Sons of the Forest is Endnight Games' survival horror sequel set on a remote island where your helicopter crashes during a rescue mission. With your AI companion Kelvin and the potential ally Virginia, you must build shelter, find food, and survive against cannibals and mutants while uncovering the island's mysteries. The game features a fully simulated season system, advanced building mechanics, and 3D printer technology scattered across the island.
Starting Sons of the Forest can feel overwhelming. This guide tells you exactly what to focus on during your first hours so you don't waste time on things that don't matter yet.
What Kind of Game Is This?
Sons of the Forest is a survival game built around companion AI and 3D printer crafting. The core loop involves mastering these systems to progress through increasingly challenging content.
What to expect: Time investment in learning mechanics, experimentation, and gradual mastery. The game rewards patience and knowledge.
Choosing Your First Build
| Build | Beginner Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Commands | Good (but demanding) | Treat Kelvin as a resource gathering bot — assign tasks before leaving base, collect results on return. |
| Virginia Companion | Excellent for beginners | Be non-threatening to Virginia, arm her once befriended, let her fight alongside you. |
| Solo Survival | Situational | Fortify your base, venture out during daytime only, explore caves with full preparation. |
| Defensive Builder | Excellent for beginners | Build walls and traps until your base is a fortress, then explore from a safe home base. |
| Cave Explorer | Excellent for beginners | Prepare heavily, enter caves, collect key items, advance the story. |
Our recommendation: Start with Virginia Companion. Virginia approaches your camp if you don't aim weapons at her. Over multiple visits, she gains trust and eventually equips weapons you leave on the ground near her. She's a powerful combat ally with the Shotgun or Pistol. GPS tracker lets you find her on the map.
Avoid Cave Explorer as your first pick. Prioritize cave exploration for story progression and best equipment.
First Session Step-by-Step
Step 1: Learn companion AI
Kelvin is a deaf AI companion who follows orders via a notepad interface. He can chop trees, catch fish, gather sticks/rocks, build structures, and carry logs. Virginia is a three-armed mutant woman who becomes a companion if you don't threaten her — she can equip weapons and fights alongside you.
This is the foundation. Spend your first 15-30 minutes getting comfortable with how companion AI works before worrying about anything else.
Step 2: Head to Beach Camp
The coastal area near your crash site. Provides easy access to water, fish, and basic materials. Good starting base location but lacks logs (few trees near beaches). Cannibals patrol less frequently along the coast.
Clear the main content here before moving on. Everything teaches fundamentals you'll need later.
Step 3: Get Your First Upgrade
Look for Pistol — it's the most accessible early upgrade. Found in a life raft near the coast. Reliable mid-range weapon with good ammo availability. The silenced variant (Pistol Rail attachment) reduces cannibal alert. Give the extra to Virginia for a ranged combat ally.
Step 4: Understand 3D printer crafting
3D printers found in bunkers and caves print advanced items using Printer Resin. Items include arrows, flasks, grappling hooks, and the tech armor set. Resin is limited, so prioritize essential items. The printers are a primary reason to explore bunkers.
This is the system most new players overlook. Invest time here early — it pays off throughout the entire game.
Step 5: Push to Mountain Lake
An inland freshwater lake surrounded by forest. Ideal base location with access to fresh water, abundant trees, deer, and berries. Central location for reaching caves in any direction. The most popular base location.
Essential Mechanics Explained
companion AI
Kelvin is a deaf AI companion who follows orders via a notepad interface. He can chop trees, catch fish, gather sticks/rocks, build structures, and carry logs. Virginia is a three-armed mutant woman who becomes a companion if you don't threaten her — she can equip weapons and fights alongside you.
