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About CHANGE: A Homeless Survival Experience
CHANGE: A Homeless Survival Experience is a single‑player adventure that drops you into a procedurally generated city. Each run reshapes streets, buildings and resource locations, giving a fresh survival challenge every time you start a new game.
You select one of five characters, manage hunger, hygiene, happiness and other stats, and explore a variety of urban sites. The developers stress research‑backed realism and donate a share of profits to homelessness charities.
01 / THE GUIDE
Procedurally Generated City
At the start of every playthrough the city layout is generated anew, changing the placement of streets, shelters, police stations and other landmarks. This randomness means you cannot rely on memorised routes and must adapt each run.
The procedural design works with rogue‑like elements: when you fail, you begin again in a different city, but the knowledge you gathered about needs and locations can inform future attempts.
- Map the first shelter you find; later runs often place similar safe zones nearby.
- Notice which building types tend to contain food or warmth and prioritize them early.
02 / THE GUIDE
Character Selection and Backgrounds
Players choose from five characters, each with a distinct backstory and personal maladies. These narratives set the initial conditions and flavor of the experience without altering core mechanics.
The chosen background influences early resource needs and story moments, offering varied perspectives on homelessness while keeping the survival loop consistent across characters.
- Read each background to see which story resonates with you.
- Consider how a character’s initial condition might affect early hunger or hygiene levels.
03 / THE GUIDE
Managing Survival Stats
The game tracks hunger, hygiene, happiness, crime level, street reputation, study level and other statistics. Daily actions raise or lower these meters, and extreme values can trigger negative night‑time outcomes.
Balancing the stats is crucial; for example, neglecting hygiene can reduce happiness, while high crime may draw police attention, influencing where you can safely spend the night.
- Aim to address at least one basic need each day to avoid rapid decline.
- Watch how actions like begging or studying affect multiple stats at once.
04 / THE GUIDE
Locations and Daily Activities
You can spend time in shelters, police stations, parks, bars, clinics, libraries and other city spots. Each location offers specific interactions such as sleeping or learning.
Exploring new buildings reveals extra activities like recycling scrap or meeting companions, expanding the range of strategies you can employ during the day.
- Visit a mix of locations early to discover which provide essential resources.
- Note which sites give food, warmth or opportunities to improve study level.
05 / THE GUIDE
Perks, Items, and Kindness
Hundreds of perks and items can be earned or found, shaping how you survive each day. Perks grant lasting benefits, while items can be used for immediate needs such as food or warmth.
Kindness events from NPCs appear throughout the city; these moments can help develop your character, adding a social dimension to the survival experience.
- Track each kindness event you receive; they can contribute to developing your character over a run.
- Experiment with different perk combinations to see which align best with your character’s challenges.
COMMUNITY
Player discussion