Sunkenland is a post-apocalyptic survival game set in a waterworld where civilization has been submerged beneath the ocean. You build floating bases on the water's surface, dive into sunken cities for resources, defend against raider attacks, and trade with other survivors. The game distinguishes itself from other survival titles with its dual-layer gameplay — surface base building with deep underwater scavenging. Early Access since 2023, the game has received consistent updates adding new biomes, building pieces, and the trading system that gives purpose to excess resources.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Starting Raft
Key resources: Basic materials, crafting station, first foundation Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Crossbow upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Sunken City
Key resources: Advanced materials, weapon components, crafting blueprints Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Crossbow upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Raider Outpost
Key resources: Weapons, armor, pre-crafted items, building materials Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Crossbow upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Coral Reef
Key resources: Food, coral materials, fishing catches, safe diving practice Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Speargun max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Deep Trenches
Key resources: Rare metals, advanced blueprints, unique crafting materials Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Speargun max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Starting Raft — Sunken City)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Crossbow once accessible
Mid Game (Raider Outpost)
- Push Crossbow to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Speargun
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Coral Reef — Deep Trenches)
- Max out Speargun — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Raider Outpost farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Build your first permanent foundation on shallow reef areas where the water floor is visible. Deep water foundations require more expensive materials.
- Farm Raider Outpost during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Sunkenland Guides
- Sunkenland Sunkenland Overview
- Sunkenland Best Builds
- Sunkenland Tier List
- Sunkenland Walkthrough
- Sunkenland Beginner's Guide
- Sunkenland Tips & Tricks
- Sunkenland Weapons Guide
- Sunkenland Combat Guide
- Sunkenland Boss Guide
- Sunkenland Maps & Locations
- Sunkenland Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Sunkenland, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
