Sunburnt & Sinking – A Stranded Deep Survival Diary: Day One

Sunburnt & Sinking: A Stranded Deep Survival Diary – Day 1

Difficulty: Normal
Optional Features: Permadeath enabled (naturally)

“Crash-landed on an island, I fight crabs, climb trees, and light my first fire. Survival starts with chaos, coconuts, and questionable plants.”

Weather / Loot / Mood

  • Weather: Calm seas, light breeze, deceptively peaceful for a day of disaster
  • Loot: Raft, crude knife, refined knife, coconuts, crab meat, basic shelter
  • Mood: Shocked → determined → mildly suspicious of the local wildlife

Would You Kindly Not Crash the Plane?

One moment, I was minding my own business on a plane. The next, someone must have read a note that said “would you kindly…” and down we went. If you know, you know. Coincidence? I think not.

Seconds later, I was dragging myself into a life raft, paddling (drifting?) toward the nearest island like a discount version of Tom Hanks in *Cast Away*. The ocean was calm, the sun was shining, and I had no idea that half the local wildlife would soon want me dead.

First Rule of Raft Club: Don’t Let It Float Away

I hit the shore and immediately dragged the raft up onto the sand. I’ve played enough survival games to know that if you don’t secure your transport, the game will absolutely make it vanish the second you turn your back. Raft secured, I went into scavenger mode, grabbing sticks, rocks, and whatever else looked remotely useful.

Not everything on this island was friendly. A particularly aggressive bush took a swipe at me as I got too close. I backed off, wounded in both pride and possibly my spleen. Clearly, the flora here had opinions about trespassers.

Knife to Meet You, Crabs

With my gathered resources, I crafted my first knife. Then I upgraded it to a refined knife, because the first one felt about as dangerous as a butter spreader. Time to test it out on something edible.

The game suggested crouching to hunt crabs. This, in practice, only made it easier for them to lunge at me. One particularly large crab came at me with the kind of aggression usually reserved for boss fights. Between this and the thorny bush, I was starting to wonder if the island had a “kill the newcomer” policy.

Still, I won the skirmish, and with crab meat in hand, it was time to cook. The war, however, was far from over.

Fire Good. Cooking Skill Better.

I built a campfire near the raft and fed it with sticks. Fire is life in survival games, and here was no exception. Apparently, just standing near it while food cooked would boost my Cooking skill — which meant I was now becoming a chef by proximity.

While the crab sizzled, I spotted a palm tree loaded with coconuts. In true castaway fashion, I scaled it like it owed me money, hacked down my prize, and enjoyed my first proper drink. Hydration secured. Hunger in progress.

The crab revenge counter was still open, but for now, I was alive and marginally full.

Shelter from the Darkness

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, I remembered one important fact: in Stranded Deep, you need a shelter to save the game. I went hunting for materials, avoiding the aggressive bush and giving any large crabs a suspicious side-eye.

One stubborn yucca plant refused to yield anything useful, so I abandoned it for a more cooperative one. A few resource-gathering trips later, I had what I needed. The shelter went up just as darkness settled over the island. I saved, collapsed into sleep, and mentally ticked off the tutorial as “complete.”

Tomorrow, the real work would begin: more tools, better food, and figuring out exactly how many plants on this island were actively trying to kill me. Bring it on, Stranded Deep.

Continue the Journey

Day 1 (You Are Here) |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
Final Day

🧭 Survivor Incognito Just Got a Bit More… Survivor-y

We’ve updated our Start Here page! Whether you’re new to survival games or just new to chaos, find out what’s changed and where to begin on Survivor Incognito.

Survivor Incognito has grown. What started as one playthrough in The Long Dark has now sprawled into Skyrim, Subnautica, Stranded Deep, and even Snowrunner. It was high time the Start Here page reflected all the weird, wonderful (and slightly damp) survival chaos we’re now known for.

So if you’re new, curious, or somehow still trying to figure out what the blog is actually about, this page is now your map, compass, and emergency flare.

🆕 What’s new on the Start Here page?

  • A proper intro that explains what Survivor Incognito actually is
  • Quick summaries
  • A tone that matches the rest of the blog — witty, helpful, and just a little sarcastic
  • Internal links to all the fun stuff (including the Graveyard… because permadeath happens)

🔗 Check it out here:
👉 Start Here – Survive First, Ask Questions Later


If you’ve been following since the cold and caffeine-fueled early days, you might not need this page — but it’s a fun refresher all the same. And if you’re new? Well, welcome. We’re not saying survival is easy, but it’s easier when you’re laughing along the way.

🌊 Announcement: Subnautica Will Be the Next Series!

