Which mode first?

[JaniGuitar]

Hey guys, game is downloading right now and I am impatient to start playing! Always was super-interested in this game! :D Which mode should I start with (first time I'm playing The Long Dark!): Story or Open End Survival?

[MisterPrizz]

Story. It will teach you most of the game mechanics and it isn't permadeath, so a bit more forgiving. Plus, it's a pretty cool story. And welcome to TLD!

[JaniGuitar]

Originally posted by MisterPrizz:

Story. It will teach you most of the game mechanics and it isn't permadeath, so a bit more forgiving. Plus, it's a pretty cool story. And welcome to TLD!

Thanks, very nice :) I have played survival games before (e.g. The Forest), but I hear TLD is much more challenging.Thank you for your answer ;)

[DsnowMan]

Yeah, play story mode until you are at least done episode 1, very satisfying. I also recommend going at least partway into episode 2, you will learn where lots of important landmarks are in two of the main maps.

Then you can try survivor mode on Voyager level. I used to go back and forth for a while, playing Story when I wanted the ability to save (you can save and reload at any time), and playing Survivor when I knew I had an hour where I would not be interrupted. Survivor mode only saves when you enter buildings, so it can be a while between save points.

If the game grabs you, at some point you will play Survivor mode exclusively. Write your own story :)

[George_Lman]

Challenging isn't descriptive enough. You can set the game to easy mode, and spawn in a new player region, and you will die. You're gonna die in story mode too. But yeah, story mode is easier to start with. Past experience with survival games will help a little here, but with how challenging this game is, don't expect to live long.

[lexilogo]

Originally posted by JaniGuitar:

Thanks, very nice :) I have played survival games before (e.g. The Forest), but I hear TLD is much more challenging.Thank you for your answer ;)

Honestly, I would not describe TLD as challenging.

I mean, it is fairly unique from a lot of other survival games in that permanent survival is effectively impossible. Many important resources aren't (at least not practically) renewable, so after a few years of in-game survival you will eventually die off from lack of resources, but in terms of gameplay it's very simple and easy to get the hang of, plus all the 4 needs meters are easy to fufil.

About the only real learning hurdle you need to get past is learning how to hunt and acquire meat, because food is probably the hardest resource to manage until you learn how to do that, but even then there are alternatives like fishing, and the first Episode of Story Mode will teach you the fundamentals in that regard.

Anyway, that's kinda besides the point. Story Mode acts as a soft tutorial so it's potentially best to start there, but if you prefer diving into a game and testing the waters for yourself, Survival Mode, especially on the easier difficulties, is far from punishing.

[Ravenwolf Silvermoon]

Hello. I would say story mode first. It gives you a lot of understanding of the game, mechanics, what to expect of the weather, survival aspects, etc etc. Once you get use to the UI and keyboard or controller, get a chance to read the story options, notes, letters, etc so you wont be lost on where to go or what to do. I suggest Capable Mode, till you finish all Episodes. Then if you like, you can replay them on Hardened mode.

The survival mode takes a little bit to use to, its perma death. You have to start all over again so take note. On story mode you can continue if you are defeated. Also you can do the Challenges later on. At any rate some may find story mode easy or hard. Some find survival mode challenging, difficult, to frustrating.

Play at your own leisure, go at your own pace. Dont forget to save on story mode, on survival you only have last saved point.

Welcome to The Long Dark community.