of the most valuable collectibles in the game.
Here’s how to find it.
🗝️ How to Find the Secret Key in Chapter 1 (Khalim Village)
- Progress through the main objective until you reach the gate that requires the Blue Key.
- After grabbing the Blue Key and moving forward, you’ll enter a sandbox-style open area—this is where most of the level’s secrets are located.
- Head to the far left of the area and look for a jump pad on a ledge. Use it to launch yourself into the upper-left section of the map.
- You’ll arrive at an area where you get the Shredder weapon. Defeat the enemies here to unlock new paths.
- Go through the arch on the right, then follow the left path uphill, marked by armor pickups.
- Close the Demonic Portal in this area.
- After that, cross the wooden bridge nearby—you’ll spot the purple-glowing Secret Key waiting for you at the end.

🚪 Where to Use the Secret Key in Chapter 1
With the key in hand, it’s time to cash in:
- Drop back down the cliff and head toward the doorway ahead.
- In the tunnel, you’ll have to deal with a small demon ambush. Clear them out to unlock the next area.
- Exit the tunnel, follow the armor-lined path, and head back toward the main combat area with the Demonic Portal.
- Look to the left—you’ll see a caged door with a purple lock. That’s your destination.
- Approach it, and it’ll automatically unlock with the key, revealing a Life Sigil inside.
💡 Why It Matters
Life Sigils are basically extra lives in Doom: The Dark Ages. Grab one, and if you die, you’ll respawn on the spot instead of restarting a checkpoint. Super handy—especially later on when things really ramp up.
So if you’re playing Chapter 1 and worried you might’ve missed something important, now you know where to look. The secret key and Life Sigil are a solid reward for those who explore early—and there’s a lot more of this kind of stuff in the chapters to come.
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