The Long Dark Wiki
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The Long Dark Wiki

Spoiler Warning: This page may contain spoilers from the story of The Long Dark.

In The Long Dark, whenever you go into a building, cave or other transition, a loading screen is displayed. Loading screens can have several variations. They will each have a background, a little tip/lore box, and a loading animation. Below are all the variations of the load screen.

Background Images[]

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Tips[]

HINT_Vehicles

Weather turning bad or predators nearby? Take shelter in a vehicle.


HINT_VehiclesRest

You can Rest or Pass Time in a vehicle, with or without a Bedroll.


HINT_VehiclesLoot

Vehicles may hold valuable supplies. Don't forget to check the trunk and glove compartment!


HINT_WoodHarvest

Use your Hatchet or Hacksaw to harvest downed firewood from tree limbs or branches. Sticks are abundant and can be harvested without a tool.


HINT_TinderFromSticks

Harvest Sticks to make Tinder, a vital item for firestarting.


HINT_FireFuelTypes

Each Fuel type affects your chance to start a fire and how long the fire will last.


HINT_FireColdBurnTimes

Wood burns more slowly when it's extremely cold.


HINT_FireAccelerant

Accelerants are a great way to start a fire when you can't afford to fail, but are a rare resource.


HINT_CookingMeat

Cooked Food and Meat is generally safer to eat.


HINT_CookingPlacement

To Cook without a Pot, place raw food directly on hot stones, a grill, or a stove top.


HINT_CookingMeltBoil

To produce non-potable Water, place a Can or Pot on an active cooking surface and Melt Snow. Boil the Water to make it safe to drink.


HINT_PurificationTablets

Don't have a fire? Use Purification Tablets to treat Non-Potable Water no matter where you are.


HINT_CookingWarming

Drinks and Canned Food can be placed on or near a fire to warm them.


HINT_CookingWarmupBuff

Eating warm Food or Drinks will give you a buffer against the cold.


HINT_Rabbits

Rabbits are quick but plentiful on Great Bear. Use Stones to stun them for capture.


HINT_RabbitSnares

Craft and place Snares wherever you see Rabbits. Over time, the snares may catch Rabbits. Add multiple Snares to create trap-lines.


HINT_Stags

Skittish creatures, but a great source of Meat and valuable Crafting materials.


HINT_Wolves

Keep your distance whenever possible. A Wolf struggle could be the end of your journey.


HINT_BearDens

If you find bones in a cave, this may mean it's a Bear Den. Watch out! Resting in these caves might earn you a nasty surprise.


HINT_Moose

If you see trees with scratched bark, this might mean Moose are in the area. Listen for them!


HINT_Quartering

Quartering an animal carcass makes it easier to transport. But keep in mind, the quartering site may attract predators!


HINT_RawMeatScent

Raw Meat and Fish give off a scent that attracts predators.


HINT_MeatDecoys

Dropping decoys can distract predators, giving you enough time to escape their interest.


HINT_DistressPistol

Distress Pistol rounds can be an effective deterrent against hostile wildlife. They are the only thing that can reliably deter a charging Bear.


HINT_FlaresTorches

Thrown Torches and Flares have a chance to scare away hostile wildlife.


HINT_Stones

Use the small Stones you find on the ground to hunt Rabbits.


HINT_Bow

Cure Maple Saplings and Gut to craft a Survival bow.


HINT_Rifle

The Rifle is a powerful Hunting tool, but ammunition is scarce! Use it wisely. Rifle shots can also scare wildlife away.


HINT_FishLampOil

Every Fish you cook produces oil that you can use in Lanterns.


HINT_OMBDressings

Harvest Old Man's Beard lichen to craft naturally disinfecting wound dressings.


HINT_RoseHipTea

Harvest and Prepare Rose Hips to brew a natural painkilling tea. Useful against Sprains and Burns.


HINT_ReishiTea

Reishi Mushroom tea makes for an effective natural antibiotic. Useful against Intestinal Parasites and Infections.


HINT_CatTails

Cat Tails are a tough, but edible source of calories. Use the Cat Tail Heads as Tinder.


