Don't Sleep With The Fishes Beginner Guide

Quick Answer

In Don't Sleep With The Fishes, your first goal is to grab useful items before the ship sinks, then survive each day by managing food, energy, repairs, shipmates, and night events. New players should prioritize flexible items like Fishing Rod, Anchor, and Duct Tape, avoid wasting rescue tools like Flare Gun, and learn which events require specific counters.

You're trapped on a sinking ship. Quickly gather what you can and throw it into your lifeboat before the ship goes under. Choose one crew member to bring along, then survive the nights at sea by fishing, eating, and managing your energy.

You have limited time to collect items and throw them into your lifeboat. Prioritize essential survival items: food, water, and tools. You can only bring one crew member — choose wisely.

During the day, spend your energy on:

• Fishing for food
• Eating to maintain health
• Completing small tasks
• Chatting with your shipmate

When energy runs out, night falls. You'll rest, but sleep may be interrupted by events. Use the items you brought to handle each encounter.

• Always bring a fishing rod — your primary food source
• Medical supplies can save your life during dangerous events
• Track your health and hunger levels closely — starvation is a common death cause
• Not all crew members are equally useful — Laurel, Frederik, Row, and Captain Whiskers have different effects
• Some items have multiple uses — experiment but don't waste rare items like Flare Gun
• Duct Tape repair is optional in v1.1.2, so weigh repair vs. event defense

You can bring one crew member onto your lifeboat. Each has different strengths:

• Not bringing an Anchor — you'll need it for Squid and Whirlpool events that can destroy your boat
• Wasting Flare Gun or Flashlight early — these are critical for the Rescue ending route
• Ignoring Bait — without it, fishing fails and you starve. In v1.1.2, Bait is only consumed when you actually catch a fish
• Forgetting to repair — a damaged boat sinks regardless of your health
• Bringing the wrong shipmate for your planned ending