👉 The Backyard Trials Has Officially Begun: Grounded Permadeath Arrives!

The backyard is officially open for business — and survival!

I’m excited to announce that both The Backyard Trials hub page and the full Grounded Rules of Survival are now live on Survivor Incognito.

In this permadeath run through Grounded, I’ll be taking on the full backyard, one day at a time, where every ant, spider, and angry bug can bring the entire run crashing down. One life. No second chances.

✅ You can now check out:

The Backyard Trials Hub: [The Backyard Trails]

Grounded Rules of Survival: [Grounded Rules of Survival]

The first day of the run will be launching soon — and from there, we’ll see just how far I can make it before something inevitably goes horribly wrong.

As always: survival is optional. Panic is guaranteed.

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6th Jun 2025 0

Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Suvival Day Six

Missed the previous day? Find it here: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day 5

The Great Trek to High Hrothgar (Or Why I’ll Never Trust Klimmek Again)

After a night warming my scales at the inn in Ivarstead, I figured it was time to climb the famed 7,000 Steps to High Hrothgar. Fresh air, spiritual enlightenment, maybe a new shout or two—it sounded downright relaxing.

That illusion shattered when Klimmek asked if I’d kindly lug a crate of supplies up to the Greybeards. Sure, I thought. What’s a little frostbite between friends?

Reader, I barely survived.

About 1,000 steps up, my torch fizzled out, the cold turned vicious, and wolves started popping out like they’d RSVP’d to a “Feast on the Dragonborn” party. Frostbite crept in, my health bar cried for help, and I wondered if Klimmek would refund my soul when this all went horribly wrong.

—

High Hrothgar: The Frostbitten Sanctuary

I eventually stumbled into High Hrothgar, shivering and looking like I’d rolled down a glacier—which, to be fair, I nearly had.

The Greybeards greeted me with the social energy of a fog bank. I grunted, they whispered, and before I knew it, I had new words of power: Ro (from Unrelenting Force) and Wuld (from Whirlwind Sprint). Great additions to my skillset, assuming I live long enough to use them.

They then dropped a fresh quest in my lap: go retrieve Jurgen Windcaller’s horn. I nodded sagely while internally screaming, “Can I at least thaw out first?”

Also, side note—where do these guys sleep? There’s no beds, no chairs, not even a suspicious rug. Just stone, fog, and mystery. True minimalist vibes.

—

Mountain-Goating for Fun and Survival

Quest in hand, I faced the return journey. I could’ve taken the stairs like a rational being… but no. I turned into a Skyrim-certified mountain goat and launched myself off cliffs like gravity was a suggestion.

Somehow, I survived the descent without a single injury. I don’t know how physics works in Skyrim, but I’m not questioning it. If I can descend a mountain via sheer chaos and dumb luck, then that’s now the official route.

—

Cultists, Chickens, and Chaos

Back in Ivarstead, I expected peace and mead. Instead, I got cultists. Hooded weirdos stormed in, shouting about me being a “false Dragonborn.”

Bold of them to assume I had the energy to argue.

Luckily, they made the mistake of attacking in town. Between the guards, the villagers, and—yes—the chickens, it became a bloodbath. Chickens pecked. Guards slashed. I think a goat even got involved. The cultists didn’t stand a chance.

After the dust (and feathers) settled, I looted their robes and found a note. Turns out they’re part of some whole “there can only be one Dragonborn” thing. Neat. Add that to the to-do list—right under “don’t freeze to death.”

—

Klimmek’s Generosity and Collapse O’Clock

I reported back to Klimmek, who handed me 500 gold for my troubles. Honestly? Worth it. I delivered your box, fought wolves, scaled a mountain, survived a cultist ambush, and nearly died multiple times.

I crawled back to the inn, got a room, and collapsed into bed. Survival: barely achieved. Muscles: on strike. Brain: frozen.

—

Next Time…

Time to track down that horn. Or maybe just follow the Greybeards around to figure out what they do when no one’s looking. Do they nap standing up? Meditate until they astral project? Organise humming contests?

We’ll find out—if I survive another day.

