First time in: age notice, language, and the announcement

Age notice

The first dialog warns about horror content. This site recommends 18+. If scary scenes or sound get to you, turn the volume down first. Confirm only closes the notice — the countdown has not started yet.

Pick a language first

The top-right menu includes English, Traditional Chinese, Thai, and others. Changing it may ask you to exit and re-enter, so set it before the countdown, not during.

Opening rules from the announcement

Once the countdown starts, do these in order:

1. Find an empty room and get in bed. Go as soon as the red countdown appears.
2. Don't pile into the same room. If the bed is taken, leave immediately.
3. Sleeping is how you earn coins. Spend them on the bed, the door, and room buildings.
4. When the door is getting hit, look at upgrade or repair. Close other menus first.
5. Don't leave your room to go look. Even if another room's light goes out.
6. Honey Badger Store sells in-run items. Read the effect and which currency it uses before buying.

Before you tap Accept

Check these four things first:

• Language is already set
• You know where Back, coins, and lightning are
• After the announcement, you go find an empty room
• Get in bed before browsing the store in the hallway

A lot of opening losses aren't the ghost. They're still sitting in a menu.