Welcome to No Rest for the Wicked, Moon Studios' challenging new action RPG. You'll be diving into a dark, atmospheric world as a Cerim, tasked with navigating the treacherous lands of Isola and battling grotesque creatures and formidable bosses. Expect intense, weighty combat, deep exploration, and resource management as you fight for survival.
This guide is your essential companion for mastering the game. We'll cover everything you need to know, from understanding the intricate combat mechanics and finding crucial equipment to conquering tough bosses and uncovering all the secrets the world holds. Whether you're struggling with a specific encounter or just want to optimize your playthrough, we've got you covered.
Walkthrough
Follow the intended route in No Rest for the Wicked, as enemy types and item availability may change during development.
- 1Follow the intended route, avoiding any skips.
- 2Use the descriptions on each gun (except the Valkyrie) to understand its best use and strategy.
- 3Be aware that enemy types and amounts may change.
- 4Item availability and placements are subject to change; if a non-key item is missing, move on.
- 5If a key item is missing, contact the author.
- Gun descriptions are your primary guide for strategy, as builds are still being balanced.
- Do not rely on static item placements for non-key items.
Chapter 1 - Detour
Find Jacob's Letter and Admittance Policy near Ella's Truck in No Rest for the Wicked. Learn about early game combat and item locations.
After watching the opening cutscene (a non-interactive cinematic the game plays automatically) (a non-interactive scene that advances the story), you'll be standing next to Ella's truck. In the backseat on the driver's side is Jacob's Letter. Grab that before walking towards the grassy area. There are several notes scattered throughout the game, and each one will give a certain amount of experience points. It's recommended to collect as many as possible for an extra edge in combat, especially in the early parts. There are also several Challenges and an Achievement (Expert Investigator) for collecting them.
On a table next to a lantern is Admittance Policy. Continue left down the road towards the red fog.
Roadblock
After the cutscene, backtrack a bit, and on the right you'll see a pile of logs. Jump over them and continue down the path. Keep going down the trail for a cutscene.
South Breck Trail
Continue on until there's a branch in the path. Looking at the fence, take the right path. On the front of the tent is You Were Right. Return to the branch and take the other path.
At the bottom of the rocky trail you'll find a wall has collapsed and blocked most of the exit. Interact with it to go to the next area.
Vacant Cabin
As you approach the gated house you'll see a large sign with pink text. From there go left, following the gate, to find a bag of Scrap and a Health Drink. Occasionally, while collecting scrap off the ground, "LUCKY!" will display over Ella's head. This indicates that the amount of scrap collected from the bag has been doubled. Return to the sign and go through the gate next to it. As you approach the house there's One Star Review on the ground to the left of path.
Go inside and immediately turn right into the bathroom for a Health Elixir next to the sink. Exit that room and go down the hall. On the right, across from the fireplace is a Save Point. In the kitchen, open the right door of the fridge for a Beer. These will permanently increase your offense by three. Go through the back door, opposite the kitchen.
On the back porch is a Health Drink on the bench. Go down the stairs and left. On the wall of the house is the breaker switch. Hit it for a cutscene. From there follow the fence to a small dock. At the end of it, on the toolbox, is a Lockpick. Grab it and head back inside.
To open the door next to the fireplace, use the Lockpick. Inside the dresser is the Jogger costume, and there's some Scrap under the wall shelves opposite the door. Go out the front door for your first fight.
Combat Tutorial
Combat consists of running around the arena to approach or flee from enemies, and selecting one or several options from the action menu to be completed sequentially. The actions you're able to take are, from top to bottom:
- Change the current target
- Attacking with your equipped gun at a varying cost of stamina
- Using a skill at a varying cost of stamina, energy, and scrap - Skills are only obtained through leveling up
- Using an item at a cost of 500 stamina
- Switching your equipped gun with another in your inventory at a cost of 150 stamina (currently unavailable) - By default, switching guns requires reloading
- Confirming and executing the action(s)
Your action queue has a maximum length of ten. While it is open, time will slow to less than a crawl, and you can still take damage. If you force a reload during the queue, you will not be able to move, but reloading outside of the queue will allow movement, albeit at a slower walking speed.