—

Want to follow the journey from the beginning? Please check out: Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Hub

5th Jun 2025 2

Customloper Diaries Day One: A Woollen Windy Welcome to Milton

Customloper Diaries – Day 1: Socks, Soup, and Stubbornness

Spawn Point: Spruce Falls Bridge, Mountain Town

Weather: Windy, with a 100% chance of optimism

Loot Highlight: Hunting knife, Cowichan sweater, two cups of coffee

Visit the Mountain Town map:
Check it out here.

First Steps and First Socks

I spawn near Spruce Falls Bridge, spot a sign for Milton, and like any wanderer with no better plan, I follow it. Along the way, I grab rose hips and reishi mushrooms because nature said so.

The bridge cars turn into an early-game care package: wool socks (luxury), a parka (yes please), matches (liquid gold), and a hunting knife I immediately form an unhealthy attachment to.

Shelter from the Storm (Sort of)

A nearby trailer offers a fire barrel, but I only duck in long enough to warm up and snag a wool toque—stylish and slightly smelly.

Down at the church I harvest cattails for calories, spot a deer carcass, and attempt to start a fire. The wind laughs. First attempt: fail. Second: also fail. Third: success… which the wind immediately blows out mid-harvest. Rude.

Deer carcass near the church — Can you spot it?

Redemption at the Altar (and in the Glovebox)

Inside the church, RNG finally smiles. One match, one try, one roaring fire. I cook the meat, boil water, and brew reishi tea. A nearby pickup coughs up a hatchet—huge early-game win.

Back in Milton, a glovebox note reveals a memento cache… at the church I just left. Classic.

Coffee, Cowichan, and Canadian Comfort

The bank delivers coffee grounds, two brewed cups, and a Cowichan sweater hidden in the safe like national treasure. Grey Mother’s house becomes base: two cooking pots, some deer meat, a ski jacket, hockey jersey, and wool mittens. Team motto: Not Dead Yet.

Winding Down with Tea and Triumph

I end the day with boiled water, cooked meat, and a cup of herbal tea to patch up condition. A windy start, but a strong finish. Customloper is officially underway.

Continue the Journey

4th Jun 2025 2

Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival – Day One

Where Am I, What Is That Fog, and Why Is My Compass Blinking at Me?

Day 1 of my Dredge permadeath playthrough. I crash a boat, inherit another, fish like a pro, and nearly get lost forever in Lesser Marrow. Welcome to Greater Marrow—the creepiest fishing job I’ve ever had.

—

For more information on this, please check out: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival Hub

—

Welcome to Greater Marrow: Where the Fish Are Plentiful and the Fog Eats Souls

The game opens with a cutscene: I’m peacefully boating along when heavy fog rolls in like an uninvited guest. Then—crash! Rocks. Camera pans to a lighthouse, which apparently decided to take the night off.

Inside the boat before the crash, I notice a crumpled job advert: “Angler Wanted.” I see now it meant sacrificial angler.

—

I wake up on a soggy dock at 6:00am on a Monday morning, having apparently faceplanted here the night before. The Mayor of Greater Marrow is there to greet me with all the cheer of someone who just hired a corpse to do a job.

He casually asks if I “didn’t see the lighthouse.” I choose not to answer, partly because I’m still drying out, and partly because I very clearly didn’t. My boat? Completely ruined. But the Mayor had the locals haul my stuff into an old spare vessel. How quaint.

—

My First Fishing Trip and Immediate Cartographic Failure

The Mayor warns me to be back before sundown. Apparently fog does weird things after dark. Comforting.

I hop in the backup boat and head out. The controls are straightforward and intuitive. Time passes while fishing, sailing, or basically doing anything—so multitasking is not encouraged.

—

By 3:17pm, I’ve reeled in seven blue mackerel and three cod. I’m feeling confident. A little too confident. I decide I have time for just one more fish.

Spoiler: I didn’t.

—

After grabbing another mackerel, I turn back… only to realise I’ve docked at Lesser Marrow, not Greater. Oops. I am, in fact, an idiot. A kind soul points me back to the lighthouse. By the time I get home, it’s 8:43pm and there’s a disturbing eye icon blinking next to my compass.

Is that… panic? Hallucination? Ancient evil? Who knows!

—

Debt, Deals, and the Definitely-Not-Suspicious Fishmonger

Back at Greater Marrow, the Mayor is somehow still waiting for me like an overbearing boss. He says I can pay off the loan on the boat by selling fish, with “a small percentage” going toward town improvements. Sounds a bit pyramid-scheme-y, but I nod along.