While my Argonian my have fallen, it’s time to look ahead—and downward. Specifically, into the ocean.

I’m excited to announce that Subnautica will be the next full series featured on Survivor Incognito! The series will officially begin in a few weeks, once I’ve reacquainted myself with the controls (because I apparently forgot how to swim, build, and breathe). It’ll fall under the same permadeath-flavoured survival approach as the others, with a few sea-salty twists.

In the meantime, I’ve already launched the Subnautica Maps Page to help new players, returning survivors, and confused PDA AIs alike. Bookmark it, share it, or yell at it when you get lost near the Aurora again.


🎉 Celebrating 1,000 Views!

Also, a massive thank you to everyone who’s visited the blog—Survivor Incognito has officially passed the 1,000 views milestone!

To mark the occasion, I’m doing something a little different… something a little more classic horror. While I’m still getting my bearings with the controls again, you can expect a familiar mansion, limited saves, and enough tension to make a zombie blush. 🧟‍♂️

More on that very soon.


More updates coming soon, including the official Subnautica start date and a look at what else is on the blog horizon.

Stay afloat,
Survivor Incognito

Here’s What You Missed This Week

It’s been a big week at Survivor Incognito: a new diary began, another series ended, and a milestone snuck up on us. Here’s the full breakdown:

  • Tuesday: Stranded Deep – Day One Diary (official permadeath run starts next week!)
  • Wednesday: The Cold Chronicles – Day Nine
  • Thursday: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat – Final Entry (eulogy coming next week)
  • Friday: SnowRunner – Day Two, where I somehow end up on top of a mountain… with no plan for getting down.

We also launched the Subnautica Maps page this week, with a Subnautica: Below Zero map hub in the works too.

And lastly — a huge thank you: the blog passed 1,000 views this week! I’m currently plotting something fun as a proper thank-you to everyone who’s been reading, lurking, or laughing at my survival misfortunes.

More survival chaos (and a few heartfelt eulogies) coming next week.

🎉 We Hit 1,000 Views! – A Survivor’s First Milestone

Estimated time to read: Slightly less time than it takes to get eaten by a wolf in Voyageur mode.

Somehow, somewhere, in between falling through the ice in The Long Dark, and getting flattened by a doedicurus in ARK—I hit 1,000 views on this blog.

One. Thousand. Views.

I don’t know which one of you read the Subnautica Maps page more than once, but I appreciate you. Whether you’re here for map guides, day one disasters, or just to feel better about your own survival skills—you made this happen.

So to celebrate:

I’m still alive (in at least one save file).

The permadeath chaos continues.

More games are coming (seriously, there’s a Subnautica diary on the horizon and I may be foolishly eyeing Blast Corps as a permadeath challenge—because why not add demolition trucks to my stress levels?).


To everyone who’s clicked, read, liked, or even accidentally stumbled here while Googling “how to not die in Mystery Lake”—thank you. The chaos is portable, but so is the community we’re building here.

Once again, thank you to everyone who has clicked on my little corner of chaos on the Internet.

Here’s to the next 1,000 views—and maybe even surviving past Day Five next time.

Stay warm. Stay weird. Stay Incognito.
Survivor Incognito

🗺️ New Page Live: Subnautica Maps Are Here!

Lost in the Kelp Forest again? Swam into the Dunes thinking it was the Grassy Plateaus? Yeah… me too.

That’s why I’ve just launched a brand-new Subnautica Maps page on the blog! It features:

🧭 A direct link to the incredibly detailed interactive Subnautica map

🖼️ Gorgeous static region maps from RocketSoup.net

🧪 Some helpful blurbs and probably too much sarcasm

Whether you’re a new diver or a returning survivor who still forgets which way the Aurora crashed, this page is your new best friend. Or at least your most reliable one, since bladderfish don’t offer much conversation.

👉 Click here to check out the new Subnautica Maps page.

Stay buoyant out there.


Survivor Incognito
Still unsure which way is north

Day One Diaries Return Tuesday – This Time, It’s Stranded Deep

Just a quick heads-up: a new Day One Diary drops this Tuesday, and we’re heading somewhere sunny… and deadly. That’s right — it’s time for Stranded Deep.

The Day One warm-up lands this week. The official permadeath run starts next week.

Get ready for sunburns, sharks, and me trying to build a raft that doesn’t immediately flip over.

Want to get caught up? Check out the hub page for Sunburnt & Sinking: A Stranded Deep Survival Diary.

Here’s What You Missed – Week of July 15th

Another week, another batch of survival stories wrapped in chaos and questionable decisions. Here’s what went down on Survivor Incognito this week:

  • Tuesday: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival – Final Entry
  • Wednesday: The Cold Chronicles (Customloper) – Day Four
  • Thursday: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat – Day Twelve
  • Friday: SnowRunner Survival: The Permagear Diaries – Day One

That’s one series wrapped, one launched, and two still going strong.

