Gloomwood Complete Beginner Guide & Full Walkthrough — Escape the City of Smoke

Getting Started — Your First 30 Minutes

Gloomwood begins with you trapped in a grim city overrun by plague and monsters. You have nothing but your wits and a rusty blade. Here is exactly what to do in your first 30 minutes:

1. Wake up in the cell and pick up the Rusty Scalpel from the table. This is your first weapon.
2. Listen at the door before opening it. An enemy patrols the hallway. Wait for him to pass.
3. Sneak behind the guard and perform a stealth kill (press F when close). This is silent and does not alert others.
4. Loot the guard's body for a key and 3 Pistol Rounds.
5. Unlock the eastern door and follow the corridor to the Armory. Inside, you will find the Revolver on a table.
6. Exit through the window into the alley. Follow the alley to the left to reach the first safe room.
7. Save your game at the typewriter in the safe room. Congratulations — you have completed the tutorial.

Core Mechanics Explained

Stealth & Detection

Your visibility is indicated by the eye icon at the bottom of the screen. An open eye means you are visible. A closed eye means you are hidden. Crouching reduces visibility. Darkness reduces detection range. Noise (running, shooting, breaking glass) increases detection.

Health & Healing

Health does not regenerate. Use Bandages (found in drawers and on enemies) to heal. Each bandage restores 25% health. You can carry up to 5 bandages at a time.

Ammunition

Ammo is scarce. Revolver rounds are the most common. Shotgun shells are rare. Rifle rounds are very rare. Conserve ammo by using stealth kills whenever possible.

Safe Rooms & Typewriters

Typewriters are Gloomwood's save points. Interact with a typewriter to save your game. Safe rooms also contain storage chests where you can deposit items for later retrieval.

For a deeper dive into weapons, see our Gloomwood Weapons Guide.

Full Area Walkthrough

The Prison — Tutorial Area

Key Items: Rusty Scalpel, Revolver, 6 Pistol Rounds
Enemies: Prison Guards (4)
Boss: None

Your first goal is escaping the prison. Stealth kill the guards one by one. The Revolver is in the Armory — grab it even if you prefer melee. It is essential for the first boss.

The Docks

Key Items: Dock Key, Shotgun, 4 Shells, Crowbar
Enemies: Dock Workers (6), Dogs (2)
Boss: The Dock Master

The Docks are a large outdoor area. The Crowbar is in a crate near the warehouse — it opens locked doors and breaks wooden barricades. The Dock Master is a tough enemy with a shotgun. Use the environment for cover and land headshots with your Revolver.

The Slums

Key Items: Slum Key, Rifle, Bandages (4), Lockpick
Enemies: Plague Victims (8), Hunters (3)
Boss: The Plague Doctor

The Slums are a maze of narrow streets and buildings. The Plague Doctor is a fast, aggressive boss that uses a scalpel and throws poison vials. Stay mobile and use the Shotgun for maximum damage.

The Cathedral

Key Items: Cathedral Key, Holy Water (2), Final Key
Enemies: Cultists (10), Plague Priests (4)
Boss: The High Priest

The Cathedral is the largest area. The High Priest has two phases. Phase 1: ranged magic attacks. Phase 2: melee with a blessed blade. Holy Water deals bonus damage to him. Use it in phase 2.

The Escape Route — Final Area

Key Items: None (escape sequence)
Enemies: Elite Guards (6), Final Boss
Boss: The General

The General is the final boss. He uses a rifle and has a dog companion. Kill the dog first, then focus on the General. Use the pillars for cover and land shots during his reload animation.

For detailed enemy strategies, see our Gloomwood Enemy Guide.

10 Essential Beginner Tips

1. Stealth kill everything. Every enemy you stealth kill saves ammo and avoids alerting others.
2. Check every drawer. Bandages, ammo, and lockpicks are often hidden in drawers and cabinets.
3. Use the environment. Breakable walls, crawl spaces, and vents provide alternative paths.
4. Listen for audio cues. Enemy footsteps, conversations, and ambient sounds give away positions.
5. Save at every typewriter. Gloomwood has no auto-save. If you die without saving, you lose progress.
6. Carry the Crowbar. It opens locked doors and breaks barricades. Essential for exploration.
7. Do not hoard ammo. Use your Revolver when necessary. Dying with full ammo is worse than using it.
8. Explore thoroughly. Secret rooms and hidden paths contain valuable loot and shortcuts.
9. Use Holy Water on bosses. Holy Water deals massive damage to boss enemies. Save it for them.
10. Run if overwhelmed. You cannot fight every enemy. Running and hiding is a valid strategy.

Progression Milestones

For farming ammo and supplies, see our Gloomwood Loot Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions