Ubisoft’s Hungry Shark Evolution is one of the most popular arcade-style mobile games, giving players control of a shark on a relentless quest for survival. The goal is simple: eat everything you can, avoid bigger threats, and stay alive long enough to rack up points and coins. Beneath its fast-paced and fun surface, however, the game hides a surprising amount of depth. This guide is designed to provide beginners with the essential knowledge they need to survive longer, progress faster, and eventually dominate the ocean.

Get to know the Basics of Hungry Shark Evolution

The first step for any player is understanding the core mechanics. Your shark constantly loses health over time, and the only way to survive is by eating. Food replenishes health and fuels progression, while failing to eat leads to death. Controls are intuitive: your shark follows the direction of your finger, and a boost button provides sudden bursts of speed.

Although this may feel simple at first, smooth maneuvering is essential. Tight turns and quick reactions allow you to grab prey before it escapes and avoid dangerous threats such as jellyfish, mines, and larger predators. Mastering movement is the foundation of survival, and the more naturally you guide your shark, the easier the rest of the game becomes.

Choosing and Upgrading Sharks

Every player begins with the Reef Shark, the smallest and weakest species in the game. While it cannot eat much beyond tiny fish and swimmers, it provides a safe introduction to the mechanics. As you earn coins and gems, stronger sharks such as the Mako, Hammerhead, and Tiger Shark become available. Larger sharks open up entirely new possibilities, as they can eat bigger prey and survive in deeper waters. Eventually, legendary sharks like the Megalodon provide unmatched power, but reaching that stage requires patience.

For beginners, the temptation may be to save coins for the next shark immediately. However, this often makes survival harder. A better approach is to fully upgrade your current shark before moving on. Upgrades to speed, bite, and boost significantly improve survivability, letting you earn more coins in each run and making the next shark easier to unlock. A well-upgraded Reef or Mako Shark can achieve surprisingly high scores, bridging the gap to larger predators without frustration.

Aim for Surviving as Long as Possible in Each Run

Survival is the heart of Hungry Shark Evolution, and every second you stay alive leads to more points and coins. The key is to maintain a steady rhythm of eating, since your health bar doubles as a hunger meter that constantly drains. Wandering without food will quickly lead to death, so always be on the move in search of prey. Smaller fish schools provide reliable sustenance, while swimmers and crabs add variety to your diet.

Managing Coins and Gems

Progression in Hungry Shark Evolution depends heavily on collecting coins and gems. Coins are the primary currency, used to purchase upgrades and unlock new sharks, while gems are rarer and serve as premium currency for revives, special sharks, and power-ups. Coins are earned naturally by eating prey, surviving longer runs, and completing missions. For beginners, targeting schools of small fish is an efficient way to build coin reserves quickly.

Gems, on the other hand, require more effort. They can be found in treasure chests scattered throughout the map, earned as daily rewards, or obtained during special events. Because of their scarcity, it is important not to waste gems on unnecessary revives early in the game. A smart beginner strategy is to save gems for unlocking premium sharks later or for extending particularly successful runs where you are already earning massive rewards.

Use your Revives Judiciously!

When your shark dies, you are given the option to revive it by spending gems. While tempting, revives should be used sparingly. For new players, reviving during a short, low-scoring run is rarely worth the cost. Instead, revives are best saved for situations where you are deep into a run, have completed multiple missions, or are close to achieving a Mega Gold Rush. This ensures that the gem cost provides maximum return on investment.

Players can enjoy playing Hungry Shark Evolution on a bigger screen of their PC or Laptop via BlueStacks along with your keyboard and mouse.

Keep progressing in Hungry Shark Evolution with our other in-depth guides:

  • How to Install and Play Hungry Shark Evolution on PC with BlueStacks
  • All Hungry Shark Evolution Redeem Codes to Claim Freebies
  • Hungry Shark Evolution – All Sharks and their Unique Abilities