Most enemies are vulnerable to being shot on either their flanks or their rear (more information can be found in the Beastiary). There is a special type of attack called a "Counter". This can be done simply by firing on an enemy that is in attack mode. Where the enemy is positioned or facing doesn't matter. As long as they are actively intent on inflicting damage on you (aka moving), your attacks will be considered counters and will do slightly more damage.
Your distance from an enemy affects both your damage and accuracy. You'll know if you're in your equipped gun's range by either the green checkmark (in range) or red X (not in range) under the enemy's name.
Each encounter will reward you with experience points and scrap when cleared, with bonuses to each being applied based on your performance as well as any special bonuses given by equipment.
After killing the enemy, notice the large pile of leaves on the ground near the front of the house. Around the middle of the pile is a spot that, when you run over it, will kick up several leaves. Do this ten times, getting entirely off of the pile and letting all the leaves fall back down before kicking them up again, to get the "Unbe-leaf-able" achievement and some easy Challenge points. This can be finicky, and spinning in circles doesn't seem effective, though it does sometimes work.
Go through the other metal gate in the yard.
Sea Spray Trail
Run forward until you reach another battle.
Afterwards you'll notice there are four branching paths. Facing the Vacant Cabin, go left for some Scrap, then take the path opposite that one.
After this battle are two more paths. Take each of them for some Scrap next to a trashcan, and Blueberries in a bush next to a box. Blueberries permanently increase your stamina by ten points. Now return to the original junction and go left.
Campsite #1
At the top of a hill is a campsite. On the table with the yellow cooler is a Rusty Coin (1/23) and It's Not A Deer. Next to the left tent is a Health Drink and some Scrap.
Continue on the path to the next battle.
When it's done you'll see three new paths to take. First, jump over the pile of logs blocking the path to another campsite.
Campsite #2
There are some Blueberries to the left of the tent, and Missing Glasses is [text cut off].
- Collect all notes for experience points and to work towards the Expert Investigator achievement.
- Beers permanently increase your offense by three.
- Blueberries permanently increase your stamina by ten points.
- The "Unbe-leaf-able" achievement requires kicking up leaves ten times, ensuring they fully settle between kicks.
Chapter 2 - Discovery
Follow our comprehensive walkthrough for Chapter 2: Discovery in No Rest for the Wicked. Find all items, defeat enemies, and unlock secrets in Seaside Six and Wyatt Park.
- 1Seaside Six Office - 1: Enter the locked building by breaking the window with your axe. Loot the Backpack for an extra inventory slot. Use the Save Point and Coffee Machine. Grab the Cabin #2 Key and [Lost Key] from behind the desk.
- 2Continue along the left wall to find a Tub, [A Reminder], two locked drawers, an empty bathroom, the Deliverance shotgun, and [Please Be Careful].
- 3Exit the building and go left, then right towards a fallen tree to find Scrap.
- 4Turn around and find the Leather Jacket armor in a box between two signs.
- 5Nearby is a Workbench. Purchase and equip the (Armor Part) Scavenger skill from the Extras shop using Challenge Points.
- 6Enter Cabin #2.
- 7Cabin #2: Loot [Torn Paper] in front of the couch. Interact with the clogged toilet in the bathroom for the "No Thanks" achievement and Challenge Points. Collect High Powered Ammo (HPA) from the bathtub. Find Scrap next to the toolbox in the kitchen and an Orange from the fridge, which permanently increases defense.
- 8Exit Cabin #2 and return to the Seaside Six Office.
- 9Seaside Six Office - 2: In the back room, move the painting (up, left, down, down, up, right) to unlock a drawer containing the Cabin #4 Key.
