What exploration actually includes
The current publisher descriptions are unusually specific for a pre-release adventure game. Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and Epic all describe players being able to climb trees, pounce through undergrowth, track scents and solve environmental puzzles while moving through the Lake Territories.[2] Trailmark goes further by describing territories with hidden paths, secret areas, environmental puzzles and meaningful encounters.[1]
That means exploration is a named gameplay pillar rather than background scenery. It is reasonable to expect traversal, searching and discovery to matter, but it is still too early to invent exact controls, route requirements or reward tables.
Tree climbing
Tree climbing is explicitly confirmed by official storefront text.[2] What the marketing material does not explain is how climbing works mechanically.
There is currently no official evidence for:
- a climbing stamina meter;
- climbable-versus-unclimbable tree markings;
- a dedicated climbing skill tree;
- fall damage;
- Clan-specific climbing bonuses;
- tree-top collectible routes;
- fixed combat advantages from attacking from trees.
For now, the useful conclusion is simple: vertical traversal exists. A post-launch walkthrough should document which trees are interactive, whether climbing is freeform or contextual, and whether certain routes are gated by story progress.
Pouncing through undergrowth
Official descriptions also say players can pounce through undergrowth.[2] This phrase suggests vegetation is not merely decorative and can be part of traversal or approach routes.
However, there is no confirmation that undergrowth functions as a stealth system, a damage-avoidance mechanic or a universal shortcut. It would be premature to describe bushes as stealth cover, assign detection values or claim ShadowClan receives a special bonus while moving through them.
Scent tracking
Scent tracking is one of the most interesting confirmed exploration systems because it fits both the Warrior Cats fantasy and multiple gameplay loops. Official storefronts explicitly say players can track scents.[2]
What might scents be used for? The safest answer is that they are part of exploration, while hunting is separately confirmed. Steam also says players can track and hunt birds, rabbits, squirrels and other prey.[2] That makes a connection between scent tracking and hunting plausible, but the publisher has not published a complete scent system.
Do not assume the game has:
- color-coded scent trails;
- scent duration timers;
- scent-strength statistics;
- a detective-vision overlay;
- enemy scent categories;
- Clan-specific scent bonuses;
- upgradeable tracking range.
Those are launch-day verification questions, not pre-release facts.
Hidden paths and secret areas
Trailmark explicitly says players can discover hidden paths and secret areas across the territories.[1] This is stronger than simply saying the game contains exploration. It confirms that some routes or areas are intentionally less obvious than the main path.
What remains unknown is how they are revealed. They could involve scent tracking, environmental puzzles, story progression, observation, climbing or another system that has not yet been explained. There is currently no official hidden-area count, collectible checklist or completion percentage.
Because of that, this page does not publish made-up maps or "100% secret route" guides before the game is available.
Environmental puzzles
Environmental puzzles are confirmed by both Trailmark and the platform storefront descriptions.[1][2]
The publisher has not yet broken them into categories. We do not know whether puzzles involve moving objects, scent trails, climbing sequences, switches, timing, Clan abilities, StarClan interactions or simple route finding.
That distinction matters for SEO and accuracy. A pre-release article titled "all puzzle solutions" would currently be speculation. The right approach is to document the puzzle system now, then add real solutions after the October 23 release once objectives and routes can be verified in-game.
The six confirmed exploration destinations
The game officially lists six iconic locations from the books:[2]
| Location | Official environment / role |
|---|---|
| ThunderClan territory | Dense forests |
| RiverClan territory | Marshlands |
| ShadowClan territory | Dark pine swamps |
| WindClan territory | Open moors |
| The Moonpool | Famed sacred location |
| The Island | Famed sacred location |
This table describes where exploration happens. For a full location-by-location index, use the Locations & Territories hub. This page instead focuses on how exploration works.
Exploration, hunting and foraging are related but separate
The same Steam description that lists traversal also confirms hunting and foraging. Players can track and hunt birds, rabbits, squirrels and other prey, and they can forage for materials used to craft items in their den.[2]
These systems likely overlap spatially with exploration, but they should not be collapsed into one mechanic. Hunting has its own goals and prey targets, while foraging feeds the crafting loop. Use our Hunting guide, Foraging guide and Crafting guide for those systems.
