Permafrost Beginner Guide: What to Do First

Seven Early Steps to Keep You Alive in the Frozen World

Starting Permafrost without a plan for heat is a quick way to turn a promising run into a freezing disaster. The game entered PC Early Access on October 9, 2026, and the cold remains just as dangerous as the wildlife. Before loading your pack with loot, sort out the essentials.

This short checklist brings together practical opening tips from the independent Permafrost Wiki beginner guide and our own 30-hour Early Access review. It covers the basics without turning your first evening into homework.

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1. Pick a start you can learn from

Story mode is the gentler option while you get used to the survival systems; Survival is tougher. Custom settings let you tailor the experience if you want more control over the challenge. Give your specialization more thought than your starting outfit, since it affects your skills. You can choose a dog breed at setup, but you will still need to rescue your companion during the early quests.

Watch Our Permafrost Gameplay

2. Make basic tools, then get warm

Pick up Stone and Wood from nearby rocks, branches and debris. Make a Stone Axe and Stone Pickaxe by hand, then press B to open build mode and place a Campfire. The wiki lists a cost of 2 Stone for that fire in its preview-build notes, though recipes may change as Early Access develops. Stay close until the Warmed status appears. Always keep some spare materials for another fire.

3. Watch your body warmth

Health, Hunger, Energy and Stamina all need attention, but losing Body Warmth can quickly lead to Hypothermia. Cold Zones, storms and nighttime travel are risky if you have no heat nearby. Carry a few bandages, cook your meat instead of eating it raw, and avoid sleeping outside without warmth. A detour is rarely worth freezing for.

4. Follow the quests to Horizon

The opening quest, A New Beginning, leads you out of the cave and toward Horizon, an early settlement where you meet Robyn Cane and the traveling merchant Mule. Take time to learn cooking and crafting here before wandering too far. The questline eventually sends you to Bone Cave to rescue your dog. Prepare before entering: there is dangerous wildlife inside.

Your rescued dog does more than follow you around. It can carry extra supplies, scout ahead and warn you of threats. That spare carrying capacity is especially welcome once your backpack starts filling up.

5. Build a small, useful base

A Workbench, an enclosed area, a heat source, a bed and a storage chest are a much better opening investment than a huge building project. Claim your bed to establish a respawn point, and put valuable supplies in the chest before risky trips. As we noted in our earlier hands-on preview, simply collecting enough wood for warmth can feel like progress. There is no need to make the first shelter fancy.

6. Hunt for food and improve your gear

Craft a basic bow and arrows as the opening quests introduce them. Hunting gives you meat, but bring the food back and cook it safely. Once you have a Workbench, work toward Flint tools rather than trying to tackle every resource node with your starter equipment. Build up your supplies before pushing into tougher areas.

7. Save, check the journal and plan a way back

Press J to check the journal for quests, map information and blueprints. Save before an uncertain trip, and watch for fast-travel points as you move through the world. They are not always obvious. Above all, know where your next source of heat is before leaving the last one behind.

For more detail on the opening quests, controls, specializations and exact crafting requirements, read the full beginner guide at Permafrost Wiki. It is a fan-made resource, so double-check recipe costs and settings against your current game version.

Permafrost

Release: October 9, 2026 (PC Early Access)

Genre: Open-world survival / crafting / adventure

Developer / Publisher: SpaceRocket Games / Toplitz Productions

Platforms: PC via Steam, GOG and Epic Games Store

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