The “Backpack Crafting” sandbox setting (internally BackpackCrafting) determines which items you can craft using only your “hands” (backpack), without any equipment such as workstations. The default is “Yes.” There are four selectable modes — “No / Yes / Restricted / Workbenches Only” — and here we’ll focus especially on the frequently asked question of just how restrictive “Restricted” actually is, checking against real in-game data.
Quick Reference: The 4 Modes
| Mode | Behavior in a Nutshell |
|---|---|
| No | Completely disables backpack crafting. Crafting is possible only at workstations |
| Yes (default) | Any recipe that requires no equipment can be crafted freely from your backpack |
| Restricted | Only recipes on a limited list can be crafted from your backpack |
| Workbenches Only | The only thing you can craft from your backpack is a “workbench”. Everything else requires equipment |
From the official (in-game) description: With “No,” crafting is possible only at workstations. With “Yes,” backpack crafting is possible. With “Restricted (limited),” only items on a limited list can be backpack-crafted. With “Workbenches Only,” only workbenches can be backpack-crafted.
First, the premise: In V3.0, most recipes require equipment
Grasping this makes everything easier. Of the recipes in V3.0 “Dead Hot Summer,” 434 out of all 630 require a craft_area (a corresponding piece of equipment). There are five types of such equipment:
- Workbench (serious production of weapons, armor, ammo, and more)
- Forge (smelting and forging metal)
- Chemistry Station (gunpowder, chemicals, etc.)
- Campfire (cooking)
- Cement Mixer (concrete-based items)
These always require their equipment, regardless of the backpack crafting setting. In other words, “things that need equipment need equipment in every mode.” It’s easier to understand if you think of it this way: the pool of items that can be crafted from your backpack in the first place is only the roughly 196 that require no equipment.
How restrictive is “Restricted”?
“Restricted” is a mode that narrows that equipment-free backpack crafting pool down to a limited list of early-game “basic recipes.”
✅ Representative examples that remain in your backpack (early-game basics)
- Resource compression bundles (bundling wood, stone, scrap iron, lead, coal, and so on)
- Stone/iron arrows and crossbow bolts
- A full set of primitive armor (helmet, outfit, gloves, boots)
- Campfire and candles
- Bedroll, wooden storage box, and basic blocks such as wooden fences and doors
- The “equipment itself,” such as workbenches and forges (build the equipment from your backpack, then craft everything beyond that at the equipment)
⛔ Representative examples dropped from your backpack (no equipment needed, but not basic)
- Gas cans, the combination station, leather ponchos, painting tools, and the like
- Scrapping-type recipes that turn items back into resources
Key point
In a word, “Restricted” is a setting that enforces the flow of “build equipment and do your serious crafting there.” However, as noted above, V3.0 already has many recipes that require equipment to begin with, so the actual difference from “Yes” is limited. In practice, it amounts to about “you can no longer craft the small equipment-free items (like gas cans) or do scrapping from your backpack,” while the basic crafting needed for early-game survival remains fully intact.
“Workbenches Only” and “No” are stricter still
- Workbenches Only: The only thing you can craft from your backpack is a “workbench.” Arrows, primitive armor, and campfires all become things you make only after first building a workbench. The survival factor rises sharply.
- No: Completely disables backpack crafting. The hardest setting of all, relying entirely on equipment (or scavenging). Securing equipment and building a base become essential from the early game.
Which should you choose? (A rough guide)
| Choice | Play style it suits |
|---|---|
| Yes (default) | Pace-focused and comfortable. Ideal for beginners and casual play |
| Restricted | For adding a bit of the satisfaction of building equipment. A somewhat harder balance |
| Workbenches Only / No | For hardcore survival and challenge runs |
Notes
- The “Workstation Crafting” setting (
WorkstationCrafting) right below it is a separate option that toggles whether crafting at equipment is possible at all. Tune it in combination with “Backpack Crafting.” - The classifications in this article are based on the real data from V3.0 (b252) (
recipes.xml). Which recipes actually fall into the “limited list” is defined internally in the game and may change with updates. If you’re unsure, we recommend the step of first playing with the default “Yes,” and moving to “Restricted” if it feels too easy.
Related: [V3.0] Sandbox Settings Default Quick Reference & Full 150-Item Reference