- Inheritance: You start by inheriting a dilapidated residence from your aunt located in a post-Soviet style town.
- First Job: Contact Mr. Żbik using the payphone to earn money for initial renovations and tools.
- Core Loop: The gameplay revolves around cleaning trash, painting walls, tiling floors, and performing odd jobs.
- Budgeting: Keep expenses low by reusing materials like leftover paint and tiles from client jobs.
- Maturity: The game features mature themes, including alcohol consumption and dark humor.
Getting Started: The Inheritance
Welcome to your new life. The game begins with a bus ride to a rural town where your aunt has gifted you her residence. Unfortunately, the property is in a severe state of disrepair.
Video Highlights:
- Introduction to the property and the initial state of the house.
- Interaction with the neighbor, Miss Barbara, and the local humor.
- First look at the interior mechanics and the "occupants."
Upon arrival, you will find the house cluttered with debris, old furniture, and mysterious stains. Your immediate goal is to assess the damage and secure a source of income.
The house is initially occupied by squatters. You must clear them out or wait for them to leave before you can effectively renovate the interior.
| Task | Description | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Locate House | Follow the path left from the bus stop to find number 101. | Property Access |
| Search for Change | Scour the house and yard for loose change. | Initial Funds |
| Clear Trash | Remove garbage bags and debris to make space. | Clean Workspace |
Earning Money: Your First Job
Renovation requires funds. Since the house is a mess, you need to work. Your aunt left a note mentioning her good friend, Mr. Żbik, who is a craftsman.
Find the Payphone
There is a payphone located outside near the gate. You need to collect enough loose change scattered around the house and yard to make a call.
Call Mr. Żbik
Use the payphone to contact Mr. Żbik. He will offer you a job painting a wall at his location. This serves as the tutorial for the painting mechanic.
The Painting Job
Travel to Mr. Żbik's location. You will be tasked with painting a wall. Be careful not to spill paint on the floor, or he will deduct it from your pay.
Electrical Mishap
Mr. Żbik may ask you to fix an electrical socket. In the current demo, this leads to a scripted event where he gets electrocuted, leaving you to finish the job and "inherit" his vehicle.
Always lay down foil or protection sheets before painting or plastering. Cleaning up spills costs time and money, which you cannot afford early in the game.
Renovation Mechanics
The core gameplay involves several distinct mechanics. Mastering these is essential to turning your aunt's house into a livable home.
Cleaning
- Pick Up & Throw: Interact with trash to pick it up.
- Trash Bags: Use bags to collect smaller debris items.
- Dumpsters: Locate dumpsters (often by the gate) to dispose of large trash bags.
Painting
- Preparation: Clean walls before painting.
- Tools: Use brushes or rollers (rollers are faster but may unlock later).
- Spills: Avoid getting paint on the floor to maximize payment.
Tiling
- Demolition: Remove old tiles with a hammer.
- Adhesive: Mix tile glue with water in a bucket.
- Placement: Lay tiles and use spacers for even grout lines.
In the demo, some physics interactions can be janky. If you get stuck carrying an object, try resetting the object's rotation or dropping it.
Tool Comparison
| Tool | Use Case | Efficiency | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hands | Moving trash, small furniture | Low | Free |
| Broom | Sweeping dust/debris | Medium | Low |
| Hammer | Destroying tiles/old walls | High | Low |
| Brush | Detailed painting | Low | Medium |
| Trowel | Applying plaster/glue | High | Low |
Advanced Renovation Strategy
Once you have earned some money, you can start fixing your own property. The strategy involves taking client jobs to gather resources and experience.
Resource Scavenging
Always check client sites for leftover materials. Paint, plaster, and tiles can often be taken from the job site and used in your own house.
The Balcony Job
A neighbor will hire you to fix a balcony destroyed by a falling sofa. This job teaches tiling and wall repair. Keep the leftover tiles!
Spackling Walls
Use plaster to fill holes in walls. Apply it, wait for it to dry (or speed it up), and then paint over it to make walls look "good as new."
Budget Management
Don't buy new tools if you can avoid it. Focus on buying materials only when necessary. The goal is "Low Budget Repairs," after all.
Mr. Żbik's advice on mixing tile glue ("Hope and good wishes") is a joke. Ensure you actually mix the glue and water properly, or the tiles will not stick.
Renovation Priority
| Priority | Task | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trash Removal | Clears space for movement and work. |
| 2 | Wall Repairs | Essential for painting and aesthetics. |
| 3 | Painting | Drastically improves the room's condition score. |
| 4 | Flooring/Tiling | High cost, high reward, improves value significantly. |
| 5 | Furniture Placement | The final step to make the house livable. |
Checklist: Early Game Progress
Use this checklist to track your progress in the first few hours of gameplay.
Early Game Milestones:
- Arrive at Aunt's House (No. 101)
- Collect 100+ currency in loose change
- Call Mr. Żbik from the payphone
- Complete the first painting job without spilling
- Clean the trash from the front and backyard
- Fix the neighbor's balcony tiles
- Purchase or acquire your own paint/tools
FAQ
Q: How do I rotate objects when placing them?
While holding an object, use the rotation controls (typically R or mouse wheel) to adjust the angle. If it gets stuck, use the 'Reset Rotation' option in the menu.
Q: Can I steal items from client houses?
Yes, the game allows you to take items like leftover paint and tiles from client locations. Mr. Żbik even encourages scavenging supplies to save money.
Q: Why did Mr. Żbik die during the electrical job?
This appears to be a scripted event in the demo/tutorial. It highlights the dangerous nature of the repairs and serves as a humorous, dark plot point to transition you to using his car.
Q: What is the 'Super Handyman 95' contest?
Mentioned in the game lore, it is a prestigious competition organized by SCREW (Society of Construction and Repairs Engineers and Workers). Winning this is likely a late-game goal.