Bacon May Die: Complete Guide to Weapons, Controls and Achievements
Bacon is an angry pig with a gun, a chainsaw and a very short temper. In Bacon May Die, he's up against endless waves of zombie bunnies, skeletons and other misfit monsters and the only way through is to fight, shoot and keep moving. It's a small indie brawler from SnoutUp Games, the studio behind Iron Snout and it's built for quick, chaotic sessions rather than a long campaign.
This guide covers where to actually play the game, how the controls and combat work, which weapons are worth using, how the achievement list breaks down and what to do about the handful of bugs players run into.
What Is Bacon May Die?
Bacon May Die is a side scrolling beat 'em up where you play as Bacon, a pig fighting off hordes of bacon hungry zombie bunnies and other enemies across a handful of levels of forest, dungeon and snow. You switch between melee attacks and gunfire on the fly, picking up weapons, hiring animal sidekicks and occasionally hijacking enemy vehicles mid fight.
There's no deep story here. The appeal is the pacing enemies come from both sides, waves get harder as you go and the combat rewards fast reflexes over memorized patterns. It plays like a lighter, funnier cousin to games like Broforce or Cuphead's run and gun sections, minus the difficulty spikes.
Where and How to Play Bacon May Die?
The game exists in a few different versions and which one you should pick depends on what you want out of it.
| Platform | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steam (PC) | Full content, co-op, achievements | Most complete version supports 2 player local co-op and Steam achievement tracking |
| iOS / Android | Playing on the go | Touch controls some cosmetic bugs have been reported on iOS (see Common Issues below) |
| Browser (Poki, Snokido, etc.) | Instant, no download play | Stripped down version, single player only, no achievements |
If you just want to try it out the browser version takes a few seconds to load and needs no install. If you're planning to actually chase achievements or play co-op with a friend, get it on Steam that's the only version with both.
Controls and Basic Combat
Controls vary slightly by version but the core layout is consistent:
- Move: Arrow keys (PC) or on screen joystick (mobile)
- Attack / shoot: Hold the direction you're facing to fire your ranged weapon; tap or release to swing your melee weapon
- Jump: Up arrow or spacebar, depending on the version
- Player 2 (Steam co-op only): W, A, S, D to move and fight
The game constantly throws enemies at you from both sides so the real skill is switching between melee and ranged fighting without stopping to think about it. Melee is your default option and never runs out ranged weapons deal more damage per hit but cost ammo so save them for tougher enemies or when you're surrounded.
Weapons Guide: What to Use and When
Bacon May Die has a large weapon pool but not all of it is equally useful. This breakdown is based on player tested damage data from the Steam community (SnoutUp hasn't published official stats so treat exact numbers as approximate rather than confirmed).
Melee weapons
Most melee weapons deal similar damage so pick based on what's available early rather than waiting for a specific one. The Meat Cleaver and other 6 damage melee weapons are considered strong, reliable picks once unlocked. Melee never costs ammo, which makes it your fallback whenever guns run dry.
Ranged weapons
Ranged weapons vary more in efficiency. The Rocket Launcher is widely regarded as the best ranged option once unlocked, dealing heavy damage per shot for relatively low ammo cost. Before you unlock it the Shotgun is a solid substitute it hits hard at close range, though it burns through ammo faster.
Practical weapon strategy
- Use melee as your default, especially early in a run when ammo is scarce
- Switch to ranged when you're boxed in or facing an enemy that takes multiple melee hits
- Don't hoard ammo dying with unused ranged weapons doesn't help your score
- If a run feels unbalanced, that's not you doing something wrong player feedback consistently points out that some guns significantly outperform others, so leaning on whichever strong weapon you've unlocked is a legitimate strategy, not a shortcut
Special Moves and Combos
Beyond basic attacks, Bacon has a few combat tricks that aren't explained clearly in game:
- Dash attack: Dash forward, then hold both forward and backward directions together to unlock extra inputs
- Down + dash: Triggers a downward spike attack
- Up + dash: Triggers an air strike move
- Release and re press your facing direction: Fires a cutlass style projectile attack
- Guns share the same combo inputs as melee weapons so the same directional combos apply whether you're holding a sword or a shotgun
These aren't required to survive but they add damage options once you're comfortable with the basic controls.
