How to revive companions in Sons of the Forest

Update: A few new updates have been dished out for Sons of the Forest since it first released in Early Access, and with the debug console now available, there are new ways to revive companions! We've update this guide on how to revive companions in Sons of the Forest with a new way of bringing back your deceased friend.

You’ve crashed on a huge, sprawling island in Sons of the Forest. You’ve built your base, befriended the strange fella that is Kelvin, and set off to explore what the island is host to. Before you know it, you’ve found your first cannibal camp and they’re hungry.

If you’re here, one of your companions, Kelvin or Virginia, has probably died.

Either that, or you’re contemplating murder and checking this guide to see if you can undo it. The good news is that yes, you can revive your companions with a little extra work. So, without further ado, here’s exactly how to revive companions in Sons of the Forest.

How to revive companions in Sons of the Forest

Technically, when a companion dies in Sons of the Forest. That’s it, and they’re gone for good. However, if you don’t mind messing around with your game’s files briefly or fiddling with console commands, you can bring them back from the dead. It’s as if nothing ever happened!

How to revive companions using game files in Sons of the Forest

One way of resurrecting Kelvin or Virginia if they die in Sons of the Forest is by modifying your game files.

Though, we highly recommend making a back-up of all files before you make any changes to them. This way, if anything goes wrong, you can retrieve the original, unedited game files.

Now, without further ado, here’s a step-by-step guide on reviving that poor companion of yours:

1. First things first, locate the game’s files on your PC. These should be under C: > Users > [User] > AppData > LocalLow > Endnight > Sons of the Forest > Saves. If not, search your PC for Endnight, so that you don’t get Sons of the Forest folders mixed up like I initially did.
2. In this folder, locate the file titled ‘GameStateSaveData.json’ in the Notepad application on your PC.
3. If reviving Kelvin, change the text “IsRobbyDead\”:true to “IsRobbyDead\”:false and save. If reviving Virginia, change the text “IsVirginiaDead\”:true to “IsVirginiaDead\”:false and save.
4. Then, locate the file titled ‘SaveData.json’ and open it in Notepad.
5. If reviving Kelvin, find the text that reads "TypeId\":9 and look for “\”State\”:6” directly underneath that. Change it to “State\”2”.
6. Then, find the text directly underneath this that reads “Health\”:0.0” and change it to “Health\”:100.0” and save.
7. If reviving Virginia, find the text that reads "TypeId\":10 and look for “\”State\”:6” directly underneath that. Change it to “State\”2”.
8. Then, find the text that reads “Health\”:0.0” and change it to “Health\”:100.0” and save
9. Close everything up and start Sons of the Forest. All being well, Kelvin and/or Virginia will be back alive like nothing ever happened.

It’s worth noting that Virginia might not turn up right away, as she has to come and find you again. I also haven’t tested it yet because I haven’t the heart to kill Virginia off (Kelvin on the other hand…), but you may need to befriend her all over again too before she becomes your companion.

How to revive companions using console commands in Sons of the Forest

Reviving companions using console commands in Sons of the Forest is by far the easiest way to go about bringing Kelvin or Virginia back from the dead.

To activate console commands, load your game file and type in 'cheatstick' wherever you stand. It might seem like it isn't doing anything, but this is what you need to do to be able to access the debug menu.

After typing 'cheatstick', press 'F1' and the debug menu should open alongside a very long list of commands. Here, you'll want to type 'addcharacter robby 1' and a brand new Kelvin will spawn. If you instead wish to revive Virginia, input 'addcharacter virginia 1' instead.

For more on Sons of the Forest, take a look at how to get all the Keycards across the island, and how to get yourself some guns.