The Forever Winter blends tactical, co-op survival horror with scavenging elements, forcing players to navigate a desolate, war-torn battlefield where survival is the primary goal.
It’s the type of game where staying alive feels like an achievement. This article delves into essential beginner's tips to help you master the ultimate challenges of The Forever Winter.
The Forever Winter - Beginner's Tips
The game combines survival, strategy, and fast-paced action, so you must approach challenges smartly. The game’s mechanics make it harder as the environment changes based on players' actions, so no two missions feel the same.
You aren't the most powerful character, so instead of relying on strength, you need to plan, scavenge for supplies, and avoid powerful enemies.
Here’s the complete beginner’s roadmap for The Forever Winter:
1. Balance Stealth and Combat
Stealth in the Forever Winter is essential, but don’t fall into the trap of being overly passive.
While stealth is valuable for avoiding unnecessary battles and conserving resources, there will be times when you’re forced to engage enemies. You need to be proactive about upgrading your weaponry, particularly acquiring a suppressor (or silencer) early on.
It allows you to take down enemies quietly without alerting their comrades. After securing four days ' worth of water at your base, you can obtain a suppressor from the Eurasian trader (Aramaki).
Completely avoiding combat can leave you vulnerable when things escalate, so be prepared to switch between stealth and strategic combat depending on the situation. You should also avoid going full guns blazing.
This wastes ammo and might get you surrounded by stronger enemies, especially since factions and mechs are scattered everywhere. Prioritize stealth but know when to switch gears and eliminate threats, especially when the odds favor a quick, quiet takedown.
2. Always Have an Escape Plan
As a beginner, map knowledge is your best weapon.
Every region in The Forever Winter is filled with hidden threats, but it also contains vital extraction points you can use to escape after completing missions. Don’t rush into missions without a plan. Before diving into the main objective, take some time to learn the region's layout, especially the locations of extraction points.
Always have an escape route ready because the game’s enemies, particularly the Hunter Killers, are relentless once on your trail. It’s smart to bring minimal gear on your first few runs and just focus on learning the map. Learn where enemies tend to patrol, where valuable loot is hidden, and where the extraction points are.
Early on, focus on running low-risk missions where you can learn the terrain, scout for safe zones, and avoid large confrontations with factions or mechs. This knowledge will give you the upper hand, as you’ll know exactly where to run when enemies like the Hunter Killers are hunting you down.
3. Be Selective with Loot
Your inventory space is limited in the early stages of The Forever Winter.
It may be tempting to gather all items but concentrate on collecting high-value ones like water, lock boxes, and valuable components from fallen drones instead. Water is essential because it’s used to maintain your base, while lockboxes can be traded for large amounts of credits that will help you upgrade gear and buy better equipment.
Avoid filling your inventory with low-value items like basic food, medical supplies, or weapon attachments, as they take up valuable space and can easily be bought from vendors.
Prioritizing valuable loot ensures you make the most of each run and helps you progress faster by unlocking better resources and upgrades. The Scorched Enclave region is a good area to farm for water and lockboxes, as it has a dense concentration of loot and a relatively safe extraction point.
4. Run When You Need To
Engaging in combat recklessly in The Forever Winter can be deadly, especially when facing enemy factions or giant war machines.
Many beginners fall into the trap of thinking they need to fight every enemy they see, but this strategy will get you killed. The game’s combat is punishing, so knowing when to retreat is essential. If you are outnumbered or facing heavily armed factions or deadly mechs, don’t hesitate to run to the nearest extraction point or safe zone.
When you die during a mission, there is a real risk of losing everything you’ve looted in that run, along with any gear you brought. If enemies kill you, your loot remains at the site of your death, so you’ll need to return to the same area to retrieve it.
Sometimes, a gravestone icon will appear on the map, helping you locate where you died. However, retrieval can still be dangerous, especially if aggressive enemies are nearby. When fleeing, always aim to retreat to a cleared area or an extraction point, where you can regroup and heal.
Let the game’s dynamic environment work to your advantage. Sometimes, enemies will even fight each other. Use these distractions to slip by unnoticed and wait for the chaos to settle before looting the bodies left behind.
5. Keep Moving to Avoid Hunter Killers
One of the worst mistakes beginners can make is staying in one place for too long.
The longer you stay in one spot, the more dangerous the game becomes. Hunter Killers, one of the deadliest threats in The Forever Winter, are triggered when you linger too long in certain areas, particularly after looting high-value crates or staying in regions with valuable items.
Once Hunter Killers are deployed, they will relentlessly track you, and it can be nearly impossible to fight them off early in the game. To avoid being caught, complete your objectives quickly and keep moving—the game rewards fast-paced looting and efficient extraction.
If Hunter Killers are triggered, your best bet is to immediately make a dash for the extraction point. This is also when you can put your escape plan into action and find a place to hide, but prolonged fights with Hunter Killers are almost always a losing battle.
As you get more familiar with the game’s mechanics, you’ll be able to adapt and take on tougher challenges, but these beginner's tips will give you the foundation you need to thrive in this unforgiving world.