Unturned is Nelson Sexton's free-to-play zombie survival game with blocky visuals that belie its surprisingly deep mechanics. Built in Unity with a single developer, the game features crafting, base building, vehicles, farming, and PvP across multiple official and community maps. Despite its simple graphics, Unturned offers complex survival systems including skill trees, vehicle repair, and raids. The game's modding community has created thousands of custom maps, weapons, and servers.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. Follow this path to avoid common traps that stall most players.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | PEI | zombie types basics | Defense Tree | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Washington | vehicle repair mastery | Defense Tree | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Russia | farming + gear | Offense Tree or Defense Tree | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Germany | Build optimization | Offense Tree | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Greece | Min-max | Offense Tree or Spec Ops | Ongoing |
Phase 1: Getting Started — PEI
Prince Edward Island — the tutorial map and most beginner-friendly. Small size means frequent encounters. Charlottetown is the main city with diverse loot. The military base on the south has the best weapons. Best map for learning the game.
Level/Difficulty: Beginner Key Rewards: Learn game mechanics, frequent loot, manageable size
What to Do in PEI
- Learn zombie types. Zombies come in multiple variants: Walkers (basic), Crawlers (fast, low profile), Sprinters (fast), Megas (boss zombies with huge HP), Flamers (fire damage), and Acid (ranged spit). Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Defense Tree as your starting build. It's the most forgiving option.
- Craft metal walls early for a secure base — wooden structures can be destroyed with basic tools, but metal requires explosives or significant effort.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade — Grizzly or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand zombie types fundamentals
- Defense Tree selected and functional
- PEI main content cleared
- Ready for Washington
Phase 2: Early Game — Washington
A larger map with Seattle as the major city, military bases, and diverse terrain. The most popular map for PvP servers. Scorpion-7 research facility and military areas have top-tier loot. Good balance of PvE and PvP.
Level/Difficulty: Intermediate Key Rewards: Military weapons, vehicles, larger base building area
What to Do in Washington
- Work on vehicle repair. Vehicles require Blowtorch + Metal Scrap for body repair, Tires for wheel replacement, and Gas Cans for fuel. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Grizzly if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- Military locations have the best gear but the toughest zombies. Bring bandages, a good weapon, and be ready for both zombie and player threats.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Russia.
- Consider whether Offense Tree might suit your playstyle better than Defense Tree.
Phase 2 Checklist
- vehicle repair integrated into gameplay
- Grizzly acquired
- Washington fully cleared
- Ready for Russia
Phase 3: Mid Game — Russia
The largest official map with a significant storyline, underground bunkers, and the Liberator APC. Features the Soulcrystal questline and a deadzone (radiation area). The most content-rich map.
Level/Difficulty: Intermediate-Advanced Key Rewards: Storyline completion, Liberator APC, deadzone loot, underground bunkers
What to Do in Russia
- Master farming. Seeds planted in Planter Pots grow into food sources. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Maplestrike. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- Farm berries for reliable food — Berry Seeds planted in Planter Pots produce infinite food once established. Rain waters them automatically.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in base raiding for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- farming mastered
- Maplestrike acquired or in progress
- Russia fully cleared
- Ready for Germany
Phase 4: Late Game — Germany
A map with unique coalition military gear and a coalition base. Features unique vehicles and weapons not found on other maps. The Cologne arena is a popular PvP hotspot.
Level/Difficulty: Intermediate Key Rewards: Coalition gear, unique weapons, German military vehicles
What to Do in Germany
- Finalize your build. You should be running Offense Tree or Defense Tree with optimized gear.
- Maplestrike should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Generators power lights, crafting stations, and spotlights. Find Gas Cans at gas stations to fuel them. A lit base deters some players but attracts others.
- skill trees optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Greece.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Maplestrike upgraded to max
- Germany fully cleared
- Ready for Greece
Phase 5: Endgame — Greece
A Mediterranean map with naval elements and island hopping. Features unique Greek military gear and a storyline. Boats are essential for traversal between islands.
Level/Difficulty: Intermediate Key Rewards: Naval vehicles, unique weapons, island exploration
What to Do in Greece
- Greece tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- The GPS is one of the most useful items — it shows your exact coordinates and can be paired with the chart to navigate precisely.
- The endgame loop: run Greece, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Spec Ops for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where skill trees mastery separates good players from great ones.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Greece fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Building a base near military zones — high traffic means your base will be found and raided quickly. Build in forests or remote areas.
- Not crafting a Claim Flag — without one, your base decays over time and anyone can build on your spot. Place it immediately when building.
- Shooting zombies inside cities — gunfire draws more zombies and alerts players. Use melee weapons for stealth in populated areas.
- Ignoring the skill tree — Experience points accumulate passively but many players forget to spend them. Check your skills regularly and invest points.
- Hoarding gear in one location — spread your loot across multiple stashes. If one base is raided, you don't lose everything.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- Craft metal walls early for a secure base — wooden structures can be destroyed with basic tools, but metal requires explosives or significant effort.
- Military locations have the best gear but the toughest zombies. Bring bandages, a good weapon, and be ready for both zombie and player threats.
- Farm berries for reliable food — Berry Seeds planted in Planter Pots produce infinite food once established. Rain waters them automatically.
- Generators power lights, crafting stations, and spotlights. Find Gas Cans at gas stations to fuel them. A lit base deters some players but attracts others.
- The GPS is one of the most useful items — it shows your exact coordinates and can be paired with the chart to navigate precisely.
For detailed build optimization, see Unturned builds. For quick wins, check tips & tricks.