Inside the Fishmonger’s shop, he greets me with surprise: “New fisherman, already?” I ask about the last one. He doesn’t answer. Just says it takes a “certain type of person” to last out here. You mean one with night vision and zero self-preservation instincts?

I sell my fish, earning enough to reduce my $50 debt to $31.58. That’s decent for a day of being lost at sea.

The Mayor intercepts me again and hands over a research part, which I can use to upgrade my ship.

Upgrades, Nightfall, and Regrets

I pop into the Shipwright’s to check out the gear. After some very internal debating, I buy the Simple Skimmer Rod for catching shallow-water fish. It takes two in-game hours to install, meaning I walk out at 10:46pm.

I use the research part to unlock the Improved Outboard Engine, because clearly I need all the speed I can get after today’s performance.

I return to the dock, mentally exhausted, financially lighter, and very aware that this is only day one.

—

End of Day Summary

Fish Caught: 8 blue mackerel, 3 cod
Debt Remaining: $31:58
Creepy Things Spotted: One blinking eye
Times I Got Lost: Let’s just call it “multiple”
Regrets: Also multiple

—

⚠️ Madness Strike #1: Fogblind and Foolish

Let’s be honest—I didn’t mean to return after dark. But between misreading the map, mistaking Lesser Marrow for home, and ignoring the increasingly twitchy compass eye, it happened. The fog rolled in, and I rolled with it.

The rules are clear: return after sundown, and the mind pays the price.
So here it is—my first Madness Strike.

Sanity: Fractured

Confidence: Shaken

Navigational Skills: Still questionable

—

What’s Next?

Day Two promises more fishing, more fog, and probably more confusion. Will I finally learn to navigate using the lighthouse? Will the eye by the compass blink twice? Will I discover what happened to the last fisherman?

📖 Read Day 2 – A Special Order and a Return Before Madness
(Spoiler: I didn’t earn another Madness Strike. Barely.)

3rd Jun 2025 2

Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival — Launches Tomorrow

Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival begins tomorrow on Survivor Incognito. A new permadeath series exploring the dangerous waters of Dredge on Nintendo Switch.

The next permadeath adventure begins tomorrow!
In Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival, we dive headfirst into the strange world of Dredge. Expect dangerous fishing trips, hallucinations, strange encounters, and plenty of questionable choices as we attempt to survive one day at a time.

Day One drops tomorrow — stay tuned right here on Survivor Incognito as the madness begins.

2nd Jun 2025 0

The One-Shot Wonder: Bear Meets Panic Rifle

On Coastal Highway in The Long Dark, a bear ambushed me at dusk. I panicked, fired, and somehow dropped it with a single shot. I’m still processing what happened—and how I’m alive.

—

It was getting dark on Coastal Highway. I was returning to Quonset Garage after a day of looting, freezing, and thinking about food I didn’t have.

And then I heard it.

That guttural growl—the kind that makes your blood freeze before the weather does.

I turned.
Bear. Charging.

My brain hit full panic mode. I fumbled for my rifle, jammed it into position, aimed down the sights, and braced for impact.

I fired.

I adjusted the brightness of the video so you can see what happens.

—

The Original

This is the original version. I was playing handheld on the Switch at the time

—

One shot. The bear dropped.

I stood there in stunned silence, half-expecting it to get back up and laugh. But it didn’t. It was down. Permanently.

Was it a crit? A miracle? Game physics?
No idea. But for that one shining second, I wasn’t just surviving—
I was the apex predator.

—

Final Thoughts

In a game known for handing out slow, painful deaths, I got a split-second win.
And honestly? I’m not sure it wasn’t a fluke.
But I’ll take it.

—

If you enjoyed this one, please check out my other Survivor’s Shorts

—

2nd Jun 2025 1

Survivor Incognito Weekly: The Long Dark, Skyrim Survival, Dredge Permadeath & More (June 2nd – June 8th)

Another week of survival, chaos, and questionable decision making is upon us — here’s what you can expect across the blog in the next seven days:

🧸 Monday – Bear Meets Panic Rifle (Survivor’s Shorts)

It starts with a bear. It ends with panic. Somewhere in between, a rifle is involved. You can probably guess how well that goes.

