Maltese’s Fluffy Onsen: From base to layouts

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Introduction

• This article covers the in-game mechanics, money & star strategies, and layout for Maltese’s Fluffy Onsen .
• Special decorations that require unlocking specific maps are indicated in the text with tags such as “(Level 2).” For example, “(Level 2) Swing” means the swing can only be obtained after unlocking Level 2: Cherry Blossom City.
• Experiences from other players will also be marked.
• This article is for Maltese’s Fluffy Onsen v1.11d.
• The game is relaxing, so without these strategies, you can still have a good game experience. Some strategies may no longer be optimal as the game is updated or players gain a deeper understanding of the code.

Frequently Q & A

My save file is lost, how can I recover it?

• Unfortunately, you can’t recover it, but you can take precautions.
• Windows System save files are located at C:\Users\<username>\AppData\LocalLow\Sinkholestudio. <username> is your computer’s username.
• Mac System save files are located at /Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/SinkHoleStudio/AnimalSpa.<username> is your computer’s username. If you’re unable to access the folder, please refer to this link.
• If you’re worried about losing your savefile, be sure to backup this folder regularly.

Where can I find the water deco?

• Below the temperature selection in the bath interface, there are two tabs, border deco and water deco.
• Only medium and large baths can have water deco.

Why are guests showing red question marks above their heads?

• Your guests are lost — they can’t find their way.
• This usually happens because something is blocking their path, preventing them from entering or exiting. Check for any obstacles and remove them.

How do I hire new employees?

• You need to fulfill guest preferences first. Preferences can be checked by clicking on a guest and viewing the right-side panel or just looking likes & dislikes sheets below.
• Once you’ve met their preferences, guests may submit resumes, which can be seen on the notice board.

How do I obtain keys to unlock new maps?

• You could earn keys by collecting 24 medals on a specific map.
• Go to the main menu, choose an empty slot, and select a map using the left/right navigation.

How do I unlock special decorations/special guests?

• Special decorations and 8 special guests unlock upon unlocking their respective maps.
• Hamster: Earn 300 stars as guests using facilities.
• Raccoon: See 100 guests leaving with towels on their heads. To achieve this, avoid placing towel collection bins and watch the first floor idly.
• Beaver: Watch guests slipping on puddles 1,000 times. Be cautious when investing points in the final employee training option.
• Golden Monkey: Place the Golden Frog Water Decoration and Golden Koi Statue in a Golden Tile bath. Time to start saving up!
• Red Panda: Accumulate 60 minutes of watching the outdoor view—an infamously tedious unlocking method.

Why isn’t my private bath working?

• If you see red question marks, it means you haven’t assigned employees or services. Private baths have two tabs — both need selections.
• If everything is assigned and it still doesn’t work, the bath’s placement might be the issue. Guests won’t visit private baths in remote corners—place them centrally near bath areas, vending machines, stairs, or between activity zones, so guests can pass them.

How do I unlock the fourth letter from the town hall?

• Just place any Deco - Wall item — typically a clock or a lamp works.

Why is my employee limit stuck at 10?

• You need to invest skill points in the Employee Training Room to increase the limit. The Employee Training Room is found under facility operations.

Game Base

Likes & Dislikes

Money & Stars

• Entrance: Depending on the setting of the Operation Desk.
• Leave: See Python codes below. tier is the tier of bath, starting from 0.

feeList: list = []

def add_num(tier: int) -> None:
    num: float = 0.0; 
    num = sum(feeList)
    num += 3 + tier
    num /= len(feeList) + 1 # Average
    num *= 1.5 if feeList != [] else 1  # Multiply 1.5 after the second bath
    feeList.append(num)

# add_num() x N

total_money = round(sum(feeList)) # the money u will get when a guest leaves


# tier = 0
# 3.0, 4.5, 5.25, 5.906, 6.496, 7.038, 7.541, 8.012, 8.457, 8.880, 9.28, 9.670, 10.042, 10.401, 10.748
# total_money = 115
# tier = 4
# 7.0, 10.5, 12.25, 13.781, 15.159, 16.422, 17.595, 18.695, 19.734, 20.720, 21.662, 22.565, 23.433, 24.270, 25.079
# total_money = 269

• Amenities: Equals the tier of amenities; if a guest likes the amenity, it will give 1.5 of money.
• Stars: If a guest likes the temperature, it will get u a star with 10% chance. If like the food, also 10% chance. Flyer could multiply this twice.
• Money of Private Spa: Time / 4.
• Star of Private Spa: For normal service, the chance is 0.05 + 0.1 * stamina. For special service, if a guest likes the chance is 0.1 + 0.1 * stamina; if not, the chance is zero. Flyer could multiply this twice.

Guests

• There are two types of guests: customers and passersby.
• Passerby spawns per 3-9s, just pass-by. If it is given a Flyer, it will come in Spa with 30% chance.
• Customer spawns per 4-8s, directly come in Spa. Every floor could decrease the time by 0.5s. If the number of guests is more than the capacity of the Spa, the spawn will be skipped.[/u]
• Capability = capacity of all bath having set temperature * C. C depends on Operation Desk, High is 1.1, Medium is 0.8, Low is 0.5.