Exploration and quests
Steam says players take on a variety of quests to gain favor with their Clan, while Trailmark describes dynamic quests, meaningful encounters and unique story paths.[1][2] It is therefore reasonable to expect exploration to intersect with quest objectives.
What is not yet public is the exact structure: quest markers, navigation arrows, map pins, waypoint systems and story-gated routes have not been documented by the publisher.
Is Clans of the Forest open world?
Not officially, at least not yet. The publisher uses phrases such as “explore,” “journey through sprawling forests, marshes, moorlands and sacred landmarks,” and “travel across iconic territories,” but neither Trailmark nor the major storefronts currently label the game open world.[1][2]
The map could eventually prove to be seamless, hub-based, zone-based or partly linear. Until actual map footage or developer documentation settles that question, calling it an open-world game would overstate the available evidence.
For a focused answer, see Is Clans of the Forest open world?.
Is fast travel confirmed?
No official source currently confirms fast travel. This is especially important because fan-made pages have already begun assigning fast-travel functions to sacred landmarks such as the Moonpool. Those claims should not be treated as game documentation.
A proper launch guide should verify:
- whether fast travel exists at all;
- how it is unlocked;
- whether it uses camps or landmarks;
- whether some routes remain manual-only;
- whether fast travel is available in all game modes.
Do Clans get different traversal abilities?
The game confirms specialized Clan moves in combat, but it does not currently say that ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan or WindClan receives an exclusive traversal ability.[1]
That means common franchise expectations should stay separate from confirmed mechanics. RiverClan lore does not prove a swimming system. WindClan lore does not prove a movement-speed bonus. ShadowClan lore does not prove stealth traversal. ThunderClan's forest identity does not prove a tree-climbing advantage.
Exploration and StarClan
Official storefront copy links exploration with the phrase “uncover the mysteries of StarClan itself.”[2] Trailmark separately describes spiritual omens and mysterious prophecies as part of the story.[1]
That establishes a thematic connection between exploration and the spiritual side of the game, but not a universal StarClan exploration mechanic. There is no confirmed StarClan radar, spirit-vision mode or sacred-location buff system.
What is still unconfirmed before release
As of September 6, 2026, official sources have not published:
- the full world map;
- exact territory boundaries;
- total map size;
- seamless open-world confirmation;
- fast-travel rules;
- map completion percentages;
- collectible totals;
- climbing stamina;
- swimming mechanics;
- stealth detection systems;
- scent-range statistics;
- hidden-area totals;
- complete puzzle categories;
- territory-specific traversal bonuses;
- exploration skill trees;
- all story-gated routes.
This is the main accuracy line for a pre-release wiki: the systems are real, but their exact rules are not all public yet.
Official trailer
The announcement trailer is currently the most reliable general video reference for the game. No dedicated official exploration-only YouTube walkthrough has been published that provides a complete map or traversal tutorial.
Frequently asked questions
Can you climb trees in Clans of the Forest?
Yes. Tree climbing is explicitly confirmed in official storefront descriptions.
Can you track scents?
Yes. Scent tracking is confirmed, although the full scent UI, range and upgrade rules are not public yet.
Are there hidden paths?
Yes. Trailmark explicitly confirms hidden paths and secret areas across the territories.
Are there environmental puzzles?
Yes. Both Trailmark and official storefront descriptions confirm environmental puzzles.
Is the game open world?
The game clearly has exploration across multiple territories, but the publisher does not currently use the term “open world.”
Is fast travel confirmed?
No. No official source currently confirms a fast-travel system.
Can RiverClan swim?
RiverClan is associated with swimming in franchise lore, but an in-game swimming mechanic has not been officially confirmed.
Does ShadowClan have stealth exploration?
No ShadowClan-exclusive stealth traversal system has been announced.
Does WindClan move faster on the moors?
No official territory movement-speed bonus has been published.
How many explorable locations are confirmed?
Six iconic locations are explicitly listed: the four Clan territories, the Moonpool and The Island. That does not necessarily mean there are only six playable spaces or sub-areas in the full game.
References
- Trailmark Games — official game pagePrimary source for four campaigns, hidden paths, secret areas, environmental puzzles, meaningful encounters and the Lake Territories setting.
- Steam — Warrior Cats: Clans of the ForestOfficial storefront source for the six iconic locations, tree climbing, undergrowth movement, scent tracking, environmental puzzles, hunting and foraging.