KOTAMON Beginner's Guide: First Trash Runs, Upgrades & Cards
A spoiler-light first-session walkthrough for KOTAMON: learn the trash-run loop, protect valuable finds, spend money wisely, and start your card collection.
Updated 2026-08-25 · Evidence-backed · Spoiler-aware
Section 01
What KOTAMON is about
KOTAMON is a relaxed single-player simulation game from KotaMota Games. You play as a garbage collector who searches a dump for recyclable junk, hidden treasures, and collectible Kotámon trading cards. The official Steam description emphasizes that 'no one will rush you'—the loop is meditative rather than frantic. Your long-term goal is to complete card color sets, find rare foil cards, and unlock all 40 Steam achievements.
Section 02
Your first day: the basic loop
Each run follows the same pattern: walk into the dump, pick up garbage bags and loose items, throw them into the trash compactor or recycling area, collect any cards or treasures you spot, then return to base to sell, upgrade, and rest. Early on your energy bar and bag size are small, so plan short, efficient trips rather than trying to clear the whole map.
Section 03
Prioritize these upgrades first
Upgrades are bought with the cash you earn from recycling. For new players we recommend this order: Bag size (carry more per trip), Energy (stay in the dump longer), Speed (reduce runback time), and Buzz/scan range (spot rare items from farther away). The 'My Better Self!' achievement confirms that buying at least one upgrade is part of normal progression, while 'Champion' shows that maxing a single stat is possible.
Section 04
How to spot valuable cards
Cards appear while rummaging through garbage and opening containers. The official trailer shows the binder organized into blue, pale-gold/white, red, and purple tabs. Every card has a rarity label: R, SR, or SSR. Early on you will mostly find R cards; SR and SSR cards are noticeably rarer. Do not sell your first copy of a card until you understand whether it completes a set or has a foil variant.
Section 05
Condition, repair, and selling
The Steam store page states that cards can be 'crumpled, damaged, or torn' and that better-condition cards cost more. That means the same card can have different sell values depending on its condition. We do not recommend selling early cards at all—use them to fill your binder first. If you need quick cash, sell duplicate low-rarity cards rather than unique ones.
Section 07
Save often and track your collection
KOTAMON supports Steam Cloud, but it is still wise to exit cleanly after a good run. Use the collection tracker on this site to check off cards and foils as you find them; the data stays in your browser and exports as JSON, so you can plan your next target before launching the game.
Section 08
Separate demo progress from retail progress
The August 2026 retail launch changed the economy and upgrade balance from the demo. The developer explained that money and upgrade progress were intentionally reset while the card collection was preserved. If an old demo save appears to have fewer upgrades, do not immediately delete it or assume Steam Cloud failed. Check whether the cards carried over, confirm that the installed build is the retail version, and read the latest developer announcement before changing save files. This distinction matters because a planned migration can look similar to a save bug from the player side.
Section 09
Use achievements as verified milestones
Steam lists 40 achievements and their visible descriptions provide safer goals than guessing at hidden systems. Early milestones include recycling seven garbage bags, collecting a first card, buying an upgrade, turning on the radio, holding $1,000, finding an audiotape, and finding a figurine. These objectives introduce the major loops without requiring an optimized route. Treat achievement descriptions as proof of an objective, not proof of an unlisted reward: the distance-throw achievements, for example, confirm that the tray tracks throws from 10, 20, and 30 meters, but they do not confirm a cash bonus.
Section 10
Protect valuable and one-off finds
The official store page says hidden treasures can be sold, while the achievement list shows that figurines, tapes, and outfits also support collection goals. Until you know whether an item is replaceable, keep it out of the compactor and record the find. A launch update added recovery for valuable collectibles accidentally thrown into the grinder, but cautious handling is still faster than testing recovery. For cards, condition affects value and damaged pieces can be mended or swapped. Keep collection progress and profit as separate decisions: a high sale price does not automatically make selling the only copy the best choice.
Section 11
A practical first-session checklist
Start with a short sweep that teaches the route between trash piles, Jenny, the upgrade shop, and the compactor. Recycle enough bags to understand income, buy one upgrade, and note how that stat changes the next run. Open containers you can identify, move cards and collectibles away from ordinary trash, and return before fatigue turns the route into busywork. At the end of the session, compare the in-game binder with the tracker, take note of any missing achievement that should have triggered, and exit through the game menu so Steam Cloud has a clean opportunity to synchronize.
Sources
- KOTAMON Steam Store Page — Official description, price, screenshots, and release window.Checked 2026-08-24
- KOTAMON DB — How KOTAMON Cards Work — Set colors, rarity labels, and GIGA-update card fragments.Checked 2026-08-24