Complete Survival Guide

Master every aspect of 99 Nights in the Forest with our comprehensive guide. From basic survival to advanced strategies, become the ultimate forest survivor.

📚 Updated for Latest Version

Game Basics

Main Objective

Survive 99 nights in a haunted forest while searching for 4 missing children. Build a camp, craft tools, and defend against terrifying creatures.

Core Mechanics

Resource gathering, crafting, base building, combat, and exploration. Day/night cycle affects enemy behavior and visibility.

Pro Tip

The game is inspired by real events, adding an extra layer of creepiness to the experience. Play with friends for better survival chances!

First Day Survival Blueprint

1

Craft a Map Immediately

Your first priority is gathering 3 wood to craft a map. Getting lost in the forest is a death sentence, especially at night.

Materials: 3 Wood | Crafting Time: Instant
2

Upgrade Your Campfire

Use 5-6 logs to upgrade your campfire to level 2-3. This expands your safe zone and keeps the Deer monster at bay.

Tip: Always use coal first if you find it - it provides more fuel value than wood.
3

Scavenge Buildings

Search nearby cabins and structures for valuable loot, especially wooden chairs (5 wood each) and metal chairs (3 scrap each).

Priority Items: Chairs, coal, gasoline, chests

Essential Crafting Recipes

Tools & Weapons

Axe

Essential for faster wood gathering

Materials: 2 Wood, 1 Scrap
Spear

Great for keeping enemies at distance

Materials: 3 Wood, 2 Scrap
Flashlight

Stuns the Deer monster temporarily

Materials: 2 Scrap, 1 Battery

Base Structures

Bed

Allows you to skip nights safely

Materials: 5 Wood, 3 Scrap
Bear Trap

Effective against cultists and wolves

Materials: 3 Scrap, 2 Wire
Lightning Rod

Safe spot during cultist raids

Materials: 5 Scrap, 3 Wire

Combat Strategies

Speed Loading Technique

Switch weapons while reloading to instantly refresh ammo. This turns standard firearms into makeshift machine guns!

Best For: Dealing with wolf packs and alpha wolves quickly

Circle Melee Combat

When using spears or melee weapons, circle around enemies while attacking. This minimizes damage taken while maintaining offense.

Pro Tip: Use target lock (CTRL on PC) to stay facing enemies while backing up

Environmental Combat

Use walls and structures to shoot around corners. You can hit enemies while remaining completely safe behind cover.

Perfect For: Clearing cultist strongholds without taking damage

Enemy Types & How to Counter Them

The Deer

Behavior: Invulnerable, appears at night, attracted to darkness

Counter: Stay near campfire, use flashlight to stun temporarily

Warning: Cannot be killed, only avoided!

Wolves & Alpha Wolves

Behavior: Pack hunters, fast and aggressive

Counter: Use spears, circle while attacking, speed loading with guns

Best Weapon: Spear or any ranged weapon

Cultists

Behavior: Human enemies, some have ranged attacks

Counter: Traps, environmental combat, prioritize crossbow cultists

Strategy: Lead them through spike traps and barbed wire

The Owl

Behavior: Flying enemy, difficult to hit

Counter: Ranged weapons, aim carefully

Tip: Wait for it to dive before shooting

Base Building Strategies

Tree Wall Defense

Plant saplings in a circle around your base. Within a few days, they'll grow into trees that block cultist movement. Combine with traps for maximum effectiveness.

Plant Saplings
Wait for Growth
Natural Barrier

Trap Corridor

Create a narrow path lined with bear traps, spikes, and barbed wire. Force enemies to walk through your death corridor to reach your base.

Layout: [Wall] [Trap] [Trap] [Trap] [Wall]
Result: Enemies take massive damage before reaching you

Rescuing Missing Children

Child Locations

The 4 missing children are randomly located around the map. Use your map to mark their locations when you find them.

Rescue Strategy

  • Build beds for each rescued child
  • Children provide buffs and multipliers
  • Rescue early for maximum benefits

Priority Order

  1. 1 Dino Kid (Day 1-3)
  2. 2 Build beds before Day 5
  3. 3 Find remaining children

Advanced Strategies

Resource Automation

Set up automated systems to reduce manual labor and focus on exploration and combat.

Auto-Fuel System

Place oil drill facing campfire for automatic fueling

Auto-Cooking

Crockpot with farm plots for automatic stew production

Class Recommendations

Base Defender

Starts with defensive blueprints

Scavenger

Extra inventory space, great for beginners

Assassin

High damage, good for experienced players

End Game Strategy

As you approach 99 nights, focus on building the ultimate defensive fortress.

Final Base Setup: Multiple layers of walls, extensive trap networks, automated resource systems, and safe zones for every team member.