Fast answer
Upgrade the room that removes your next bottleneck. For food, compare the Kitchen’s displayed dish output after assigning a Cook or Baker: Cook adds a percentage bonus and Baker adds a flat bonus. New Stove makes the next Kitchen upgrade instant and free; Handyman reduces Kitchen upgrade costs. Neither replaces the need to check power and staffing.
Check power, materials and staff before paying
A room upgrade only helps when it addresses the current constraint. Generator capacity, crafting materials and the assigned specialist are separate checks. Since 0.0.0.850, room upgrade costs update immediately after a staff change, so read the price again after moving a worker.
- Identify the room blocking your next raid or recovery.
- Check available generator capacity and the room requirement.
- Assign the intended specialist, then re-read the upgrade cost.
- Spend only after confirming the room solves that problem.
Cook versus Baker: use the displayed dish output
Cook increases food from each dish by a percentage; Baker adds a flat amount to each dish. The better assignment depends on the recipe and the bonuses your characters actually have. Recipes already include applicable bonuses in their displayed food amount, so do not add the same bonus a second time.
- Select the dish you can afford and read its food output.
- Compare the displayed result after changing between available Kitchen staff.
- Check cooking time as well as food output.
- Keep the assignment that fits your current supply need; no profession is always best.
The four Kitchen skills and what each changes
The green branch gained Handyman, Generous Portion, Out of Nothing and Day Off in 0.0.0.850. They solve different problems: cheaper Kitchen upgrades, more food per dish, a chance to recover food spent on a dish, and bonus food on a day without a raid respectively.
- Handyman: check the Kitchen upgrade price after assigning the skilled worker.
- Generous Portion: compare the recipe’s food output.
- Out of Nothing: treat the food return as a chance, not a guaranteed refund.
- Day Off: plan a raid-free day only if its food and recovery benefits fit the campaign.
Use New Stove on the next Kitchen upgrade
New Stove makes the next Kitchen upgrade instant and free. Its scope is one next upgrade, not every future Kitchen level. Warehouse Map, Suppliers’ Cache and Forgotten Food Depot are separate new food-related cards, offering food and bonuses to food from raids.
- Inspect your next Kitchen upgrade before using New Stove.
- After it is consumed, check normal requirements for later upgrades.
- Read each food card’s own effect before planning a raid.
- Review the day news for Kitchen food saved and Day Off food.
A recipe disappeared: check its improved version
The Kitchen hides an older recipe once its improved version is unlocked. In 0.0.0.858, the list sorts by cooking time, then food amount. A changed position or missing old entry can therefore be a menu change rather than lost progression.
- Look for the improved recipe first.
- Compare its cooking time and bonus-inclusive food output.
- Check the current staff before comparing against an older screenshot.
- Keep enough supplies for recovery and a working combat loadout before optional upgrades.
Demo gameplay
Demo walkthrough · DaOpa · demo version
Patch notes and gameplay
Follow the current patch notes for changed rules and the Steam listings for the full game and demo.