Paleolith News

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We’ve just opened playtest signups for early builds of the game.

You can now request access on our Steam page:
🔗 Paleolith Steam page

No demo yet - the playtest is still some time away. But signing up now helps us plan and shape the test.

Thanks again for being here!

We’re excited to share the latest trailer for Paleolith! Over the past few weeks, we’ve been hard at work setting up every shot and animation rig, and we’re thrilled with how it all came together.

This new trailer offers a fresh glimpse into the world of Paleolith — from its harsh natural beauty to the raw survival mechanics that define the experience. Whether you’ve been following our journey from the start or just discovering the game, this is the perfect way to get a feel for what’s in store.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZaPqiXGIbYk?rel=0
Let us know what you think in the comments, join the discussion on our Discord and X or become a Patreon for exclusive deep dive materials and more!
And don’t forget — we’re posting regular development blogs, so make sure to follow us here on Steam to stay up to date. Welcome to the wild!

One of the first challenges you’ll face in any survival game is finding food. Unlike other threats in Paleolith, hunger is a constant — an ever-present need that doesn’t ebb and flow with the seasons the way cold does. Fortunately, the wilderness offers many ways to fill your stomach.
[h3]Foraging[/h3]
The simplest and most accessible option. Wander through the forest and gather berries, roots, mushrooms, and other edible plants. Not all of them are safe to eat, though — sometimes, learning which plants are nutritious and which are toxic is a matter of trial and error. That knowledge will be essential as you progress.
[h3]Hunting[/h3]
This is where things get more advanced. Animals in Paleolith aren’t just passive targets — they have keen senses and will actively avoid being spotted, let alone attacked. Whether you're trying to bring down a deer or a rabbit, you’ll need to carefully consider your approach, using stealth and planning to get close enough for a clean kill.
[h3]Fishing[/h3]
If hunting is too risky, fishing offers a more accessible — though still challenging — alternative. Without modern tools like fishing lines, you’ll have to wade into streams with a spear in hand. While it’s easier to strike a fish swimming past than to chase down a deer, it still demands patience, timing, and a bit of luck.
[h2]Doubting season[/h2]
Finding food is just the first step. Now you have to figure out whether it's edible and if it needs to be prepared. Meat, for example, is rarely poisonous but almost always requires cooking unless you’re desperate enough to eat it raw. But ignoring the basic art of prehistoric barbecue is a recipe for disaster — raw meat invites sickness and leaves you feeling unsatisfied.

When it comes to vegetarian options, things get trickier. Not everything you gather needs cooking, but that doesn’t make it safe to eat. As we’ve mentioned before, meta knowledge plays a big role here. Learning through experience — both good and bad — will help you identify the safest plants to eat and the ones best avoided.

[h2]Plan your diet[/h2]
Food availability in Paleolith changes drastically with the seasons. Spring and summer offer bountiful foraging opportunities, but as autumn fades into winter, resources become scarce. You’ll need to plan ahead, preserving what you can and learning which foods spoil quickly and which can be stored for longer periods.

Some items will keep for weeks, maybe even months, while others will rot within days if not consumed. Knowing the difference between the two will be vital as you try to survive through the leaner months.

As you can see, food gathering in Paleolith is more than just a repetitive task — it’s a constant, evolving challenge. We’re striving to deliver an authentic experience that forces you to adapt and learn from your mistakes.

What other food-related mechanics would you like to see in Paleolith? Let us know in the comments!

Once we decided on Paleolith’s time period, the next big question was: where should the game take place?

Survival games explore all kinds of environments — some set their challenges in dense jungles, vast deserts, open oceans, or even deep space. Each setting brings its own unique hardships, from the relentless heat of the sun to the crushing pressure of the deep sea. But for Paleolith, we needed an environment that naturally supports our core gameplay loop.


[h2]Temper our expectations[/h2]
Imagine Paleolith took place in the tropics. What challenges would the player face? Heat, monsoons, droughts — these are real threats, but they don’t provide the structured, escalating survival difficulty we were looking for.

Instead, we wanted something with clear seasonal progression, where the environment itself becomes an evolving challenge. A temperate continental climate was the obvious choice, with its four distinct seasons gradually increasing in difficulty — leading up to winter, the ultimate test of survival.

As we mentioned before, winter in Paleolith isn’t just a cosmetic change — it reshapes the way you play. Resources dwindle, animals migrate, temperatures plummet, and every decision you make can mean the difference between life and death. This natural survival curve makes for an experience that is both organic and relentless.


[h2]Branching out[/h2]
With the climate set, the next question was: what kind of terrain would early humans seek out?
A lone survivor wouldn’t last long in open grasslands or barren mountains — they offer little protection, scarce resources, and few food sources.

A forest, on the other hand, provides natural shelter, abundant materials, and diverse wildlife. It’s the perfect setting for a game about primitive survival, offering a rich but dangerous ecosystem where you can thrive — if you learn how to use it.

[h2]Expanding the horizons[/h2]
We’ve explored the idea of introducing other biomes, but each would require significant changes to the core survival mechanics. A desert, for example, would demand new systems for water scarcity and heat management, while an arctic tundra would emphasize clothing and warmth above all else.

For now, we’re focused on perfecting the default survival experience — but who knows? Maybe one day, Paleolith will expand beyond the forests into harsher, more extreme environments.

Would you like to see different biomes in the future? Let us know in the comments or on Discord!

[h3]Establishing our baseline[/h3]

Once we settled on the time period for Paleolith, we dove deep into research to understand the tools early humans used to survive. At this point in history, people hadn't yet mastered raw material crafting — there was no metalwork, no pottery, no refined tools. That left us with the most primitive yet essential instruments: sticks and stones.

Have you ever walked through a forest, spotted a particularly good-looking stick, and thought, "Wow, this would make a great spear"? That’s your survival instinct kicking in — the same instinct you'll rely on in Paleolith. Not all sticks are created equal, and in the wild, you'll quickly learn which ones are strong enough for hunting, building, or crafting.

Of course, sticks alone won’t get you far. Some people enjoy collecting nice stones instead — and in Paleolith, these are just as valuable. Different stones serve different purposes. Blunt, solid rocks make excellent hammers, useful for construction or even throwing at birds and small animals. Sharp stones, on the other hand, are perfect for crafting your first axe, shaping wooden spears, or even preparing food.


[h3]Survival is About Ingenuity[/h3]

Beyond wood and stone, other materials in the environment will determine your success. Need rope? Some types of grass might work — but not just any grass. You’ll have to experiment through trial and error to find the best substitute. Need a needle for stitching? Animal bones can do the trick — if you have the patience to sort through remains and find a well-shaped one.
This leads to an important realization: Paleolith isn’t based on traditional crafting trees or recipe lists. Instead of unlocking tools artificially, you’ll rely on knowledge, intuition, and experience to craft what you need.


[h3]A Game That Respects Your Intelligence[/h3]

We believe that meta knowledge isn’t a design flaw — it’s a feature. The more you understand the game’s systems, the more efficient you’ll become in future playthroughs. We don’t impose artificial restrictions on progression because survival shouldn’t feel like following a checklist — it should feel earned.

From the very start, you can do anything — if you know how. What resources should you collect? Which mushrooms and berries are safe to eat? How do you properly air a spear for hunting? What construction techniques work best for shelter or fire pits? Nothing is locked behind arbitrary barriers. It’s all available — if you figure it out.

Do you enjoy games that treat you with respect and honesty? Paleolith will.