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.
These tips go beyond the basics. They're the strategies experienced players use to play more efficiently, the hidden mechanics most people miss, and the optimizations that compound over a full playthrough.
Essential Tips
1. Build collection nets on all edges of your raft early
Build collection nets on all edges of your raft early. Nets automatically catch floating debris (planks, plastic, leaves, barrels) so you gather resources passively.
2. Seaweed + Plank = Rope, your most-needed resource
Seaweed + Plank = Rope, your most-needed resource. You'll burn through rope constantly for nets, bows, and other crafting. Always gather Seaweed when diving.
3. Shark Bait buys 1-2 minutes of safe diving time
Shark Bait buys 1-2 minutes of safe diving time. Always throw bait before entering the water for extended underwater gathering sessions.
4. Research everything at the Research Table before dismantling items
Research everything at the Research Table before dismantling items. Researching doesn't consume the item, and you need to discover recipes to progress.
5. Honey (from beehives on islands) has infinite durability as food — it never spoils
Honey (from beehives on islands) has infinite durability as food — it never spoils. Stockpile honey as emergency food.
6. Simple Purifiers turn salt water into drinkable water
Simple Purifiers turn salt water into drinkable water. Build 2-3 early and keep them fueled with planks. Dehydration kills faster than starvation.
7. Reinforce exposed foundations with Metal Ingots
Reinforce exposed foundations with Metal Ingots. The shark can't destroy reinforced foundations, protecting your raft structure permanently.
8. Paint your Sail (craft at Paint Mill) for aesthetics, but more importantly, the Engine is faster and direction-independent for reaching story islands
Paint your Sail (craft at Paint Mill) for aesthetics, but more importantly, the Engine is faster and direction-independent for reaching story islands.
9. Cooking Pot recipes provide better food bonuses than grilling
Cooking Pot recipes provide better food bonuses than grilling. Combine ingredients for Shark Dinner, Fish Stew, etc. for more hunger and bonus thirst restoration.
10. Head-mounted Light frees your hand while exploring caves
Head-mounted Light frees your hand while exploring caves. Craft it as soon as you have the materials — it's a massive quality-of-life improvement.
Advanced Strategies
Build Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive:
For Builder (A-Tier):
- Focuses on raft expansion and aesthetics. Builders create massive multi-story rafts with dedicated rooms for storage, cooking, farming, and animal husbandry. The builder playstyle maximizes resource collection nets and automated water purifiers for self-sufficiency.
- Core gear: Building Hammer, Collection Nets on all edges, Sprinklers, Paint Mill
- Stat priority: Plank collection > Net placement > Foundation reinforcement
For Explorer (S-Tier):
- Prioritizes story progression by following Receiver signals to story islands. Explorers dive deep for underwater loot, explore caves, and solve environmental puzzles. The most progression-focused playstyle.
- Core gear: Receiver + Antennas, Flippers, Oxygen Bottle, Head Light, Metal Spear
- Stat priority: Receiver setup > Diving gear > Combat weapon
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how Raft's systems interact is where the real optimization lives:
raft building + ocean exploration: Your raft starts as a 2x2 platform and grows as you add foundations, walls, pillars, and decorations. Combined with ocean exploration, the ocean generates islands, story locations, and floating debris procedurally.
island stops + research table: Story islands are major locations with puzzles, loot, and narrative progression. When paired with research table, new crafting recipes are unlocked by placing materials in the research table.
shark management scaling: Bruce the shark constantly circles your raft, periodically attacking foundations and players in the water. Feed him by letting him bite Foundation blocks (cheaper) rather than losing built structures. Shark Bait distracts him, and you can kill him (he respawns) for Shark Head trophy and materials.
Equipment Efficiency
| Equipment | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Spear | All playstyles — primary weapon | The upgraded melee weapon dealing more damage than the Wooden Spear. |
| Machete | Explorer — island combat | A crafted melee weapon with faster attack speed than the Spear. |
| Bow | Explorer, Diver — ranged threat management | Ranged weapon using Stone or Metal Arrows. |
| Net Launcher | Farmer — animal capture | Captures animals (Cluckers, Goats, Llamas) for transport to your raft. |
| Throwable Anchor | All playstyles — utility | Anchors your raft at island locations so it doesn't drift away while exploring. |
Location Efficiency
Radio Tower (Early game): 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.
Balboa Island (Mid 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.
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.
Tangaroa (Mid-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.
Temperance (Late game): 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.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- Not anchoring the raft before exploring islands — your raft drifts away, potentially losing everything you've built. Always deploy the anchor.
- Ignoring Collection Nets — manually collecting floating debris is slow and tedious. Nets on all raft edges provide passive resource income that adds up enormously.
- Building without reinforced foundations — the shark destroys regular foundations in 2-3 bites. Reinforce the outer edge foundations with Metal Ingots.
- Rushing story islands without proper equipment — each island has specific requirements (Head Light, flippers, weapons). Check wiki guides before visiting.
- Not researching items before using them — placing an item on the Research Table unlocks recipes without consuming it. Always research first, craft second.
Efficiency Quick Reference
| Aspect | Optimal Choice | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Build | Builder | A-tier, best overall |
| Starter | Explorer | Most forgiving for learning |
| Equipment | Metal Spear | Best resource-to-power ratio |
| First area | Radio Tower | Story progression, 4-digit code for Vasagatan, basic loot |
| Priority mechanic | raft building | Everything else builds on this |
Pro Quick Tips
- Build collection nets on all edges of your raft early. Nets automatically catch floating debris (planks, plastic, leaves, barrels) so you gather resources passively.
- Seaweed + Plank = Rope, your most-needed resource. You'll burn through rope constantly for nets, bows, and other crafting. Always gather Seaweed when diving.
- Shark Bait buys 1-2 minutes of safe diving time. Always throw bait before entering the water for extended underwater gathering sessions.
- Start with Explorer, switch to Builder when ready
- Invest in Metal Spear above everything else
- Clear areas in order: Radio Tower → Balboa Island → Caravan Town → Tangaroa → Temperance
- raft building + ocean exploration together are stronger than either alone
For full build details, check builds. For progression path, see the walkthrough.
