FIRESTARTERS Beginner Guide: Movement, Resources and First Storms

What should you install before your first run?

Use the current Steam release, which entered Early Access on October 28, 2026. The initial release contains Episode One. The developer retired the demo for launch, so an old demo download or video may describe a different build.

Check the game’s current bindings before starting. If a binding will not change on your keyboard, the keybind troubleshooting page explains the published fix and the limits of the older reset workaround.

How do movement and resource recovery work?

Skating, sliding, grinding and ground pounding are all named in the official gameplay description. STEEL arenas have no placed health, armor or ammunition pickups; the developer describes a combat-driven resource supply instead. Looking for a conventional floor pickup therefore does not match the system the store describes.

The source does not give exact replenishment triggers or amounts. The useful distinction for a first run is to keep engaging with the combat systems rather than expecting a supply pack to refill everything. Exact default keys and an optimal movement route are outside this source-based introduction.

Which weapon tasks give you a concrete goal?

The official Steam achievements distinguish several actions that can otherwise look similar. Use the wording of a target to decide what must actually happen; these conditions are not a damage ranking.

Weapon	Example of a confirmed target	Read next
Mining Laser	A direct-beam kill differs from a fire-damage kill	Mining Laser conditions
Railgun	Accurate requires a hit from at least 50 metres	Railgun targets
Shotgun	Point Blank requires every pellet in one blast to hit one enemy	Shotgun and rocket targets

For kills with several weapons or a parried projectile, use the parry and combo reference. It separates same-enemy weapon conditions from rapid kills on different enemies.

When does Arcade become available?

Clear the relevant Storm in Story mode, then return to that Storm in Arcade for an official score. The store describes this per-Storm condition, rather than requiring completion of the entire episode. The Arcade guide explains that distinction and links the achievement targets.

If the game fails before you reach a run, start with the PC requirements and symptom checklist. GPU detection, audio initialization and input rebinding have separate documented issues.

Sources checked November 2, 2026. Based on official descriptions, achievements and developer replies; no personal playthrough is claimed.