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🌊 Tuesday – Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival – Day 1

We set sail on our brand new permadeath adventure through Dredge. The waters may look calm… but don’t let them fool you.

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❄️ Wednesday – Customloper: Day 1 – Mountain Town Start

The Customloper run officially kicks off! I spawn in Mountain Town and try my very best not to freeze, starve, or get eaten before I even leave Milton.

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⚔ Thursday – Skyrim Survival: Day 6

The trek through Skyrim’s frozen wilderness continues. More frostbite, more danger, and almost certainly another regrettable encounter with something that bites.

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🔥 Friday – A Voyageur’s Tale (The Long Dark): Day 6

Back to the familiar cold of The Long Dark as the Voyageur run marches on into day six. Wolves, weather, and the never-ending quest for coffee.

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🦌 Saturday – Survivor’s Shorts: The Interloper Moose Incident

I try Interloper mode in The Long Dark. I spawn. I panic. The moose arrives. That’s pretty much the plot summary.

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🔥 Survive with us every week on Survivor Incognito — your home for survival gaming on Nintendo Switch.

Follow along for The Long Dark guides, Skyrim Survival Mode playthroughs, Dredge permadeath runs, and Customloper challenges. New survival game content posted weekly — with humor, tips, and plenty of questionable life choices.
👉 Bookmark Survivor Incognito and join the survival adventure.

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1st Jun 2025 0

Weekly Recap: The Long Dark, Skyrim, No Man’s Sky, Nice Day For Fishing & More – Survivor Incognito

A full roundup of everything that’s gone live on Survivor Incognito this week: new Survivor’s Shorts, Survivor’s Dread launch, The Survivor’s Camp hub, new Day One Diaries for No Man’s Sky and Nice Day For Fishing, Customloper, Skyrim, The Long Dark, and blog updates.

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The Campfire’s Been Busy — Let’s Catch Up

One of the busiest weeks yet! If you blinked, you probably missed something — so here’s your full survival roundup:

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🏕 The Survivor’s Camp is Now Open

A brand new central hub page has launched:
The Survivor’s Camp pulls together everything on the blog — survival guides, series hubs, shorts, and playthroughs — all in one place.

[Visit The Survivor’s Camp]

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 Survivor’s Dread Has Officially Gone Live

The newest addition to the blog is here:
Survivor’s Dread covers all things survival horror, kicking off with Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival. The first entry comes next week as the darkness descends.

[Visit Survivor’s Dread]
[Visit Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival]

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🚀 Day One Diary – No Man’s Sky

The multiverse opens up.
Our No Man’s Sky Day One Diary has begun, charting survival, exploration, and (inevitably) questionable decisions across the stars.

[Visit Day One Diary – No Man’s Sky]

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🎣 Day One Diary – Nice Day For Fishing

Baelin’s adventure has begun.
Fishing, questing, mugged sorcerers, and Dark Lords — just your average day in Nice Day For Fishing.

[Visit Nice Day For Fishing – Day One Diary: Baelin’s Adventure Begins]

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❄️ Customloper – The Long Dark: Day One Diaries Continue

The Customloper run officially kicks off next week. But until then, here’s a Day One Diary entry to help you understand what to expect.
Interloper weather. Voyageur loot. Plenty of snow. Plenty of danger.

[Visit Customloper – The Long Dark: Day One Diary]

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🐺 The Long Dark – Ongoing Survival

The main Long Dark survival continues as well, with more entries uploaded this week as the trek across Coastal Highway continues.

[Visit The Cold Chronicles: A Voyageur’s Tale of The Long Dark]

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🐉 Skyrim Survival Mode – The Pilgrimage Continues

My Argonian is still alive somehow.
High Hrothgar, frostbite, bandits, cultists, and chickens continue to make the journey through Skyrim Survival Mode both ridiculous and dangerous.

[Visit Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival]

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🎥 Survivor’s Shorts

New moments added to the ever-growing Survivor’s Shorts collection — highlighting some of the best (and worst) survival moments from across the blog.

[Visit Survivor’s Shorts]

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🛠 Blog Updates – Pages Converted to Posts

Behind the scenes, several former pages have now been converted into regular blog posts. This should make navigation cleaner and help posts show up more naturally in blog feeds, archives, and categories.

