The Earth Game

Life might not be a video game — but it certainly feels like one.

So here’s the tutorial… and a review.

I’ve been playing the “Earth” video game since I spawned onto the map in 1981. I’m not one of the most experienced players, but I wanted to create a review — and maybe a tutorial — for you. I’ll also share a few tricks on how to hack the game. And near the end, I’ll explain how to truly beat the game and get on the leaderboard.

The Tutorial Phase (Childhood)

When you start the game “Earth,” you’re immediately dropped into the tutorial phase. The developers call this “childhood.”

During this phase, you learn the basics: how to interact, survive, and get by. But here’s the catch — this tutorial barely scratches the surface of what you actually need to know to play Earth well and level up your character.

In most games, when you choose a character, you can see their strengths and weaknesses up front so you can plan accordingly. But Earth doesn’t work that way.

Your character’s deep traits — strengths and flaws — are hidden on purpose. You don’t get a guide explaining what you’re naturally good at or where you’ll struggle. The developers designed it this way.

You have to dig.
You have to explore.
You have to understand who your character really is.

Most players spend their entire lives without ever fully discovering their character’s true potential. They play Earth on the surface level and miss the deeper experience that could completely change how they play the game.

Bringing New Players Into the Game

One of the optional missions in Earth is bringing new players into the game.

My character recently committed to another character named Michelle. Using the game mechanics and some in-game coins, we brought a new player into the world. We named her Hannah. She’s just starting the tutorial phase now.

This is a difficult mission. I recommend attempting it only when you believe your character is ready.

If you create a new character, you’re responsible for walking them through the entire tutorial phase. Eventually, they transfer to a different map location for about eight hours a day — this location is called “school” — where other characters help guide them.

Not all players receive the same tutorial. Some start on easy mode. Others face serious challenges from the very beginning.

Regardless of your starting conditions, Earth hides many key details from every character. You might think you understand your strengths and weaknesses, but there’s always more to uncover. Many abilities only reveal themselves through missions, challenges, and new levels.

The true goal is to deeply understand your character.

The Biggest Mistake Players Make

The biggest mistake players make is assuming they know their character just because they’ve been playing for a while.

If you want to truly thrive, you must go deeper.

Most players get stuck reacting to the game’s randomness instead of intentionally studying themselves. The developers don’t give you the answers up front, and they won’t make them easy to find.

But once you do the work, Earth transforms. It stops being just a survival game and becomes a quest for self-mastery. You unlock new levels — and often, more coins.

Glitches, Background Programs, and Entropy

Here’s something nobody tells you:

Your character is probably running way too many programs at once.

Imagine having 50 browser tabs open constantly. The developers turned off the “open programs alert” by default, so most players don’t even realize it’s happening.

These background programs cause lag. They reduce focus and overall performance.

In Earth, these programs include:

• Unresolved tasks

• Emotional baggage

• Distractions

• Habits that don’t help you level up

Then there’s entropy — the silent killer.

If you don’t revisit your systems regularly — how you earn coins, what you focus on, how you’re playing — you’ll drift toward entropy. Entropy is the slow movement toward chaos and disorder that pulls your character away from what really matters.

To beat entropy, you must study Earth itself: its mechanics, rules, and hidden systems.

Most players won’t put in this effort. That actually makes leveling up easier for those who do.

You don’t have to do it alone. You can hire a “coach” — someone who understands the mechanics and can help you shortcut progress.

Some players use certain “glitches” to reset their character and close open programs. Psychedelics are one example, in regions where they are legal and available in the in-game shop. The key idea is reducing internal noise so your character performs better.

The more programs you close and the better you manage entropy, the faster you level up.

The Five Core Mechanics of Success

There are five mechanics no AI or automation can fully replace:

1. Connections and Love

Building relationships is one of the most powerful mechanics in the game. It pays off long term.

2. Production

Meaningful work gives your character purpose. It’s not just about grinding for coins — it’s about creating something.

3. Mindset

Your internal game matters as much as your external one. Growth and adaptability can’t be outsourced.

4. Health

Physical, mental, and emotional health determine your performance. A healthy character plays better.

5. Understanding the Meta

You must study the game itself. The more you understand the mechanics, the better you play.

Designing Your Own Quests

The real secret to enjoying Earth is designing your own quests.

Yes, there are pre-built missions. But the best players create their own.

Steven Kotler, one of the current players on the map, wrote The Art of Impossible, which provides a framework for building custom quests.

The framework includes:

• Curiosity – Drives exploration.

• Passion – Guides meaningful missions.

• Purpose – Your ultimate questline and legacy.

• Autonomy – Control over your direction.

• Mastery – Skill refinement over time.

Pro tip: Design quests that avoid your “anti-vision” — the future you absolutely don’t want.

Once your quests are mapped, create mission goals (checkpoints) to stay focused and avoid distractions.

The NPC Trap

There’s a trap in the game that converts real players into NPCs (non-playable characters).

NPCs repeat routines without growth.

In Earth, this happens when your character:

• Doom-scrolls social media

• Gets consumed by politics

• Takes endless tutorials without applying knowledge

The developers flood the game with distractions. Many players never reach higher levels because they’re seduced by easy loops.

The difference between a real player and an NPC is simple:

NPCs react.
Players choose.

Focus on long-term goals — your decade, year, and month — to avoid the trap.

The Secret End-Game Grading System

Near the end of the game, your character is evaluated on five hidden metrics:

1. Love vs Fear

Are your decisions rooted in compassion or self-protection?

2. Connection

Collaboration, forgiveness, unity.

3. Adaptability

Can you grow through adversity?

4. Authenticity

Did you live true to yourself?

5. Contribution

Did you improve the map for future players?

The highest-rated characters understand something crucial:

This isn’t a competition.
There are no winners and losers.

That’s the ultimate trick.

How to Beat the Game

Earth is full of distractions and auto-assigned missions.

The best players zoom out.
They set their own course.
They take control of their story.

It’s your game.
Your rules.

If you learn the rules deeply enough, you can even bend them.

You can reboot your character when needed — with a psychologist or coach — and adjust your settings. You’re rarely truly stuck unless you choose to be.

Overall rating: 4.5 stars.
Still playing.

If you focus on what we discussed — connection, mastery, contribution, authenticity — you won’t just survive Earth.

You’ll thrive.

Take care.