3D printer crafting
3D printers found in bunkers and caves print advanced items using Printer Resin. Items include arrows, flasks, grappling hooks, and the tech armor set. Resin is limited, so prioritize essential items. The printers are a primary reason to explore bunkers.
cave exploration
Caves contain key story items, the best weapons, and connect to the bunker network. Bring a flashlight or torch, multiple health items, and be prepared for mutant encounters. Some caves require the Rebreather (underwater sections) or Rope Gun (zipline traversal) to fully explore.
seasons
The game simulates spring, summer, fall, and winter. Winter reduces food availability, lowers temperature (requiring warm clothing or fires), and changes enemy behavior. Spring and summer have abundant berries and animals. Building a heated shelter before winter is critical for survival.
shelter building
Building uses a hybrid system: a survival guide provides pre-designed structures, or you can freeform-build with logs, sticks, and tarps. Log walls block cannibal attacks. Defensive walls with spike traps protect your base. Rain and cold affect your character inside unroofed structures.
Common Beginner Mistakes
1. Threatening Virginia when she first appears — pointing a weapon at her or acting aggressive causes her to flee permanently
Let her approach on her own terms.
2. Not building a shelter before the first night — cannibals are more aggressive at night
Even a basic tarp shelter gives you a save point and rest.
3. Entering caves without proper preparation — no flashlight, low health, no food or water
Caves are long, dark, and filled with enemies. Prepare fully before entering.
4. Ignoring Kelvin's usefulness — many players let him follow aimlessly
Assign him tasks constantly: gather sticks, chop trees, catch fish, build walls.
5. Building a base in the open without defensive walls — cannibal raids will destroy an undefended base quickly
Log walls and spike traps are essential.
First 5 Hours Checklist
- Understand companion AI and 3D printer crafting
- Choose Virginia Companion as starting build
- Clear Beach Camp main content
- Acquire Pistol or equivalent upgrade
- Reach Mountain Lake
- Kelvin can chop trees and fish for you endlessly. Set him to tasks before exploring — you'll return to a pile of logs and fish.
- Build near a stream for infinite water. Streams provide drinking water and are plentiful across the island.
Tips for New Players
- Kelvin can chop trees and fish for you endlessly. Set him to tasks before exploring — you'll return to a pile of logs and fish.
- Build near a stream for infinite water. Streams provide drinking water and are plentiful across the island.
- 3D printers give arrows, flasks, and tech gear. Prioritize the grappling hook and arrows early. Printer Resin is limited, so plan your prints.
- Virginia becomes a companion if you don't scare her. When she approaches your camp, don't look at her aggressively or aim weapons. After 3-4 visits, she'll stay permanently.
- Log sleds carry multiple logs at once — build one immediately to speed up base construction. Kelvin can also fill log holders.
- Cannibal aggression escalates based on how many you kill and how long you've survived. Building effigies (from cannibal body parts) near your base deters patrols.
- The Rebreather is needed for underwater cave sections. Find it in the cave near the beach with the blinking GPS locator. Bring a weapon for mutants inside.
- Drying racks preserve meat indefinitely. Build several near your base and stockpile dried meat before winter when hunting becomes harder.
- Stick traps and bone traps around your base perimeter trigger on approaching cannibals, dealing damage and slowing raids.
- The GPS tracker on your arm shows key points of interest as pulsing green dots. Follow them to progress the story and find important items.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Kelvin die in Sons of the Forest?
Yes, Kelvin can die permanently from combat, falling, or even your own accidental attacks. He cannot be revived within a save. If Kelvin dies, you lose his resource gathering permanently. Keep him away from combat and be careful with explosives.
How many players does Sons of the Forest support?
Up to 8 players in co-op multiplayer. All players share the same world, can build together, and progress the story cooperatively. More players makes survival easier but also increases cannibal aggression.
How do you get the Shovel?
The Shovel requires the Rebreather and Rope Gun first (both found in specific caves). Then access the Shovel cave using those tools. The Shovel unlocks digging mechanics, letting you unearth buried loot including the Shotgun.
Does Sons of the Forest have an ending?
Yes, there are multiple endings depending on your choices in the final bunker. The story involves the island's history, corporate experiments, and supernatural elements. Completing the story requires finding key items in caves and bunkers.
What to Read Next
- Sons of the Forest Builds — Optimize your build once you've learned the basics
- Sons of the Forest Walkthrough — Full progression path
- Sons of the Forest Tips — Advanced strategies for when you're ready
