Core Keeper Multiplayer: How to Play With Friends

Core Keeper is a mining and survival sandbox game that becomes much more fun when you explore its vast underground world with friends. This guide explains the different ways to set up a multiplayer game, whether you want to host a world on your own computer or join a dedicated server. You’ll learn how to invite friends, manage your world settings, and fix common connection problems.

What You’ll Need

• Core Keeper installed on your PC (Steam or Xbox app/Game Pass).
• A stable internet connection.
• Your friends must also own a copy of Core Keeper.
• For hosting a world on your PC: a decent CPU and RAM, as your computer will act as the server.
• For a dedicated server: a spare PC or a server hosting service (optional, but recommended for 24/7 play).

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Host a World From the Main Menu (Simplest)

1. Launch Core Keeper and wait for the main menu to load.
2. Click Start New World (or select an existing world and click Continue).
3. In the world creation screen, give your world a name and choose your preferred settings (difficulty, world size, etc.).
4. Look for the Multiplayer option near the bottom. Set it to Public or Friends Only. For most groups, Friends Only is the best choice—it keeps your world private but allows anyone on your Steam friends list to join.
5. Click Create to start the world. The game will load, and you’ll be playing solo for a moment.
6. Once you’re in the game, open the pause menu (Esc). You’ll see a Multiplayer tab. Click it to see your world’s connection details, including an invite code.
7. Send the invite code to your friends via Steam chat, Discord, or any other messaging app. They can use this code to join your world.

Method 2: Join a Friend’s World

1. From the main menu, click Join.
2. You’ll see a list of available worlds. If your friend is hosting a Friends Only world, they should appear in the Friends tab. Just click on their world and hit Join.
3. If you have an invite code, click the Join via Code button, paste the code, and click Join.
4. Alternatively, you can use Steam’s built-in invite system: right-click your friend’s name in your Steam friends list and select Invite to Game (if they are already in a Core Keeper world).

Method 3: Set Up a Dedicated Server (For 24/7 Play)

1. Download the Core Keeper Dedicated Server tool from Steam (it’s free, even if you don’t own the game).
2. Run the server tool. It will ask you to choose a world name and settings.
3. Once the server is running, note the IP address and port (default is 27015).
4. In Core Keeper, click Join and then Join via IP. Enter the IP address and port (e.g., 192.168.1.10:27015 for a local server).
5. Your friends can also join via IP if they are on the same network or if you’ve set up port forwarding on your router.

Common Mistakes

• World is set to Solo: If you forget to switch the world to Friends Only or Public, no one can join. Check the Multiplayer setting in the world creation screen or in the pause menu.
• Invite code expired: Invite codes are temporary. If your friend tries to use an old code, it won’t work. Always send a fresh code from the pause menu.
• Friends not showing up: If you’re using Friends Only and your friend isn’t appearing in the join list, make sure they are on your Steam friends list and that you both have your Steam status set to Online (not invisible).
• Host’s internet is slow: The host’s upload speed matters. If the host has a poor connection, everyone will experience lag. A wired connection is better than Wi-Fi.

Tips

• Use a dedicated server for long sessions: If you plan to play for many hours, a dedicated server is more stable because it doesn’t rely on the host’s game being open.
• Set up port forwarding: If you want friends from outside your home network to join a dedicated server, you’ll need to forward port 27015 (UDP) on your router to the server’s local IP.
• Back up your world: Core Keeper saves world files locally. Periodically copy the world folder (found in %AppData%\..\LocalLow\Pugstorm\Core Keeper\) to a safe location to avoid losing progress.
• Communicate: Use Discord or the in-game chat to coordinate tasks. The game is much more efficient when players specialize (one mines, one cooks, one fights).
• Adjust world settings: You can change some multiplayer settings in the pause menu, like whether other players can build in your base or if PvP is enabled.

Troubleshooting

• Can’t join a friend’s world: First, confirm the world is set to Friends Only or Public. Then, have the host send a fresh invite code. If it still fails, restart both games and try again.
• Connection timed out: This often happens when the host’s firewall is blocking incoming connections. The host should allow Core Keeper through Windows Firewall (or add an exception for port 27015 if using a dedicated server).
• Lag or rubber-banding: This is usually a network issue. The host should close bandwidth-heavy applications (like video streaming or large downloads). If the problem persists, consider switching to a dedicated server.
• Friends see “World not found”: Make sure the game is updated to the same version on all players’ machines. Version mismatches can prevent joining.
• Dedicated server not showing up: If you’re on the same network, try joining via the local IP (e.g., 192.168.x.x). If you’re over the internet, verify port forwarding is correctly set up and that the server’s IP is publicly reachable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play multiplayer cross-platform?

Yes, Core Keeper supports cross-play between Steam and Xbox (including Game Pass) players. However, you need to add each other as friends on the respective platform (Steam or Xbox).

How many players can join a world?

Up to 8 players can play together in a single world.

Can I join a friend’s world if they are offline?

No, if your friend is hosting from their PC, they must be online and have the game running. A dedicated server is the only way to have a world accessible 24/7.

Do I need to pay for a server?

No, you can host a world for free on your own PC. You can also run a dedicated server on a spare computer for free. Paid server hosting services are optional for convenience.

Can I transfer my single-player world to multiplayer?

Yes, you can. In the main menu, select your single-player world and click Continue. Then, in the pause menu, go to the Multiplayer tab and change the world setting from Solo to Friends Only or Public. Your friends can then join.

What happens if the host leaves the game?

If the host leaves, the world will close for everyone. To prevent this, use a dedicated server, which runs independently of any player being online.

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