How to Play Don’t Starve Together Multiplayer with Friends

This guide walks you through setting up and playing Don’t Starve Together (DST) with friends, covering everything from inviting players to joining a dedicated server. You’ll learn the three main ways to play together, how to configure your world for co-op, and what to do when connection issues arise. By the end, you’ll be surviving the Constant side-by-side with your crew.

What You’ll Need

A copy of Don’t Starve Together on Steam (PC/Mac) or on a console (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch).
A stable internet connection with at least 5 Mbps upload for hosting.
Friends who also own the game and have accounts on the same platform (Steam friends for PC, same console network for consoles).
Optional: A dedicated server (paid or self-hosted) for 24/7 worlds.

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Host a World and Invite Friends (PC/Steam)

Launch Don’t Starve Together from your Steam library.
From the main menu, select Play.
Click Host Game.
Choose a world slot (e.g., Slot 1) or create a new world by clicking New World.
Configure your world settings: set World Preset to Cooperative (or Endless if you want respawns), adjust the season length, and toggle PvP off.
Click Generate World and wait for it to load.
Once in-game, press Esc to open the pause menu.
Click the Players tab (the icon with a person) and then click Invite Friends.
Select friends from your Steam list and send the invite. They’ll get a notification and can join directly.
Alternatively, set your world to Friends Only in the world settings so friends can join without an explicit invite.

Method 2: Join a Friend’s World

Open the game and go to Play.
Select Join Game.
Choose Friends on the left sidebar to see worlds hosted by your Steam friends.
If you have an invite, click the notification or accept it from the Steam overlay (Shift+Tab).
If the world is password-protected, enter the password your friend shared.
Select your character and click Ready to spawn in.

Method 3: Play on a Dedicated Server

Rent a server from a hosting provider or run your own using the Don’t Starve Together Dedicated Server tool on Steam.
Configure the server settings (world gen, mods, password) in the server files.
Start the server and note its IP address and port (default 10999).
In-game, go to Join Game.
Click Browse or Add Server (depending on version) and enter the IP and port.
Enter the password if set, and join.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to set the world to Cooperative: If you leave the default (Survival), friends can’t respawn after death unless you revive them with a meat effigy or telltale heart.
Not adjusting PvP settings: With PvP on, friends can damage each other, leading to accidental (or intentional) griefing.
Hosting on a weak connection: If your upload speed is below 5 Mbps, friends will experience lag and disconnects.
Ignoring mods: If you have mods enabled, all friends must have the same mods installed and enabled, or they’ll be kicked.
Not using the in-game voice chat: DST has built-in voice chat; if you’re using a third-party app, make sure the in-game mic is muted to avoid echo.

Tips

Assign roles: Have one player focus on gathering food, another on chopping wood, and another on exploring. This speeds up early-game survival.
Build a camp together: Pool resources to create a base with a fire pit, chests, and a crock pot. Centralize storage to avoid losing items.
Use the map: Mark important locations (beefalo herd, spider nests, pig king) with map icons so everyone knows where to go.
Share the load: Don’t let one player do all the fighting. Team up to take down giants and hounds.
Keep an eye on sanity: When players are near each other, sanity drains slower. Stick together during dusk and night.
Use the /roll command: To settle disputes over loot, use /roll to have the game roll a random number.

Troubleshooting

Friends can’t see your world

Check that your world is set to Friends Only or Public (not Private).
Verify you’re both on the same platform (Steam friends can’t join a PS4 world).
Restart the game and try again; sometimes the friend list doesn’t refresh.

Connection keeps dropping

Host: Close bandwidth-heavy apps (streaming, downloads).
Host: Enable port forwarding for UDP 10999 on your router if you’re hosting a dedicated server.
Player: Try using a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi.

Mods not working

Ensure all players have the exact same mods enabled in the same order. The host can force-enable mods in the world settings.
Check mod compatibility with the current game version.

Game lags even on a good connection

Lower the graphics settings, especially for the host.
Disable mods that add many entities (e.g., extra resources).
Move to a less populated area of the map; too many structures can cause lag.

Friends can’t join because of a password

Host: Go to the pause menu > Players > Set Password to change or remove it.
Make sure you share the correct password (case-sensitive).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play DST cross-platform with friends?

No. DST does not support cross-play between PC and consoles. You can only play with friends on the same platform (Steam for PC, same console family).

How many friends can play together?

Up to 6 players can join a single world (host + 5 others). Some mods allow more, but the base game limit is 6.

Do both players need to own the game?

Yes, every player needs their own copy of Don’t Starve Together.

Can I play on a dedicated server without buying one?

Yes, you can host a dedicated server on your own PC or a spare machine, but it requires some technical setup. The game includes a dedicated server tool on Steam.

What happens if the host quits?

If the host leaves the world, the game pauses for everyone (unless you’re on a dedicated server). The host can save and quit, and the world can be resumed later. On a dedicated server, the game continues even if the host logs off.

Can I use mods in multiplayer?

Yes, but all players must have the same mods installed and enabled. The host can force-enable mods in the world settings, which will automatically download them for other players on PC.

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