Tides of Tomorrow Beginner's Guide โ Everything You Need to Know
New to Elynd? This complete beginner's guide covers the Story-Link system, resource management (Ozen & Scrap), faction strategy, Tidewalker Traits, and the most important early-game tips to make your first Tides of Tomorrow playthrough as smooth as possible.
๐ What is Tides of Tomorrow?
Tides of Tomorrow is a first-person narrative adventure game set on Elynd, an ocean-drowned world where centuries of microplastic pollution have created Plastemia โ a disease that slowly turns living beings to plastic. You play as a Tidewalker, a survivor with no memory of their past, rescued from the ocean by Nahe, heir to the Mystics faction.
Developed by DigixArt (creators of Road 96) and published by THQ Nordic, the game released on April 22, 2026. It blends branching narrative, choice-consequence storytelling, and a unique asynchronous multiplayer mechanic called Story-Link that connects your playthrough to those of other real players.
Unlike most narrative games, Tides of Tomorrow is not just about the choices you make โ it's about living with the choices made by the player whose journey you're following. Every bridge collapse, every NPC attitude, every resource shortage you encounter is the echo of another Tidewalker who came before you. Understanding this system is the single most important thing a new player can do.
๐ Understanding Story-Link (The Basics)
When you begin Tides of Tomorrow, you are shown a selection of available Tidewalkers to follow via Story-Link. Each represents a real player who has already played through a portion of the game โ their decisions are now baked into your version of Elynd. Choosing whose footsteps to follow is one of the most consequential decisions you'll make.
What to Look for When Choosing a Story-Link
- Trait Badge: Pro-Mankind Tidewalkers leave cooperative, resource-positive worlds. Troublemakers leave chaotic but interesting ones. Survivalists deplete resources.
- Last Active Date: More recently active Tidewalkers have more current world states. Very old Story-Links may reflect server-reset world conditions.
- Faction Stance: A Tidewalker who heavily favoured Marauders will have left you a world where Marauders are entrenched and powerful.
- Progress Point: A Tidewalker who made it deep into the story left behind a more developed โ but also more disrupted โ world than one who is early-game.
You can switch your Story-Link at the end of each major chapter. You are never locked into following one player for the entire game. However, switching mid-story means some NPC states will shift, which can feel disorienting. For a first playthrough, sticking with one Story-Link for the entire game is recommended for narrative coherence.
For the complete deep-dive on Story-Link mechanics including Major Visions, Minor Visions, and advanced Tidewalker selection strategy, see our Story-Link System โ Complete Guide.
๐ฐ Ozen & Scrap โ Resource Management Guide
Tides of Tomorrow uses two primary resources: Ozen (the floating world's currency) and Scrap (a crafting and repair material). Managing both efficiently in the early game is essential to keeping your options open.
Ozen โ The Currency of Elynd
Ozen is earned through story missions, helping NPCs, Ocean Events, and occasional environmental finds. The Marauders control its primary distribution, which means Marauder-hostile players often find themselves cash-poor. Best early Ozen priority: Medicine. Plastemia symptoms escalate quickly and treatment becomes more expensive the longer it progresses.
- โ Spend on: Medicine (Reclaimer traders), key story unlocks, infrastructure bribes
- โ Avoid early: Cosmetic ship upgrades, non-essential trader items, gambling at Marketland
Scrap โ Building the World Back
Scrap is collected from shipwrecks, ruins, and abandoned platforms during exploration. Unlike Ozen, Scrap is used for physical repairs and crafting rather than trading. Always carry a Scrap surplus โ encounters that require immediate bridge repair are common and failing them locks areas.
- โ Use on: Bridge and platform repairs, shelter construction, NPC assistance requests
- โก Best Scrap source: Ocean Events โ especially shipwreck salvage events near Scrap Harbour
โ๏ธ Faction Primer for New Players
Three factions divide Elynd's survivors in Tides of Tomorrow, and your relationship with each shapes which story paths remain open to you. You cannot fully ally with all three simultaneously โ certain mission choices force you to choose.
Control medicine and Ozen. Hostile early if you oppose them โ but befriending them gives crucial early-game resource access. Their leader Obin is a major story antagonist.
Marauders Full Guide โThe most newcomer-friendly faction. Offer medicine at fair prices, provide generous side quests, and their rep is easiest to build. Eyla is one of the game's most compelling characters.
