Moon Sweepers beginner guide: first hour on the Moon

What do you do in the first session?

The Steam store page frames the job clearly: the Lunar Surface Department (LSD) sent a crew to clean the Moon, but the budget only covered a toothbrush. Your early loop is collect dust → fill storage → deliver to a depot → launch a shipment → spend earnings on tools and carrying capacity.

Early routes differ by source. KeenGamer’s walkthrough aims to earn $25 and buy the Household Broom. Sportskeeda sequences toothbrush → earn $5 → Nail Brush → Household Broom. Both are guide routes, not a single official unlock number — keep delivering to the nearest depot and spending on the next brush tier you can afford. For hardware checks before you install, see system requirements.

How does money actually arrive?

Store copy describes collecting lunar dust into storage, dropping it at a depot, then launching a shipment for pay. That cash buys stronger tools and bigger carry capacity so haul trips cover more ground.

Patch notes for 1.0.3 add a precision detail for belt deliveries: the deposit intake pays exactly what its screen shows, and dust or stone arriving by belt is paid as it arrives. Treat the on-screen depot readout as the live authority when numbers feel off. Deeper progression and vehicle unlocks are covered in tools, vehicles, and automation. Verified price tables (where guides agree) start at the data hub.

Should you play solo or invite friends immediately?

Steam lists both Single-player and Online Co-op. Store text says lobbies support up to 16 players. Solo is a valid way to learn the brush → depot → shipment loop without coordinating a crew.

If friends join later, read multiplayer and co-op rules for shared upgrades (since 1.0.3), host kick/ban controls, and the rule that everyone must be on the same patch version. Patch 1.0.4 also made J.O.O.N.A.S. keep cleaning when no players are nearby, which helps a solo base while you are away from a sector.

What should you buy first?

Store copy puts better cleaning tools and carrying capacity ahead of the larger “growing operation” of depots and cleaning vehicles. Sourced early routes (above) target the Household Broom once you can fund it; guides then diverge on whether to buy the $5/$10 brushes first. Cross-check prices on the cleaning tools table rather than inventing a universal buy order.

Place depots near active work so haul distance stays short. Visible cleaning progress is an intentional feature: dusty terrain turns clean as you pass, which is useful feedback when you are still learning how much dust a tool pass removes. When you are ready for belts and processors, skim factory ratios & power instead of guessing kW math.

Controllers, saves, and other setup notes

Steam lists full controller support, DualShock / DualSense support, Steam Input, Steam Cloud, Family Sharing, and Steam Achievements. That is a store feature list, not a performance rating for every pad or for Steam Deck.

After launch, DragDrop Games documented faster saving, automatic backups under AppData\LocalLow\DragDropGames\MoonSweepers\Backups, and crash recovery in the 1.0.4 notes. Keep Steam Cloud enabled and avoid force-closing during a save prompt. Platform limits and language lists live on platforms and languages; price and the launch discount are on price and editions.

Sources and verification

Checked October 27, 2026. This independent reference synthesizes the primary sources below; it does not claim hands-on testing of every tutorial prompt.

• Steam store page — About This Game, features, system requirements
• Steam Web API appdetails (price, platforms, categories)
• Moon Sweepers 1.0.3 Patch
• Moon Sweepers 1.0.4 Patch
• Games Press launch announcement (23 October 2026, DragDrop Games)
• KeenGamer complete walkthrough (early tool route)
• Sportskeeda full walkthrough (early tool route)

Game imagery © DragDrop Games.