HINT_CraftingSites

Keep an eye out for these valuable crafting locations. The items you make with them are often better than the ones you find in the world.


HINT_CraftingForgeTools

Create Improvised Tools at a Forge from Scrap Metal.


HINT_ToolsRepair

Keep your Tools in good Condition. Maintain them using a range of gear items, including Whetstones and Tool Kits. It could make all the difference in the wilderness!


HINT_CraftingCuringMaterials

Cure your Fresh Hides and Green Saplings indoors to Craft unique items.


HINT_CraftingSnowShelter

If lost or Freezing in the wilderness, build a Snow Shelter to escape the wind and keep warm.


HINT_LakeRegion

A varied region where human industry collides with Great Bear’s wild landscape.


HINT_MarshRegion

Flat and frozen, the Muskeg is a broad marshland bisected by an old railroad line. Watch for weak ice!


HINT_TracksRegion

Heavily damaged by earthquakes decades ago, this region's twisting paths can confuse distracted explorers.


HINT_RuralRegion

With only a handful of key shelters, this vast region also plays host to some of Great Bear’s most unpredictable weather.


HINT_WhalingStationRegion

With plenty of human-made shelters and signs of Great Bear’s industrial past, this narrow coastline is a scavenger’s dream.


HINT_CrashMountainRegion

Cold and remote, the massive mountain dominates the landscape. The summit may hold valuable resources for those brave enough to face it.


HINT_MountainTownRegion

Home to Milton, this region is now completely abandoned since the lights went out.


HINT_RiverValleyRegion

Dense, with sheer cliffs, this valley lacks any human settlements but may still have a few secrets to reveal.


HINT_LoreEarthquakes

Earthquakes have decimated parts of Great Bear’s infrastructure, making travel across the Island difficult and dangerous.


HINT_LoreCollapse

Largely cut off from the Mainland since The Collapse, Great Bear Islanders became even more resourceful in their isolation.


HINT_LoreMining

Now abandoned, mines were a staple of local industry on Great Bear prior to The Collapse.


HINT_LoreForestTalkers

Active for decades, the Forest Talkers are fierce defenders of Great Bear Island’s ecology.


HINT_BloodLoss

Bandages treat Blood Loss and can be found or Crafted from Cloth.


HINT_InfectionRisk

Antiseptic helps treat Infection Risk resulting from Struggles with Great Bear Island predators.


HINT_BrokenRibs

Treat Broken Ribs with Painkillers, Bandages, and Rest.


HINT_Burns

Burns reduce your overall Condition. Use Painkillers or Rose Hip Tea for quickest recovery.


HINT_Frostbite

Frostbite injuries are permanent. Keep exposed skin covered to avoid this debilitating Affliction.


HINT_Sprains

Sprained Ankles and Wrists affect movement and the ability to use certain Tools. Treat with Bandages or Rest.


HINT_Infections

Infections can be deadly. Treat with Antibiotics or Reishi Tea, and Rest.


HINT_Parasites

Treat Parasites with Antibiotics or Reishi Tea and Rest.You can get Intestinal Parasites from eating certain meats.


HINT_FoodPoisoning

Use Antibiotics or Reishi Tea to recover from Food Poisoning.


HINT_Hypothermia

Hypothermia happens when body temperature stays too low for too long. Keep an eye on your temperature using the Status screen.


HINT_Dysentery

Drinking Unpotable Water can lead to Dysentery. Take Antibiotics or Reishi Tea, then Rest to recover.


HINT_Freezing

Freezing is the fastest way to die on Great Bear. Warm up by getting out of the wind, getting near a fire, or getting inside a shelter.


HINT_Starving

Starving is a slow and steady path to Condition loss. Eat enough to stay healthy, or your weakened condition can lead down many paths to death.


HINT_Dehydration

A quick way to lose Condition. Keep Water on hand to quench your thirst.


HINT_Exhaustion

A silent killer. Everything is harder when you're Exhausted. Find a safe place to Rest and recover.


HINT_Temperature

Time of day can dramatically affect the overall air temperature on Great Bear Island.


HINT_Wind

High winds will slow movement and exploration, as well as put out campfires.