- 10Head outside towards the cabins. Go to Cabin #2 and ascend the stairs in front of it to enter Cabin #3.
- 11Cabin #3: Collect Scrap in the kitchen. Use your axe to open the bedroom and find [Writer's Block] next to the TV. Find Scrap in the bathroom and a Lockpick on the bathtub.
- 12Leave Cabin #3, go downstairs, then right. Head to the small, dark building and use the Lockpick to enter the Laundry Room.
- 13Laundry Room: Loot the Relaxed costume, an Empty Cup, [Tiny Scrap Paper], a Health Drink, and Scrap.
- 14Exit the Laundry Room and go up the stairs on the right. Find the Knight Statue (1/14) on the fence in front of a large red breaker box.
- 15Go right from the statue to Cabin #4.
- 16Cabin #4: Collect Scrap behind the couch and HPA in the kitchen. Enter the bedroom for a cutscene. Collect the Wyatt Park Key and the Parry book next to the red flower, and the Vigor armor attachment on the other side of the bed. Find HPA in the bathroom.
- 17Head back to the office. Exit through the window and go left through the parking lot to a locked gate. Use the Wyatt Park Key to proceed.
- 18Wyatt Park: Go forward for a battle.
- 19Search behind some rocks for two bags of Scrap and some HPA.
- 20Pass through the gap in the fence and immediately go right to find Cookies on a picnic table, which permanently increase health.
- 21Take the other path. Find Scrap next to a trashcan.
- 22Shaleview: Find HPA, [Bird Watching], and Scrap on three benches.
- 23Head towards the nearby building, Park Maintenance.
- 24Park Maintenance: Loot two lockers in front of the building. Inside, find Scrap, a Workbench, HPA in another locker, a Whetstone (permanently increases Brutal attack damage), a Tub, a Chemical, [Incident Report], and a Save Point.
- 25Exit through the double doors and follow the tree line right to find Scrap in a blue box.
- 26Open the box on the card table for a Rusty Coin (2/23). Find a Beer in the small fridge and an Empty Cup in front of the trash cans.
- Backpacks grant an additional inventory slot, up to a maximum of twenty.
- The Parry mechanic is do-or-die, especially for the upcoming difficulty spike. Practice it constantly.
- Consumables like Oranges and Cookies provide permanent stat boosts.
- Chemicals can be combined with other items to create enhanced versions (e.g., Hand Grenades to Buster Grenades).
- Be mindful of enemy abilities, such as Tentaclaws summoning reinforcements or Octoterrors healing allies.
- Cabin #2 Key
- [Lost Key]
- Deliverance shotgun
- [A Reminder]
- [Please Be Careful]
- Leather Jacket armor
- Cabin #4 Key
- [Torn Paper]
- "No Thanks" achievement
- High Powered Ammo (HPA)
- Orange (permanent defense +3)
- [Writer's Block]
- Lockpick
- Relaxed costume
- [Tiny Scrap Paper]
- Health Drink
- Knight Statue (1/14)
- Wyatt Park Key
- Parry book
- Vigor (armor attachment)
- Cookies (permanent health +18)
- Wood Glue
- Whetstone (permanent Brutal attack damage increase)
- Chemical
- Rusty Coin (2/23)
- Beer
Chapter 5 - Damnation
Follow our detailed walkthrough for Chapter 5 - Damnation in No Rest for the Wicked. Discover item locations, enemy encounters, puzzles, and key items like the Spring Key and Autumn Key.
- 1Wyatt Manor - Foyer: From the stairs, go left. Collect HPA, enter the room on the right.
- 2Drawing Room: Follow the right wall. Collect Cookies, [Purchase Request] on a dresser. Find a Save Point and Tub. Head right. Enemies: Octoterror, Latchling x2. Enter the room near the green stairs.
- 3Ballroom: Enemies: Retchkin x3. Collect HPA, open the Music Box. Unlock the door, go up the green stairs, collecting Scrap. Collect HPA from the green drawer. Follow the hall, enter the second door on the left.
