Staring at Kenshi's main menu and wondering what the hell you are supposed to do? Yes, I understand. This is no typical RPG with quest markers and helpful NPCs explaining your every move. Kenshi throws you into a post-apocalyptic wasteland and basically says, good luck, try not to die in the first minute.
The thing is, that complete freedom is part of what makes Kenshi so good. Once you understand the basics and survive your first few brutal beatings, a sandbox opens up where you can create your own stories. Want a trading empire? Go ahead. Dreaming of starting a rebellion against the slavers? The world will not stop you. Or maybe you just want to mine copper until you can afford something better than the rags you started in.
What Is the Point of Kenshi?
Survival
Kenshi does not hold your hand or explain its mechanics.
At the beginning, everyone around you is stronger. Starving Bandits rummaging through rubbish? They will probably beat you senseless. A random patrol passing by? They can wipe you out without breaking a sweat. But that is the appeal: they stay stronger until you change that yourself.
Every bruise, defeat, and humiliating crawl to safety toughens your character, both in stats and spirit. You earn every little victory through blood, sweat, and perhaps a couple of missing limbs.
Stories That Emerge Naturally
Forget quest markers and scripted plots. Kenshi does not hold your hand or tell you where to go. No quests, no main storyline: your decisions create your path.
Want to become a desert nomad trading between towns? No problem. Dream of leading a rebellion against slavers? The game will not hold you back. Maybe you just want to farm peacefully until raiders burn down your home and send you on a quest for revenge. That is all up to you, friend.
The stories that emerge here are truly unique. I have seen players accidentally start wars between factions, others build towns from nothing, and some simply become experts at running away from trouble. A perfectly valid tactic, by the way.
Complete Freedom to Choose Your Playstyle
Become whoever you want: a thief, slave, trader, or warrior. There is no right path. Kenshi accommodates different approaches:
- Peaceful traders who avoid fights.
- Monks training in the wilderness.
- Tech Hunters searching for ancient ruins.
- Bounty hunters looking for easy Cats.
- Even slaves working in the mines. Yes, that happens.
The game does not judge you. It simply shows you the consequences.
How Do You Actually Play Kenshi?
Character Creation
Choose the Wanderer start , which begins in The Hub. Listen to me: the other options are interesting, but this one teaches the basics without immediately throwing you into a meat grinder.
Choosing a race:
- Greenlander: An ordinary person, welcome everywhere, with balanced stats.
- Shek: A fighter, although the Holy Nation dislikes them. Want a tank? Pick a Shek.
- Scorchlander: Great stats and a small appetite. Excellent bonuses to Thievery and Dexterity.
- Hiver: Heals quickly, but cannot wear every piece of equipment. Acid resistance is a bonus!
Core Gameplay
Kenshi blends strategy, sandbox, and survival gameplay. You control one character or an entire group from above. Combat plays out automatically based on stats and weapons, but tactics matter.
There is one goal: survive. The game does not lead you by the hand. Your objectives are whatever you decide they should be.
What to Do First in Kenshi (Days 1-7)
Train Athletics
Running improves the skill naturally , and it is extremely important. Early on, your legs decide whether you live or become animal food. Just run everywhere. Your character will thank you when they escape a chase.
Mine Copper for Money
There is a copper deposit near The Hub , a reliable way to earn money. Mining is not very exciting, but it improves stats and pays for your first equipment.
Grab a pickaxe and get to work. It is honest labor that helps you trade your rags for something better.
Lead Enemies to the Guards
This is the best early tactic: use guards as protection and a source of loot. If bandits attack, run to the town gates. The guards crush them, and you collect the valuables.
You get experience, the guards get some exercise, and you walk away with the goods. Everybody wins. Squin's gates are ideal for this; the local Shek make short work of enemies.
Buy Basic Equipment
Your shopping list:
- A backpack : You cannot carry much without one. Buy it in Squin.
- Food : To avoid starving to death.
- A first aid kit : In case you get hurt. And you will.
Do not spend money on fancy swords immediately; you will not be able to use them properly anyway. Focus on what keeps you alive.
What to Do Next (Weeks 2-4)
Build a Squad
Recruit a human medic early. Keep them out of the fight so they can patch everyone up afterward. In Kenshi, that changes everything. Look for free recruits, such as Ruka in Squin. Extra hands for zero Cats are a gift.
Essential Skills
- Athletics : Running and escaping.
- Labouring : Working quickly.
- Strength : Heavy loads and damage.
- Toughness : Surviving hits.
- Combat : Learned only by fighting.
How to Make Money
- Copper : Boring but reliable.
- Looting : Dangerous but profitable.
- Trading : Buy low, sell high.
- Stealing : If you enjoy taking risks.
Train Combat Wisely
Let yourself lose early on ; that is how training works. Taking a beating improves Toughness and defense. Do not charge in recklessly: choose weaker enemies, take your lumps, and go recover.
