The Carcass Guides
Walkthroughs for every stage inside the dead god—from first harvest to final ending.
Welcome to the guides hub for The Carcass, PiqFocus Interactive’s Lovecraftian colony simulation played entirely through a keyboard terminal. You awaken inside the rotting corpse of a cosmic god, carve chambers from organs, negotiate with alien factions, research occult mutations, and chase one of nine endings while the carcass remembers every choice.
These guides target real player pain points gathered from Steam discussions and the 2.0 update notes: confusing Pulse timing, opaque resource ratios, faction betrayal chains, and ending requirements that hide behind cryptic story flags.
Start here
New players should read Getting Started first. It covers demo installation, intro pacing, your first Nutrient Vats and Bone Quarries, and where to go after the tutorial ends. Immediately follow with Pulse System so you never accidentally burn seasons on free actions.
Economy and diplomacy
Resource management explains biomass, calcium, bile, and neurons—the four pillars of early survival—and how harvest zones differ in danger and yield. When strangers knock on bone doors, switch to Factions and diplomacy for trust, blood pacts, and the long memory of betrayal.
Combat and long arcs
Parasites learn fear. Warriors die in marrow tunnels. Combat and defense covers sending war parties, holding chambers, and when to evacuate instead of heroics. For run-long planning, read All endings (Dominion, Symbiosis, Awakening, Escape, Transcendence, plus four secrets) and New Game Plus for Ironman, difficulty tiers, and carried victories.
Cross-links worth bookmarking
- Keyboard commands — terminal reference
- Mutations tier list — which occult upgrades pay off
- Colony buildings — production chains
- Release and demo info — Steam requirements
- Game review — who should buy on launch day
How we write guides
Each article aims for 600+ words of actionable detail—no filler lists, no copied store text. We cite mechanics clarified in official patch notes (Pulse labels, localization pass, dynamic regions) and point to videos only when a verified gameplay source exists. If a guide contradicts your build, check patch notes first; The Carcass receives substantial pre-launch updates.
Suggested campaign roadmap
Merciful demo run: Getting Started → Pulse System → Resources → Buildings → one faction ally → sample ending route in Endings guide.
Full release Dominion attempt: above plus Combat, Mutations tier list, Difficulty comparison, NG+ carry rules.
Ironman Extinction: all guides, plus Command Lookup tool and terminal accessibility tuning before you commit.
Guides hub focus
Follow getting started → pulse → resources before endings spoilers tempt you early.
Hub navigation
Seven guides cover start to NG+. Follow numeric order on first run.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Which guide should I read first?
Start with Getting Started, then Pulse System. Controls and resources guides should follow within your first hour.
Do guides cover the demo and full game?
Yes. Core systems are identical; the full release adds more regions, species, endings, and NG+ depth.
Where are video walkthroughs?
We embed verified YouTube footage when available on individual guide pages—never fictional IDs.