Updated October 3, 2025
Add more detailed instructions and a frequently asked questions section.
This Sons of the Forest walkthrough guides you through every step of the main storyline, from your first night to the final bunker. Learn the optimal progression order, essential item locations, and survival strategies to beat the game efficiently.
Guide summary
- Complete the main story without unnecessary backtracking
- Get all critical items in the correct order
- Avoid getting stuck at locked doors and inaccessible areas
- Maximize your survival efficiency
Sons of the Forest Walkthrough Tips & Tricks For Story Progression
This Sons of the Forest walkthrough will focus on all important objectives and outline the chronological order in which they should be completed to progress the main storyline. If you follow this guide, you will be able to complete all necessary steps and the game's main storyline without losing any unnecessary time by aimlessly wandering around the island.
Most Important Early Items
A couple of crucial items will make your progress much easier if you get them in Sons of the Forest. When starting with a new playthrough, you should get the following as soon as possible:
| Item | Description | Item Location |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Axe | A much better alternative than the Tactical Axe you get in your survival kit when you start the game. | It's available in an unguarded location. |
| Flashlight | The best light source in the game comes in handy in cave explorations. Don't forget to stock up on batteries. | Early-game cave. |
| Stun Baton | While not the most powerful weapon, the Stun Baton excels at disabling enemies, giving you time to switch to heavier weapons or retreat. It becomes invaluable in late-game encounters with tougher mutants. | It is located in an easily accessible area near the 3D printer. |
| Rebreather | The Rebreather is the first story item you must obtain. Without it, you cannot access underwater sections in later caves. | Northern beach cave system |
| Rope Gun | The Rope Gun shoots ziplines that attach to rocky outcroppings, allowing you to traverse vertical sections. | Cave system with an underwater entrance |
| Shovel | The Shovel lets you dig up buried items and open specific grave sites required for story progression. | Large cave system on the western side of the island |
Survival & Base Building in Sons of the Forest
Surviving the first few nights should be simple. Initially, using only a tarp and a stick to set up a mobile base will be enough for you to get some rest and save your progress. That is, until you find a location for a more permanent base where you can properly set up shop.
- Use a tarp and stick to create a quick tent
- This allows you to sleep and save your progress
- Build multiple emergency tents near key exploration areas
Best Base Location in Sons of the Forest
Eventually, you will need a safe place to return after a day's mission of gathering resources and finding items. This point in the game is the perfect time to pay attention to NPCs. Befriending Virginia will benefit you, as she's proficient in combat.
How to Choose Where to Build a Base
- Build near rivers or lakes so you have plenty of water and a source of fish
- Choose heavily wooded areas rich with building materials
- Test locations by camping a couple of nights first
- Stay away from main roads and paths. Cannibals will occasionally use them to patrol areas.
- Look to be close to the cave entrances you visit often
Companion Management - Kelvin & Virginia NPCs
Your teammate Kelvin will also be of invaluable help to you, especially early on, in gathering resources to raise buildings and traps. Give Kelvin a task, such as cutting wood or fishing, and then go exploring. He'll work while you're out. Keep in mind that Kevin can die permanently, so protect him if your camp is under attack.
How to Befriend Virginia NPC
The three-armed mutant Virginia is an excellent fighter and can be equipped to buff her stats. That all sounds great, but you must first befriend her. Here's how to do that:
- Don't attack her when she approaches
- Drop weapons when she's nearby
- Give her a GPS locator and weapons
- Be patient, you'll have to meet her multiple times
Related: Where is the Maintenance Keycard used in Sons of the Forest?
