VRChat is a free social platform where nearly all content is made by users in Unity and uploaded through the VRChat SDK. You pick an avatar, join instances of player built worlds, and talk with proximity based voice, either in VR or on desktop with mouse and keyboard. The Udon scripting system in SDK3 turned worlds into full games, which is why the platform hosts murder mysteries, horror survival maps and nightclubs alongside empty hangout rooms.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | VRChat Home | Avatars 3.0 and expression menus basics | Avatar creator | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | The Black Cat | Udon world scripting mastery | Avatar creator | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | The Great Pug | Trust Rank system + gear | World hopper or Avatar creator | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Murder 4 | Build optimization | World hopper | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Terrors of Nowhere | Min-max | World hopper or Desktop social user | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (VRChat Home)
The default landing world and tutorial space where new accounts start. It teaches movement, the menus and avatar selection before you meet anyone.
Level/Difficulty: Visitor rank Key Rewards: Movement tutorial, menu basics, starter avatars
What to Do in VRChat Home
- Learn Avatars 3.0 and expression menus. Avatars carry animator layers, parameters and a radial expression menu, so a single avatar can toggle clothing, props, gestures and particle effects. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Avatar creator as your starting build. See our builds guide for why.
- Configure your Safety Shields before your first Public instance. Setting Visitors and New Users to a restricted shield while allowing Known and Trusted Users through blocks most flashing particle and loud audio avatars without cutting you off from everyone.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Safety Shield settings or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Avatars 3.0 and expression menus fundamentals
- Avatar creator selected and functional
- VRChat Home main content cleared
- Ready for The Black Cat
Phase 2: Early Game (The Black Cat)
A long running social bar world by SpookyGhostBoo, and one of the busiest hangouts on the platform. Public instances stay populated at almost any hour, which makes it a reliable place to find conversation.
Level/Difficulty: New User and up Key Rewards: Active public lobbies, social contacts
What to Do in The Black Cat
- Work on Udon world scripting. Udon is VRChat's node and C# based scripting system in SDK3, and it replaced the deprecated SDK2 in February 2023. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Safety Shield settings if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- Avatar Performance Rank is the number that decides whether other players can see you. Anything rated Very Poor gets blocked by default for most users, so an Excellent or Good rank avatar with fewer polygons is seen far more often than a detailed one that everyone hides.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to The Great Pug.
- Consider whether World hopper might suit your playstyle better than Avatar creator.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Udon world scripting integrated into gameplay
- Safety Shield settings acquired
- The Black Cat fully cleared
- Ready for The Great Pug
Phase 3: Mid Game (The Great Pug)
A multi floor virtual pub known for its atmosphere and its hidden basement area with a maze and eerie effects. It rewards exploration far past what a hangout world usually offers.
Level/Difficulty: New User and up Key Rewards: Secret areas, social hub, hidden basement maze
What to Do in The Great Pug
- Master Trust Rank system. Accounts climb through Visitor, New User, User, Known User and Trusted User based on time spent and community interaction. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Quick Menu. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- Desktop mode is not second class. Voice chat, worlds, menus and most world interactions work the same, and a large portion of the population never uses a headset, so do not wait for hardware to start.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Instance types for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Trust Rank system mastered
- Quick Menu acquired or in progress
- The Great Pug fully cleared
- Ready for Murder 4
Phase 4: Late Game (Murder 4)
A social deduction game world where one player is the murderer and the rest must work out who. It is one of the clearest demonstrations of what Udon can do with networked game logic.
Level/Difficulty: Any, best with eight or more players Key Rewards: Full game rounds, deduction gameplay
What to Do in Murder 4
- Finalize your build. You should be running World hopper or Avatar creator with optimized gear.
- Quick Menu should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Instance type is your main privacy tool. Friends Plus lets your friends bring people they trust while keeping random strangers out, which is the sweet spot for meeting new people without exposing yourself to a fully Public room.
- Full body tracking and IK optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Terrors of Nowhere.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Quick Menu upgraded to max
- Murder 4 fully cleared
- Ready for Terrors of Nowhere
Phase 5: Endgame (Terrors of Nowhere)
A survival horror world where players endure rounds against roaming terrors, with progression and unlockable items. It has one of the most dedicated regular communities on the platform.
Level/Difficulty: Any, best in a group Key Rewards: In world progression, cooperative horror rounds
What to Do in Terrors of Nowhere
- Terrors of Nowhere tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- Use the per user volume slider in the Quick Menu rather than muting outright. Turning someone down to twenty percent keeps a group conversation workable when one person's microphone is far louder than the rest.
- The endgame loop: run Terrors of Nowhere, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Desktop social user for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Full body tracking and IK mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Terrors of Nowhere fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Joining Public instances on a fresh account with default Safety settings and getting overwhelmed
- Uploading a Very Poor performance avatar and wondering why nobody reacts to it
- Assuming a headset is required and never trying desktop mode
- Blaming world optimisation for frame drops caused by other players' avatars
- Importing SDK packages manually instead of using the VRChat Creator Companion
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- Configure your Safety Shields before your first Public instance. Setting Visitors and New Users to a restricted shield while allowing Known and Trusted Users through blocks most flashing particle and loud audio avatars without cutting you off from everyone.
- Avatar Performance Rank is the number that decides whether other players can see you. Anything rated Very Poor gets blocked by default for most users, so an Excellent or Good rank avatar with fewer polygons is seen far more often than a detailed one that everyone hides.
- Desktop mode is not second class. Voice chat, worlds, menus and most world interactions work the same, and a large portion of the population never uses a headset, so do not wait for hardware to start.
- Instance type is your main privacy tool. Friends Plus lets your friends bring people they trust while keeping random strangers out, which is the sweet spot for meeting new people without exposing yourself to a fully Public room.
- Use the per user volume slider in the Quick Menu rather than muting outright. Turning someone down to twenty percent keeps a group conversation workable when one person's microphone is far louder than the rest.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
More VRChat Guides
- VRChat VRChat Overview
- VRChat Best Builds
- VRChat Tier List
- VRChat Beginner's Guide
- VRChat Tips & Tricks
- VRChat Weapons Guide
- VRChat Combat Guide
- VRChat Boss Guide
- VRChat Maps & Locations
- VRChat Crafting Guide
- VRChat Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy VRChat, check out these related guides:
- Terraria Walkthrough: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- Garry's Mod Walkthrough: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- Tabletop Simulator Walkthrough: sandbox game with similar mechanics
