Crafting in Raft is essential for survival and progression, requiring players to gather basic resources like wood, plastic, and leaves to create tools, structures, and equipment. Players start with basic items, but to unlock more advanced recipes—such as the smelter, engine, or advanced tools—they must use a Research Table to study materials found throughout the ocean. A key mechanic allows players to instantly craft necessary components, like ropes or nails, directly within the crafting menu of a larger item if they have the raw materials available.
The Cooking Pot introduces complex food recipes that offer superior hunger replenishment compared to a simple grill. Players can discover 12 unique recipes, such as Head Broth (puffer fish heads), Coconut Chicken, and Salmon Salad, hidden in loot crates on islands or abandoned rafts. These recipes generally require four ingredients and must be prepared on a stove fueled by planks, often yielding high-value meals that can provide special buffs.
For advanced, specialized items, players must utilize the Juicer and the Trading Post to obtain unique, buff-providing meals and beverages. Furthermore, to progress to the mid-to-late game, players must craft a Recycler to turn waste materials into trash cubes, unlocking better, high-tier blueprints. Lastly, cosmetic items are unlocked by collecting and opening decoration packages found in crates, allowing for the customization of the raft.
