After stepping into the harsh world of Sons of the Forest, players quickly learn that survival hinges on smart shelter building and reliable progress saves. With enemies spread across the expansive open world, knowing where and how to save is a crucial skill. This guide explains practical methods to save your game efficiently from early shelter setups to cave and cabin saves, keeping progress intact as threats loom.
How to build a shelter and save progress in Sons of the Forest
Saving is possible only from makeshift shelters. Caves encountered along the journey do not offer a save point unless a special item is present inside. A solid starting move is to search the coastal crash site for salvageable containers and boxes. In the Easy and Fine difficulties, tarpaulins are commonly found among these items, providing the first step toward shelter creation. Early exploration should focus on collecting any tarpaulin found nearby, as it serves as the foundation for a basic temporary shelter.
On the open map, the terrain sometimes reveals tarp materials hidden near camps run by native groups. These camps are frequently positioned on hilltops close to the shore, and tarpaulins can be scavenged from their tents. Alongside tarps, players should keep an eye out for two sticks scattered through the forest. The combination of tarpaulin and sticks forms a primitive frame that becomes the first shelter a player can erect, a simple shelter that offers a sheltered space and, crucially, a save point.
To assemble, open the inventory and select the tarp. The tarp is located in the upper right corner; place it in an open space to begin the build. The next step involves positioning two sticks by moving toward the edges of the large fabric and pressing the placement button to insert the sticks. This creates a basic, functional shelter that allows the player to rest and, most importantly, save progress at will.
With the shelter in place, resting inside becomes a quick save action. To save, approach the tent and hold the save key. This simple ritual of shelter use guarantees a reliable checkpoint if an encounter with foes becomes unavoidable or if an unexpected setback occurs during exploration.
How to save in caves and wooden houses
When venturing into caves or exploring wooden structures, a different save setup applies. A regular cane bed is used for safe progress in these interiors. The craft path begins in the crafting menu by pressing the dedicated key to open it and navigate to the Furniture section. There, select a drawing that leads to building a bed using 16 sticks and one insulating material. The insulating tape needed for the setup is commonly found inside plastic containers near the coast, making coastal exploration valuable beyond immediate resources.
To complete the bed, place the drawing in an appropriate location within the interior and assemble the required components. Once assembled, the cane bed becomes the reliable save point inside caves or wooden houses, ensuring that players have a safe respawn option even after tough battles or challenging discoveries.