How These Rules Work

• Global rules apply across every series.
• Series add-ons tweak things for specific games (e.g., trucks vs. xenomorphs require different coping strategies).
• Accessibility allowances exist so the runs are difficult, not miserable.
• Sanity and sustainability matter. A good rule set should make you sweat, not burn out.
• If a rule changes mid-season, I’ll note it at the top of the next entry. Transparency > bravado.

The Philosophy Behind the Rules

When this site began, permadeath was everything — a hard line that defined every run. But as Survivor Incognito evolved, so did my understanding of survival. Sometimes the biggest challenge isn’t staying alive in-game — it’s keeping your own sanity from flatlining.

Now, I treat permadeath as the foundation, not the cage. The rule still stands — one life, one timeline — but it bends when needed to keep things fun, chaotic, and sustainable. A save setting, a retry system, or a sanity clause doesn’t cheapen survival; it makes it possible.

This is what I mean by Surviving, Not Suffering. The danger stays real, but the goal is to enjoy the story, not endure punishment for its own sake.

Global Rules (Site-Wide)

1. Permadeath is the default. If I die, that character’s story ends — unless an explicit “sanity clause” or multi-life rule says otherwise.
2. Voyageur-vibes over masochism. Mid-tier challenge, smart play, and humour > misery for bragging rights.
3. No exploits or cheese strats. If it breaks immersion or intent, it’s out. (Bunny-hopping past a bear is still comedy, not canon.)
4. Diegetic decisions. Choices must make sense in-world: time, weather, resources, and knowledge I’ve earned.
5. One save, one timeline. No multiverse safety nets unless used for narrative fun.
6. HUD is fine; omniscience is not. Normal menus are okay, but external tools only when justified in-game.
7. Switch-first, Steam Deck-friendly. Performance quirks are part of the challenge. Comfort tweaks welcome.
8. Quality-of-life ≠ cheating. Accessibility options are always fair play.
9. Honest postmortems. When a run ends, I explain how and why — then it joins The Graveyard.

The Apex Predator Rule

Formerly the Xenomorph Rule — now the official Survivor Incognito standard for all games featuring a relentless hunter.

Some worlds have a single unstoppable threat — a creature that can’t be reasoned with or permanently escaped. To keep things fair (and terrifying), this rule defines how long I can survive their pursuit before it’s truly over.

• Three Strikes: The predator may kill me up to three times before the run ends. Each counts as a near-death encounter — the survivor barely escapes.
• Symbolic Lives: Each strike ties to an in-game theme — eggs, infections, containment breaches, or mental breaks.
• Final Death: On the third encounter, the predator wins. The story ends — sometimes with teeth.

Used in: Alien: Isolation, Choo Choo Charles, and any future titles featuring an apex hunter (Nemesis, Ice Worms, etc.).

Accessibility & Sanity Clauses

Survival includes mental survival. These clauses keep things playable and fun.

• Sanity is a resource. I can use save-after-progress settings or limited retries if the alternative is frustration, not tension.
• Input fatigue is real. Adjust sensitivity, remap buttons, or use gyro aim to stay comfortable.
• Visibility accommodations: UI scaling, subtitles, brightness, and colour filters are always allowed.
• Session pacing: Safe stopping points are encouraged; this is a marathon, not a collapse speed-run.

New Add-On Rule — The Sanity Clause

Some games demand flexibility to stay fun. The Sanity Clause allows rule-bending when mechanical or mental limits outweigh the benefit of “pure” permadeath.

• Sanity Clauses must be declared up front in a post or ruleset (e.g., “15 attempts total,” “save-after-star ON”).
• They never remove danger — they just stop it from overshadowing the experience.
• Used examples: SnowRunner – Permagear and other experimental runs.

FAQ (Update)

Q: Doesn’t this make it easier?

A: Sometimes — intentionally. The goal is still tension and story, not self-inflicted misery.

Q: Why keep permadeath at all then?

A: Because it gives meaning to survival. A life that can end at any moment makes every success count.

Q: Isn’t this against the “real” challenge?

A: Not at all. I’m here to survive games, not suffer through them. The rules evolve to match that.