Reclaimers Full Guide โYour initial rescuers โ Nahe and Efod are Mystics. Their rep starts highest by default. The Mystics questline reveals the most lore about Plastemia's origins.
Mystics Full Guide โFor new players: maintain Mystic rep (it's your starting point), build Reclaimer rep for resource access, and avoid direct confrontation with Marauders until you understand the Obin storyline. Full faction strategy in our Factions Guide.
๐ก 7 Essential Beginner Tips for Tides of Tomorrow
Talk to Every NPC Before Accepting Missions
NPC dialogue in Tides of Tomorrow is dynamic โ it shifts based on what your followed Tidewalker did with them previously. An NPC who was robbed by your linked Tidewalker will be hostile; one who was helped will be generous. Exhaust all dialogue before committing to a mission, because NPC conversations often contain alternative solutions to quests that save you Ozen or open faction-specific paths.
Use Tides of Time Visions Frequently
The Tides of Time vision system is always available and has no cost. When you're stuck on how to proceed or feel like you're missing something, trigger a vision. Beyond showing you the path your linked Tidewalker took, visions occasionally reveal 'Undiscovered Vision' prompts during conversations โ these Major Visions unlock hidden dialogue branches and story details that cannot be accessed any other way.
Prioritize Medicine Over Upgrades
In the early hours of Tides of Tomorrow, Plastemia symptoms are a constant threat. Spend your first Ozen on medicine rather than ship upgrades or cosmetics. Untreated symptoms progressively limit your stamina and โ more importantly โ lock you out of certain story dialogue options that require physical or mental fortitude. Medicine is always available from Reclaimer traders at fair prices, even when the Marauders have cornered the market.
Never Skip Ocean Events
Ocean Events are optional, but skipping them consistently will leave you underpowered heading into the mid-game. Each event takes no more than 2-3 minutes and provides meaningful Scrap or Ozen rewards. The shipwreck salvage event in particular โ which appears near Scrap Harbour โ can yield enough material to repair a damaged platform and complete a side quest simultaneously. The lore fragments from Ocean Events also fill in critical backstory about Elynd's history before the flood.
Choose Your Story-Link Based on Traits, Not Just Progress
When selecting which Tidewalker to follow via Story-Link, the temptation is to choose the player who is furthest ahead โ assuming they left behind a more developed world. This is often wrong. A high-progress Survivalist Tidewalker may have depleted every resource and left hostile NPCs in their wake. A slightly less progressed Pro-Mankind Tidewalker leaves a world rich with helpful NPCs, stocked traders, and repaired infrastructure. Always check the trait badge before selecting.
Understand Faction Rep Before Major Decisions
Large narrative decision points in Tides of Tomorrow โ especially those involving the Maelstrom mission briefings โ have hidden faction reputation thresholds. If your Marauder hostility is too high when you reach Scrap Harbour, you'll miss the Obin diplomatic path entirely. If your Reclaimer rep is too low at Marketland, Eyla won't share critical information about the Plastemia cure. Check your current reputation before committing to aggressive dialogue options.
Repair Infrastructure When Given the Choice
Whenever the game offers you the option to spend Scrap repairing bridges, platforms, or shelters โ do it. Infrastructure repairs have a compound benefit: they open new shortcuts, improve NPC mood in that area, and โ most importantly โ they persist for future players following your Story-Link, giving you a Pro-Mankind trait boost and leaving a more welcoming world for Tidewalkers who follow your footsteps.
๐ Ocean Events โ What They Are and Why They Matter
Ocean Events are optional, time-sensitive encounters that appear while navigating between Elynd's floating platforms. They are entirely optional โ you can always sail past them โ but doing so consistently is one of the most common beginner mistakes in Tides of Tomorrow.
Types of Ocean Events
- ๐ข Shipwreck Salvage: A vessel is sinking nearby. Dive in and loot as much Scrap and Ozen as possible before it goes under. Best source of bulk Scrap in the game.
- โก Storm Navigation: Navigate through a lightning-struck sea zone to reach a stranded NPC or supply cache. Rewards vary but lore fragments are common.
- ๐ดโโ ๏ธ Marauder Intercept: A Marauder supply barge is moving nearby. Choose to intercept (high risk, high reward โ Ozen and medicine) or ignore.
- ๐ Creature Encounter: A Plastemia-affected sea creature blocks a shortcut. Can be lured away with Scrap or confronted directly.
