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Don’t Starveis a survival game in which players traverse a rather unforgiving landscape as they try and survive. It was never meant to be an easy game to play but some fans just want to explore the world without the constant fear of impending death.
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Luckily, this is where customizations and presets come in. They can take out some of the more frustrating aspects and increase the aid players need. Ultimately, some hostile creatures will have to be in the game for the players to get their resources but for the most part, players can enjoy the game as a moreadventure farming style experience.
Available Presets
When starting a game players should notice there are three presets to choose from. They are:
Default
The Default preset does what many players would expect it to do. It’s the base game with the base world settings and is what many would see if they simply created a brand new game without going into the custom options.
It’s almost the regular difficulty of the game and is worth trying before fans go into a different style of the same game. That way they can get an idea of how they prefer to play and what they want to change.
Default Plus
Default Plus is essentially the easy version ofDon’t Starve.It’s perfect for anyone who wants to head down the easiest world customization settings and is an even better start for any adventure lovers or outright beginners of either the game or the genre.
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This is primarily because this preset will grant the player three chests whichinclude food, items, and tools. This sets them well on their way to success and gives them an edge many will love. However, it does make more monsters appear and limit the player’s resources, which can involve a bit more of a challenge. It’s easier than Default but it’s recommended players are a bit more experienced when trying this preset.
Lights Out
The last preset available is Lights Out. It’s arguably the hardest available mode inthe game,mainly due to the lack of daylight.
As opposed to Default Plus, players will only get one chest which has a particularly sparse amount of items inside. Luckily, it will be by a campfire so at least there’s a bit of light. There are no increased monsters or resources but surviving in this mode takes experience and someone who’s not afraid of the dark.
World Customisation Settings
From the offset, it’s worth noting that these settings are an entirely personal choice. Some may find hounds easy to kill and manage and will therefore leave it on default whereas others will want them gone. It’s worth trying out this method and seeing the elements the player struggles with then heading back and changing it around a bit.
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Nevertheless, here are the best customization settings players can use if they want a simple and less deadly experience inDon’t Starve.Justdon’t expect it to be a walk in the park, this game’s core values are challenges and survival, so there will always be an element of that in any playthrough.
Map And Season Settings
World Size: Default
It’s best to stick with what players know. Too big and it can get overwhelming and often deadly. The Default size isn’t particularly problematic in the first place.
Land Branching: Most
Having the Land Branching at Most still brings variety but makes it much easier to get around different lands and biomes. It’s easier to traverse and locate items and elements players need without traveling too far.
Land Looping: Default
Land Looping being on anything past Default will have players feeling like they are walking in circles. It may be easier for locating elements fans need but it’s not game-changing.
Length Of Seasons: Default
The seasons are vital when keeping the game going, prolonging them will only make it harder and limit season-specific resources or mobs.
Starting Season: Autumn/ Summer
If the player is using theReign of GiantsDLC then they can select Autumn, which is great when preparing for the coming seasons. It’s the most forgiving and will be the easiest for the start of the game. If players are on the base game then the Summer is a good selection. It’s not ideal but at least the player won’t be tackling the freezing temperatures of Winter.
Length Of Day: Default
In a similar way to the length of seasons, prolonging the days will only make the nights harder. It’s better to work with the designed balance the game grants.
Weather: Less
While the weather can be useful it can also be rather frustrating and often makes the game harder. Having it on less keeps it present but makes it a bit more manageable.
Lightning: Default
Lightning is particularly useful for certain resources so it’s advisable that the player keeps it on default and builds some lightning rods.
Helpful Items Settings
Ponds: Default
Ponds can often be the spawning of a few bad creatures but they’re useful for fishing and that outweighs their importance.
Suspicious Dirt Piles: Default
This allows players to find some useful creatures to hunt. They’re optional and only for those who feel they can do it. It’s worth having ready when needed.
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Sinkholes: Yes
Sinkholes lead to some great exploration and are well worth checking out when the player is ready. They keep the game interesting if there’s not much to kill.
Touch Stones: Lots
Touch Stones will keep the player alive. They are vital resurrection items and will stop the payer from getting that horrible game over on their screens after death.
Boons: Default
Boons are a gamble. It’s best to keep them as they are so players can make that choice when they want to.
