- Melt All The Ice progression follows one loop: melt ice, open paths, upgrade, advance.
- Buy Melting Power first — faster clearing improves every activity in the game.
- Skip slow barriers and return after upgrading instead of forcing them early.
- Check corners and side paths for hidden rooms you may have missed.
- Co-op works best when players split tasks instead of stacking on one ice block.
Understanding the Progression Loop in Melt All The Ice
Melt All The Ice is a frozen-world adventure where your core job is simple: use heating tools to melt ice, unlock blocked areas, upgrade your melting power, and push deeper into the map while uncovering the story behind the freeze. Every progression decision you make should serve this loop.
The most common mistake new players make is spending too long on a single thick ice barrier with weak equipment. The game is built around alternating between clearing efficient routes and improving your tools — not grinding one stubborn wall for minutes at a time.
Video Highlights:
- A full gameplay run showing the melt-and-move loop from the starting area
- How upgrades change clearing speed on tougher frozen sections
- What happens when you push into new rooms too early
- Real examples of side paths and optional routes
The map is a chain: each room you expose leads to more passages, some of which are blocked by stronger ice. Treating every newly opened space as part of that chain — instead of a standalone room — is the mindset that separates fast progress from slow progress.
| Game Phase | Main Goal | Key Action | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early | Learn the melt mechanic | Clear nearby ice | Wandering far from start |
| Early-Mid | Open first paths | Melt route-blocking ice | Re-clearing low-value ice |
| Mid | Build melting power | Buy power upgrades | Saving for expensive gear too soon |
| Late | Push deep areas | Alternate clearing and upgrading | Forcing slow barriers |
If a frozen section takes noticeably longer than the ones around it, leave it. Progress elsewhere, upgrade, and return — the same barrier will melt far faster afterward.
Step-by-Step Progression Walkthrough
Follow this order from your very first session. Each step builds directly on the previous one, keeping your melting speed ahead of the increasing amount of ice.
Clear the Easy Ice First
Start with ice directly accessible from the starting area. It melts quickly, teaches the core mechanic, and opens enough space to see where the next useful routes lead.
Open New Paths
Prioritize ice that blocks routes into unexplored sections. Opening paths gives you access to more of the map instead of repeatedly clearing low-value blocks in the same area.
Buy Early Power Upgrades
Spend your first meaningful earnings on upgrades that increase melting speed. Faster melting shortens every later farming cycle and helps you reach stronger areas sooner.
Push Into Newly Opened Areas
Once your current section is mostly cleared, move forward through newly accessible rooms rather than grinding the slowest remaining blocks.
Repeat the Upgrade Loop
Keep alternating between clearing efficient routes and improving your tools. This prevents the classic bottleneck of reaching later areas with underpowered equipment.
Do not clear every block in a room before moving on. Fully finishing old areas early wastes time that is better spent opening new routes and upgrading.
Upgrade Priority: What to Buy First
Not all upgrades are equal. The best ones directly shorten the core melt-upgrade-progress cycle, while expensive equipment pays off only after your basic clearing speed is already strong.
| Tier | Upgrade | Effect | When to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Melting Power | Increases how quickly ice is cleared | Buy first whenever cost stays efficient |
| A | Tool Strength | Keeps equipment effective against stronger ice | When current ice slows you down |
| A | General Progression | Supports advancement into later areas | After core melting speed is strong |
| B | High-Cost Equipment | Larger gains for late stages | When cheaper upgrades lose value |
Melting Power (S-Tier)
- Direct time savings on every block
- Benefits all areas equally
- Best cost-to-value early
Tool Strength (A-Tier)
- Counters stronger ice types
- Scales into later sections
- Buy when clearing slows
Big Equipment (B-Tier)
- Large but situational gains
- Can stall progress if bought early
- Save after efficiency peaks
A good rule of thumb: if your latest upgrade did not noticeably reduce clearing time in your current area, redirect resources to the next tier instead of stacking the same one.
Classes and Map Areas
Choosing a Class
Classes add another progression layer by emphasizing different advantages. Pick based on how you actually play — solo pusher, balanced explorer, or long farming sessions.
| Class Role | Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Melting-Focused | Ice clearing speed | Players who want the fastest route through obstacles |
| Progression-Focused | General advancement | Balanced benefits while moving through new areas |
| Farming-Focused | Repeated resource collection | Long sessions building funds for major purchases |
Reading the Map
| Area Type | What It Offers | Progression Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Area | Teaches the melt-and-move loop | Clear nearby ice first to reach connected paths |
| Connected Rooms | Open up as barriers are removed | Check room edges before moving on |
| Blocked Passages | Deeper routes behind strong ice | Return after upgrading, not before |
| Side Paths | Optional extra spaces | Inspect after clearing nearby ice |
Passages can stay hidden when only part of the surrounding ice is removed. Finish clearing suspicious wall sections and corner ice before assuming a room has no additional exit.
Ice that was inefficient early can reveal spaces you intentionally skipped. After each major upgrade, swing back through earlier locations and clear what you left behind.
Co-op Progression Tips
Co-op shines when players divide the work instead of stacking everyone on the same low-value task. One player pushes the main route while others finish nearby ice, inspect side paths, or help clear slow barriers.
Choose a Main Route
Agree on which visible path the group opens first so players do not spread across too many unfinished areas.
Split Clearing Tasks
Have different players work separate ice sections in the same area — parallel clearing reveals rooms faster.
Regroup for Slow Barriers
When the team hits a time-consuming frozen section, focus group progress there instead of leaving one player alone.
Share Exploration Duties
After a room opens, let one player check the forward route while others inspect corners and side passages.
If the whole session is spent clearing inefficient ice with weak upgrades, progress stalls. Prioritize melting power as a group, then return to difficult sections.
Progression Milestones Checklist
Your Progression Goals:
- Clear the starting area and open the first connected paths
- Buy your first Melting Power upgrade
- Push into at least one newly unlocked frozen area
- Return and clear a barrier you previously skipped
- Establish a repeatable melt-upgrade-advance loop
FAQ
Q: How do I progress fast in Melt All The Ice?
Follow the core loop: clear easy ice, buy Melting Power upgrades early, push into newly opened areas, and skip slow barriers until after your next upgrade. Consistent upgrades matter more than clearing every block immediately.
Q: What should I upgrade first in Melt All The Ice?
Melting Power is the top priority because it reduces the time needed to clear ice and improves progression across the entire map. Tool Strength follows once stronger ice starts slowing you down.
Q: What do I do if a frozen barrier takes too long to melt?
Leave it and progress elsewhere. Return after another upgrade — the same barrier will melt much faster, and you avoid wasting time that is better spent opening new routes.
Q: Is co-op faster than playing solo?
Co-op is most useful when players split tasks: one pushes the main route while others clear nearby ice or inspect side paths. If everyone stacks on the same block, co-op adds little over solo play.