Sons of the Forest can be a difficult and unforgiving game. The island can be challenging to navigate, even with the help of GPS. When selecting a location to set up shelter and build a "home," several needs must be taken into consideration. Thirst, hunger, and tribes of primitive cannibals are just a few of the problems players need to remain wary of as they piece together the mysterious story of this island for themselves.
For newer players, it can be an overwhelming experience, particularly when it comes to where is best to build a shelter and eventually a well-fortified base. Even returning players from Sons of the Forest's prequel, The Forest, will find noticeable differences between this environment and the one they were accustomed to in the last game. But, this preliminary step is most necessary as the only way to create a save file is to sleep in a shelter.
5 Mobile Base
Depending on the starting crash site, which can vary on each playthrough, it may be wise or in fact necessary to spend a few nights with a mobile base rather than settling down permanently. The snowy region, in particular, will be difficult at the start of Sons of the Forest when equipment and resources are scarce. Equally, if lots of cannibals are regularly visiting a base location and causing a nuisance, it might be the case that the shelter is constructed too close to a cannibal encampment or pathway.
The benefit of having a mobile base, and moving to a different location from night to night, is that cannibals cannot regularly stalk it, gradually increasing in numbers with each visit as they usually do. It also provides some flexibility regarding resources, meaning players are able to farm certain areas for resources and move on rather than having to do potentially long and dangerous excursions from an already established base.
Having a mobile base can be risky, however, as there will be little time to construct defenses, and some areas will have a higher cannibal presence than others. It is generally best to only set up camp where it feels safe to do so.
4 Water Sources
As any seasoned player of survival games will know, thirst can be one of the most damaging demands to neglect. Being too far from a water source in Sons of the Forest can be fatal and cause hours of work to come undone if the player is inattentive to it.
One simple way around this issue is to ensure that any base or shelter is constructed in proximity to a water source. In addition to providing this survival resource, they will attract small-game which can be trapped and eaten, as well as providing a form of barrier defense against raiding cannibals. This is particularly true of lakes and larger water bodies as the cannibals will not be able to cross them and can therefore be sighted at a longer distance.
That said, the coastline is not ideal unless it is adjoined by a lake or river. Despite providing fish, turtles, and occasionally other valuable resources, seawater cannot be drunk like fresh river or spring water for obvious reasons.
It is also possible to build a floating base on the ice when the lakes have frozen over in winter. When the ice thaws, the base will have its natural own moat defense; at least, until the lake freezes over again, at which point cannibals will be able to attack.
3 Cliff Edges
Where possible, it is always wise to utilize the surrounding environment in a way that enhances and protects the shelter. One simple way of cutting off one side from fear of cannibals is to build close to a cliff edge. While some cannibals can climb rocks and trees, there are several mountainous areas on the island that will be impassable for even the strongest mutants. Much in the same way as large bodies of water, building near cliff edges will provide a long line of sight, making the spotting of encroaching visitors easier to spot.
The ocean cliffs are likely the best location as they provide a balance of woodland, food sources, and water sources. A variety of caves and equipment are also scattered around this area, but the forest is quite dense, so it is sensible to cut away a clearing in order to improve visibility.
2 Caves
While it may seem counter-intuitive to camp in or around caves, given the horrors that dwell within them, experienced or well-armed players may choose to do this for a number of reasons. Firstly, in some cave entrances no cannibals will pass through, meaning that despite the creepy sounds and no doubt serious threats lurking deeper within the cave, it can still be a safe place to seek refuge.
In addition to this, caves are often a source of some very rare resources and equipment, so being near an entrance to a cave network can be of great value for players seeking less common items.
1 Tree House
One of the most secure ways to avoid roving cannibals is to get off the ground. Even though some variants of cannibals can jump and climb trees, they are much easier to handle up in the trees than they are on the ground. Typically, Sons of the Forest's larger cannibals and mutants will not be able to climb and jump anyway, and it always helps to clear a significant area around a tree-house to ensure it is not within jumping range.
The downside of the tree house is the length of time it takes to build. The process requires around 70 logs and rope in order to climb it. This can cause a lot of noise and damage to the surrounding wildlife, which is likely to attract and annoy some tribes of cannibals. Once built, however, especially in a clearing and ideally with some additional features listed above, this can serve as a safe haven for a very long duration.
Sons of the Forest was released on February 23, 2023 on PC.