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.
Sons of the Forest 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 | Beach Camp | Day 1-5 | Fish, turtles (shells for water collectors), basic resources | Virginia Companion |
| 2 | Mountain Lake | Day 3-15 | Fresh water, deer, berries, abundant logs, central location | Virginia Companion |
| 3 | Cannibal Village | Day 5+ | Clothing, food, meds, crafting materials, enemy skulls for effigies | Kelvin Commands |
| 4 | Underground Caves | Day 5+ (with preparation) | Rebreather, Rope Gun, Shovel, Katana, Crossbow, story progression | Kelvin Commands |
| 5 | Snowy Mountains | Day 20+ (endgame) | Endgame story bunkers, unique enemy encounters, final story content | Kelvin Commands |
Beach Camp — Starting Area
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Day 1-5 |
| Key Rewards | Fish, turtles (shells for water collectors), basic resources |
| Recommended Build | Virginia Companion |
| Key Equipment | Pistol |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of companion AI — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Mountain Lake.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Mountain Lake — Early Game
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Day 3-15 |
| Key Rewards | Fresh water, deer, berries, abundant logs, central location |
| Recommended Build | Virginia Companion |
| Key Equipment | Pistol |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering 3D printer crafting — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Pistol if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Cannibal Village.
Cannibal Village — Mid Game
Hostile settlements found throughout the island. Contain loot like clothes, food, meds, and sometimes weapons. Raiding villages provides quick gear but triggers increased cannibal aggression in the area.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Day 5+ |
| Key Rewards | Clothing, food, meds, crafting materials, enemy skulls for effigies |
| Recommended Build | Kelvin Commands |
| Key Equipment | Pistol |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Shotgun becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master cave exploration for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Underground Caves — Late Game
The cave system contains all key progression items (Rebreather, Rope Gun, Shovel, Katana). Each cave has unique enemies, from basic mutants to massive baby-shaped horrors. Multiple entries with different difficulty levels.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Day 5+ (with preparation) |
| Key Rewards | Rebreather, Rope Gun, Shovel, Katana, Crossbow, story progression |
| Recommended Build | Kelvin Commands |
| Key Equipment | Shotgun |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Shotgun should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- shelter building mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Snowy Mountains.
Snowy Mountains — Endgame
The northern mountainous region with cold temperature danger and stronger cannibal variants. Contains endgame cave entrances and story content. Requires warm clothing or constant fire management to survive.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Day 20+ (endgame) |
| Key Rewards | Endgame story bunkers, unique enemy encounters, final story content |
| Recommended Build | Kelvin Commands |
| Key Equipment | Shotgun |
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 Cave Explorer for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Beach Camp → Mountain Lake → Cannibal Village → Underground Caves → Snowy Mountains. 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 Sons of the Forest Guides
- Sons of the Forest Sons of the Forest Overview
- Sons of the Forest Best Builds
- Sons of the Forest Tier List
- Sons of the Forest Walkthrough
- Sons of the Forest Beginner's Guide
- Sons of the Forest Tips & Tricks
- Sons of the Forest Weapons Guide
- Sons of the Forest Combat Guide
- Sons of the Forest Boss Guide
- Sons of the Forest Crafting Guide
- Sons of the Forest Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Sons of the Forest, 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