Food And Resources Settings
Flowers: Lots
Flowers are great for sanity and health, something that is vital ina game likeDon’t Starve. The more of these the better.
Grass Tufts: More
They don’t hurt and produce some particularly useful and renewable resources. Since it’s already a common element there’s no use putting in lots.
Saplings: More
In a similar way to Grass Tufts, the Saplings are a simple supply of twigs. They’re too common to put in too many.
Spiky Bushes: Default
Another common resource that doesn’t need to be made into more. This one hurts upon harvest so it’s worth leaving it on default and getting sticks from Saplings instead.
Reeds: More
Located in a rather dangerous biome, players will want enough to make it worth going into the Marsh. This might just make it worth it considering its uses.
Trees: More
In the same way as flowers, there’s no negative to having more trees around. Just not enough to feel like it’s taking over the game.
Flint: More
Flint is a useful resource that can be found around in the base game but will aid players if they add as much in as they can.
Rocks: More
In a similar fashion to Flint and Trees, there’s never going to be enough stone to be grabbed. This way it won’t be overwhelming but will be abundant.
Boulders: More
Having more resources is never a bad thing. Especially since there are not any negatives.
Berry Bushes: More
Berry Bushes are an easy source of food and make life a lot easier when traveling through the map. More is always better.
Carrots: More
Another source of readily available food and one that won’t respawn so it’s useful having a ready supply of them around the world.
Mushrooms: Default
With strengths and weaknesses behind this food, it’s worth keeping it on default in case the player fancies a gamble.
Animals And Mobs Settings
Mandrakes: Default
They have their uses but can be a bit of a pain. If players hate them then get rid of them but if they can tolerate their presence it’s easier to leave them where they are.
Rabbits: Default
A non-combative creature and one that can be a good supply of food if players get rid of naughtiness.
Butterflies: Default
Butterflies have some positives but not enough to make it a resource players have to increase.
Birds: Default
They can sometimes take players' seeds away but other than that they pose no real threat and are worth keeping as they are.
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Gobblers: Less
Berry Bushes are a great source of food and the Gobblers take that away. They don’t need to be that prominent inDon’t Starve.
Pigs: Default
They can be useful but they hit hard and are a problem many players don’t want to deal with. Luckily they don’t have to if unprovoked.
Beefalos: Default
Similar to the Pigs, they hit hard but are easy to deal with when unprovoked and have withuseful resources available.
Pengulls: Default
Pengulls are fine to be inDon’t Starvebut will attack if provoked. The neutrality of their presence makes them fine to be on default.
Enemy Settings
Beehives: Default
It can be a challenging fight but there is no other way to get Honeycomb so it’s vital to have in the world.
Killer Beehives: None
These are just deadlier versions of bees and don’t change anything for the better.
Tallbirds: Less
They drop very few useful items and are just a pain to deal with. It’s useful to have them there for the meat but less is always better here.
Spiders: Less
Spiders are the same as the Tallbirds, they drop useful elements but can be tough to manage when there are a few at once.
Hounds: Less
Hounds are important for meat and aren’t too hard to kill but they are pests players can either lessen or nullify if desired.
Merms: None
With their only loot being that of fish, players can get this passively and therefore make the Merms not worth having.
Tentacles: None
They stop players from fishing and are just an unnecessary damage to health if the player isn’t looking for any combat.
Clockwork Mobs: None
They deal damage and will be a threat. Take them away if players wantan easyDon’t Starvegame.
Meat Bulbs: Default
The only reason the Meat Bulbs are worth having is the inventory players get access to when defeating it. However, it’s still hostile so be careful.
MacTusk: None
It’s an unnecessary enemy that will only pose a threat to the player, especially if they don’t want combat.
Treeguard: None
In the same way as MacTusk, this is an optional enemy that players can fight that will make the game harder, hence why it’s easier to not have any spawning.
Krampus: None
Krampus introduces penalties for killing innocent creatures and is just an enemy many don’t want to see. It’s better to leave it out of this game.
Deerclops: Less
The only reason it’s worth having a Deerclop in the game is the drops. They can be particularly useful for protection and are worth using.
Don’t Starveis available now on PC, PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, Switch, and Mobile.
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