SAMSON

Beginner Guide

Learn the basics of Samson: A Tyndalston Story. Understand the core mechanics, controls, and survival strategies to escape Tyndalston alive.

By Samson Wiki Team • •
EssentialsBeginnerGuide

Welcome to Tyndalston. You’re Samson McCray—a legendary getaway driver and street enforcer who’s just been released from prison with nothing but the clothes on your back and a crushing 100,000 dollar debt to the St. Louis Crew. This guide will teach you the basics of survival.

Game Overview

Samson: A Tyndalston Story is an action-adventure, semi-open-world brawler developed by Liquid Swords AB. Released on April 8, 2026, for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

The game is set in the grim, 1990s-inspired industrial city of Tyndalston. Unlike traditional open-world games, Samson is a focused, mechanically dense experience where every action costs Action Points (AP), and the passage of time is your greatest enemy.

Core Premise

Before the events of the game, Samson and a specialized crew attempted a high-stakes heist in St. Louis that ended in catastrophic failure. Samson served time in prison while incurring a massive debt to the organizers—the dangerous St. Louis Crew syndicate.

To prevent Samson’s murder while in prison, his sister Oonagh McCray cut a desperate deal, offering herself as collateral. If Samson fails to make his strict daily payments, the syndicate will execute both of them.

Your goal: Survive the daily grind, earn enough money to meet the Daily Quota, and ultimately clear the 100,000 dollar debt.

The Daily Cycle

Every in-game day follows this brutal cycle:

  1. Morning: You wake in your rundown apartment with a new Daily Quota—the minimum cash you must earn
  2. Action Points (AP): You have limited AP to spend on missions and jobs
  3. End of Day: If you fail to meet the quota, interest spikes and “Punctuation” enforcers are dispatched
  4. Sleep: You can skip to the next day, but this accelerates your debt timeline

Key Tip: There’s no traditional “do-overs” in Samson. If a mission fails and you have no AP left, that day’s income is permanently lost.

Understanding the Three Pillars

The game’s content is divided into three pillars:

PillarDescription
ChaptersLinear, scripted narrative missions involving the Cobb Street Outfit and main story
JobsDynamic, repeatable side activities for generating cash (Beatdowns, Getaways, etc.)
ExplorationHunting POIs, collecting Combat/Car Magazines, finding hidden story content

Controls and Movement

Brawler Controls

  • Light Attack: Quick punches—low damage, fast recovery
  • Heavy Attack: Powerful strikes—high damage, slow recovery
  • Parry: Perfect timing blocks that stagger enemies
  • Dodge: Roll to evade—but costs stamina
  • Environmental Weapons: Pick up pipes, bats, wrenches from the environment

Vehicle Controls

  • Accelerate/Brake: Standard driving
  • Kickdown: Force transmission into lower gear for sudden power bursts
  • Engine Kill: Cut engine and headlights to hide in dark alleys
  • Nitro Boost: Optional boost (recharges by smashing through environmental objects)

Important: Samson cannot steal occupied vehicles. Cars must be parked and unoccupied.

Law Enforcement

The police operate on an escalation protocol—not a simple wanted level:

  • Minor crimes in plain sight trigger immediate pursuit
  • Public chaos increases police aggression and resources
  • They use roadblocks and advanced tactics to box you in
  • Escaping requires intimate knowledge of Tyndalston’s alleyways

Factions You’ll Encounter

FactionDescription
St. Louis CrewThe overarching antagonists who hold your debt
Cobb Street OutfitYour original gang, led by mentor Carter, based in South End
White Whisper GangRising drug operation flooding the city with a dangerous narcotic

Key Characters

  • Samson McCray: You. A legendary wheelman and brawler, not a superhero
  • Oonagh McCray: Your sister, held as collateral for your debt
  • Carter: Your mentor, leader of the Cobb Street Outfit
  • Danny Zeta: Orchestrator of the “Double Tap shooting”—a hidden revenge target
  • Nicola Gamby: Runs an organ harvesting ring in South End
  • Tommy Riley: Someone from Samson’s past with an ambiguous fate

Tips for Survival

  1. Prioritize Daily Quotas: Meeting the quota is more important than optional missions
  2. Know Your Limits: High-paying jobs often cost high AP—evaluate the risk
  3. Maintain Your Car: The Magnum Opus is your lifeline, but repairs cost money
  4. Explore for Upgrades: Combat and Car Magazines provide permanent stat boosts
  5. Use Adrenaline Wisely: It fills when you’re damaged—perfect for being surrounded
  1. Complete the introductory Chapter to learn basic controls
  2. Take your first Job to understand the AP cost system
  3. Find your first POI to learn about Tyndalston’s history
  4. Visit the garage to understand vehicle maintenance costs