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.
Sunkenland 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 | Starting Raft | Day 1-3 | Basic materials, crafting station, first foundation | Diver |
| 2 | Sunken City | Day 3+ | Advanced materials, weapon components, crafting blueprints | Diver |
| 3 | Raider Outpost | Mid-game | Weapons, armor, pre-crafted items, building materials | Builder |
| 4 | Coral Reef | All levels | Food, coral materials, fishing catches, safe diving practice | Builder |
| 5 | Deep Trenches | Late game | Rare metals, advanced blueprints, unique crafting materials | Builder |
Starting Raft — Starting Area
Your initial platform — a small raft with basic tools. The starting area has shallow water with easy diving locations and no raider threats. Focus on gathering basic materials and building your first permanent foundation.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Day 1-3 |
| Key Rewards | Basic materials, crafting station, first foundation |
| Recommended Build | Diver |
| Key Equipment | Crossbow |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of underwater exploration — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Sunken City.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Sunken City — Early Game
The primary diving destination with submerged buildings, shops, and infrastructure. Each building type contains thematically appropriate loot — hardware stores have tools, pharmacies have medical supplies. Navigation through flooded streets requires memorizing landmarks.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Day 3+ |
| Key Rewards | Advanced materials, weapon components, crafting blueprints |
| Recommended Build | Diver |
| Key Equipment | Crossbow |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering base building on water — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Crossbow if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Raider Outpost.
Raider Outpost — Mid Game
Hostile NPC bases that can be assaulted for loot. Outposts range from small camps (2-3 raiders) to fortified compounds (10+ raiders with turrets). Scouting before attacking reveals defender count and layout.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid-game |
| Key Rewards | Weapons, armor, pre-crafted items, building materials |
| Recommended Build | Builder |
| Key Equipment | Crossbow |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Speargun becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master raider defense for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Coral Reef — Late Game
Shallow water areas with rich marine life for fishing and foraging. Coral provides crafting materials for water filters and decorative building pieces. Less dangerous than deep water but lower-value loot.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | All levels |
| Key Rewards | Food, coral materials, fishing catches, safe diving practice |
| Recommended Build | Builder |
| Key Equipment | Speargun |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Speargun should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- trading mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Deep Trenches.
Deep Trenches — Endgame
The deepest diving zones with the best loot but highest danger. Pressure effects drain stamina faster, visibility is minimal, and large predators patrol the depths. Advanced diving gear is mandatory.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Late game |
| Key Rewards | Rare metals, advanced blueprints, unique crafting materials |
| Recommended Build | Builder |
| Key Equipment | Speargun |
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 Farmer for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Starting Raft → Sunken City → Raider Outpost → Coral Reef → Deep Trenches. 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 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 Crafting Guide
- Sunkenland Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Sunkenland, 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
