Like other survival games, Voyagers of Nera may initially overwhelm some players. This game, in particular, opens the entire map as soon as you exit the first cave. Apart from the tutorial quests and beginner missions, some new players might still find the game's features and systems quite confusing early on. So, here's your Voyagers of Nera Beginner's Guide to help you get your bearings and start living the spiritual seafaring life!

Voyagers of Nera Beginner’s Guide: First Hour Walkthrough

Once you step into The Embrace, the first set of islands in Voyagers of Nera, your first priority is to grab everything you can. Some basic resources you’ll find along the way include Wood, Stone, and Plant Fibers. But be wary, as your backpack can only carry so many items before they weigh you down. Once you’re out of the cave, you’re next step is to…

Build a Base

Remember, your first encampment doesn’t have to be an elaborate fortress or mansion at this point in the game. So, focus on building the essentials, such as a Workbench to craft necessary gear and structures. Unlock the Workbench crafting recipe, along with the game's other blueprints, by leveling up and adding points to the appropriate item or structure. Note: Once unlocked, build the Workbench using 10x Stone and 10x Wood. The basic controls for the Building system in Voyagers of Nera are as follows:

• B: Enter/Exit Build Mode
• Right Mouse Button: Open/Close Build Menu
• 1: Add Item
• 2: Remove Item
• 3: Move/Relocate Item
• T: Zoom In/Out
• Hold Ctrl: Free Place/Disregard Snapping
• Hold Alt: Instant Place

Next, build a Spirit Anchor using 30x Stone. This structure lets you summon a friendly Spirit Companion. Doing so also unlocks the use of Major and Minor Abilities. The former are your active skills, while the latter are passive. Unlock these abilities by rescuing Spirits in the wild. More about rescuing Spirits will be discussed in a later section. With the Workbench and Spirit Anchor placed, your next step is to build your first home. Start by pressing “B” (by default) on your keyboard to access the Build menu. Then, access the Structure tab and select the Wood Frame. Place this structure, and add floors, doors, windows, walls, and roofs to it. Note that each addition costs various materials, such as Wood, Stone, Resin, and Plant Fiber.

Rescue a Spirit

Interact with the Spirit Anchor and press “G” (by default) to mark the location of an unsaved Spirit on the map. The first Spirit should be slightly south of the first cave’s exit. Thankfully, you don’t need the boat at this time to reach that location. Once found, eliminate the enemies that are threatening the Spirit. Combat in Voyagers of Nera is reasonably straightforward. However, keep an eye out for your Stamina gauge, as each action depletes it by a set amount. Your character will be unable to complete actions, including dodging, making you susceptible to hits. If you have trouble dealing with enemies, you can ask for help from other players in a multiplayer Voyagers of Nera server. Note: Dying in Voyagers of Nera drops every item in your inventory. You can respawn in your bed or at the Awakening Chamber. Alternatively, deactivate this feature in the Settings menu. So, walk, run, or skip to the Spirit and save it from enemies. Doing so unlocks your first Major Ability, the Lightning Shot. Return to your Spirit Anchor and equip the ability to start using it. Note that Major Abilities in Voyagers of Nera don’t cost mana, but they have cooldowns.

Manage Hunger

Like other survival games, Voyagers of Nera has a hunger system, albeit this mechanic is more forgiving than others. In particular, your character doesn't receive damage over time (DoT) when hunger strikes. However, your maximum HP is reduced, leaving you vulnerable to dying sooner than later. For now, cook dishes by building, placing, and interacting with the Campfire. Here, start preparing basic dishes, like the Fruit Jam, which costs 4x Luma Fruit. Consuming it grants +25 Health, +30 Stamina, and +5 Oxygen. Remember, you can only have two sets of food buffs at a time. The timer for each food buff set can be seen on the HUD, particularly on the lower-left side of the screen.

Build a Boat

Roam around The Embrace, gathering XP and rescuing Spirits as you go, until you reach Level 4. Then, open the Knowledge Tree and unlock the crafting recipe for your first boat, the Cargo Skiff. Once unlocked, place the blueprint on a nearby water surface and add the necessary materials (10x Twine, 30x Wood, and 10x Resin) to build it. Ride the boat, and unfurl the Sail by interacting with it and pressing "W" (by default). The boat will move forward with the Sail opened, and will continue to accelerate the more it's unfurled. Note that wind direction doesn't matter in Voyagers of Nera. With the Sail opened, interact with the Rudder to steer the boat. Press “A” to steer left and “D” to steer right. You can also open the in-game map by pressing “M” while steering the boat. With that, you've completed this Voyagers of Nera Beginner's Guide. Now, get out there, complete objectives, and save the Spirits to bring peace to the lands.