Raft is Redbeet Interactive's oceanic survival game where you start on a tiny wooden raft in an endless ocean, collecting floating debris to expand and improve your floating home. The game features a story-driven progression through island stops, each revealing more about why the world is flooded. With a persistent shark enemy that attacks your raft, research-based crafting progression, and both survival and creative modes, Raft offers a unique take on the survival genre.
Raft features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Radio Tower | Early game | Story progression, 4-digit code for Vasagatan, basic loot | Explorer |
| 2 | Balboa Island | Mid game | Machete blueprint, Biofuel Refiner, story documents, bear loot | Explorer |
| 3 | Caravan Town | Mid game | Battery Charger, Electric components, trading post access, story progression | Builder |
| 4 | Tangaroa | Mid-late game | Electric Purifier, Sprinkler, advanced blueprints, major story revelations | Builder |
| 5 | Temperance | Late game | Advanced tech blueprints, story climax content, cold-weather gear | Builder |
Radio Tower — Starting Area
The first story location found via the Receiver. A partially submerged tower with codes for the next destination. Introduces the game's story about the flooding event. Contains loot and a note leading to Vasagatan.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Early game |
| Key Rewards | Story progression, 4-digit code for Vasagatan, basic loot |
| Recommended Build | Explorer |
| Key Equipment | Machete |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of raft building — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Balboa Island.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Balboa Island — Early Game
A large forested island with a ranger station, caves, and bear encounters. Introduces the Machete blueprint and Biofuel. The Balboa cave system requires a Head Light. Contains critical story information about the Eden Project.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid game |
| Key Rewards | Machete blueprint, Biofuel Refiner, story documents, bear loot |
| Recommended Build | Explorer |
| Key Equipment | Machete |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering ocean exploration — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Machete if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Caravan Town.
Caravan Town — Mid Game
A settlement built on interconnected boats and shipping containers. Features trading posts, ziplines, and puzzle-locked areas. Introduces the Battery Charger and advanced electric components.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid game |
| Key Rewards | Battery Charger, Electric components, trading post access, story progression |
| Recommended Build | Builder |
| Key Equipment | Machete |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Metal Spear becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master island stops for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Tangaroa — Late Game
A massive partially-sunken city with skyscraper exploration and underwater sections. One of the most atmospheric locations with advanced technology blueprints. Contains the Electric Purifier and Sprinkler blueprints.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid-late game |
| Key Rewards | Electric Purifier, Sprinkler, advanced blueprints, major story revelations |
| Recommended Build | Builder |
| Key Equipment | Metal Spear |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Metal Spear should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- shark management mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Temperance.
Temperance — Endgame
An Arctic research station requiring warm clothing. Features ice puzzles, thermal mechanics, and the game's most dramatic story revelations. Cold damage is constant without proper gear. The penultimate story location.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Late game |
| Key Rewards | Advanced tech blueprints, story climax content, cold-weather gear |
| Recommended Build | Builder |
| Key Equipment | Metal Spear |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Diver for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Radio Tower → Balboa Island → Caravan Town → Tangaroa → Temperance. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment — Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Raft Guides
- Raft Raft Overview
- Raft Best Builds
- Raft Tier List
- Raft Walkthrough
- Raft Beginner's Guide
- Raft Tips & Tricks
- Raft Weapons Guide
- Raft Combat Guide
- Raft Boss Guide
- Raft Crafting Guide
- Raft Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Raft, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Maps & Locations — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Maps & Locations — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Maps & Locations — survival game with similar mechanics