HINT_Fog

Dense fog can blanket Great Bear Island, making navigation difficult.


HINT_Moonlight

Use moonlight to Craft, Research, and Repair when outdoors.


HINT_WolfStruggles

As well as causing dangerous and deadly Afflictions, Wolf struggles can damage and destroy Clothing.


HINT_WolvesPatrol

Wolves are attracted to your scent -- raw meat or fish, or bloody injuries, can draw them to you. Remain down-wind to help mask your scent.


HINT_WolfDeterrence

Thrown Flares and Torches have a chance to deter Wolves. Keep them on hand if exploring.


HINT_FoodPoisoning_2

You can get Food Poisoning by eating low-Condition food items.


HINT_VehiclesLoot_2

Locked trunks can be opened using a Prybar.


HINT_ListenCarefullyWolves

Wolves can often be heard before they are seen.


HINT_Arrows

Cure Birch Saplings and Forge Arrowheads to craft Arrows.


HINT_AimingTired

Fatigue affects your ability to aim when using Rifles and Bows.


HINT_IceFishing

Use a Tool to break the ice hole in an Ice Fishing hut. It will freeze up again over time!


HINT_ScentIndicator

Keep an eye on your Scent Indicator{ico_inv_Materials} when carrying Raw Meat or Fish, or when Bleeding. Predators can smell you, and may come looking.


HINT_ShelterIndicator

When you see the Sheltered Indicator {ico_sheltered}, this means you are currently protected from the wind.


HINT_RadialMenu

Press {OpenRadial} for a quick way to access a variety of critical game actions, as well as critical status information.


HINT_LayeredClothing

Layer your Clothing{ico_inv_clothing} wisely to take advantage of different Clothing attributes such as Weight, Windproofness and Protection against wildlife.


HINT_WetFrozenClothing

Wet or Frozen Clothing can be deadly. Warm it by a fire to dry it out.


HINT_MaintainClothing

Keep your Clothing in good Condition or it will become Ruined.


HINT_ExposureFrostbite

Uncovered skin can become Frostbitten. Check your Clothing interface to watch for areas of Frostbite Risk.


HINT_ClothingProtection

Clothing can offer Protection against physical harm - whether it be falls or wildlife attacks.


HINT_CraftedClothing

Clothing you make from wildlife hides can offer unique survival advantages.


HINT_Hatchets

Hatchets are the best Tool for Harvesting large amounts of wood.


HINT_HuntingKnife

A Hunting Knife is a key tool for harvesting meat from carcasses. It can also protect you against hostile wildlife.


HINT_CanOpener

Opening cans using a Can Opener{ico_canOpener} maximizes the Calorie value of the food inside.


HINT_Hacksaw

Hacksaws let you Harvest Scrap Metal for Crafting and Repair. You can also use them to Harvest wood from tree limbs.


HINT_Prybar

Prybars are essential for forcing open locked doors and vehicles.


HINT_MaintainTools

Using any tool reduces its Condition. Maintain tools before they break!


HINT_Lantern

Lanterns are useful for casting light in dark areas, and also provide a bit of warmth when carried in-hand.


HINT_RegionDifference

Remote regions of Great Bear Island offer fewer human-made shelters. Come prepared!


HINT_Blizzards

Blizzards are deadly and enduring storms. They also freeze and damage your Clothing.


HINT_StormFuel

Blizzards and high winds can knock loose Sticks or drop tree Limbs which you can then Harvest later.


HINT_Charcoal

Spent fires produce Charcoal, which you can use in Survival Mode to update your world map with a Survey.


HINT_Landmarks

Look for landmarks to guide your way in the wilderness. Every region tells a story.


HINT_SunNav

Use the sun's position in the sky to navigate Great Bear Island.


HINT_AuroraWildlife

The Aurora seems to disturb wildlife. Be extra wary of predators at this time!


HINT_BufferMemories

The Aurora can bring old Computers back to life, restoring old data left in their memory banks. These artifacts provide a glimpse of Great Bear before the lights went out.


HINT_MiltonOrigins

Founded as a coal-mining town in 1911, Milton's story has followed the boom-and-bust of the entire Island.


