The September 14 demo advertises three starting scenarios plus hardcore mode. Water Merchant is the clearest choice for learning the new water system because its testing and purification kit is supplied at the start. Rock Bottom is the demanding start shown in older and current challenge runs.
What is actually available in the demo?
The official Steam demo page confirms three starting scenarios plus hardcore mode. The wider game’s store description also names occupations such as gunsmith, chemist, water merchant, fence and farmer; that broader list is not proof that every occupation is unlocked in the current demo.
In an opening demo walkthrough around 04:10, the creator checks the selection screen and finds some choices unavailable in the demo. The narration is automatic subtitles, so treat menu text in your own build as authoritative.
| Start | What the evidence supports | Practical approach |
|---|---|---|
| Water Merchant | Official demo says its water-testing and purification kit is available immediately. | Learn water quality and bottling; watch input costs. |
| Rock Bottom / hardcore | Official August Playtest patch describes a start with nothing; later videos use a hard-mode challenge. | Focus on early liquidity and rent before optional machines. |
| Other demo choices | Three scenarios are advertised, but names and unlocks are not all confirmed from our sources. | Check the selection screen in your installed demo. |
Is the demo the same as the Playtest?
No. The current Steam description explicitly compares them and names Water Merchant equipment, a Toolbox, Bottle Printer upgrades and Vacuum Robot upgrades among the differences. Don’t follow a video from before September 14 without checking the build. Open Demo vs Playtest changes for a version-specific list.
First-run decision
Choose a mode according to the system you want to study rather than an unverified “best” class. For a first-ever run, leave tutorial guidance on. For water production, choose Water Merchant. For a low-cash challenge, consider hardcore only after you understand the daily counter and rent routine. The beginner guide lays out that first week.
Why the selection screen can differ between videos
The September demo Steam description advertises three starting scenarios plus a hardcore mode. The August 6 Playtest patch added Rock Bottom, while the September demo announcement introduced the Water Merchant. A different August patch made Rat Wrangler visible in the Playtest’s starting-scenario menu. These statements refer to different dates and should not be combined into an invented list of four freely selectable starts for every new demo save.
In a recorded demo opening at 04:10, the player reads some options as unavailable and selects an available one. Use the options your own new-save menu actually unlocks. If a guide recommends a starting perk you cannot select, the difference may be a prerequisite, version difference or another build rule; the video’s automatic captions alone do not establish which.
For an immediate water-system tutorial, the Water Merchant has the strongest documented starting-kit advantage because the demo explicitly supplies testing and purification equipment. For a survival challenge, Rock Bottom is documented as the hard-mode starting scenario that starts with nothing in the August patch. Neither fact determines the best personal choice for every player: the right start depends on which game loop you want to learn.
Last checked September 16, 2026. Instructions refer to the September demo unless otherwise stated.