Nightwave Manual
Everything you need to survive your first nights and build something that lasts.
Contents: Controls · Getting started · Survival · Building · Combat · Blood Moon · The world · Settlements · Modes · Help
Controls
All keys can be rebound in Settings → Controls. Nightwave also has full controller support: the right trigger attacks, the left trigger aims, and the right stick looks.
Movement
W A S D | Move |
Mouse | Look |
Space | Jump |
Left Shift | Sprint |
C | Crouch |
Left Alt | Roll / dodge |
Combat
Left mouse | Attack / fire |
Right mouse | Aim |
R | Reload |
G | Shove |
Q | Ultimate ability |
1 – 0 | Hotbar slots |
World
E | Interact / pick up |
Z | Quick stash |
Tab | Inventory & crafting |
M | Map |
O | Journal & quests |
L | Settlement |
Esc | Pause / settings |
Building (press B)
B | Toggle build mode |
V | Build menu |
Q | Build wheel |
← / → | Previous / next piece |
Z / E | Previous / next set |
R | Rotate |
F | Repair |
C | Demolish |
X | Demolish mode |
T | Tint |
G | Auto-roof |
H | Wall ring |
J | Fill room |
K | Copy storey |
Y | Select |
U | Move |
I | Upgrade |
N | Save blueprint |
Getting started
- Pick a mode (Survival, Creative or Hardcore) and adjust the world options to taste.
- You start in the Misty Forest with almost nothing. Gather wood, stone and fibre, and open Tab to craft your first tools.
- Build a campfire and a simple shelter before your first night. Zombies are far more dangerous after dark.
- Follow the journal (O) for your questline. It guides you through each land's story.
Survival
- Hunger and thirst drain over time. Cook real meals over a fire and brew drinks; cooked food restores more and some meals give buffs.
- Food spoils. Eat fresh food first and store the rest properly.
- Stamina powers sprinting, rolling and melee. Don't run dry in a fight.
- Heat and cold change with the four seasons and each land. Dress for the Tundra, and find shade and water in the heat.
- Scavenge cabins, towns, wrecks, lighthouses and dungeons for loot, blueprints and rare trinkets.
Building
- Press B to enter build mode and V to choose pieces: walls, doors, roofs, traps, turrets and lights.
- Speed tools: G auto-roofs a room, H rings an area with walls, J fills a room, and K copies a whole storey.
- Upgrade pieces (I) to stronger materials and repair damage (F) after attacks.
- Power: place generators and batteries, then wire powered doors, floodlights, turrets and machines.
- Blueprints: select a build and save it (N) to paste it anywhere later.
Combat
- Headshots deal extra damage. Knock zombies down and finish them.
- Shove (G) buys space; time your blocks to parry, and chain light and heavy hits into combos.
- Mod your guns with scopes, suppressors and special ammo. Gear comes in five tiers.
- Spend perk points across six perk trees to shape your playstyle.
The Blood Moon
On a Blood Moon night a horde comes for your walls. Before it rises: repair and upgrade your defences, set traps and turrets, light the perimeter, and stock ammo, food and medicine. Hold the line until dawn.
The world
- Misty Forest, Frozen Tundra, Cherry Blossom Vale, The Riftlands and the Cajun Bayou: each land has its own story, guardian boss, mutations and building set.
- The sea: build a boat to reach islands, hunt sharks and fish for the Glowing Leviathan.
- Tame mounts, befriend a dog, raise livestock and farm.
- Burn out infested nests to reclaim the land around them.
Settlements
Rescue survivors and bring them home. In the settlement screen (L) give them jobs, keep their morale up, and grow a town that helps defend itself. Your choices lead to one of two endings: escape, or light the beacon and call everyone home.
Modes & options
- Survival: the full experience. Creative: build freely. Hardcore: one life, tougher world.
- Accessibility options and difficulty assists are in Settings.
- Bonus Bullet Hell mode from the main menu.
Help & support
Found a bug or stuck? Post in the Bug Reports forum or email support@freethevibe.com. Please read the health & safety warning before playing.