In Sons of the Forest, you'll brave harsh environments, delve deep into dark caverns, and battle tenacious foes. You'll need to keep your wits about you if you wish to make it all the way to the end. Here's our Sons of the Forest survival guide to help you with several tips that should, hopefully, keep your character alive.

　　

10 tips to help you survive in Sons of the Forest

1. Leave Kelvin near a shelter and don't babysit him

Kelvin is one of the soldiers who was with you when the helicopter crashed. Due to an injury that has left his eardrums perforated, the only method to communicate with him is via written notes.

　　You might think that having a companion at the start of the campaign would be amazing, but it isn't. Kelvin is, without a doubt, one of the most useless companions in a survival game. He can neither carry weapons nor fight back. At best, he could pick up objects for you, which you'd probably do anyway. Worse, he tends to get distracted by enemy mobs, and you'll often have no choice but to babysit him.

　　Just leave Kelvin somewhere safe. Otherwise, he'll be a pain to babysit.As such, one of the most useful survival tips in Sons of the Forest is to simply leave Kelvin near a tent or shelter. Let him build stuff to aid you, but don't take him out on long treks.

　　

2. Understand your basic needs and the weather

Your survival in Sons of the Forest is dependent on several factors. The most important of which are:

　　Thirst - Make sure your hands aren't holding anything, then look directly at freshwater sources (i.e., rivers or ponds) so you can drink.Hunger - Berries can be eaten as is. You may also hunt wild animals such as rabbits, squirrels, and deer. Cook the meat quickly to prevent it from spoiling. Another option is to gather Canned Food and combine it with the Can Opener. This will let you eat cat food to satiate your hunger. Meow you're eating well.Temperature/weather - Your character will be affected by cold and wetness, causing a portion of the stamina meter to get blocked off. Early on, your best bet is to simply build a basic fire by placing sticks on the ground and using your lighter. Shortly thereafter, you can also craft a torch by combining a stick and a piece of cloth.

3. Resting and saving

You can only save your game when you interact with tents or bedrolls. You'll find a couple of tents by following the river up the sloping path to the mountains. Likewise, be on the lookout for tarps. When you place a tarp on the ground and interact with it while holding a stick, you can create your own makeshift tent. This is useful if you need a means of saving or resting during a long journey.

　　Have a handy source of warmth to keep your stamina in good condition. Also, there's a base camp that's close to the helicopter crash site. It's got tents that you can use to save and rest.

4. Take note of points of interest on your GPS device

Your GPS device tracks several important locations on the island. You can bring this up by pressing the "M" key.

　　Helicopter crash site - Think of this as a fixed point so you'll always remember where you are relative to its location.Caves - Several caves are already marked on the map.Distress signals/GPS trackers - Purple markers denote GPS trackers. You'll hear a loud beep the closer you are.Other points of interest - A few others have green markers, which usually denote caves or other spots you could check out.

5. Follow the rivers

The island in Sons of the Forest has some notable features. Apart from the helicopter crash site and caves, there's a mountain range in the middle and numerous rivers that wind around the landmass all the way to the shore. A good idea is to follow the rivers upstream or downstream, as they offer an easier means of navigating by looking at the environment.

　　Rivers will get you close to where you need to go. Just remember the different icons on the map as they represent certain points-of-interest.

6. Managing your inventory: Keybinds and item swapping

Sons of the Forest does not have traditional item slots, such as pressing number keys to switch weapons. Instead, you'll have to open your inventory by pressing the "I" key, which can be a hassle since all your items are laid out.

　　To make inventory management easier, you can click on your backpack, which lets you add or remove certain objects. Then, when you hold the "I" key, your character will raise their backpack instead, allowing you to quickly select an item you need.

　　There are also a few important keybinds to remember:

　　"M" - Brings up the GPS device or world map."G" - Holsters or hides an item or weapon that you have equipped."L" - Uses the UV Lighter."B" - Brings up the Guide Book (which we discuss below).

7. Crafting and building

Survival in Sons of the Forest is also dependent on two key mechanics: crafting and building. Here's the gist:

　　Crafting is done via the inventory screen. Right-click on an item and check the gear icon to see various recipes that require it. You may also right-click on other materials, followed by the gear icon, to combine your resources into something new.As for building, you'll want to access the Guide Book by pressing the "B" key. There are two methods when it comes to building structures: For structures such as tents, campfires, stairs, planks, and the like, you'll need to follow the instructions on the drawing (i.e., place a particular item on the ground and attach another one).For other objects and decorations, you'll have to hold "X" to switch to a separate mode. Then, click on the object to create an outline. From there, you'll simply add the materials until it's fully built.Gallery

　　Left: Item combination or crafting via the inventory screen; Right: Guide Book object blueprints.

8. Bring a light source: UV Lighter and Flashlight

You'll explore several dark caverns in the game. By default, you've only got your UV Lighter, which is activated by pressing the "L" key. This creates a purple glow that doesn't help out as much.

　　Because of this, your best bet is to get the Flashlight, which can be found in an area with a purple marker that's closest to the helicopter crash site. Once there, you'll hear the distress beacon, and you'll notice a rope tied to a rock. If you cut it, a corpse will fall down the bluff, allowing you to pick up the GPS Tracker and Flashlight. Its beam is brighter than that of the UV Lighter's, but you do need to combine it with battery items to recharge it.

　　Whether you're using the UV Lighter or Flashlight, you definitely need a tool to help you see in the dark.

9. Don't shoot or kill the mutant lady

Early in the campaign, there's a good chance that you'll come across a woman wearing a bathing suit. What's peculiar is that she's got three arms and three legs. If you attempt to approach her, she'll run away, which might make you decide to run after her, probably with your spear or pistol.

　　This mutant lady is none other than Virginia. Don't hurt her or kill her. If you do the right thing, she'll end up becoming your companion. Also, compared to Kelvin, she can actually use weapons and take out foes.

　　

10. Death isn't the end: Let a couple of days pass after each death

Eventually, whether due to the harsh environment, successive mishaps, or just plain bad luck, your character might die in Sons of the Forest. Don't worry because your first death isn't final. Instead, your character will wake up tied to a post, about to get eaten by cannibals. Look for your knife and grab it by holding the "E" key. Once you've untied yourself, get your backpack and run like hell away from the camp.

　　This is quite a predicament. Make sure you prioritize safety instead of aggressive combat. If your character's next death happens so soon, it'll lead you to the game over screen.Now, if your character dies again within the next two days, you're going straight to the game over screen. Your only recourse is to reload your last save or restart the campaign. However, if you manage to survive Sons of the Forest for a few more days, then this "death counter/pity" is reset. That means you'll once again find yourself trapped in a cannibal camp, and you'd have to retrieve your belongings before escaping.

　　Jason Rodriguez on Google+