Keycard Locations Guide
To complete the Sons of the Forest story, you must obtain items in this specific order:
- Rebreather - Allows underwater exploration
- Rope Gun - Access vertical cave sections
- Shovel - Dig up buried items and unlock new areas
- Maintenance Keycard - First keycard in the progression
- Golden Armor - Required for the final bunker
- VIP Keycard - Unlocks mid-game facilities
- Guest Keycard - Final keycard before endgame
- Final Bunker - Complete the story
How to Get the Maintenance Keycard in Sons of the Forest
To obtain the Maintenance Keycard and complete the Sons of the Forest story, you must first acquire a few items. You will need to obtain the following items in this particular order:
Items required for Maintenance Keycard:
- Rope Gun
- Rebreather
- Shovel
- Flashlight + batteries
Getting these items is essential for completing the Maintenance Keycard level. Before doing the Keycard run, consider getting some readily available weapons to make the endeavor easier. A Shotgun and a Pistol can be acquired with minimum hassle.
The first is available to you when you obtain the Shovel, and the second is left out in the open. Having both weapons will make your cave mutant fights much more manageable. Once you're ready and equipped, proceed to obtain the Maintenance Keycard.
Katana & Golden Armor Location
To obtain the Katana and Golden Armor in Sons of the Forest, you must have the Maintenance Keycard to unlock the bunker containing both of these items.
| Katana | Golden Armor |
|---|---|
| * Tied for best melee weapon (with Firefighter Axe) * Fast attack speed * High damage * Perfect for the entire late game | * Required to access the final bunker * Provides damage protection * Essential for beating the game * Can be used earlier if desperate for armor |
Both the Katana and Golden Armor will be very useful for the game progression. The Katana is one of the two best melee weapons in the game, rivaled only by the Firefighter axe. It is an end-game item that will serve you well for the rest of the playthrough, and we recommend getting it as soon as you get the Maintenance Keycard.
You will need the Golden Armor to beat the game's final level. Besides providing the key to accessing the last cave area of the game, it also provides crucial protection in that area. Until then, you can still use it when you run out of armor points and cannot craft anything else.
VIP Keycard Location
- To get the VIP Keycard in Sons of the Forest, you must first obtain the Maintenance Keycard.
- Enter through the fridge - Return to a location you may have already visited previously, the Food and Dining hatch.
- Use Maintenance Keycard on the keypad door.
- Once inside the fridge, you can unlock the keypad door leading you to the facility with the VIP Keycard, the Crossbow, and other valuable items.
Obtaining the VIP Keycard grants you access to two more areas, one of which is the facility where you can get the Guest Keycard, and the other containing the Final Bunker.
Guest Keycard Location
- To gain access to the facility where you can find the Guest Keycard, you'll need to have the VIP Keycard first.
- You can see the Chainsaw and the Guitar in the same facility.
- While the Guitar won't be useful to you since it's a mediocre weapon at best, obtaining the Chainsaw will save you a lot of time chopping down trees, furthering your building capabilities.
How to Unlock the Final Bunker
- You must have the VIP Keycard to access the Final Bunker on the easternmost green blip in Sons of the Forest.
- There's also the Cross in the same bunker, which will be helpful during the magma cave run.
- Notice a cave with a strange, golden door that features an indentation for an arm when passing through the crack in the bathroom wall.
- Equip your Golden Armor.
- With the Golden Armor equipped, you're now able to unlock the arm-shaped door.
- Proceed through the last cave level and watch the intriguing yet confusing final cutscene, explaining the game's ending.
- At last, you will have a choice of boarding the helicopter or staying on the island and playing the game further.
- Each option will reward you with its achievement in the game.
Secret Ending Requirements: Both Kelvin and Virginia must be alive and with you at the final bunker to unlock the secret ending variant.
If you choose to stay on the island, you will be able to roam around freely, exploring caves and locations you missed during your initial playthrough. You can expand your building and crafting skills by making an expansive base and trying out new content, such as buildable rafts, defensive walls, etc.
Sons of the Forest FAQ
It takes at least 15 hours to complete the game, but even more if you want to find all items, fully experience base building, and explore locations in detail.
No. The story requires specific items in sequence:
Rebreather → Rope Gun → Shovel → Maintenance Keycard → Golden Armor → VIP Keycard → Guest Keycard → Final Bunker
Yes. If you choose "Stay on Island," you can freely explore everything. The helicopter ending requires starting a new game.