What Should You Do in The Hub?
If you chose the standard start, you begin in The Hub. It is in the center of the map, with copper and trade. Things are quiet here, so you can learn to survive without dying immediately.
Join the Shinobi Thieves
Give them 10,000 Cats and you are in.
What the Shinobi provide:
- Free beds for sleeping.
- Discounts on good equipment.
- Training dummies for practice.
- Protection if enemies enter town.
They become your first allies in this mad world.
Repair Houses
Turn ruins into your workshops instead of rushing to build in the wilderness. The Hub has plenty of houses for sale. Buy one, repair it, and live within the walls. You can safely research and craft without worrying about wildlife.
Sell Stolen Goods
The bar in The Hub buys stolen goods at full price without asking awkward questions. An ideal place to sell whatever you have found, so to speak.
What Should You Build First?
A House in Town or a Base in the Desert?
Buy a house in town first, and only then consider building in the wilderness. The guards protect you in town. Install a Research Bench immediately. Learn everything you need while you are safe.
What Should You Research First?
- Defenses , including walls and turrets, to protect your workers.
- Building Materials and iron , to produce resources yourself.
- Housing
- Storage containers
What to Bring for Your First Base
Before heading into the wilderness, stockpile:
- 100 Iron Plates
- 200 Building Materials
- 20 Electrical Components
- 20 Fabric
Building Order
- Stone mining and processing : You need materials.
- An iron refinery : Produce Iron Plates.
- A house : For indoor workbenches.
- Storage : To keep everything in its place.
- Walls and gates : To protect against raids.
How Do You Enjoy the Game?
Roleplay
Kenshi is at its best when you create a story instead of simply raising stats. Give your characters personalities and goals. Give them names and backgrounds. Why are they together? What do they want? How do they see all this chaos?
Playthrough Ideas
- Lore hunters exploring ruins.
- Monks helping the weak.
- Avengers taking down slavers.
- Traders leading a caravan between towns.
- Exiles building a town in the wilderness.
My Advice
- Do not reload after every setback. There is no need to save-scum; failure is part of the story. Your leader was enslaved? Assemble a squad and rescue them. That will beat any scripted quest.
- Wander without a plan . The world is handcrafted, with secrets everywhere. My best moments happened when I went the wrong way.
- Let your characters come to life . After 50 hours, they will feel like family.
Does Kenshi Have a Story?
You write it yourself. No prophecies or saving the world. Just you and a brutal world that does not care about you.
Your actions change the world. Kidnap a leader and faction borders shift. Your survival is the story. It will be your own personal tale, different from anyone else's.
What About the Lore?
Kenshi takes place on a moon. That alone hints at past greatness. The First Empire possessed godlike technology: giant robots, genetic engineering, and space elevators.
The First Empire possessed godlike technology: giant robots, genetic engineering, and space elevators.
Collapse and a New Beginning
A catastrophe destroyed the First Empire. The Second Empire was ruled by robots such as Cat-Lon, but it fell as well. Now the world lies in fragments.
Who Rules Now?
- The Holy Nation: fanatics with their own laws.
- The United Cities: wealth and corruption.
- The Shek Kingdom: warriors of honor.
- And plenty of bandits and cannibals.
How Can You Learn More About Kenshi's Lore?
Read books and explore ruins. Recruit different characters; each has their own comments about the places you visit.
Talk to people in bars. Put the pieces together like a puzzle. The lore comes in fragments, so play detective.
There Is No Wrong Way to Play Kenshi
The game does not judge you. Want to trade peacefully? Fine. Want to be a cannibal chief? That works too. Want to spend 200 hours mining copper? Somebody has to do it.
The world does not care about your dreams , which is exactly why achieving them feels so rewarding. Whether you are a scavenger or a desert king, this is your story. Kenshi is about surviving and becoming whoever you want when the entire world is against you.
Look back at where you started, and you will understand why people love this game so much. Myself included.
Still Have Questions?
Can I join the Cannibals?
Not directly. They do not recruit. But you can sort of roleplay a cannibal: eat enemies, yes, you can, and live in their territory. There are mods for this, but in the base game they are always hostile. Still, nobody stops you from eating enemies and setting up camp near them.
How big is the map?
Enormous. Around 870 square kilometers of wasteland. Walking from one end to the other takes real hours, assuming nothing kills you along the way. Everything is handcrafted, with no random generation. You can play for hundreds of hours and still discover something new.
How long is the game?
As long as you want. There is no ending. People spend 1,000 hours in a single save. You play until you get bored or run out of goals. Or until your PC decides it has had enough of your enormous empire.
Do I need to steal?
You can, and sometimes it is your only option. Early on, stealing food or bandages can mean the difference between life and death. The theft system is decent: pickpocketing, breaking into houses, and robbing caravans. If you are brave enough, of course.
