Sons of the Forest prides itself on not giving players too much information when they start to play. They know that they will have to survive a dangerous island, gathering food and fighting off cannibals and strange mutants, but they have to learn how to survive on their own. This can be frustrating for inexperienced survival gamers who struggle to figure out what they need to do, forcing them to seek out advice.
This game is so difficult to survive that players have had to research basic control tips for Sons of the Forest since the game does not even teach players how to manage their inventory or cook meat. Players can find plenty of resources when they begin the game, but they do not know how to use them, when to use them, or what their purpose is. That's why it is important to enter Sons of the Forest with a few survival tips.
1 Not Eating/Drinking/Sleeping Won't Kill You
In most survival games, eating and sleeping are required to maintain the player's health and avoid death. This leads players to spend hours trying to establish a sustainable food source and place to rest before doing anything else.
In Sons of the Forest, players won't die if they don't eat or sleep. Instead, their stamina will be reduced, limiting their ability to fight against cannibals. Players can take their time stocking up on resources and weapons before a lack of stamina becomes a concern.
2 Take Care of Kelvin
Kelvin is beloved by Sons of the Forest players for his helpful AI program and his earnest, almost goofy smile and wave. Many fans develop a protective instinct for their deaf companion, which will reward them. Kelvin can complete many of the repetitive tasks players find taxing, including collecting logs, hunting for fish, and clearing areas for shelters.
Kelvin steers clear of combat, so he won't get in the player's way.
If players remember to let Kelvin take breaks, he will remain productive and useful, doing many of the important tasks needed at the beginning of the game.
3 Craft A Spear As Your First Weapon
One of the first recipes players unlock in Sons of the Forest is a spear crafted from two sticks and a roll of duct tape. This spear is one of three weapons players can craft in the early phases of Sons of the Forest, alongside the bow and club. The spear can deal both short-ranged damage and long-ranged by throwing it. Players can also craft multiple spears, so they don't have to collect them after throwing.
Until players can find high-quality weapons like the shotgun and machete, the spear will be the best tool to fight cannibals.
4 Investigate The GPS Coordinates
When players pull out their GPS, they will see purple markers scattered around the island. These markers note GPS trackers with special tools like the pistol. Players can collect the GPS trackers and use them to note important points on the map, such as the cave where players collect the shovel in Sons of the Forest or the location of a 3D printer. The resources found at these points can help the player dive into dark caves and continue the main story of Sons of the Forest.
5 Food Rations Are The Best Food Source
While hunting for meat or eating wild berries will fill the player's stomach at the start of Sons of the Forest, the best food source in the game would have to be the rations found in laboratories, camps, and abandoned crates.
The list of food rations includes cereal, ramen noodles, canned food, MREs, bacon/steak/brain bites, and energy bars. This food will not spoil like uncooked meat and will be the best food source when diving into dark caves. The only downside is that it will take a while to collect rations in Sons of the Forest.
6 Focus On The Western Half Of The Island
Players will spawn on the western portion of the island, either by the edge of the mountains, on the northern beach, or in the middle of the area. They may be tempted to explore the eastern half of the map, but they won't be able to access many of the secrets over there until they explore caves in the western half.
The western half of the map includes the rebreather, the shovel, the pistol, the rope gun, and more weapons and resources. If players focus on those resources first, they will be able to survive Sons of the Forest.