All 9 starting scenarios in 1.0
The full launch list has nine scenarios. Your scenario selects your opening route; difficulty is a separate choice.
Quick answer
The full launch list has nine scenarios. Your scenario selects your opening route; difficulty is a separate choice.
On this page
Choose a route
| Scenario | Main focus |
|---|---|
| Apprentice | General trading; the developer’s beginner recommendation |
| Water Merchant | Testing, purification and water sales |
| Fence | Stolen goods and black market relationships |
| Gunsmith | Weapons and modifications; begins with a Class 1 permit |
| Chemist | Chemistry equipment and recipes |
| Hydroponic Farmer | Growing crops in limited space |
| Aquafarmer | Fish, tanks and water quality |
| Rat Wrangler | Animal care and breeding |
| Rock Bottom | Starting with nothing |
Which should you pick?
Choose Apprentice for your first run. Pick a specialist when you want to learn that production chain. Rock Bottom is a deliberate resource constraint: it is easier to assess once you understand recurring bills and selling. These are editorial recommendations, not a numerical tier list.
Six-route guides are outdated
The older website and promotional copy describe six routes; the October 28 launch announcement explicitly lists nine. Junker, Organ Trader and Street Food Vendor were announced for future updates, so they are not counted as playable launch starts.
Choose a complete specialist loop
Chemist now has reaction, drying and packaging instructions; Hydroponic Farmer has a full planting and Huge Nutrifruit route; Gunsmith has permits, orders and printing. Fence is chiefly a stock-risk decision: compare stolen discounts against inspection exposure, secure storage and a compatible buyer. Apprentice, Water Merchant, Rat Wrangler, Aquafarmer and Rock Bottom retain their existing focused guides.
Sources & version scope
Sources reviewed November 01, 2026. Official patches establish the changes they describe; earlier community reports are not independently tested in 1.0 here.