People Playground is a 2D physics sandbox by mestiez, published by Studio Minus and on Steam since 23 July 2019. Every object carries its own weight, sharpness, conductivity and heat capacity, and every ragdoll has bones, organs, blood and a nervous system rather than a health bar. There is no score and no win condition, only firearms, machinery, syringes, wires and a Steam Workshop full of extra parts.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Default | Ragdoll anatomy and vitals basics | Weapons tester | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Void | Heat and temperature transfer mastery | Weapons tester | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Sea | Electricity propagation + gear | Contraption builder or Weapons tester | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Lava | Build optimization | Contraption builder | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Humongous | Min-max | Contraption builder or Demolition tester | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Default)
The mid sized map everyone starts on, a flat floor and a plain backdrop with nothing that interferes with the simulation. Almost every tutorial and Workshop showcase is filmed here for exactly that reason.
Level/Difficulty: Any session Key Rewards: Clean baseline physics, no environmental interference
What to Do in Default
- Learn Ragdoll anatomy and vitals. Each human has a heart, lungs, bones, blood and nerves instead of a single health value. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Weapons tester as your starting build. See our builds guide for why.
- Join frames with Steel Binding instead of Rope or Cable. A binding holds its angle, while a rope lets the chassis fold the instant a Thruster fires, which is why most first aircraft flip rather than climb.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Atom Bomb or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Ragdoll anatomy and vitals fundamentals
- Weapons tester selected and functional
- Default main content cleared
- Ready for Void
Phase 2: Early Game (Void)
Added in version 1.2.7, an unlit map with no floor at all. Objects fall until they cross the boundary and then despawn, so the scene cleans itself.
Level/Difficulty: Any session Key Rewards: Zero clutter, automatic debris removal
What to Do in Void
- Work on Heat and temperature transfer. Materials have a heat capacity and pass warmth to whatever they touch. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Atom Bomb if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- Blood loss kills slowly and without an obvious wound. If a ragdoll goes limp for no visible reason, look for a cut vessel; the Coagulation Syringe stops the bleed and the Life Syringe undoes the whole thing.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Sea.
- Consider whether Contraption builder might suit your playstyle better than Weapons tester.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Heat and temperature transfer integrated into gameplay
- Atom Bomb acquired
- Void fully cleared
- Ready for Sea
Phase 3: Mid Game (Sea)
A water map where the liquid drags objects, quenches fire, conducts current and drowns anything that cannot breathe. Three separate systems act on your test at once.
Level/Difficulty: Intermediate Key Rewards: Boat and submarine testing, drowning and conductivity results
What to Do in Sea
- Master Electricity propagation. Current travels along Propagation Wire and Copper Wire and through any conductive object in contact. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward 9mm Pistol. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- Conductivity is a material property, so a metal floor carries a Tesla Coil discharge across the entire scene. Stand electrical tests on wood or glass when you want the current to stay where you put it.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Object linking and contraptions for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Electricity propagation mastered
- 9mm Pistol acquired or in progress
- Sea fully cleared
- Ready for Lava
Phase 4: Late Game (Lava)
A map floored with lava that transfers heat into whatever touches it. Useful precisely because it gives you an infinite heat source you do not have to build.
Level/Difficulty: Intermediate Key Rewards: Heat transfer tests, ignition and melting behaviour
What to Do in Lava
- Finalize your build. You should be running Contraption builder or Weapons tester with optimized gear.
- 9mm Pistol should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Heat moves by contact rather than proximity. A ragdoll standing beside the Lava map floor is fine; the same ragdoll lying on it cooks in seconds, and every heated plate you build follows that rule.
- Steam Workshop items optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Humongous.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- 9mm Pistol upgraded to max
- Lava fully cleared
- Ready for Humongous
Phase 5: Endgame (Humongous)
A far wider arena than Default with room to run a vehicle up to speed or fire down a long sightline before anything hits a wall.
Level/Difficulty: Advanced Key Rewards: Long range weapon tests, large vehicles, multi part contraptions
What to Do in Humongous
- Humongous tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- The Defibrillator only helps when the heart has stopped and the body is otherwise intact. Against burns, crushing or missing limbs it does nothing at all, and the Life Syringe is the tool you actually wanted.
- The endgame loop: run Humongous, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Demolition tester for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Steam Workshop items mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Humongous fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Bolting a vehicle together with Rope and Cable, then watching the frame fold the moment the Thruster lights
- Running electricity tests on a metal floor so every object conducts and the result is unreadable
- Reaching for the Defibrillator on a burned or crushed ragdoll where only the Life Syringe helps
- Detonating an Atom Bomb on a scene already holding hundreds of props, then blaming the engine
- Fitting a Rotor where a Servo was needed, so a walker leg spins instead of stepping
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- Join frames with Steel Binding instead of Rope or Cable. A binding holds its angle, while a rope lets the chassis fold the instant a Thruster fires, which is why most first aircraft flip rather than climb.
- Blood loss kills slowly and without an obvious wound. If a ragdoll goes limp for no visible reason, look for a cut vessel; the Coagulation Syringe stops the bleed and the Life Syringe undoes the whole thing.
- Conductivity is a material property, so a metal floor carries a Tesla Coil discharge across the entire scene. Stand electrical tests on wood or glass when you want the current to stay where you put it.
- Heat moves by contact rather than proximity. A ragdoll standing beside the Lava map floor is fine; the same ragdoll lying on it cooks in seconds, and every heated plate you build follows that rule.
- The Defibrillator only helps when the heart has stopped and the body is otherwise intact. Against burns, crushing or missing limbs it does nothing at all, and the Life Syringe is the tool you actually wanted.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
More People Playground Guides
- People Playground People Playground Overview
- People Playground Best Builds
- People Playground Tier List
- People Playground Beginner's Guide
- People Playground Tips & Tricks
- People Playground Weapons Guide
- People Playground Combat Guide
- People Playground Boss Guide
- People Playground Maps & Locations
- People Playground Crafting Guide
- People Playground Classes & Characters
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