Before a run ยท The new-run screens

Which character, which talents, which settings?

The choices you make before the clock starts and cannot take back: the character, the difficulty settings, and where the Planning Points from the last run go.

Every guide here is checked against the 9/2 Update (version 1.0.15511).

Start with this one

It answers the question the rest of the stage builds on.

Summons tag How a Survival Log run works, start to finish What actually happens across a Survival Log run?

The decisions, in the order the run poses them

Each one gives a default choice, the reason, when it holds, what it costs and what to do instead.

Old Cell Phone Which character to pick, and what each one starts with Which character should I play, and how do I unlock the others? Guide Aug 29, 2026 Moment of Decision Which talents to buy, and what the tree really costs Which talents should I buy first? Guide Sep 3, 2026 The First Choice What do the difficulty settings actually change? Which difficulty settings should I change? Guide Sep 3, 2026

How it works

The rules and formulas behind those decisions, with worked examples, and how to use the lists.

Check the Log Where Planning Points come from, and what a Time Loop costs How do I earn Planning Points, and should I spend them rewinding? How it works Sep 3, 2026 The First Choice What do the difficulty settings actually change? Which difficulty settings should I change? How it works Sep 3, 2026

Look it up

The lists a player at this stage keeps open. Each one works on its own, without reading anything.

Wage Slave Characters Who can I play, what do they start with, and what changes with the settings? Note Talents What can I buy with Planning Points? Laminated Badge Achievements What does each one ask for?