In the paranoid and unforgiving world of No, I’m not a Human, your most valuable resource isn’t a weapon or a piece of evidence—it’s your ability to save your game. This is a game that pulls no punches, and its brutal and brilliant save system is at the very heart of its terrifying atmosphere. Understanding this mechanic is absolutely essential for survival.
Table of Contents
The game features a punishing manual save system with no autosave whatsoever. Your progress is saved only when you consume a finite, in-game resource: kombucha. This guide is your essential resource for understanding and mastering this unique system. We will cover how to perform your first save, detail the two distinct methods for acquiring more precious kombucha saves, and provide crucial strategies for when and why you should save your game to maximize your chances of seeing the next sunrise.
The Harsh Reality: No Autosave and Your First Free Save
The first thing every new player must understand is that No, I’m not a Human does not hold your hand. There is no checkpointing and no automatic saving. Every decision you make is permanent until you choose to manually save. One wrong choice—letting in a disguised Guest, accidentally killing a human, or failing a critical late-game event—can end your run instantly, potentially erasing hours of progress. This design choice is intentional, raising the stakes of every single interaction and forcing you to live with the consequences of your actions. It’s a throwback to the ink ribbon system of classic survival horror games like Resident Evil, where the act of saving is a strategic decision in itself.
How to Perform Your First Save
The game provides you with one, and only one, “free” save to start your journey. Here’s how to use it:
- Locate the wooden dresser in the main hallway of your house.
- On the left side of the dresser, you will see a large glass jar filled with a murky liquid. This is the kombucha.
- Interact with the jar. You will be given the option to drink the kombucha to save your game.
Once you use this first save, the jar will be empty. From this point forward, you must find or purchase more kombucha to save your progress again. Each new jar of kombucha represents a single save point.
Acquiring More Saves: The Hunt for Kombucha
With only one free save, your next priority becomes finding ways to acquire more. The game provides two distinct methods for obtaining more kombucha, each with its own risks and rewards.
Method 1: The Risky Path of Bribery
This is the earliest but most unreliable method for getting more saves.
- How it Works: The mechanic is based on turning away visitors. When a person knocks on your door and you refuse them entry, there is a chance they will become desperate and offer you a bribe to reconsider. This bribe can be a variety of items, and one of the possible offerings is a life-saving jar of kombucha.
- The High-Stakes Gamble: Choosing to rely on bribery is a dangerous game. It is not a guaranteed method; not every visitor will offer a bribe, and those who do might not offer kombucha. More importantly, every time you turn someone away, you risk sending away a crucial human character. That person could have been a key part of a questline or might have offered you other vital supplies, such as cat food (required for the “Your fluffy master” achievement) or cigarettes. In your desperation for a save, you might be sacrificing another, more important opportunity.
- Strategic Advice: This method should be used sparingly, perhaps only when you are truly desperate for a save and have no other options available. It is a gamble that can easily backfire, leaving you with neither a save nor a valuable resource.
Method 2: The Reliable Path of ForRest Delivery
This is the safest and most consistent way to stock up on kombucha, but it only becomes available later in the game.
- How to Unlock the Service: To use the “ForRest” delivery service, you must first learn its phone number. To do this, you need to periodically go to the bedroom and watch the television. Eventually, an advertisement for the ForRest service will air, which will display its phone number.
- Important Note on the Number: The community has identified a common, static number for the service. However, the game’s own guide suggests that the phone number can vary in each playthrough. It is highly recommended that you watch the TV ad in your current game to “officially” unlock the service and confirm the correct number, which will then be automatically added to your phone’s contact list.
- Placing an Order: The telephone is located on the small cabinet near the front door. Use it to call ForRest and you will be presented with a menu of items to purchase.
- The Two Catches: There are two important things to remember. First, kombucha may not always be available on the ForRest menu. If you call and don’t see it as an option, you need to progress further in the main story for it to be unlocked for purchase. Second, the delivery is not instant. After you place your order, you will have to survive long enough for the delivery person to arrive, which can take a day or more. Plan your orders in advance of when you think you’ll need them.
The Ultimate Strategy: When Should You Save?
In a game with limited saves, the most important skill to learn is save management. Using a precious jar of kombucha at the wrong time can be just as fatal as making a bad decision. Here are some strategic tips on the best times to save your game:
- After Surviving a Major Hurdle: If you’ve just made it through a particularly difficult night, successfully repelled a dangerous Guest, or completed a major, multi-day quest step, it’s an excellent time to lock in that progress.
- Before a Major, Game-Altering Decision: If a character gives you a cryptic choice that feels important (like accepting the cult leader’s offer or provoking the Guest Hunter), it’s a good idea to save beforehand. This will allow you to explore the consequences of different paths without having to restart your entire run.
- After Securing a Good “Setup”: If you’ve successfully managed to get a house full of useful, confirmed-human residents and your resource production is stable, that’s a perfect point to save. This creates a solid fallback position in case things go wrong in the days ahead.
- When NOT to Save: Avoid wasting saves on minor events. Don’t save every single morning just because you survived the night. Try to push your luck and play through several days between saves. The goal is to make each save point a significant leap forward in your progress.
By treating your saves as a finite resource that must be earned and managed just like food or water, you can conquer the game’s unforgiving nature. Use them wisely, trust your instincts, and may your kombucha jar never run dry.
By Yulyana
- No, I’m not a Human – How to Autosave (Kombucha System)
- No, I’m not a Human – How to Avoid the Spoiler Event
- No, I’m not a Human: A Complete Guide to All Phone Numbers and Secret Achievements
- No, I’m not a Human: The Ultimate Guide to All 49 Achievements and Endings
- No, I’m not a Human: A Complete Achievement Guide and Walkthrough