Action

%%{init:{"flowchart":{"defaultRenderer":"elk"},"theme":"default"}}%%
flowchart LR
    A{{"Adjust nM、nL"}} --> B["Go to the target floor"]
    B --> C{"nL <= 0"}
    C -- Y --> D[/"Return towel & Leave"/]
    C -- N --> E{"nM <= M"}
    E -- N --> F["Bath"]
    E -- Y --> I["Amenities x N"]
    F -- After S --> H(["nL -= S、nM -= S"])
    I -- Until nM = M --> J[["Clear the record of Baths & Amenities"]]
    I -- Not found --> F
    H --> C
    J --> C
    F -- Not found --> M[/"Go to another floor, or Return towel & Leave"/]

• The flowchart and the source code of the game have some differences. S:M:L = 1:2:5. When a customer spawns, the game adjusts nM = 5 * (1 + 0.01 * Bath Amount * M, nL = 5 * (1 + 0.01 * Bath Amount * L). N of amenities depends on nM, and ceiling(nL/S) is the maximum amount a customer could use (max 15 for 181 bath).
• The customer radio of each floor is 0.51, 0.24, 0.12, 0.06, according to the bath amount of each floor. If using Floor Planning Desk, the radio is (number of current floor / sum of every floor). The customer will go to the floor with the highest radio first. If a floor’s customer radio is higher than it should be, the customer will go to the next high radio floor.
• A customer could go to a bath (according position) or an amenity (according name) only once, until the record is clear.
• Every time before using the baths the customer checks if it has a towel; if not, they will go to Towel Rack first. Returning the towel always before leaving.
• Customers get into desks, showers, and Private Spas only when they pass them, not forward.
• You can draw a circle of Stairs → Towel Rack → baths → amenities → Towel Collection Bin → Stairs, which is basically the customer’s movement route. Customers will not go facilities outside the circle. By using this layout method, you can easily control the facilities that customers will and will not go to.

Early game

• The tricks below are for the players who just want to get the key of every level.
• Buy 4 baths and sell 2 to get the first medal. Buy a Water Dispenser - Small, a Water Dispenser - Large, and a Vending Machine. Set warm to every bath. Then buy 2 baths if having enough money.
• When 3 medals, change small baths to medium baths and place Pome Punch in every bath. When 5 medals, buy the Operation Desk and set entrance fee to 3.
• Gradually change the bath to the high-level one, but the Black Wooden Bath is enough. Buy various amenities. Put all the money into buying the cheapest bath to get the platinum medal of Attractive Spa, and sell them after you get the medal. Buy the second floor when the first floor is full, then use all the money to buy floors.
• Use baths to block the stairs, forcing customers to use the first floor.
• Star priority is Operation Desk > Exchange Computer > Flyer Desk > new staff > employee limit (just 1) > upgrade staff. (But most stars are used to upgrade staff.)
• Around 120min - 150min you can get the key. The medal is [4,2,3,4,3,3,2,3] or [4,2,3,4,3,2,3,3].

Late game

• The tricks below are for the late game. Now the aesthetics is the first, but the efficiency is still important.

Money

• Used to complete that damned millionaire achievement.
• Since the number of baths determines how long customers stay (nL/S), and the number of customers per hour stays roughly the same, the goal of the layout is to fit in as many baths as possible.
• On the 1st floor, place small baths, two Flyer Desks, and other operational facilities. Most of the small baths need to set their temperature to accommodate enough guests. On the 2nd floor, fill it with the most expensive small baths, but remember to leave gaps for customers. The rooftop becomes a street of snack stalls—one of each kind. Floors 3, 4, and 5 should be packed with 39 of the cheapest small baths; set temperatures as needed.
• The total number of baths should be more than 181, and customers should leave after spending 269 coins. If possible, add the Bath Supplies Shop — some customers may then leave at 296 coins.
• Set the front desk area to 3. Even with 7, it only adds about 4k per hour, which isn’t as effective as what you can get from RNG fluctuations.
• Startup time is 8 minutes, during which income is low — only about 4k. In the first hour, efficiency hits about 280k/h; after stabilization, it’s between 280k/h and 500k/h. Data from the stats table.
• If you’re using this layout for star farming, set the Promotions Desk to 100% cats. Don’t pick dogs because there’s only one ramen machine, while there are plenty of ice cream stations.
• For a specific arrangement, see the Easter egg below.

Special Staff / Letters

• Set the Promotions Desk to 100% of the customer type that corresponds to the special staff you want to farm.
• Adjust the bath settings (water temperature and bath deco) to match the preferences of that customer type.
• Keep the existing layout unchanged.
• In about 5 hours, you can farm around 8 special staff members.

Layout Highlights

Overview

• Use plenty of partitions/screens to divide the space, and plan what goes in each section.
• Each area should contain only one type of item or decoration. For example, don’t mix bath pools and vending machines in the same zone.
• For the 2nd floor and above, it’s generally best to place bath areas on both sides of the floor, with the vending machine area and stairs in the center. In between, you can arrange washing zones, VIP areas, sauna rooms, lounges, internet cafés, etc.

