Getting Started

Getting Started with This War of Mine

This guide helps brand-new players survive their first few days. We cover the critical first hour, controls, UI, early priorities, and common pitfalls. There is no character creation – you play with a pre-set group of survivors, each with unique traits.

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First Hour Walkthrough: Day 1

Your first playable scenario is usually "The First Winter" with Pavel, Bruno, and Katia. Here’s exactly what to do minute by minute:

#### 0–5 Minutes: Opening Scenes

• You’ll see a short cutscene showing your shelter – a ruined house.


• The game pauses automatically. Read the tutorial popups (important for learning basic interactions).


• Don’t skip them. They explain the core mechanics.


#### 5–15 Minutes: Explore Your Shelter
1. Click/Drag to look around the room.
2. Click on the tool icon in the top-left corner of the screen (or press `C` on PC) to open the Crafting menu.
3. Examine all interactable objects: beds, stove, workbench, door, rubble piles.
4. The workshop is broken – you need a crowbar to open it later. For now, note its location.

#### 15–25 Minutes: First Actions
1. Build a bed – Select the crafting menu, go to "Furniture," choose "Bed" (requires 5 wood, 3 parts). This will take 2 hours of in-game time for one survivor to build.
2. While that builds, scavenge nearby piles inside your shelter. Click on them to collect wood, parts, and food scraps.
3. Cook a meal: Use the stove (already there) – click on it, choose "Cook," select a raw food item (1 raw food gives 1 cooked meal). You MUST cook food before eating it.
4. Eat: Click on a survivor, select "Eat" from the radial menu. Feed everyone once per day if possible.

#### 25–45 Minutes: Evening – Scavenging Preparation

• When night falls (around 19:00-20:00 game time), a popup asks who goes scavenging.


• Send only one survivor on the first night – usually Pavel (military background) or Bruno (stronger combat).


• Do not send Katia unless you have a weapon – she is fragile.


• You will choose a location: The Silent House is the easiest first scavenge. Select it.


#### 45–60 Minutes: First Scavenge (The Silent House)
1. Enter the building – you have until morning (about 3-4 real minutes).
2. Prioritize: Grab food, bandages, components, and weapons (in that order).
3. Avoid unnecessary noise – running, breaking locked doors without a crowbar, shooting.
4. Only take what you can carry (each survivor has a weight limit; Pavel can carry 15 kg).
5. Exit before 4:00 AM or you’ll be stranded.

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Character Selection (None)



This War of Mine does not have character creation. Each scenario provides a fixed group of survivors with set names, appearances, skills, and backstories. Their traits affect gameplay:


• Pavel: Fast, good at combat, can carry more.


• Bruno: Good cook, can make alcohol for trading, decent in fights.


• Katia: Skilled trader, gets better prices at the trading post, but physically weak.


• Marin: Good with tools, crafts cheaper.


• Arica: Swift and stealthy, less noise while scavenging.

Learn the strengths of your starting group – they are all you get for the whole playthrough.

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Controls – All Platforms

Pro tip on PC: You can hold right-click and drag to rotate the camera view.

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UI Overview

• Top bar: Shows day/night indicator, temperature, and time.


• Left side: Survivor portraits with health, hunger, and mood icons. Click to select.


• Bottom-right: Action buttons (Crafting, Inventory, Map, Journal).


• Center screen: Your shelter in isometric 3D. Click on objects to interact.


• Pause button (top-left corner): Opens game menu (save, load, exit).


• Journal (J key): Tracks events, tips, and story progression.


• Trading Post: Appears on the map only on certain days – use it to trade surplus items for essentials.


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Essential Early Objectives (First 3 Days)



1. Secure food and water. You need to eat at least once per day. Cooked meals give more satisfaction. Water is for drinking and cooking – collect rain with a collector. Build one on day 2 if possible.
2. Build a bed(s). Survivors sleep on the floor without a bed, reducing mood and stamina recovery. Aim for one bed per two survivors.
3. Build a workshop (if not present). It allows crafting advanced tools.
4. Reinforce the shelter. Board up holes in the walls with wood and parts to prevent looters from stealing during the night. Do this by day 2.
5. Create a basic tool – crowbar. Helps open locked doors and closets without making noise.

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What to Do First (Day 1 Priority List)



1. Inspect shelter – click on every object to see what you have.
2. Build a bed (if you have enough materials – 5 wood + 3 parts). If not, gather materials first.
3. Cook at least one meal – you have raw food in the pantry.
4. Feed everyone – each survivor needs at least one meal today.
5. Collect rain – if it's raining, place empty cans outside (click on them). They fill automatically.
6. During evening: Send one survivor scavenging to The Silent House (easiest).
7. Return before dawn – don't stay out past 4:00 AM.

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What to Avoid




• Don't waste food – raw food should be cooked before eating. Never eat raw meat (gives sickness).


• Don't skip building beds – sleeping on floor causes depression and low stamina.


• Don't send your weakest survivor out alone – Katia is not a fighter. Pavel or Bruno first.


• Don't ignore the radio – you get news and weather updates that affect scavenging.


• Don't fight unless necessary – combat risks injury and death. Scavenge stealthily.


• Don't build too many things at once – you need to balance materials with immediate survival needs.


• Don't let the fire go out – especially in winter. Keep fuel in the stove.

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Early Resource Priorities (First Week)

Tip: Always keep at least 5–10 wood and 5–10 components in reserve for emergencies (e.g., fixing a broken stove).

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Common Beginner Mistakes

1. Sending all survivors to scavenge during the night – you can send only one (or two with a mod). Do not send more than two unless necessary; they could be wounded or killed.
2. Forgetting to feed everyone – each survivor must eat every day or they become hungry, then wounded, and eventually die. Set a reminder.
3. Not reinforcing the shelter – by day 3, looters will break in and steal your supplies. Build barriers early.
4. Sleeping without a bed – bad mood affects productivity and can lead to depression.
5. Crafting too many things – focus on essentials first: beds, stove, rain collector, reinforced doors.
6. Taking unnecessary risks in scavenging – if you see enemies, hide or leave. Stealth is safer than combat.
7. Ignoring the trading post – it appears every few days. Bring valuable items (cigarettes, medicine, weapons) to trade for food or parts.

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Day-One Checklist

• [x] Saved game at start (manual save is in menu)


• [x] Inspected every object in shelter


• [x] Built a bed (if materials available)


• [x] Cooked one meal (used stove)


• [x] Fed all survivors (each ate once)


• [x] Collected any rain (if raining)


• [x] Reinforced at least two holes in walls (if possible)


• [x] Chose one survivor for night scavenge


• [x] Sent scavenger to The Silent House


• [x] Returned safely before 4:00 AM


• [x] Crafted a crowbar (if materials allow)

Pro tip: Save your game at dawn after a successful night. If things go wrong, you can reload and adjust.

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Final Advice

This War of Mine is about tough choices. You will lose survivors. Don't get attached – but care for them as best as you can. Learn from each death. The game is not about winning, but about surviving with your humanity intact. Use the journal to track events and learn the pattern of attacks.

Good luck – and remember, no war ever ends. This one is just beginning.