What's the first thing I should do?

Loot the crash site for starting gear (axe, knife, pistol) and link up with your NPC companion Kelvin. After that, secure water (drink from lakes and rivers) and food (berries, turtles, small game), and build a basic shelter before nightfall. Finding the GPS box that contains the map and locator makes the early game much easier.

Kelvin is an NPC that acts on commands. He can gather wood, stand guard at a spot, support you in fights, and more. Use him to gather logs and supplies while you handle building or scouting. Talking to him opens the command panel.

Where do I find the modern axe?

It's lying around in one of the campsites near the lake. Visiting a few marked camps on the map usually turns it up. The modern axe chops trees dramatically faster and is also strong against cannibals, so it's worth detouring for early.

Where should I build my base?

Small islands, peninsulas, or land flanked by rivers are popular picks because they're easier to defend. Building on open flat land means raids can come from all sides — use natural barriers. Once you're settled in, add log walls and spike traps along the choke points to fortify the position.

Sons of the Forest Beginner Guide｜Early Gear, Base, Kelvin

The Early-Game Flow

1

Loot the crash site for gear

Pick up the axe, knife, pistol, and medical supplies sitting around the wreck.
2

Link up with Kelvin and learn his commands

Kelvin is an NPC that obeys orders. He's your partner for log gathering and standing guard while you handle other tasks.
3

Secure water and food

Drink from lakes and rivers. Pick berries and mushrooms, hunt turtles and rabbits, and you'll have a basic food supply.
4

Build a starter shelter

Get a roof and a fire up before night. Small is fine for now.

Surviving the first hours matters more than winning fights. If you spot cannibals, hiding and avoiding them is a valid strategy. Until your gear is up, lean on stealth and retreat to stay alive.

Gear to Prioritize

Gear	Effect	Location (approximate)
Modern axe	Massive felling speed boost, also strong in combat	Camps near the lake
Pistol	Core ranged firepower against cannibals	GPS box and specific spots
Grenades	Crushes groups and cave threats	Surface containers
Bone armor	Crafted from 4 bones, 1 rope, 1 tape	Craftable

Finding the GPS box (containing the map and locator) shows your position on the map and removes most of the early-game fog of war. It's accessible early on near the crash site — make grabbing it a top priority.

Getting the Most Out of Kelvin

Kelvin can gather wood, fetch water, forage, stand guard, and more. Just having him chop logs while you build or fight already changes the pace of the game. Stack commands like "chop trees over there and haul them to this spot" and the entire log supply chain is automated.

Next Steps

Once you've survived the early game, the next milestones are a proper base and a real combat plan. See Base Building for fortification, Combat and Cannibals for fighting, and the Honest Review for the bigger picture.

★Honest Take: The Confusion Is Part of the Experience

Honestly, Sons of the Forest's "I don't know what to do" early-game confusion is part of the charm if you're into survival games. Try not to over-research — wander the island with Kelvin, find the GPS box, and the moment you finally grab the modern axe is genuinely memorable. If you get stuck, lean on a guide, but the first goal is just to stay alive.