Before diving into the mystery, ensure your game is properly installed and updated. Upon launching Hello Neighbor for the first time, you'll be presented with a main menu. Here, you can adjust graphics settings, audio levels, and control bindings. It's recommended to experiment with sensitivity settings to find what feels most comfortable for precise movements and quick reactions, which are vital for avoiding the Neighbor.

The game doesn't feature character creation in the traditional sense; you play as a pre-defined protagonist, a young boy named Nicky Roth. Your journey begins immediately after a brief introductory cutscene, placing you directly into the game world with minimal preamble. Pay attention to the environmental cues and the initial objectives presented.