How to Play Drink the Ocean: Complete Guide
How to Play Summary: Drink the Ocean operates on an addictive four-part gameplay loop: walk down to the water, siphon liquid until your belly reaches capacity, return inland to the mechanical PRESS to convert water into salt currency, and spend salt at the blue SHOP booth on capacity and extraction upgrades to uncover deeper oceanic mysteries.
Full Keybindings & Input Reference
The browser client utilizes standard PC first-person navigation. Before pressing keys, click once on the game canvas to enable pointer lock.
| Control | Action | Tactical Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| WASD / Arrows | Movement | Traverse sand dunes, coastline, and exposed seabed trenches |
| Mouse Aim | Camera Pitch & Yaw | Direct reticle toward water surfaces until green indicator activates |
| Left Mouse Button | Drink Water | Hold or rapid-click to siphon water into your stomach (2L base/click) |
| Spacebar | Jump | Clear beach obstacles, jump onto the salt press, or hurdle coral rocks |
| 1, 2, 3 Keys | Tool Selection | Swap between manual drinking straw, multi-straw rig, and vacuum suction |
| T Key | Fast Return Home | Instantly teleports you back to the inland salt press from deep trenches |
| E Key | Interact / Open Gift | Catch Sky Duck gift balloons as they float across the shoreline sky |
| Tab Key | Unlock Cursor | Release mouse capture to inspect guide tabs or external windows |
The 12 Tutorial Quests (Progression Roadmap)
Drink the Ocean provides a structured 12-quest tutorial in the upper corner of the interface to guide new players through core mechanics. Complete each objective in sequence:
- Walk to the Shore: Approach the waterline until your crosshair illuminates green.
- Take Your First Drink: Click LMB to extract 2 liters of seawater into your belly.
- Fill Belly to Maximum (10L): Take 5 total sips to reach your starting 10-liter cap.
- Locate the Yellow PRESS: Turn back toward the sand dunes and approach the hydraulic compressor.
- Press Water into Salt: Stand on the pressure plate to purge your stomach and produce salt.
- Visit the Upgrade Booth: Walk to the neon-blue SHOP structure beside the press.
- Purchase Bigger Belly I: Expand stomach capacity to reduce transit frequency.
- Purchase Extra Straws I: Increase liters extracted per click to speed up refill rates.
- Catch a Sky Duck: Wait for an inflatable yellow duck to drift overhead and press E to unbox bonus salt.
- Uncover the Shipwreck: Drain sufficient ocean depth to expose the wooden pirate ship hull.
- Equip Mouth Vacuum: Unlock continuous suction capabilities to drain water effortlessly.
- Reach the Whale Skeleton: Drain down to the second major tier to prepare for the abyss.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you drink water in Drink the Ocean?
Walk forward until you enter the shallow surf along the shoreline. Position your crosshair over the water until it turns bright green and reads CLICK TO DRINK. Hold or tap the Left Mouse Button (or press and hold the touch button on mobile) to drink 2 liters per tick until your belly is full.
Where do you turn water into salt?
Directly inland on the central sand ridge sits the mechanical PRESS platform painted bright yellow. Step onto the pressure plate with water in your stomach; the hydraulic stamp will compress the fluid and deposit salt currency directly into your wallet.
What are the 12 tutorial quests in Drink the Ocean?
The tutorial guides you through: 1) Approach the coastline, 2) Sip your first mouthful, 3) Fill stomach to 10L, 4) Walk to the PRESS, 5) Refine water into salt, 6) Visit the blue SHOP, 7) Buy Bigger Belly, 8) Buy Extra Straws, 9) Open a Sky Duck gift, 10) Reveal the Shipwreck, 11) Unlock the Mouth Vacuum, and 12) Reach the Whale Skeleton depth.
What does the Sky Duck do?
A floating inflatable Sky Duck periodically drifts across the sky carrying a gift crate. Press E when near or beneath it to open the balloon gift, which grants immediate salt windfalls or temporary drinking speed multipliers.