Quick answer

The official full-game Steam description names several starting paths: Gunsmith, Chemist, Water Merchant, Fence, Farmer, and Rock Bottom. Official Patch 48.3.12 notes say the Rat Wrangler scenario became visible in the Playtest. These sources describe the full game and earlier Playtest; they do not confirm which scenarios are playable in the Demo released September 14, 2026.

These names confirm available starting themes, not a best-to-worst ranking. The sources checked here do not provide a reliable profit table or enough information to call one scenario the best choice.

Named starting paths

  • Gunsmith: the official description warns about weapons inspections.
  • Chemist: the description connects this path with chemical risks and addiction.
  • Water Merchant: water upgrades and water-related liability are mentioned in the official game information.
  • Fence: the name is listed, but the checked sources do not document a complete opening strategy.
  • Farmer: the name is listed, but exact crops, income, and progression requirements are not confirmed here.
  • Rock Bottom: an official patch calls out the Rock Bottom scenario and its water upgrades, but does not establish a universal profit ranking.
  • Rat Wrangler: official Patch 48.3.12 notes state that this scenario became visible in the Playtest. Demo availability is unverified.

How to choose without an unverified tier list

Choose based on the kind of risk you want to test rather than a speculative earnings claim. Gunsmith and Chemist are the clearest examples of paths with named inspection or addiction risks. Water Merchant and Rock Bottom are useful if you want to investigate the water systems. These descriptions are not a verified guide to the current Demo; its scenario list and any differences from the Playtest have not been confirmed.

For the related mechanic, see What Are Augs? and What to Do With Rats. Both pages separate official patch facts from player-reported details.

What remains unknown

The checked official sources do not establish the best scenario for money, the exact starting inventory for every path, a fixed unlock order, the Demo scenario list, or a complete list of scenario-specific penalties. The full-game description and earlier Playtest sources may not reflect the current Demo.

Sources and update note

Scenario names and the Rat Wrangler visibility note come from the official store description and Playtest patch notes. They do not verify Demo contents. Last checked September 23, 2026.