How to play Loftia
Controls, the quest loop, demo vs Early Access, and what “proficiency” actually means.
Loftia is an online cozy MMO. You need an internet connection, but you can play alone. The demo covers Loftia City; Early Access adds the Hanging Gardens and the Gridfall.
The loop
Most sessions follow the same shape: pick up a quest, gather or salvage what it asks for, craft or cook something, improve your plot, then contribute to something shared. The game is deliberately unhurried, but the systems are interlocked. Farming feeds cooking and Dew; crafting feeds tools and stations; stations feed better farming and cooking; the neighborhood feeds all of it.
- Quest. Follow Pebble, Hazel, Cliff, Amani and the other NPCs. Quests unlock tools, plots and districts.
- Gather and salvage. Break scrap with the Hammer, prune plants with the Pruner, and pick up resources in the city and on Adventures.
- Craft and refine. Spend battery charges at the Project Station and the processing stations.
- Farm and cook. Water crops, harvest, cook dishes and sell through the shipping bin.
- Decorate and share. Improve your home island, link with neighbors and contribute to World Projects.
What you need to start
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Platform | Windows and macOS via Steam or the Epic Games Store |
| Connection | Broadband internet; the game is an online MMO |
| Price | $29.99 base, $24.89 with the 17% launch discount (US) |
| Early Access | 3 November 2026 at 1pm EST |
| Switch | Planned for 2027 |
| Languages | 14 at launch, including English, French, German, Spanish (Spain and Latin America), Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese (Brazil), Italian, Indonesian, Russian, Thai and Turkish |
Controls
Loftia supports keyboard and mouse, controller and Steam Deck. These are the bindings reported from the demo:
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| M | Map; key NPCs and quest markers are shown |
| B | Inventory; also lets you place plot items |
| R (hold) | Tool wheel: swap or remove tools, seeds and toys |
| R (tap) | Cycle quick slots (demo behaviour) |
| J | Emotes |
| Esc | Progression, Collections and map |
| Shift+click | Move a whole stack to storage or the shipping bin |
| B → Tab (X on controller) → V | Plot permissions |
Early Access may add or rebind actions. Controller rebinding was fixed in the 21 October demo patch.
Demo vs Early Access
| Demo (19–26 Oct 2026) | Early Access (from 3 Nov 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Map | Loftia City; ends before the Hanging Gardens | Loftia City, Hanging Gardens and Gridfall |
| Proficiency cap | Level 5 | Beyond Level 5; more perks |
| Farming | Garden beds, watering, harvest | Adds Sustainable Farming and Hydroponics Stations |
| Crafting | Project Station and early tools | More stations and station levels |
| Pets | Not owned; animals appear in the world | Adopt, care for, dress up and build friendship |
| Adventures | Research Islands with group puzzles | Adds adventure gauntlets and more |
| Housing | Plot, decorating and neighborhood | Expanded home island and shared spaces |
| Character slots | One per account | Multiple characters per account |
Progression and perks
Loftia uses proficiencies, not fixed classes. Official examples include Farming, Crafting, Cooking and Fishing; the demo also tracks Salvaging and Foraging. You earn points by doing the activity and invest them in Perks.
The demo caps proficiencies at Level 5. Early Access goes further. A community beta database describes two costs: Effort for most perk unlocks and Inspiration for stronger perks, with Effort rising in tiers (5 at levels 1–4, 10 at 5–9, 15 at 10–14, 20 at 15–19). Those numbers are beta data and may change.
We have not published an XP table or a level calculator. The beta tables are community-compiled, the demo caps at Level 5, and Early Access values are not verified. The proficiency planner builds a session route without inventing numbers.
Solo or co-op
Loftia is an MMO with online co-op. The official FAQ says you can join with “as many friends as you’d like,” but it does not publish a numeric player cap. Solo play is viable: the FAQ says playing alone will not block your progress, and solo players can access almost all content.
Cross-play is “something we’re aiming for,” but the FAQ explicitly says it cannot be promised yet. Each platform requires a separate purchase. Do not buy two copies expecting shared progress until cross-play is confirmed.
Money and inventory basics
Dew is the currency. Sell crops, cooked food and refined bars through the shipping bin on your plot; Shift+click moves a whole stack. Seeds come from Hazel and permits from Amani. B opens the inventory. One storage chest sorts items automatically, but item caps apply until you unlock Expanded Chest.
A first-session checklist
- Create a character and claim a name.
- Enter the Player Neighborhood for the Demo Banner.
- Follow Pebble and claim your plot.
- Get the Hammer, Pruner and Watering Can.
- Plant, water and harvest one crop.
- Open Progression and spend your first perk point.
- Sell something through the shipping bin.
- Set plot permissions before inviting anyone.
- Start a crop or refining batch before logging off.
What is not published
The exact player cap, the full perk tree, Early Access crop values, the complete pet list and cross-play support are not confirmed. We mark those as unverified instead of filling them in. If a guide gives you a precise number for one of them, check its date and source.
Sources and checks
Checked 2026-10-23. Factual claims are drawn from the sources below; demo and beta values are labelled because they may change at Early Access. Recommendations are ours.
Official platform, price and feature facts; demo controls and quests from a 21 Oct 2026 community guide; beta proficiency detail labelled.
- OfficialSteam store page: LoftiaFeatures, regions, 14 languages, system requirements and the 3 Nov 2026 Early Access date.
- Officialloftia.ggSolarpunk MMO description, platforms, price and the 3 Nov 2026 date.
- OfficialLoftia FAQBuy-to-play model, online requirement, co-op and cross-play status.
- OfficialEarly Access overviewProficiencies, perks, hydroponics, pets, regions, Urbex and monetization.
- OfficialDemo overviewDemo dates, carry-over, proficiency cap, World Project and reward list.
- Demo / patch notesSteam News: demo is live (19 Oct 2026)Demo dates, carry-over rules, one character per account, rewards.
- CommunityCozy Game Guides: Loftia beginner guideUpdated 21 Oct 2026 from the April 2026 beta and demo footage; controls, quests, battery and permissions.
- CommunityLoftia Proficiencies (community database)Beta-derived proficiency and perk reference; the site warns that values will change at Early Access.
We do not publish a recipe, price, stat or mechanic without a source. If something is missing, it is marked unverified rather than guessed.