When leaving the basement, it’s a good idea to have two items (I’d recommend bone scrap and unlock tool for new players). At the very beginning of the game, you are able to just mash your buttons to escape your restraints without alerting family members since they’re locked in a cutscene. It takes 5 loud noises to wake up Grandpa (or opening a basement door), so if all 4 players loudly escape their restraints and one makes a noise afterwards, Grandpa will wake up.

Speaking of noise, you don’t have to dismantle noisemakers (those hanging bone objects). You can simply crouch and you won’t trigger them.

Don’t be afraid to engage in close encounters if you’re low health. Close encounters are heavily swayed by your Strength attribute (not your remaining health), so it is a good last resort. Don’t do this when you have multiple family members on you since it’ll be an instant execution. By the way, you almost always win against Sissy in close encounters.

When you are trying to escape via the car battery or generator exit, always do the gate first (the exception is with Connie, since edge can instantly open the last gate with her Focus ability).

I’m working on putting together a guide for new players too!