Starting out in this quirky life-sim brawler might feel overwhelming, but here are a bunch of practical noob-friendly tips that will help you get off the ground smoothly in your first 30 to 60 minutes of gameplay. From building relationships and earning money, to keeping your stats balanced and preparing for your first fight, this guide is packed with everything you need to stay afloat—and then some.

Step One: Meet Henry and Get Your First Perk

You begin at the Old House. One of your first priorities should be to head over to Henry’s house. He’s a friendly face and an important NPC. He’ll ask you to fetch him a burger, which you can buy from Apu’s shop. Do it, then come back to share a movie moment with him—romantic, really. This event kicks off your connection with Henry and unlocks a key game mechanic: the perk system.

Open up your menu using Triangle or Y (depending on your platform), then head to the third tab. Scroll down with the D-pad to find a perk called Slogger. Use your Retro Points (look for the rockstar devil horn icon) to buy it. This perk boosts your work efficiency—meaning more cash per shift. It’s one of the best early-game choices and helps you avoid feeling like you’re stuck or soft-locked. Even though you can’t really soft-lock (Henry will feed you popcorn if you’re broke and starving), it’s a good safety net to start strong.

Step Two: Start Working and Building Reputation

One of the best starter jobs is at Bobo’s Farm. Each location you work at has a reputation system. As you work more, you’ll unlock promotions. These unlock better rewards and options—especially at Bobo’s, where the second-tier promotion gives you access to the most cost-effective food and energy items in the game.

Speaking of stats, keep a close eye on your Mood Meter—the red, yellow, and green bar in the upper-left corner. It’s just as important as food and energy. A great way to maintain high mood levels is by visiting the Noodle Shop and buying Sweet Sticks. They’re unmistakable and give +20 to mood, which is a huge deal early on.

Step Three: Managing Mama and Cooking Mechanics

Now let’s talk about home life. Mama is… temperamental, to put it nicely. If she’s sleeping during the day, you won’t be able to cook. That’s where sleeping pills come in. Ask Apu about them early on, and once you buy candy, you can drop it in the dog bowl next to Mama when she’s asleep. This lets you use the stove freely—an essential part of managing food costs. Cooking gives you more energy per dollar than most snacks or vending items.

And yes, in the beginning, cooking is the way to go. It’s more efficient than relying on pre-packaged food. So be proactive about getting the candy and sedating Mama when needed. It’s a little messed up, but hey, it works.

Step Four: Working Out, Fighting, and the Gym System

When you visit the gym, you can train or sign up for fights. But here’s something important—you don’t need to go to the gym bulletin board to register. As time passes and the clock ticks, you’ll get pop-ups telling you that you can register or that a fight is available.

Just hit your map, go to Silver’s League, and navigate to the first tab. Scroll down to pick your fight. It auto-selects your opponent based on your current league position. Once you register, you’ll see a countdown of days left until the fight.

As for working out, you can train at the gym or with home equipment. Both help prepare you for fights. To pass time and level up passively, training is a good way to go—especially when you’re waiting for fight registration to unlock.

Step Five: Recharging and Staying Alive

Your heart meter (used in fights) does regenerate when you sleep, but not as efficiently as when you get a massage. If you’re low on health, head up from the gym and look for the massage rooms—they’re easy to miss but crucial for quick recovery.

If you’re broke and hungry, remember what we said about Henry—he’s your safety net. Visit him, watch a movie, and he’ll give you free popcorn. You’re never completely locked out of progress in this game, even if it feels that way.

Bonus Tips:

• You can’t work night shifts at Bobo’s Farm. Time your day accordingly.
• You can fast-forward time by training or sleeping—use this when waiting for events.
• Always monitor the top-right corner of your screen: it’ll show you when you can register for a fight (green bar) and what day the fight is scheduled.

Final Thoughts

This game is deeper than it looks, and your first hour can be smooth or rough depending on what you do. These tips are meant to help you build a solid foundation without falling into the trap of thinking you’ve messed everything up. Because you haven’t. Popcorn is always there for you.

So work smart, keep your mood up, train regularly, and knock out your opponents. You got this.

Good luck out there, champ.