Sunken Engine Beginner's Guide: 10 Tips to Keep Your Shipyard Afloat (and Sanity Intact)
Welcome to Blackreef Island, inheritor of a probably cursed shipyard. Sunken Engine mixes the oddly satisfying grind of ship repair with a thick layer of Lovecraftian spookiness. Your dad's dead, the business is yours, and weird shit keeps happening. If you dove in after reading my Sunken Engine review and are wondering where to even start, here’s my guide.
This isn't just about scrubbing decks and patching holes (though there's plenty of that). You've got bills to pay, a family to support (apparently), eldritch horrors potentially lurking just out of sight, and a whole island mystery surrounding your dad's demise. It can feel like a lot, so here are some pointers to get you started on the right cursed foot.
Getting Your Sea Legs: Essential First Steps
Before you start wrestling with rusty hulls and existential dread, nail down these fundamentals. They'll make your early days less of a frantic scramble and more of a... slightly less frantic scramble.
1. Contracts Are King (and XP)
Your bread and butter comes from the Fax Machine in the shipyard office. Grab a contract, get the ship docked, and get to work. Cleaning (brushing barnacles, binning trash) and basic repairs are your main tasks early on. Completing these contracts is your primary source of XP, which you need to level up and unlock skills.
2. Your Side Hustle: The Bazaar
Don't just toss everything. While cleaning ships, use the Scraping Spatula to grab Oysters and Starfish. These, along with fish you catch, can be sold at your little bazaar stall outside the main workshop. Customers will wander up; just grab a basket, load it with what they want, and collect your cash. It's crucial for early-game income.
3. Upgrade Wisely (Start with the Deck!)
Money's tight, so prioritize upgrades at the renovation table inside the shipyard. The absolute first thing you should aim for is the Deck Length upgrade. This lets you take on contracts for bigger ships, which means more work, more XP, and more money. After that, upgrading your Garbage Bin capacity and Backpack slots makes cleaning much less tedious. Don't sleep on upgrading the Tobacco Pipe either; it helps manage that pesky sanity meter.
4. Go Fish (Especially During Storms)
Fishing isn't just a mini-game; it's another solid income stream. Park yourself in the fishing chair, cast a line (you can leave it while doing other stuff nearby), and reel 'em in when they bite. Watch out for the red zones during the reeling mini-game. Pro tip: fish bite more often during storms. Sell your catch at the bazaar.
5. Don't Neglect Basic Repairs & Tasks
It sounds obvious, but actually doing the repair tasks – hammering metal, scraping, painting, cleaning debris – is essential. Not only does it fulfill the contract, but these actions often grant small amounts of XP and sometimes yield materials. It all adds up.
6. License to Drill (and Weld, and Paint)
As you level up by completing contracts, you'll gain the ability to apply for new licenses. Head over to Calvin Darrow (you'll find him as part of the early progression) and spend some cash to get certified for more complex ships and repair types. This is key to progressing, as better licenses mean bigger, more lucrative (and sometimes spookier) jobs.
7. Follow the Spooky Breadcrumbs
Pay attention when ships have unique descriptions or quests attached, especially as you get higher licenses. These often tie into the overarching mystery surrounding your father and the island. While you can just focus on the grind, engaging with the story adds a lot to the experience.
8. Keep Your Sanity In Check (Mostly)
This is a Lovecraftian game, so naturally, there's a sanity (or "Stress") meter. Seeing weird shit, hearing creepy noises – it fills up the bar. High stress makes work harder and might attract unwanted attention. Use your Tobacco Pipe (hit the keybind) to chill out. Upgrading the pipe makes it more effective. Some events might require you to look away to avoid sanity loss.
9. Skill Up for Efficiency
Leveling up grants skill points. Spend these at the renovation table. Early on, focus on skills that make your life easier or richer:
Fishmonger: Better prices for selling fish. Essential for boosting income.
Scrapmaster: Lets you pick up nearby trash with one click instead of individually. Huge time saver.
Master Builder: Reduces the cost of upgrades and decorations. Saves you cash long-term.
Swift Stride: Move faster. Less time walking, more time working (or fishing).
Profitable Trade: Better prices when selling at the bazaar. Stacks nicely with Fishmonger.
10. Little Things That Help
Remember, only one ship contract can be active at once. Finish the current job before grabbing another fax. If you find weird, unidentifiable items, bring them somewhere (usually hinted by the item description or quests) to figure out what they are. Keep upgrading your tools via the renovation table whenever possible to speed up repairs.
Stick to these basics, manage your cash flow, keep an eye on your sanity, and you should be able to keep the shipyard running while maybe, just maybe, figuring out what eldritch horror your dad got himself tangled up in. Good luck.