ABOVE Beginner Guide: Start Your 1960s Mountain Resort

Welcome to ABOVE: Your First Steps

ABOVE places you in the role of a shelter manager in the 1960s, tasked with building and running a cozy mountain resort. This beginner guide will walk you through the core concepts you need to survive the harsh winter and create a thriving alpine haven. As a new player, your first goal is to understand the basic loop: manage your shelter, rescue stranded climbers, and expand your network of trails.

Before diving in, it's helpful to understand the game's gameplay overview. The game is a single-player experience on PC, blending narrative storytelling with simulation and strategy elements. You will make decisions that affect both your resort's success and the personal stories of the climbers you encounter.

Understanding Your Shelter

Your shelter is the heart of your operation. It provides warmth, rest, and supplies for both you and the climbers you rescue. Effective shelter management is crucial for survival.

Here are the key areas to focus on when starting:

• Resource Stockpile: Keep a close eye on food, wood, and medical supplies. These are consumed daily by your guests.
• Facility Upgrades: Invest in upgrading your shelter's capacity and amenities early. This allows you to house more climbers and improve their morale.
• Guest Management: Each rescued climber has unique needs and stories. Attending to them can unlock new opportunities and storylines.

For more details on improving your base, see the upgrades guide.

Rescuing and Managing Climbers

Rescuing climbers is your primary source of guests and income. You must venture out into the mountain to find them, often during harsh weather conditions.

1. Locate a Climber

   Use your map to identify signals or distress calls from the mountain. Different routes will lead to different climbers.

2. Plan Your Rescue

   Ensure you have enough supplies for the journey. The weather can change rapidly, so prepare for the worst.

3. Bring Them to Safety

   Guide the climber back to your shelter. Once there, they will become a guest and may offer rewards or advance the story.

Each rescued climber adds to your resort's population. Some may have special skills that help with maintenance or exploration. Managing these relationships is a key part of the story campaign guide.

Planning and Opening New Routes

Expanding your network of trails is essential for reaching new areas and rescuing more climbers. Route planning is a strategic element that requires careful consideration of resources and risk.

As you open new routes, you will also discover hidden areas and lore. For a complete list of what to find, check the secrets guide.

Key Tips for New Players

To help you get started on the right foot, here are some essential tips:

• Prioritize Food Production: A steady food supply is more important than luxury upgrades in the early game.
• Don't Ignore the Weather: Always check the forecast before embarking on a rescue mission.
• Talk to Everyone: Every character has a story. Engaging with them can provide valuable hints and unlock side quests.
• Save Often: The mountain is unforgiving. Manual saves can prevent hours of lost progress.

For a deeper dive into survival strategies, read our beginner tips and tips and tricks guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do first in ABOVE? Focus on securing your shelter's basic resources like food and wood. Then, attempt your first short rescue mission to learn the mechanics.

How do I get more climbers to my resort? You must actively rescue climbers from the mountain. Use your map to find them and plan safe routes to bring them back.

Can I fail in ABOVE? Yes. If your shelter runs out of critical resources or you lose too many climbers, it can lead to a game over. Careful management is key.

Is there a story in ABOVE? Yes, the game features a rich narrative driven by the climbers you rescue and the decisions you make. Your choices can lead to different endings.