How to Play Void Survivors
Everything you need to know to start surviving
Getting Started
When you first load the website, you will see the main menu with your persistent stats (best time, high score, enemies slain, runs played). Click the INITIALIZE SIMULATION button to start your first run. There is no account creation, no tutorial popup — just jump straight into the action.
Basic Controls
VOID SURVIVORS uses a simple control scheme. Everything except movement is handled automatically:
| Action | Control | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Move Up | W or ↑ | Diagonal movement works by pressing two keys simultaneously |
| Move Left | A or ← | |
| Move Down | S or ↓ | |
| Move Right | D or → | |
| Attack | Automatic | Fires at the nearest enemy within range |
| Volume | Slider in menu | Adjust before starting a run |
Understanding Your HUD
During a run, the Heads-Up Display (HUD) provides all the information you need at a glance:
- INTEGRITY (HP Bar) — Top left. Your health. When it reaches zero, the run ends. The number shows current / maximum HP.
- XP Bar — Below the HP bar. Shows progress toward the next level. Fills up as you collect XP orbs from defeated enemies.
- Timer — Top center. Shows how long you have survived in the current run (MM:SS format).
- Wave Indicator — Below the timer. Shows the current wave number. New waves start every 45 seconds.
- Score — Top right. Your current score for this run. Earned by defeating enemies.
- Kills — Below the score. Total enemies defeated in the current run.
- Active Upgrades — Bottom left. Shows the upgrades you have collected during this run.
How Combat Works
Your weapon fires automatically at the nearest enemy within your attack range. You do not need to press any buttons to attack. The key to success is positioning — stay aware of your surroundings, avoid getting cornered, and keep moving to maintain distance from enemies.
When an enemy is defeated, it explodes and drops XP orbs. Walk over these orbs to collect them. The amount of XP needed to level up increases with each level, so planning your upgrade path becomes more important as the run progresses.
Every time you level up, you restore 25% of your maximum HP. This makes level-ups a critical part of your survival strategy — you can intentionally position near dangerous enemies when you are close to leveling, knowing you will get a heal.
Leveling Up and Upgrades
When you collect enough XP to level up, the game pauses and presents you with three random upgrades from a pool of seven. You may select one. The same upgrade can appear in future level-ups, and effects stack multiplicatively or additively depending on the upgrade type.
For a detailed breakdown of every upgrade including stats, stacking behavior, and strategy recommendations, see our Upgrades Guide.
Surviving Your First Wave
Your first wave is intentionally easy — a few yellow Scout enemies will approach from the edges. Use this time to get comfortable with movement. Key tips for the first 45 seconds:
- Stay near the center of the grid. This gives you maximum reaction time in any direction.
- Practice moving diagonally (e.g., W + D) to build muscle memory.
- Let enemies come to you — do not chase them. Your auto-targeting handles engagement.
- Focus on collecting all XP orbs. Every level matters.