Do I need to play the full game, or is the demo enough?

The demo teaches the basics but ends before most sets, foils, and the economy open up. Use our demo vs full comparison to decide.

Which set should I complete first?

The Red Starter Set. It uses cards from the starting area and unlocks the Trading Post.

KOTAMON Beginner's Guide — Getting Started, First Cards & Early Money

Updated 2026-08-23

Everything new players need to know about trash sorting, card repair, set rewards, and making your first in-game dollars in KOTAMON.

Welcome to the dump

KOTAMON drops you into a relaxed first-person scavenger loop: grab a trash bag, dig through piles, and pull out trading cards. There is no timer and no failure state. Your long-term goal is to complete every color set, chase super-rare foil cards, and eventually earn the titular $1,000,000.

Your first day checklist

1. Pick up the Starter Trash Bag in the Starter Dump. 2. Open every red-labeled bag first — the Red Starter Set is the easiest to complete and unlocks the Trading Post. 3. Inspect each card's condition. Damaged cards sell for less, so set aside anything worth repairing. 4. Sell duplicate commons to the vendor for early cash. 5. Save at least one cereal box for the foil pool instead of selling it immediately.

Card condition matters

Cards come in Mint, Good, Damaged, or Repaired condition. Damaged cards are common from waterlogged or crushed piles. Use the repair bench to restore them before selling or trading. Repaired cards are worth noticeably more than damaged ones, and some NPCs only accept Good or better cards.

Set rewards and progression

The Steam store page confirms that collecting sets of different colors earns rewards. In practice, completing the Red Starter Set first opens the Trading Post, while later sets appear to unlock tools, inventory upgrades, or economy perks. Check the Sets page for each color's card list and known reward.

Don't ignore treasures

Hidden treasure containers sit in every zone. They contain coins, repair tools, and occasionally rare cards. Learning the lockbox and toolbox locations early will accelerate your card collection and income far faster than farming trash bags alone.

Common beginner mistakes

Selling every damaged card instead of repairing it. Ignoring set bonuses and chasing random rares. Opening cereal boxes before you understand the foil pool. Forgetting to check the Tracker to see which cards you are still missing. Avoid these and you will progress twice as fast.