So you’re stuck on a deserted island with a bunch of mutant cannibals, eh? No problem, friend – our Sons of the Forest tips and tricks should help in a pinch.
Much like its predecessor, Sons of the Forest is an intense survival horror game that requires meticulous planning and a thoughtful eye. Looking for food supplies or shelter in the wilderness is tough enough – let alone while there are loads of flesh-eating humanoids on your tail. Thankfully, you’re not alone in this.
So put on some leaf armor, sip some creek water, and prepare for a few memorable nights in Sons of the Forest.
Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.
Pick up everything at the crash site
This suggestion might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to accidentally miss important loot right at the start – trust us. There are several plastic bins and bits of luggage around the wrecked helicopter, each containing items like medicine, duct tape, tarps, and more. Sometimes extra goodies too, but the loot seems to vary with each new game – so yeah, leave no stones unturned.
Monitor your thirst, hunger, and temperature
It’s a game of survival, right? So that there are meters that need managing! Three are integral to your character’s well-being: thirst, hunger, and sleep. Ignore these, and your stamina will decrease – inevitably resulting in death. You can see icons for all three in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen above the minimap. (That fourth one is strength, which basically is just a level-up gauge)
Thirst is pretty self-explanatory – find fresh (preferably running) water and drink it! Similarly, you have to eat something to quell your hunger. Edible vegetation like berries is all over the place, but it’s better to get catch fish or hunt small animals like deer for something with more calories. Tiredness is trickier to fight off because everything impacts it to varying degrees. Make a hunting shelter or small log cabin, keep it dry (don’t rest on the ground), and sleep – boom, not so tired anymore!
Kelvin should always be working
Do you love bossing people around? Good news – Kelvin takes orders like a champ. It’s easy to get bogged down with busy work in survival games like this, so make sure Kelvin is constantly gathering logs, sticks, and rocks – mainly because these are the literal building blocks of every structure in Sons of the Forest.
Kelvin can also build structures, but he sucks at it – the dude destroys stuff you’re working on without the proper guidance. That’s why we think he’s best for gathering.
Build a base near freshwater
Much like in real life, fresh water is arguably the most critical resource in Sons of the Forest. Not just because it makes you less thirsty, but because there’s fish you can eat! Either stab them with a crafted spear or build fish traps to catch them. Plus, having a little shoreside property all to yourself is nice!
The only drawback to building near water is cannibals show up more often – especially if you’re near the ocean. It’s an added risk, but the good far outweighs the bad.
Don't attack the mutants - unless they attack first
Always wait for a mutant cannibal to strike the first blow, seriously! Artificial intelligence in Sons of the Forest is, frankly, incredibly complex – most of the time, enemies will observe rather than attack. These nasty locals want to know what you’re about, and attacking them first will result in swift aggression. In short, they’ll start swarming you and your base more often with increasingly deadly forces.
So if you’re chopping down trees and some little Gollum-like idiot screams at you – ignore them! Sometimes they’ll run straight at you, but don’t run – it’s likely a bluff charge to measure your response. Lets these idiots know you’re peaceful!
Save often
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who save scum and liars – especially in a game like this, where eating the wrong mushroom can knock you out. So make sure to save, and do it reasonably often. You’ll need a structure like a hunting shelter or tent to do so, though. Making those sorts of buildings is pretty easy, so don’t worry about not having the right supplies.
Experiment with crafting - get creative!
Crafting in Sons of the Forest is pretty intuitive. Simply open your inventory mat, plop in various items, and move your cursor over the little cog icon to see what recipes there are or might be for those particular items. For example, combine your knife, duct tape, and sticks to make a wooden spear. Or, if you need healing stuff, Yarrow and Aloe Vera can be mashed together to create a Health Mix.
There are much more complex items to craft, but you’ll need a 3D printer (which is only available in specific locations) to make those. Remember, Sons of the Forest‘s list of known craftable items is still expanding, so get creative and see if you can discover original recipes!
Don't attack the three-legged lady
At some point early on, you’ll run into Virginia – a three-armed, three-legged lady that is quite skittish. You might think she’s another cannibal (thanks to those extra limbs), but that isn’t the case. In fact, she wants to be friends!
Basically, Virginia is a companion character like Kelvin. After observing you for several days, she might approach you and offer some sort of food item like berries – this means she’ll join the party. She can equip most weapons and absolutely massacres most of the mutants in one-on-one engagements. Though if you attack her, none of this can happen – so don’t.