Kelvin's death is permanent for that playthrough. You'll lose his labor assistance, but you can still complete the main story. However, to unlock the secret ending, both Kelvin and Virginia must be alive at the final bunker.
The optimal base location is near the western river between the forest and mountains. This spot provides fresh water access, abundant trees for building, fish for food, and relatively light enemy patrols. Test any location by camping 2-3 nights before committing to a permanent base.
Always befriend Virginia. She provides excellent combat support with firearms, companionship, and is required for the secret ending. She's completely harmless if you don't attack first.
No. Sons of the Forest is fully completeable in single-player mode. Multiplayer makes some encounters easier with cooperative combat, but it's not required to finish the story or unlock any endings.
For your first playthrough, choose Normal or Peaceful difficulty. Normal offers a balanced challenge while Peaceful removes most combat, letting you focus on exploration and story. Experienced survival game players can try Hard mode for increased enemy aggression and resource scarcity.
The Rebreather is located in a cave on the northern beach area. Look for a cave entrance near the coastline—you'll need the Rebreather to access underwater sections required for story progression. It's the first essential item you should obtain.
The Rope Gun is located in a cave that can only be accessed with the Rebreather. Once you have the Rebreather, head to the cave with underwater sections. The Rope Gun is essential for reaching vertical cave areas and is the second item in your progression path.
The Katana and Firefighter Axe are tied for best melee weapons, with the Katana having faster attack speed. For ranged combat, the Shotgun excels in tight spaces while the Crossbow offers silent takedowns. The best all-around loadout is Katana + Shotgun + Stun Baton.
TL:DR Sons of the Forest Tips
To-Do List
- Get Flashlight, Modern Axe, and Stun Baton
- Build a secure base near water and trees
- Befriend Virginia early
- Give Kelvin continuous tasks
Combat Tips
- Stun Baton + Katana combo is arguably the best weapon combo
- Use Shotgun for mutants in tight spaces
- Always carry healing items in caves
- Golden Armor is for puzzles, not primary protection
Survival Tips
- Build multiple tent outposts near key locations
- Always carry printed cloth (armor repair)
- Fish and berries are the easiest food sources
- Save often by using tents or structures
Story Progression Checklist
Phase 1: Preparation (First 2-3 days)
- Get Flashlight
- Get Modern Axe
- Get Stun Baton
- Build a permanent base
- Befriend Virginia
Phase 2: Essential Story Items (Days 3-5)
- Rebreather (northern beach cave)
- Rope Gun (underwater cave - needs Rebreather)
- Shovel (western cave - needs Rebreather + Rope Gun)
- Shotgun (same cave as Shovel)
Phase 3: Keycard Collection (Days 5-8)
- Maintenance Keycard (needs Shovel)
- Golden Armor + Katana (needs Maintenance Keycard)
- VIP Keycard (needs Maintenance Keycard)
- Guest Keycard (needs VIP Keycard)
Phase 4: Endgame (Day 8+)
- Final Bunker (needs VIP Keycard + Golden Armor)
- Complete game
- Choose ending
Following this Sons of the Forest progression order ensures you'll complete the story without unnecessary backtracking or missing critical items. Remember: the game rewards exploration, but the story requires a structured approach.
Now that you know everything you need thanks to our Sons of the Forest walkthrough, check out how to get the secret ending here on Pro Game Guides!
Luka Rakocevic works as a full-time staff writer at Pro Game Guides and is a new-generation gamer. Backed with old-school gaming knowledge, his oldest gaming memories are on SNES, trying to beat Super Mario. Games are his big inspiration, and he frequently draws from that well to create new art. He prefers narrative-driven games like God of War, Killzone, Half-life, Uncharted and similar.
Luka mainly writes science fiction in his free time. When he's not home banging away at his computer keyboard, you will most likely find him at a local pub or a metal concert in the middle of a mosh pit.