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.
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 your first permanent foundation on shallow reef areas where the water floor is visible
Build your first permanent foundation on shallow reef areas where the water floor is visible. Deep water foundations require more expensive materials.
2. Craft a basic speargun before your first serious dive
Craft a basic speargun before your first serious dive. Sharks will find you, and without a weapon, diving into the sunken city is suicidal.
3. Water purifiers are your first critical building
Water purifiers are your first critical building. Dehydration kills faster than hunger, and rain collectors are unreliable. One purifier per 2 players is the minimum.
4. Turrets on your base should cover all approach angles
Turrets on your base should cover all approach angles. Raiders attack from random directions, and an undefended side means they breach directly into your storage.
5. Diving at dawn gives maximum natural light underwater, extending how deep you can see without artificial light sources
Diving at dawn gives maximum natural light underwater, extending how deep you can see without artificial light sources. Night dives are extremely dangerous.
6. Mark dive routes with underwater markers (crafted from glow sticks)
Mark dive routes with underwater markers (crafted from glow sticks). Getting lost underwater with low oxygen is the most common cause of death.
7. Trading posts placed near shipping lanes attract merchants more frequently
Trading posts placed near shipping lanes attract merchants more frequently. Build them at the edge of your base facing open water.
8. Raider outposts respawn after several in-game days
Raider outposts respawn after several in-game days. A nearby outpost becomes a renewable loot source if you can clear it efficiently.
9. Store your best gear in a locked chest
Store your best gear in a locked chest. Raiders who breach your base loot open storage containers but cannot open locked ones.
10. Co-op diving is dramatically safer than solo
Co-op diving is dramatically safer than solo. One player watches oxygen levels and covers threats while the other loots. Alternate roles between dives.
Advanced Strategies
Build Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive:
For Builder (S-Tier):
- Focuses on base expansion and defense infrastructure. Builders create efficient layouts that maximize space while maintaining defensive coverage. The building system rewards planning — a well-designed base repels raids with minimal player intervention.
- Core gear: Hammer, Building Materials stockpile, Turret Blueprints
- Stat priority: Resource gathering, structural planning, turret placement
For Diver (S-Tier):
- Specializes in underwater exploration with maximum dive time and efficiency. Divers bring back the rare components that drive progression. Without skilled diving, your base stagnates at basic technology levels.
- Core gear: Advanced Diving Gear, Oxygen Tanks, Underwater Light, Harpoon
- Stat priority: Oxygen capacity, swim speed, underwater combat
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how Sunkenland's systems interact is where the real optimization lives:
underwater exploration + base building on water: Diving into submerged buildings and streets is the primary method of gathering advanced resources. Combined with base building on water, all structures are built on water using foundations that snap to a grid.
raider defense + diving mechanics: NPC raider groups periodically attack your base with boats and divers. When paired with diving mechanics, beyond basic oxygen management, diving involves water currents that push you off course, depth pressure that increases stamina drain, and underwater darkness requiring light sources.
trading scaling: Trading posts attract NPC merchants who exchange resources on set schedules. You can sell surplus food, materials, and scavenged items for rare components unavailable through diving. Building multiple trading posts enables resource chains where you buy low from one trader and sell high to another.
Equipment Efficiency
| Equipment | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Speargun | Diver | The primary underwater weapon, effective against sharks and hostile divers. |
| Crossbow | Raider (stealth approach) | Silent ranged weapon effective for stealth approaches to raider outposts. |
| Pistol | All playstyles (backup) | The first firearm available, crafted from scavenged parts. |
| Rifle | Raider | The strongest ranged weapon with high per-shot damage and decent range. |
| Machete | All playstyles (melee) | Primary melee weapon with fast swings and low stamina cost. |
Location Efficiency
Starting Raft (Day 1-3): 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.
Sunken City (Day 3+): 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.
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.
Coral Reef (All levels): 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.
Deep Trenches (Late game): 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.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- Building a massive base before establishing defenses. Raiders scale with base size — a large undefended base attracts raids you can't repel.
- Diving without checking oxygen before entering buildings. Entering a submerged building adds distance between you and the surface, and low oxygen inside means drowning.
- Ignoring food production and relying entirely on scavenging. Scavenged food is unreliable and runs out during extended base-building periods.
- Storing all resources in one location. A single successful raid can wipe your entire stockpile. Distribute storage across multiple containers.
- Fighting sharks in open water instead of retreating to shallow areas. Sharks are faster in deep water but can't follow you into shallow zones.
Efficiency Quick Reference
| Aspect | Optimal Choice | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Build | Builder | S-tier, best overall |
| Starter | Diver | Most forgiving for learning |
| Equipment | Speargun | Best resource-to-power ratio |
| First area | Starting Raft | Basic materials, crafting station, first foundation |
| Priority mechanic | underwater exploration | Everything else builds on this |
Pro Quick Tips
- Build your first permanent foundation on shallow reef areas where the water floor is visible. Deep water foundations require more expensive materials.
- Craft a basic speargun before your first serious dive. Sharks will find you, and without a weapon, diving into the sunken city is suicidal.
- Water purifiers are your first critical building. Dehydration kills faster than hunger, and rain collectors are unreliable. One purifier per 2 players is the minimum.
- Start with Diver, switch to Builder when ready
- Invest in Speargun above everything else
- Clear areas in order: Starting Raft → Sunken City → Raider Outpost → Coral Reef → Deep Trenches
- underwater exploration + base building on water together are stronger than either alone
For full build details, check builds. For progression path, see the walkthrough.