- 4Master Bedroom: Follow the left wall. Collect Orange, Spring Key, open Music Box, collect Energy Drink. Leave the room, go left. Collect Scrap. Enemies: Octoterror, Juvenile Stalker. Collect HPA from the window sill, Hand Grenade from a table. Find Rusty Coin (18/23) in a green drawer. Go through the door to the upstairs Foyer.
- 5The Foyer - Upstairs: Follow the left wall. Collect Scrap, Knight Statue (11/14). Head downstairs, collect Scrap. Go right twice towards a glowing flower. Collect Wooden Box. Go through the door, left down the hall. Enemies: Mangler, Juvenile Stalker, Drainling. Open the Music Box on the right window sill. Go through the Spring door.
- 6The Music Room: Collect Scrap, open Music Box. Collect Summer Key, [The Four Seasons]. Go up the green stairs. Enemies: Latchling x2, Drainling. Enter the Summer door on the right.
- 7Guest Bedroom: Follow the right wall. Collect Health Drink, Ring of Lust, [Inheritance], HPA. Open the attached Summer door, return to the hall, go right to the next Summer room.
- 8The Hollow Nursery: Collect Scrap, Shatter (gun attachment), [Beneath the Western Sky]. Interact with the clock, set times to 11:05, 9:15, 6:00. Collect Autumn Key. Leave the room. Follow the hall right, use Autumn Key on the last door on the right.
- 9The Library: Enemies: Octoterror, Juvenile Stalker, Drainling. Collect Tactician (gun attachment), Scrap, HPA, Autumn costume, [Estate Investigation]. Solve the flower puzzle (pink, blue, white, yellow, red). Collect Winter Key. Return to the hallway, go left to the last door on the right, use Winter Key.
- 10The Dining Room: Collect Scrap, Empty Cup, HPA. Go through the archway to the Kitchen.
- 11The Kitchen: Enemies: Drainling x2. Collect Chemical, Carrots. Use Larder Key on the door. Go downstairs.
- 12Larder: Collect Beer, Vending Machine, Lockpick, Leek, Scrap, Pliers, Weapon Manual (NG+), Workbench. Go back upstairs, left into the small room. Collect HPA. Place Wooden Box into the fire. Use Pliers to get Seed Key. Go upstairs.
- 13Servant's Quarters: Enemies: Latchling, Drainling x2. Collect Flash Grenade, HPA. Go through the door into the upper Foyer.
- 14Upper Foyer: Enemies: Octoterror, Retchkin, Juvenile Stalker. Use Seed Key on the door to the right for a cutscene. Collect Closed Casket shotgun, [Custodes Seminis]. Fast travel unlocked. Go downstairs to The Foyer.
- 15The Foyer - Lower: Enemies: Giant Skitter x2, Octoterror. Return to The Dining Room. Get the door opposite the Winter door with the Lockpick.
- 16The Lounge: Collect Backpack, Scrap, Rusty Coin (19/23). Solve chip puzzle (041319#) for Shiver (gun attachment). Return to The Foyer, go right for Rusty Coin (20/23). Hang the Painting of a Woman. Use the revealed elevator.
- Save frequently, especially before entering new areas or after tough fights.
- Keep an eye on your inventory; you'll need space for keys and quest items.
- The Music Boxes often contain useful items or lore.
- Pay attention to environmental clues for puzzles.
- The Pliers are clutch for obtaining the Seed Key.
- Closed Casket (shotgun)
- Spring Key, Summer Key, Autumn Key, Winter Key, Seed Key
- Rusty Coin (18/23, 19/23, 20/23)
- Knight Statue (11/14)
- Shatter (gun attachment)
- Tactician (gun attachment)
- Shiver (gun attachment)
- [Purchase Request], [The Four Seasons], [Inheritance], [Beneath the Western Sky], [Estate Investigation], [Custodes Seminis]
- Ability to fast travel to select locations.
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