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That’s everything from this week!
Stay warm. Stay fed. Don’t poke the wildlife. (Or open any cursed chests.)

—

31st May 2025 0

Nice Day For Fishing – Day One Diary: Baelin’s Adventure Begins

I begin my cozy adventure in Nice Day For Fishing, following Baelin’s journey from humble fisherman to unlikely hero. Rogue chests, Dark Lords, and plenty of fishing await.

Welcome to Azerim — And Honeywood is Already a Mess

The game opens with a cutscene introducing the world of Azerim and our unlikely hero, Baelin — fisherman, man of few words, and now the star of this adventure.

Immediately, I’m greeted by a soundtrack that brings a big smile to my face — the same tune that plays in VLDL’s Epic NPC Man series. (If you know, you know.) Many laughs have been had thanks to those videos, so hearing the music here is a nice little bonus.

The story wastes no time introducing the town of Honeywood and its familiar faces: Greg the Garlic Farmer, Bodger the Blacksmith, and Baradun the Sorcerer. Baradun, by the way, has a chest that should absolutely never be opened.

Naturally, Charles and Bernard — being Charles and Bernard — decide to mug him and open said chest. The result? All the adventurers vanish. All except Baelin. And just like that, the fisherman is now the last adventurer standing.

—

Garlic, Hammers, and Fishy Business

I begin my quests the same way any good adventure starts: running errands. I collect 3 garlic for Greg and fish Bodger’s Grandfather’s Hammer out of the well (which, I strongly suspect, will not be the last time that hammer finds its way back down there).

After some more questing, Baradun tasks me with fishing up something from the bottom of Lake Honeywood. Naturally, that something turns out to be… a Dark Lord.

With no proper adventurers left in Azerim — and one very low-level Baelin — the Dark Lord promptly destroys Honeywood. The screen fades to black.

You Missed The Fight

Greg wakes me up after the chaos to inform me that I somehow slept through an epic showdown between Baradun and the Dark Lord. Convenient.

Undeterred, I continue helping the remaining townsfolk, once again retrieving Bodger’s hammer (seriously, secure that thing). After gathering 5 pieces of wood, I’m rewarded with my very own fishing boat, which lets me cross the lake to meet up with Baradun.

—

What Awaits?

At this point, I’ve no idea what lies ahead. More fishing? More chaos? Probably both.

But for now, one thing is certain:
It’s a nice day for fishing.

—

If you enjoyed this one, please check out my other: Day One Diaries

And why not stay a while at: The Survivor’s Camp

31st May 2025 1

The Moose Behind the Tree – A 5% Spawn, 100% Panic Sprint

I thought I was alone on Coastal Highway. Then I saw antlers. This is the story of how a moose turned a quiet walk into an Olympic-level panic sprint.

—

It was just another day in The Long Dark.

I was walking the road near Quonset Garage on Coastal Highway. Light fading, stomach grumbling, the usual post-loot shuffle home. Everything felt quiet. Calm. Deceptively safe.

Then I saw it.

Not a charging bear. Not a distant wolf. No, this was worse.

A moose.

It wasn’t running.
It wasn’t stomping.
It was just… standing there.
Behind a tree.

Image taken from The Long Dark Wiki. Mainly because I didn’t think to take a screenshot or a video when it happened

—

Staring at me like it had been waiting for its cue in a survival horror play.

And then—it took the stance.
The head lowered. The hooves shifted. You know the one. The “say the word and I’ll flatten you” stance.

That was my sign to go.

I turned and ran for the nearest building like I’d just insulted its family. My survival instincts kicked in, my inventory was forgotten, and my dignity stayed behind by the tree.

—

Final Thoughts

The Long Dark Wiki says that moose in particular has a 5% chance to spawn for 48 hours. This one spawned right behind a tree and in front of my will to live.

—

Got a favourite chaotic moment?

Let me know in the comments or tag me on social—I’m always looking for new disasters to celebrate.
And if you enjoy these shorts, consider sharing the page with a fellow survivor.
Because nothing says “friendship” like a moose silently judging you from behind a tree.

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If you enjoyed this story, please check out my other: Survivor’s Shorts

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30th May 2025 0