Open-world survival games are often praised for the level of freedom they allow players. Whether it's the blocky sandbox of Minecraft or the more realistic 7 Days to Die, half of the fun of this genre is finding new and creative ways to make it through each night. One of the hottest survival games on the scene as of late has been Sons of the Forest, Endnight Games' follow-up to 2018's The Forest. Like other survival games of a similar ilk, Sons of the Forest has been finding its identity through early access, and it seems to have impressed many gamers with its creative mechanics and mutant-infested caverns.
When a game develops a large community and strong sense of identity, a significant part of the playerbase will often develop a list of unwritten rules. The survival genre is no stranger to this, as Minecraft's community has numerous unwritten rules that have come and gone throughout the game's long history. Although Sons of the Forest has only been available for a few months, many players have begun to abide by certain codes of conduct that are not immediately laid out by the game. As the game progresses and its community grows, these unwritten rules are likely to solidify themselves among players new and old.
Protect Kelvin At All Costs
Many survival games have players face the world in front of them on their own, but Sons of the Forest gives the player companions to brave Site 2 with. One of the companions that players get early on is Kelvin, a deaf, mute man who can help with several essential tasks. Many Sons of the Forest fans find Kelvin to be particularly endearing, and that combined with his utility has made protecting Kelvin a top priority. With how many mutants and cannibals lurk in the darkness, protecting Kelvin often takes priority over completing the actual story.
Don't Let Kelvin Near Treehouses
While Kelvin is a helpful companion in Sons of the Forest, there are aspects of his AI that can cause trouble for the player. Like many other survival games, an essential part of gathering resources is cutting down trees. To save players time, Kelvin can be directed to collect logs and will cut down trees in his immediate area. Unfortunately for some players, this can include trees used for treehouses. Kelvin's AI has no way of knowing that these trees are supporting treehouses built by the player, so many have gone to great lengths to ensure Kelvin stays as far away from these structures as possible.
Find the Shovel in Sons of the Forest as Soon as Possible
Sandbox survival games like Sons of the Forest encourage players to explore on their own terms, but much of the community has agreed that finding one tool early is a must. If players want to expedite their resource-collecting efforts and get a hold of additional gear, it's important to find the shovel as soon as possible. Getting this tool opens up the opportunity to get the shotgun, one of the best weapons in Sons of the Forest, as well as the useful firefighter ax. Players are welcome to get this tool whenever they like, but it's largely agreed upon that getting the shovel in Sons of the Forest early is a must.
Sons of the Forest hasn't been out for long, but it's already made a strong impression on gamers around the world. The survival genre continues to push the envelope in new and interesting ways, and Endnight's evolution of the genre shows what can still be done both in terms of gameplay and tone. Sons of the Forest's patches are making it grow and change as the game gets closer to a complete state, but its current early access form has already shown some promise. As the game evolves, its unwritten rules are sure to do the same and give the community more character than it already has.
Sons of the Forest is available now on PC.