Paper Animal Adventures is a colorful roguelike where you explore random floors, fight weird enemies, recruit buddies, and cook meals at camp. Runs change every time: new items, new characters, and new things to try. This guide breaks down the core systems and gives practical tips so you can jump in, survive longer, and have more fun.
1. Getting started
- Choose your difficulty (Normal, Hard, Very Hard). Hard is a good step once you know the basics.
- Pick a starting character and learn their basic attack and special skill. Each character grows differently—some are damage-focused, others support the team.
- Move through rooms, open chests, and watch for optional doors that can hide useful stuff.
2. Controls & HUD basics
- Basic attacks are ranged or melee depending on the character. Specials have cooldowns.
- Explore each room fully: loot, hidden items, and levers are often tucked away.
- Keep an eye on health and hunger. Camp floors restore and let you cook or trade.
3. Combat tips
- Use positioning. Many enemy attacks are directional or telegraphed—sidestep and punish.
- Save powerful skills for tougher enemies and bosses. Specials are often worth holding.
- Crowd-control and area attacks shine in big rooms. Single-target burst works best for bosses.
- If an enemy or room looks risky, retreat to a safer spot or use consumables.
4. Recruiting companions
- Some floors let you recruit partners (NPCs or pet-like recruits). They add damage, utility, or passive buffs.
- Manage the party: choose teammates that complement your build (tank + DPS, or healer + ranged DPS).
- Level up companions at camp to unlock stronger effects.
5. Items, cooking, and crafting
- Collect ingredients and access the cook pot on camp floors. Recipes combine items to make food, buffs, or stat increases. Check out our List of Recipe for Paper Animal Adventures!
- Beans are permanent growth items in many runs—finding and feeding beans can give lasting bonuses.
- Store rare items wisely. Some items transform or grant better versions when combined or used with specific resources.
- Always experiment: early answers may be weak, but recipes can be improved or paired with other gear later.
6. Camps, merchants, and upgrades
- Camp floors let you heal, cook, buy stickers/cards, open packs, and swap gear. Use them to prepare for the next dungeon stretch.
- Traders appear frequently on camps and usually give reasonable offers—check them for keys, stamina items, or gear.
- Mailbox and event presents sometimes give developer gifts that add a free buff or item. Don’t skip them.
7. Exploration & biomes
- Biomes change the feel and hazards of floors (flat plains, shiny caves, Kaboom Dunes, etc.). Learn biome mechanics: fire, falling rocks, or special enemy types.
- Map exploration matters—some floors reward full exploration with extra loot or keys.
- Some rooms (like Rift Rooms or special anchors) are rare and may hold badges or unique items—keep an eye out.
8. Difficulty strategy
- On Hard: expect bigger maps, stronger enemies, and hidden modifiers. Play safer, pick up crowd control, and keep a plan for healing.
- Very Hard is for experienced players—use meta knowledge of synergies and the best items.
Paper Animal Adventures mixes light-hearted charm with deep roguelike choices. Learn one character’s kit, make smart use of camp cooking, and keep experimenting with companions and gear. Each run teaches something new—play relaxed, push a little harder each time, and you’ll steadily unlock more content and better builds. Want a quick checklist or a starter build for a specific character? I can write that next.