Tinkerlands is an early-access survival crafting adventure game blending the charm of Terraria, Minecraft, and Stardew Valley with its own unique flavor. Whether you’re jumping into the free demo or diving into the full game, here’s how to start strong, build smart, and recruit essential NPCs quickly.
Tinkerlands Beginner Guide Wiki – Best Starter Guide, Find NPCs
1. Start Gathering Everything
Right from the moment you spawn, harvest every resource you see — trees, rocks, bushes, everything. Some materials require better tools, but collecting early resources like leaves, wood, and grass will give you a strong head start.
Tip: Follow the in-game guide character early on — she acts like a tutorial, giving you direction on crafting and survival basics.
2. Understand the World Map
The world is massive and procedurally generated, with key zones and biomes:
- South: Desert biome — requires heat protection.
- East: Snow biome — expect cold hazards.
- Forest & beaches — your safest early zones.
Pro tip: Look for caves in snowy areas and waypoints east of spawn, usually near the border of the forest and desert.
3. Activate Waypoints Early
Find and activate waypoints as soon as you can. These act as fast-travel hubs between different zones, but you must visit them first before using them.
You can also:
- Craft teleport potions later.
- Die on purpose to return home (gear isn’t lost and there’s no durability!).
4. Build Your First Base Smartly
Find a nice open spot (not directly on a path) and start building your first base. Here’s how to do it efficiently:
- Bush walls are your best friend. They’re easy to craft and work just as well as wood or stone walls.
- Don’t build on paths — dig them up and replace them with grass or dirt first.
- Start with basic bush rooms (3×3) to attract NPCs quickly.
5. How to Get NPCs to Move In
Like in Terraria, you can recruit NPCs, but each has specific requirements:
Basic Room Requirements:
- 3×3 floor tiles (at least 9 blocks of the same type).
- Fully enclosed with walls.
- One light source (like a torch).
Examples of key NPCs:
- Guide – Comes naturally early in the game.
- Farmer – Requires you to till land and plant seeds.
- Merchant – Needs the Guide placed and a spare room.
You can check NPC housing requirements using the D-pad or housing menu.
6. Farm Goblins for Easy Coins
When harvesting or chopping, loot goblins can spawn randomly.
- Build a small bush-wall enclosure to trap them.
- They drop copper coins when you’re nearby.
- If you walk away, they take the coins back!
If you trap one and AFK, it can drop hundreds of coins.
Also drops:
- Hearts – Permanently increase your health.
- Mana Flowers – Boost your max mana.
7. Kill Everything (Yes, Even the Cute Ones)
You need:
- Leather/Hide from orcs and rabbits for armor.
- Crafting drops from slimes and other early enemies.
Boomerang is your best early-game weapon — craft it ASAP!
8. Farm Resources Early & Replant
You’re going to need a ton of wood and stone later. Here’s how to stay ahead:
- Chop trees, but also replant grass seeds to grow more.
- Trees take a few in-game days to mature.
- Pick up a hoe early to start farming.
- Dig moats around your base (if near water) for extra protection.
9. Light Up Your Area
Don’t forget to craft and place lots of torches around your base. Not only does this improve visibility, but it also helps reduce enemy spawns in critical spots.
But don’t be too safe — you’ll need orc drops for crafting gear.
10. Don’t Leave the Beach Too Soon
The starting beach zone is safer and offers unique items:
- Starfish – Unlock magic potion recipes.
- Coral – Used in health potions.
- Seashells – Required for later crafting.
You’ll also need sand to make glass for potions. But here’s the catch:
You don’t dig it from the beach — go to the desert and dig up sand piles, not just the ground.
11. Crafting Potions and Cauldrons
To make potions:
- Coral + glass = health potion.
- Glass is made from desert sand piles.
- You’ll need a cauldron, which requires a crafting bench.
- Some items unlock only after specific NPCs (like the merchant) appear.
12. Advanced Building Tips
- Use bush walls for most early rooms to save on wood/stone.
- Use dirt paths to move faster or create your own with a shovel.
- Make sure your NPC homes use matching floors (at least 9 identical tiles).
- Build a shovel early to start terraforming and moat-building.
Once you defeat a certain boss, you can obtain a special compass. This lets you reset the entire map, refreshing dungeons and loot spots.
Tinkerlands rewards smart planning and exploration. Keep your base growing, collect everything, experiment with crafting, and talk to NPCs to unlock even more. The early hours can feel tough, but once you’ve got a few rooms built and NPCs settled, the game opens up beautifully.