How to play the Game
Surviving in Raft is a constant cycle of resource management and exploration that begins with using a Plastic Hook to snag floating debris and Barrels to expand your initial four-plank platform. Your most immediate needs are fresh water and food, which you can manage by crafting a Simple Purifier and a Simple Grill as quickly as possible, ensuring you never drink salt water or eat raw fish, which can worsen your dehydration. To protect your growing home, you must craft a Wooden Spear to fend off the persistent shark, Bruce, who will otherwise consume your foundation pieces every few minutes. As you stabilize, focus on building Collection Nets to automate gathering and a Research Table to unlock advanced technologies like the Smelter, which is vital for processing metal ore found in reefs. To progress the narrative and discover larger story locations like the Radio Tower, you eventually need to assemble a Receiver and three Antennae, placing them on a second level to pick up tracking signals that lead to the game's final mysteries.