The highly anticipated survival horror game, Sons of the Forest, is as fun as it is unforgiving. After crash-landing on a remote island, players are challenged to explore and reveal the secrets that brought them there in the first place while fighting the cannibalistic mutants living within the massive forest and maintaining their health by eating, drinking, and sleeping. Considering the current scenery, sleeping can seem hazardous, but it's a necessary part of survival and has more than one benefit.
The continuous day and night cycle affects the environment and the island mutants. Enemies have more confidence under the night's cover, so venturing into the woods during this time is not the best idea. Rather than risk deadly encounters, players can avoid the nighttime altogether by going to sleep. However, they can't sleep just anywhere, anytime, so here's how to sleep and change the time in Sons of the Forest.
How to Sleep and Change the Time
The players' energy decreases as they travel, build, demolish, or stay cold and wet. Low energy means they will lose stamina and health faster. A warning will be at the bottom left side of the screen saying, "You are Tired." Energy levels can be tracked using the moon icon on the health meter.
Sleeping in Sons of the Forest is more challenging than picking a soft-looking spot on the ground. Players will need to build a shelter or find a tent or cot if they want to get any rest. If a place can be slept in, there will be two icons, a flash drive, and a moon. To sleep, select and hold the moon icon.
Sleeping automatically fast forwards time by approximately 6-8 hours. So, if players sleep right when the sun goes down, they will wake up to daylight. Furthermore, they can't be harmed in their sleep. This does come at the cost of if there are any cannibals nearby, they will be prevented from sleeping.
How to Build a Shelter
Building a shelter requires a few materials. The first option players have is to use a tarp found in storage containers around the island. Players will get access to one almost immediately by searching all the containers near their crash site. Other places that have resources include old campsites, caves, and enemy bases. To build a tent, select the tarp and place it in a semi-flat space with nothing in the way. Once the tarp is flat, move to one of the corners and look for the upward-pointing arrow to place a stick and prop it up.
The second option is building a larger shelter from logs, sticks, and rocks by cutting down trees and gathering natural resources. Players can make houses with roofs, floors, and doors that give them more protection against cannibals. To sleep inside a larger shelter, there has to be a bed. Beds can be crafted in the inventory using sticks and tape.
There are abandoned campsites or areas with tents and cots that can be used to save and sleep. However, these can be dangerous as they attract enemies in larger numbers, so players should use them as a temporary opportunity. There isn't a limit on how many shelters and tents they can place around the island, so having them spread around will save time and prevent any progress from being lost.
Sons of the Forest is available now in early access for PC.