HINT_Collapse

Early-21st century economic instability in North America and Europe was a key factor in accelerating The Collapse.


HINT_GreatBearCollapse

Already dependent on The Mainland, the effects of The Collapse intensified the Island's remote character.


HINT_CarterDam

First opened in the 1960s, seismic activity on Great Bear Island proved to be a major obstacle for its builder, the industrialist Richard Carter.


HINT_FreeRunner

After Sprinting 50 km, Sprinting burns 25% fewer Calories.


HINT_BookSmarts

After completing 250 hours of Research, you gain 10% more benefit from each completely researched book.


HINT_ColdFusion

After spending a total of 100 days outside, you are less susceptible to the cold. You get a permanent +2C bonus to Air Temperature.


HINT_EfficientMachine

After surviving 500 days, your body has adapted to the tough conditions. You consume 10% fewer calories.


HINT_FireMaster

Successfully start 1000 fires, and all your Survivors start with a Level 3 Fire Starting skill.


HINT_SnowWalker

After travelling 1000 km in the game, your Stamina bar recharges 20% faster.


HINT_SprainPain

Pain causes blurred vision and discomfort. Treat it, or let it heal on its own over time.


HINT_Headache

Some afflictions or even first aid actions can leave you with a distracting Headache.


HINT_EnergyDrink

Energy Drinks temporarily reduce Fatigue and boost Stamina. Their potent ingredients will cause Headaches, so use only when needed.


HINT_EnergyBoost

Energy Drinks grant a Boost to Stamina and reduce Fatigue for a short time. Useful in precarious places.


HINT_SprainRisk

If Encumbered or Exhausted you are at risk for a Sprain on sloped ground. Drop gear or Rest to eliminate the Risk.


HINT_Revolver

A powerful defensive weapon, you can shoot the Revolver quickly from the hip to frighten wildlife, or aim down sights for more accuracy.


HINT_Slopes

Watch for a Slope Warning when traveling over steeper terrain. Your chance of Sprains is higher on steep or uneven ground.


HINT_ImprovisedClothing

As a last resort, Craft Improvised Head and Hand Wraps to protect yourself from weather and wildlife.


HINT_BirchTea

Drink Birch Bark Tea to restore lost Condition over time.


HINT_RevolverStruggle

Use the Revolver to fend off Wolves during a Struggle. You'll have a chance to take a shot and wound or kill the animal.


HINT_Shivering

When using a Rifle, a Revolver, or a Distress Pistol, cold temperatures can cause Shivering, affecting your aim.


HINT_AimAccuracy

Your ability to aim successfully is affected by Cold, Fatigue, and Breathing. Kneeling confers added stability.


HINT_MoraleMeter

Timberwolf packs have Morale, indicated by a red meter. Timberwolf Morale can be broken by shooting or throwing things at them. Packs with broken Morale will flee, but may return once they recover.

Episode 4 messages[]

HINT_BlackrockMountain

The dramatic peak dominates the landscape around Blackrock Penitentiary and played a role in establishing the prison's fearsome reputation.


HINT_BlackrockEarthquakes

While seismic activity has damaged or the destroyed many of the roads and bridges around Blackrock, the earthquakes left the Penitentiary itself largely untouched.


HINT_JailersResidence

Blackrock's Wardens have traditionally kept a home not far from the Penitentiary grounds. After the Collapse, arsonists set fire to the empty building. No motive was ever disclosed.


HINT_CuttysCave

The first man to attempt escape from Blackrock, Bill Cutty is a something of a local legend. No trace of him was ever found. Word of his possible success only reached the prison by way of the cryptic letters received by his former cellmates.


HINT_BlackrockMineMules

Mules were essential to all mining activity on Great Bear, and no mine demanded their labour more than Blackrock's. Pulling the ore-laden carts would have been impossible without the sturdy beasts, even as the animals themselves founds the harsh climate on the Island intolerable.


HINT_BlackrockMine

Blackrock's mine was said to be the brainchild of a Mainland consortium. With newer technology, for its time, they hoped to delve deeper than any other mine on the Island. It remains unknown if the mine's ambitious goal is in some way connected to its shuttering.