Also, a quick thank you — last week the blog saw nearly 200 views. Whether you read one post or all of them, I appreciate you surviving alongside me (or at least watching me not survive).

On another note, the next few weeks are going to be busy for me. But I’ll do my best to keep the chaos here going

More mayhem next week.

☣️ Permadeath Pending: Games That Might End Me Next

Here’s a look at the survival and horror games currently on deck at Survivor Incognito — including Subnautica, Alien: Isolation, Resident Evil, and more. Expect disasters. Possibly nuclear.

While I’m still trying to survive sand, snow, sea monsters, and supply chain disasters (SnowRunner coughs in Michigan), I’ve also been staring at my backlog and thinking:

“What else could go horribly wrong?”

Here are the games lurking in the blog pipeline — all under consideration, none guaranteed to go well.


🎮 Games Under Consideration (aka: The Next Mistake)

🪸 Subnautica & Below Zero

Status: Planned
Blog Potential: Longform underwater dread, optional screaming

Classic survival, but 500 meters underwater with alien jellyfish. Subnautica is set to follow Stranded Deep, assuming I don’t starve to death on a raft before then.

Below Zero is the colder, weirder sequel. I’ll likely run it once I’ve built enough fake confidence from the original.

👽 Alien: Isolation

Status: “Definitely Maybe”
Blog Potential: High panic, high perishability

It’s just me, a broken flamethrower, and one very judgmental alien. I’m currently designing blog rules that allow me to survive more than one encounter without invalidating the whole series.

If I pull the trigger, it’ll be part of Survivor’s Dread — assuming the alien doesn’t pull it first.

🧱 Minecraft: Skyblock

Status: In Freefall
Blog Potential: Infinite resource drama, void-based trauma

Floating blocks. Limited resources. Me forgetting how gravity works. A Skyblock run could easily become a short-form Day One Diaries arc or a full permadeath challenge titled Skyward.

Every entry will involve a mistake that absolutely could have been avoided.

☢️ Blast Corps (Permadeath Series)

Status: Scheduled post-SnowRunner
Blog Potential: Explosions. One life. Bulldozers.

This one’s simple: if the nuclear truck explodes, that’s the end of the series.

Expect a short, chaotic run where I flatten towns in the name of safety. The tone will be lighter. The stakes will be extremely not.

🧟 Resident Evil (Zero, One, Revelations 1 & 2)

Status: Rotating Horror Fodder
Blog Potential: High-panic short arcs, possible scream counters

Classic survival horror. Typewriters. Puzzles. Me mismanaging ammo like it’s my first zombie rodeo. These games could work as Survivor’s Dread mini-series or feature as one-off challenge runs.

Permadeath rules apply. Panic is inevitable.

🧠 XCOM 2

Status: Under Tactical Review
Blog Potential: Emotional damage disguised as strategy

Turn-based survival meets naming your doomed teammates. Could become a squad diary under a name like Operation Incognito, or a straight-up permadeath campaign where I get attached and suffer the consequences.

If you want to watch me cry over fictional soldiers, this is the one.


📁 Completed Games & In Progress (For Now…)

These titles have had their moment on the blog — but might make a comeback when I’ve emotionally recovered:

  • Skyrim Survival Mode
    My Argonian necromancer lived through cold weather, clumsy ambushes, and accidental vampirism. We may revisit his tale. Just… not Bleak Falls Barrow again.
  • The Long Dark – Voyageur Run
    We tackled Mystery Lake, Coastal Highway, and transition zones full of regret. Future runs may include Customloper or Misery Mode, depending how brave (or foolish) I feel.
  • SnowRunner (Michigan Arc)
    Once Michigan is cleared, I’m calling it. I’ll return to stuck trucks and bad contracts eventually, but first — nukes.

💬 So, What Should I Play Next?

Here’s where you come in. Got a favorite from the list above? Think I should suffer through Alien: Isolation before jumping into the ocean? Have your own terrible suggestion?

Drop a comment. Vote with chaos. Whisper “Skyblock” into the void. Whatever works.

Here’s What You Missed at Survivor Incognito

Another week, another set of chaotic survival tales. If you blinked, here’s what went live on the blog:

  • Tuesday: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival – Day Six
  • Wednesday: The Cold Chronicles – Day Eight
  • Thursday: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat – Day Eleven
  • Friday: The Backyard Trials: Grounded Permadeath – Final Entry

One story wraps up, others carry on. Thanks for tagging along—more survival chaos ahead next week.

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