Commands open a menu where you type actions your character performs

In Sons of the Forest on PC, commands are typed instructions that make your character do specific things — build structures, spawn items, change the weather, or toggle survival mode off. You open the command menu by pressing the tilde key (~), which sits to the left of the 1 key on a standard US keyboard. If your keyboard uses a different layout, the key that opens the console is usually the one in that same position.

Once the command menu appears as a dark box at the bottom of your screen, you type the command name and press Enter. The game reads what you typed and performs the action. Some commands take extra information — for example, spawn item 1 tells the game which item number to create. Others work with just the command name alone.

Commands are useful when you want to test building layouts, skip ahead in the game, or undo a mistake without reloading. They are not required to play; the game works perfectly without them. But they give you control over things the normal menu does not.

Key Takeaways

  • Press the tilde key (~) to open the command console at the bottom of your screen.
  • Type a command name and press Enter; the game performs the action when ready.
  • Common commands include spawn item [number] to create objects, kill all to remove enemies, and weather [type] to change conditions.
  • Commands do not disable achievements or progress tracking in Sons of the Forest, so you can use them without losing your save.
  • If a command does not work, check that you spelled it correctly and that the game is in a state where that command is allowed.

How to open and close the command console

Press the tilde key (~) once to open the console. A dark input box appears at the bottom of the screen with a blinking cursor. You are now in command mode and can type. The game is still running in the background, but you cannot move your character or interact with the world until you close the console.

To close the console and return to normal play, press the tilde key (~) again. The input box disappears and you regain control of your character. Any command you typed and pressed Enter on will have already taken effect, so closing the console does not undo it.

If you type something and change your mind before pressing Enter, you can press Escape to clear the text and close the console without running the command. This is useful if you realize mid-type that you are about to spawn 50 logs by accident.

Common commands and what they do

The spawn item command creates objects in the world near your character. Type spawn item 1 to spawn a log, spawn item 2 for a stone, or spawn item 3 for a stick. Each item has a number; the game does not tell you all of them in a list, so you learn them by trying or by checking community wikis that players have built. When you spawn an item, it appears on the ground in front of you.

The kill all command removes every enemy currently in the game world — cannibals, mutants, and creatures all disappear at once. This is useful if you are surrounded and want to escape, or if you want to build without being attacked. The command takes effect when ready; there is no confirmation.

The weather command changes the current weather. Type weather rain to start rain, weather clear to make it sunny, or weather snow for snow. The weather changes when ready and stays that way until you change it again or the game's natural weather cycle takes over.

The survival mode command toggles survival mechanics on and off. Type survival mode off to turn off hunger, thirst, and cold damage. Type survival mode on to turn them back on. When survival mode is off, you do not need to eat, drink, or stay warm, which lets you focus on building or exploring.

Spawning items and structures

To spawn an item, you need its item number. The most commonly spawned items are logs (1), stones (2), and sticks (3). You can also spawn building materials like planks, ropes, and cloth by using their item numbers. Each time you type spawn item [number] and press Enter, one copy of that item appears near you.

If you want multiple copies at once, you have to run the command multiple times — there is no built-in way to spawn 10 logs with a single command. Spawning items does not cost resources or require you to have the materials in your inventory first; the game creates them from nothing.

Structures like walls, roofs, and foundations cannot be spawned directly with a command. Instead, you spawn the materials needed to build them, then use the normal building menu to place them. This means commands are most useful for gathering large amounts of wood or stone quickly, rather than for when ready construction.

Turning off survival mode and other toggles

Survival mode controls hunger, thirst, cold, and fatigue. When it is on, you must eat and drink regularly or your character takes damage and eventually dies. When you turn it off with survival mode off, these meters stop draining and you cannot die from starvation or exposure. You can still take damage from enemies or falls, so you are not invincible.

Other toggles include god mode, which makes you immune to all damage, and no clip, which lets you walk through walls and terrain. These are less commonly used but work the same way: type the command and press Enter to toggle it on or off.

Toggling these modes does not affect your save file or disable progress. You can turn survival mode off, build a base, turn it back on, and continue playing normally. The game treats your save as valid either way.

What to do if a command does not work

If you type a command and nothing happens, the most common reason is a spelling mistake. Command names are case-sensitive in some games and not in others; Sons of the Forest is usually forgiving, but double-check that you spelled the command exactly as you intended. For example, spawn item 1 works, but spwan item 1 does not.

Another reason a command might fail is that the game is in a state where that command is not allowed. For example, you cannot spawn items while you are in a menu or during a cutscene. Close any open menus and make sure your character is in the world, not in a building or inventory screen.

If you are not sure whether a command exists or what its exact name is, check the Sons of the Forest community wiki or forums. Players have documented most commands and their correct syntax there. You can also try typing help in the console, though not all games support this.

Using commands without breaking your save

Commands in Sons of the Forest do not disable achievements, corrupt your save, or mark your file as "cheated." You can use commands freely and your progress still counts. This is different from some other games where using cheats locks you out of certain rewards.

That said, using commands to spawn unlimited resources or turn off survival mode does change how the game plays. If you want the intended experience, use commands sparingly — for example, to undo a mistake or test a building layout before committing materials to it. If you want to experiment freely, spawn what you need and build without limits.

Your save file records what you have built and where, not how you obtained the materials. So even if you spawned 1,000 logs, your base looks the same whether you gathered them or created them with a command.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tilde key on my keyboard?

The tilde key (~) is usually in the top-left corner of your keyboard, to the left of the 1 key and above Tab. On a US keyboard it shares a key with the backtick (`). On other keyboard layouts it may be in a different position, but it is usually the key in that same corner. If you are not sure, try pressing keys in that area until the console opens.

Can I use commands on console versions of Sons of the Forest?

Commands are a PC-only feature. PlayStation and Xbox versions do not have a command console. If you are playing on console, you cannot spawn items or toggle survival mode using commands.

Do commands disable multiplayer or co-op?

Commands work in single-player mode. In multiplayer, only the host can use commands, and they affect the entire world for all players. If you are a guest in someone else's world, you cannot open the console.

What happens if I type a command wrong?

If the command is misspelled or does not exist, nothing happens. The console does not give you an error message; it just ignores the text. Close the console and try again with the correct spelling.

Can I undo a command after I run it?

Most commands cannot be undone. If you spawn 100 logs and regret it, you have to delete them manually or reload an earlier save. The exception is toggling modes like survival mode — you can turn them back on or off with another command.