Special Facilities

• Notice Board

  • Can be placed at the entrance, next to a row of lockers, or inside the staff lounge.
  • Be sure to promptly collect letters — they’re a major source of stars.

• Baths

  • Placing them along the walls is much more layout-friendly than putting them in the middle—helps avoid blocking (especially for outdoor baths).
  • Outdoor baths always look nicer than indoor ones, though they’re slightly larger.
  • High-level baths give more money.
  • The “optimal” bath setup is 39°C warm water + pomegranate bag. But who cares?

• Amenities

  • Stalls are slightly more efficient than vending machines; they help reduce aimless walking and save restocking time.
  • Variety matters far more than quantity — that’s realistic.

• Towel Rack

  • Every floor should have at least two towel racks.
  • These can act as anchor points to guide customer movement.

• Towel Collection Bin

  • Just place a few near the exit—customers always return towels before leaving.
  • These can also serve as anchors, though they’re not as strategically useful.

• Exchange Computer

  • Another major source of stars — check for interactions regularly.
  • Can be used to simulate an internet café setup.

• Operation Desk

  • Another item that can serve as a makeshift internet café.

• Flyer Reception Desk

  • Flyers double the chance of earning stars and have a 0.3 probability of attracting passers-by into the Spa — so placing this is a must.
  • Place the flyer desk NEAR THE ENTRANCE. otherwise, you’ll see your staff running up and down stairs all day.
  • The carpet in front of the flyer desk is not considered walkable by customers, so be careful not to block paths.
  • Each flyer pickup yields 10 + 2 × stamina, so higher stamina means more flyers per trip — assign your most enduring employees.
  • (By 哈) Employees who hand out flyers should have at least 6 Speed — any slower and they’ll miss customers too often.
  • Typically, one max-speed employee can reach most customers. Two max-speed employees can cover the gaps when one is picking up flyers.
  • If customers spawn too close to the entrance, they may walk in before any staff can react—these customers usually won’t receive flyers. Don’t overload on flyer staff just to try catching those rare cases.

  

• Bath Supplies Shop

  • Bath supplies boost the customer’s final payment to 1.1×, and selling speed only depends on the last stat — Stamina.
  • If you don’t care much about this extra income, just place one near the shower area and be done with it.

• Luxury Private Bath

  • For maximum money, max out the bath duration; for maximum stars, choose two basic services plus fruit.
  • Luxury Private Baths are only used when customers pass by them.
  • So don’t tuck them into floor corners—place them in central areas near bath zones, vending areas, or staircases.

• Promotions Desk

  • If you’re not farming special staff or encyclopedia entries, remember to turn this off—or you may go bankrupt.

• Staff & Training Room

  • Upgrade movement speed first for your staff.
  • Upgrade pre-restocking first in the training room.

• Time Desk, Statistics Desk & Floor Planning Desk

  • …… Place them anywhere you like.

Decorations

• Partitions/Screens
  • Great for dividing areas into zones.
  • Also useful for controlling customer paths and increasing the chance they use bench showers.
• Benches / Showers
  • Like Luxury Private Bath, if you want customers to use them, place them in-between bath zones, vending areas, or near staircases.
  • If you don’t want them used — say, in the staff break room — just tuck them into corners.
• TVs
  • Earning stars from TVs? You must be mad.
  • Small CRT TV can be placed on shelves or tables to mimic a surveillance station.
  • Wall-mounted TVs work well as decorative art.
• Mirrors
  • (By 哈) They can be disguised as windows.
• Attachments
  • Paired with outdoor flooring, these can create an open-air vibe — perfect next to outdoor baths.
  • But they compete with wall lamp space, so choose wisely.
• Lights
  • Traditional lamps go well with classic wooden walls.
  • (Level 3) Red lamps suit red wood walls perfectly.
• Stones / Stone Lantern
  • Typically placed near entrances, staircases, or outdoor zones.
• Trees
  • Also help evoke an outdoor feeling.
• (Level 2) Swing
  • (By alibiii) Best placed near outdoor baths or open-air areas.
• Vases / (Level 3) Fine Procelain
  • Ideal for filling empty corners.
• (Level 3) Decorative Stand
  • Fits nicely into awkward two-tile gaps.
• (Level 6) Aquarium
  • Also great for filling two-tile spaces or setting next to chairs.
• **(**Level 9) Sun Candles/Sunflower Pots…
  • Dripping with Persian flair.
  • Perfect with Golden Tiled Bath or Palace-style Wooden Bath.

Easter egg

• Money farming layout by me

• Star farming layout by minus (-) from QQ group

• by cocoa from Discord
• Vending Machine Paradise xD

• by 水際 from QQ group

• by leuco_ from Discord

• by J9256 from Discord

Copyright

• This article is authored by Polaris_Light and shared under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
• The English Version is simultaneously published in the official QQ group, the official Discord, Steam Community, and my blog.