HINT_FeedingBlackrock

The remote Penitentiary never used to lack for food. Post-Collapse life on Great Bear, however, has meant lean Winter months for inmates and staff at Blackrock. Clever cooks at the prison have become known as much for their farming prowess as their kitchen skills, as they toil to keep their pantries full.


HINT_BlackrockPower

After a few decades of operation, it became clear the Penitentiary needed its own source of electricity. The Warden at the time made it his personal mission to make Blackrock self-sustainable in an emergency.


HINT_PowerWorkers

Power workers man the Sub Station near the Penitentiary to ensure the gates and doors stay locked at Blackrock. A lonely job, the electricians and line workers who fill the position never last long.


HINT_BlackrockLocals

An uneasy truce exists between the Penitentiary staff and the local population on Great Bear. Long a source of jobs and revenue for remote communities, resentment still endures for the imposition of Blackrock on the Island.


HINT_BlackrockArchive

Academics sometimes visited Blackrock Penitentiary to explore its vast records archive. The unique combination of geographic and social isolation has led to various scientific studies, of its staff as well as its inmates.


HINT_BlackrockNoisemaker

Improvised explosives have been a notorious problem for officers and staff at Blackrock. Some of the more enterprising inmates have used the devices as a kind of currency.


HINT_BlackrockTimberwolves

While the region surrounding Blackrock Mountain is home to all the usual Great Bear Island predators, it is especially friendly territory for Timberwolves. Marine Flares and Noisemakers are very effective at breaking Timberwolf Morale.


HINT_BlackrockForestTalkers

It is rumored a faction of Forest Talkers has been active around Blackrock Mountain in recent years. The Penitentiary grounds serve as a constant reminder of Great Bear Island's ties to the Mainland.


HINT_BlackrockForestTalkersHideout

Forest Talkers are experts at finding ways to make use of Blackrock Region's abandoned infrastructure.


HINT_BlackrockGold

Although officially discouraged, gold panning has always been a pastime for Blackrock's staff. Locals suspected the Penitentiary banned the activity because they didn't want to lose any officers, should they strike it rich.


HINT_BlackrockBus

Blackrock's bus drivers have what many consider to be the cushiest and safest job at the Penitentiary.


HINT_BlackrockWarden

Blackrock has attracted a variety of Wardens over the years. Some were kind, some cruel, but all were men who relished the extremes of life on Great Bear Island.


HINT_BlackrockBrokenRoads

Over the years, the extensive damage to the roads and bridges around Blackrock were seen as a bonus security feature of the infamous Penitentiary.


HINT_BlackrockPianoMan

One of Blackrock's longest-serving officers was famous for playing a piano deep into the night. Some wardens tolerated his playing as a form of therapy for the inmates, while others saw it as a special punishment.


HINT_BlackrockDoctor

Dr. Childs has been medical director at Blackrock for decades. It's rumoured that due to his research on Penitentiary inmates he's never been able to secure another position on the Mainland.


HINT_BlackrockFoundation

It's said that Blackrock's original foundation was built on the site of an old trapping community. The trappers' cabins were destroyed to make way for the Penitentiary, a move that defined the history of the place ever since.


HINT_BlackrockPowerlines

The electrical stanchions that snake through the Region are a survival tool for Blackrock staff. If lost in a storm or whiteout blizzard, they could always follow the lines to find shelter.


HINT_BlackrockBarracks

New officers always bunked in the Blackrock Barracks. One of their tasks was supplementing the meager food supply at the Penitentiary -- a thankless and often dangerous job.


Loading Animations[]

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Trivia[]

  • The tips you see actually change depending on how many days you have survived. More basic tips are displayed when you first start a new run, and more lore-heavy, or complex tips are shown during late-game runs.

Notes[]

  • This Page is work in progress, if you have found a Tip/Lore or a background image that is not present, please add it.
  • Taken from file `resources.assets` in the source code. You can open the binary, and still search with text. Each loading tip seems to be prepended with `HINT_` eg. `HINT_BlackrockBarracks`. I omitted the `HINT_BlackrockBarracks_title` values, as they added extracting complexity, and extracted the English language semi-manually, i.e. regexes helped a lot.
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