Each Ocean Event takes 2โ4 minutes to complete. They award Scrap, Ozen, and lore fragments โ the lore fragments in particular are the only source of Elynd's pre-flood history outside of NPC dialogue. See our full Ocean Events Guide for spawn locations and optimal strategies.
๐ท๏ธ Tidewalker Traits โ Your Reputation Legacy
Tidewalker Traits are accumulated reputation tags that other players will see when choosing whether to follow your Story-Link. They don't affect your current playthrough mechanically โ but they define the world you leave behind for others, and they determine whether future Tidewalkers will want to follow your footsteps.
Earned by giving Ozen/Scrap to NPCs, repairing infrastructure, and choosing cooperative dialogue. Leaves a generous, helpful world. Most sought-after by new players as a Story-Link.
Earned by hoarding resources and prioritizing self-sufficiency. Leaves a resource-depleted world with neutral NPCs. Fine for solo-focused playthroughs.
Earned by antagonizing guards, making chaotic choices, and escalating conflicts. Leaves a world with hostile NPCs and broken infrastructure โ but also unique story events triggered by the chaos.
For a first playthrough, prioritizing Pro-Mankind traits produces the most content-rich world for the next player โ and earns you the most community goodwill in the Story-Link ecosystem. Deep dive in our Tidewalker Traits Guide.
โ Beginner FAQ โ Tides of Tomorrow
What should I do first in Tides of Tomorrow?
Your very first action should be choosing a Story-Link. When Nahe presents you with the option to follow another Tidewalker's journey, don't rush this decision. Check the available Tidewalkers' traits โ a Pro-Mankind trait means they left behind a more cooperative, resource-rich world for you. A Troublemaker means more chaos but also more interesting detours. Once you have your Story-Link active, prioritize talking to every NPC before accepting any mission โ their dialogue shifts based on your linked Tidewalker's history with them.
What is Ozen and how do I get more?
Ozen is the main currency of Elynd's floating platforms. You earn Ozen by completing story missions, helping NPCs, participating in Ocean Events, and occasionally finding it in exploration areas. The Marauders control most Ozen distribution, which means befriending them early gives you access to better trades. However, spending Ozen on medicine early on pays larger dividends than spending it on upgrades โ Plastemia symptoms can lock you out of certain dialogue trees if left untreated.
What is Scrap and what is it used for?
Scrap is Elynd's basic material resource, collected from the flooded ruins, shipwrecks, and abandoned platforms throughout the world. Unlike Ozen, Scrap cannot be spent at merchants โ it is used to repair damaged infrastructure (bridges, platforms, shelters), craft basic items, and fulfill certain NPC requests. Ocean Events are the best source of bulk Scrap, particularly the shipwreck salvage events that appear randomly during ocean navigation.
Should I focus on one faction or stay neutral?
For a first playthrough, staying neutral between Reclaimers and Mystics while keeping Marauder hostility low is the safest approach. This keeps the most story options open. However, if you want the best resources early, a slight lean toward Marauders gives medicine access. The Reclaimers path is recommended for players who want the most emotionally satisfying narrative arc, as Eyla's story is widely considered the heart of the game.
Can I miss important content on a first playthrough?
Yes โ but that's by design. Tides of Tomorrow is built for multiple playthroughs, each following a different Story-Link. Content that was locked behind your followed Tidewalker's decisions in one run may open up in a second run. The game actively encourages you to replay with a different Story-Link to experience the world from a completely different angle. No single run accesses everything.
How do Ocean Events work and are they worth doing?
Ocean Events are optional timed challenges that appear during ocean navigation between platforms. They include things like salvaging a sinking ship (requires quick looting), navigating through a lightning field during a storm, and intercepting a Marauder supply barge. All offer Scrap and Ozen rewards, and many contain lore fragments that expand the history of Elynd. They are universally worth doing when they appear โ the time investment is short (rarely more than 2-3 minutes) and the rewards scale with your current progression.
What are Tidewalker Traits and do they matter?
Tidewalker Traits are reputation tags that accumulate based on your recurring decisions across the game. The three main traits are Pro-Mankind (earned by sharing resources and helping NPCs), Survivalist (earned by hoarding resources and prioritizing self-sufficiency), and Troublemaker (earned by antagonizing guards, NPCs, or making chaotic choices). These traits don't affect your personal playthrough directly โ but they become the metadata that future players following your Story-Link will see when choosing whose footsteps to follow.