As the title suggests, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is a game where you must take silent steps and perform noise-free actions to survive. While this might sound easy at first, it’s a misconception. There are countless things that can make noise, and the moments where you come face-to-face with the monster can trigger panic.
The protagonist, Alex, suffers from asthma, meaning every action needs to be carefully considered. The game is far from easy, presenting new mechanics with each section. No matter how terrifying or powerful the monster is, you need to survive—and that’s why we’ve prepared these beginner tips to help you.
Your Difficulty Choice Shapes The Entire Adventure
The difficulty level you select at the beginning of the game will determine your entire fate, so make sure to choose wisely before starting. Your chosen difficulty will affect many aspects of the game. There are three difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, and Hard. The easier the difficulty, the more abundant the resources you’ll find to help you survive.
As the game’s title suggests, staying quiet is crucial, as monsters are highly sensitive to sound. On lower difficulties, their sensitivity to noise decreases, and your mistakes won’t be fatal. Additionally, only on Easy mode will you have access to the Focus ability, which allows you to see the monster’s location.
If you die, you can change the difficulty level and adjust it based on your experience. You should try Survivor Mode only after mastering all the game’s mechanics, as it requires you to avoid making any mistakes.
Another factor influencing difficulty is the Gameplay settings found in the game menu. The Experience Presets option lets you modify the difficulty as a whole, but you can also tweak individual settings in Custom mode. For an even more immersive experience, you can enable your microphone, which will attract monsters if you make noises while playing.
The Yellow Paint setting is also available to simplify your experience further.
Don’t Just Focus On Completing Objectives
While focusing on the main objectives and survival is essential, it may make things more challenging. Observing your surroundings carefully throughout your adventure will be beneficial. Even if you don’t plan on collecting the game’s collectibles—such as notes, toys, and mixtapes—it’s still rewarding to explore every area in detail.
For instance, if you find a plank or ladder you need to carry, it’s not always a good idea to grab it and leave immediately. There could be inhalers, pills, or batteries for your flashlight waiting in that room. These items are crucial for survival and can provide significant support.
It’s also important to know how to manage inhalers and pills effectively. Pills cannot be carried, but inhalers can be stored and taken with you. Therefore, instead of using inhalers immediately, it’s better to save them for critical situations. If you find both an inhaler and a pill, use the pill for temporary healing and keep the inhaler for future emergencies.
In case you run into a tough spot without an inhaler, restarting from your last load can reset your Asthma Stress Level. If the load point isn’t too far back and you want to save your inhalers, restarting from the last checkpoint is a good strategy.
You’ll also come across batteries during your journey. If you can’t pick one up, fully recharge your flashlight and take the battery instead of leaving it behind. This way, your flashlight will stay fully charged, and you won’t waste any resources.
Use The Phonometer And Crouching To Survive
In a game where silence is crucial, every careless step and move can have deadly consequences. Fortunately, Alex builds a Phonometer in the early levels and carries it with her. Make sure to take full advantage of this tool—it helps you monitor both environmental noise levels and the sounds you make, allowing you to adapt more quickly to your surroundings.
Just as you need light to see, moving without checking the noise level is a big gamble, and it’s not a risk worth taking. There are many surfaces and objects that can make noise, so where you step is extremely important. Think before moving forward—if the path is covered with rustling leaves or shards of glass, there might be an alternative route that lets you avoid stepping on them.
Never rush through anything. Open doors slowly because even the smallest mistake can attract a monster. Walking in the dark is another risky move; accidentally bumping into cans or other objects can be frustrating, so don’t forget to use your flashlight.
Another essential tool at your disposal is crouching. Moving in a crouched position helps you make less noise, and it’s also faster than walking slowly. So when you encounter danger, make sure to crouch often. It’s also crucial to crouch while crossing water, leaves, and other noisy surfaces to minimize sound.
Manage Situations When The Monster Is Too
One of the most common scenarios you’ll encounter is being in the same area as the monster. The monster will roam around, actively searching for you, and at times it may get dangerously —perhaps even walk directly toward you. The first thing to ensure is that your Asthma Stress Level is under control.
Being too to the monster will increase Alex’s asthma attack risk due to psychological stress, and without an inhaler, you could be in deadly danger. Also, make sure to stock up on throwable objects whenever you find them, as you never know when they might save your life.
If the monster corners you or gets too , throw an object as far as possible to divert its attention and reposition yourself in a safer spot. Another crucial tip is not to let your guard down just because the monster isn’t physically present. Its absence doesn’t mean it’s not nearby.
Stay vigilant outside of safe rooms, and always act cautiously. If you make a loud noise, the game may trigger a tension sound effect or play the monster’s growl—this is your signal to avoid making another noisy move, or the monster will pinpoint your location and attack.
In some cases, especially during scanning phases, staying completely still may keep you alive. However, if the monster charges toward you, staying still could be a fatal mistake.
Keep Your Asthma Stress Level Under Control
Think of Alex’s asthma stress level as her health stat. While hitting a Quick Time Event (QTE) successfully may prevent an immediate asthma attack even if the stress level is in the red, you should always prepare for the worst. Therefore, avoid wasting your inhalers unnecessarily.
At times, you may have to enter dusty areas or stay to the monster, and being without an inhaler in these moments is a dangerous gamble. Additionally, think carefully before performing any physical activities, as they also increase the asthma stress level.
For example, is it really necessary to climb onto an object? Climbing up and down for no reason will only raise your stress level. Similarly, lifting heavy objects when it’s not required is a big mistake—do it only when necessary. Reckless actions can accelerate an asthma attack.
For example, if you find a sandbag, consider whether pouring the sand is essential, or if you can move quietly without it. Every action should be evaluated in advance to increase your chances of survival.
Decide In Advance Which Items To Hold
Alex can carry different items in his left and right hands. For example, the flashlight and phonometer can only be carried in his left hand, meaning you can’t hold both at the same time. Swapping items in critical moments can be dangerous, so plan ahead which items you’ll keep on hand. If an asthma attack is imminent, make sure to carry an inhaler.
If the monster is nearby, have a throwable object ready. Each level introduces new mechanics, such as levels where you’ll need to use flares. Keep in mind that every item has its downsides—flares make noise and can attract the monster to your location.
On the other hand, since they can be thrown, they can redirect the monster’s attention, potentially saving your life. Be aware of the pros and cons of each item to make informed decisions and improve your chances of survival.
Remember To Stay Silent At All Costs
In some situations, the monster might be very , and your objective could be just within reach. Never think about rushing or running to complete the objective quickly. Remember, the monster is faster than you and can kill you instantly. It’s crucial to remain cautious until the very end.
If you’re near your objective and the monster is enough to pose a threat, use throwable objects to divert its attention. If you don’t have anything to throw, crouch slowly and move toward a safe corner. The worst thing you can do is panic, run, and make noise.
Always Remember There Might Be Alternative Paths
In most scenarios, there won’t be just one path to your objective. For example, there could be two places to find a plank, but you’ll only need to carry one. Pay attention to which route allows you to perform better.
If the path you’re taking keeps leading to your death, try the other one—you might find throwable objects to distract the monster or encounter a more open area that gives you greater flexibility. Similarly, one path may require carrying a plank, while an alternative route could let you bypass that entirely.
Analyze your surroundings carefully. In some situations, you’ll need to make noise. For instance, if you need to break a window with a brick, plan an escape route before taking that risk. Additionally, the monster can sometimes break doors, walls, or disarm traps, creating new paths. Make the most of these moments, as the monster’s actions can occasionally work to your advantage.