Achievements Guide
The Steam version has a full achievement list. Here are some of the trickier ones and how to unlock them:
- Batarang: Kill the Bat enemy on the Dungeon level, then pick up and throw it like a boomerang to kill another enemy
- Hijacking: On the Forest level, kill the pilot flying overhead, then jump into the plane and pilot it yourself
- Chicken / Penguin follower: These animal sidekicks spawn randomly at checkpoint areas on the Forest, Dungeon and Snow levels feed them when you find one and they'll follow and fight alongside you
- Sniffles: Remove all your outfits (weapons stay equipped) and play the Snow level naked to catch a cold
- Breakfast: Easiest done in Custom Training select the Egg enemy, equip the Frying Pan as your melee weapon and break the egg
If you're grinding achievements, Custom Training mode is your best friend it lets you pick specific enemy types and adjust settings like player speed, which makes several achievements far easier than trying to trigger them in a normal run.
Tips for Surviving Longer
- Keep moving. Standing still to line up a shot is how you get surrounded.
- Prioritize ranged weapons on enemies that take multiple hits to kill and save melee for weaker, fast approaching enemies.
- Grab a Chicken or Penguin follower when one spawns free extra damage with no downside.
- Learn one combo input (the dash forward spike or air strike) and use it consistently rather than trying to memorize all of them at once.
- Expect runs to end quickly at first. The waves scale up fast and that's by design it's a score chasing game, not one you're meant to complete in one sitting.
Common Issues and Fixes
- Broken or invisible cosmetics on iOS: Some players have reported that certain outfit items (for example, a Stormtrooper style helmet) don't render correctly, even though the game shows them as equipped. This is a known cosmetic bug rather than something on your end it doesn't affect gameplay and checking for an app update is the most likely fix if one is available.
- Controls unresponsive in the browser version: Browser ports occasionally have input lag depending on your browser and device. Refreshing the page or switching browsers usually resolves it.
- Can't find fullscreen mode: Not every version has an obvious fullscreen toggle in the settings menu check the game's options menu carefully, as it's sometimes tucked away rather than missing entirely.
Conclusion
Bacon May Die isn't trying to be a deep game and it doesn't need to be it's built for short, chaotic sessions where you unlock weapons, chase a better score and occasionally throw a bat like a boomerang. Whether you play it in a browser during a break or dive into the full Steam version with a friend, knowing the controls, weapon strengths and a few achievement shortcuts up front will save you a lot of trial and error.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bacon May Die free to play?
The browser version is free with no download required. The Steam and mobile versions are also low cost or free, sometimes with optional in app purchases for cosmetics.
Is Bacon May Die made by the same developer as Iron Snout?
Yes. Both games are from SnoutUp Games, a small indie studio based in Lithuania known for simple, fast paced pig fighting games.
Can I play Bacon May Die with a friend?
Yes but only on the Steam (PC) version, which supports local 2 player co-op on the same computer. The browser and mobile versions are single player only.
Is Bacon May Die appropriate for kids?
It has cartoon style violence pigs, zombie bunnies and other creatures get hit with melee weapons and guns but it's stylized and non graphic rather than realistic. Parents should judge based on their own comfort with lighthearted cartoon combat rather than treating it as a game with mature content.
What's the best weapon in Bacon May Die?
Based on player tested data the Rocket Launcher is generally considered the strongest ranged weapon once unlocked and the Meat Cleaver is a reliable top tier melee option. Until you unlock the Rocket Launcher the Shotgun is a solid stand in.