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guide 3 min read

Survival Guide: Your First 5 Minutes in ODDCORE

New to the theme park? Here's everything you need to survive your first run — timer management, soul economy basics, and weapon tips.

beginner tips gameplay
Survival Guide: Your First 5 Minutes in ODDCORE
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// TIMMEE_BROADCAST: Welcome, runner! You’ve clipped through reality and you’re not going back. But don’t worry — I’m here to help! Probably. Let’s get you oriented before the timer starts.

So you booted up ODDCORE, created a run, and immediately got swarmed by weird little guys while a clock ticked down in the corner. Classic first run. Here’s what you need to know.

The Timer is Everything

Every run is capped at 5 minutes. That timer does not pause — not when you’re browsing upgrades, not when you’re catching your breath, not ever. The clock is the real boss.

You can buy more time with souls, but that’s souls you’re not spending on upgrades. This tension is the core of every decision you’ll make.

The Soul Economy

Souls are your only currency. Kill enemies, earn souls. Then decide:

  • Spend at the shop — upgrades for health, damage, attack speed, gadgets
  • Heal mid-combat — souls convert to emergency health (yes, by shooting your own feet)
  • Buy time — extend the run timer
  • Save them — higher soul count feeds into scoring

The catch: every shop visit increases purchase costs via an escalating tax. Your first visit is cheap. Your fourth is painful. Plan accordingly.

Weapon Dual-Fire Modes

Every weapon has two distinct firing modes. The Shotgun doesn’t just shoot — it has an alt-fire that changes how you engage entirely. Same for the Pistol, SMG, Katana, Bat, and Fan.

Experiment early. Find the mode that fits your movement style. Some alt-fires are better for crowd control, others for single-target burst.

Gadgets: Pick Two

You start with zero gadgets and can equip up to two. These define your mobility:

  • Dash — quick directional burst
  • Grapple — close distance fast
  • Rocket Boots — aerial movement
  • Slide — parkour slides under obstacles
  • Repulse — energy burst pushback
  • Teddy Bomb — explosive projectile
  • Down Thrust — aerial slam
  • Pull — yank enemies toward you

For your first runs, Dash + Grapple is a forgiving combo. You’ll always have an escape and a way to close distance.

Playing without gadgets is also an option — but that’s challenge mode territory. Save it for when you’ve got the basics down.

Watch for Corruptions

Some rooms apply corruptions — temporary debuffs that prevent health gain, block shop access, or otherwise mess with your plans. When a corruption hits, don’t panic. Adjust your strategy and push through.

The Hub World

Between runs, you’re in the hub — an arcade-style space with a coin pusher, slot machine, and hidden crannies full of secrets. Explore it. Tokens earned from surviving feed into the slot machine, and there are unlockable play spaces tucked away in corners.

Quick Tips

  1. Keep moving. This is not a cover shooter. Strafe, circle, never stop.
  2. Visit the shop early when tax is low, but don’t over-visit.
  3. Soul capacity increases as you clear areas — push deeper for bigger payouts.
  4. Listen to Timmee. Mostly. He means well. Probably.
  5. Die a lot. Every run teaches you something. The leaderboard will wait.

// TIMMEE_BROADCAST: See? Not so bad. Now get back in there. The corruption isn’t going to clear itself. …I think.

Good luck, runner.