Overview
Hunting and fishing are key food management activities in Rooted. Together with gardening, they form the three primary methods players use to sustain themselves in the post-apocalyptic world.
Hunting
Deer were added to the game world on January 22, 2026, described by the developers as the "first step toward a deeper hunting experience." The full hunting system is planned as part of Alpha Phase 3.
Hunting methods include:
Method | Description |
|---|---|
Firearms | Players can use weapons like the M4A1 or Glock to hunt animals directly. Combat was moved to Phase 3 specifically because hunting requires firearms. |
Hunting traps | Traditional snare-based approach for capturing prey without requiring ammunition. |
See weapons for details on available firearms and animals for details on wildlife in the game.
Fishing
Fishing in Rooted has multiple planned stages of development:
Feature | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
Swimming | Implemented (v0.0.2.80) | Added in October 2024 as an introduction to fishing activities. |
Fish traps | Phase 3 | Craftable traps that can be deployed in lakes and rivers to catch fish passively. |
Open-water boat fishing | Planned | Full fishing from boats on open water, announced for future development. |
Role in survival
Food gathered from hunting and fishing feeds into the food management system. Meat can be cooked at campfires (which require fuel with variable burn times), and fish provide an alternative protein source. Players can also gather berries scattered throughout the world as a supplementary food source.