Short answer: Sons of the Forest is a Windows PC survival game with online co-op. A documented dedicated-server configuration supports 1–8 players; eight is the ceiling for that configuration. For a small, occasional group, let one player host the world through Steam. For a group that needs the world available while the owner is offline, use a dedicated server and back up its data directory.
Audience warning: Endnight Games describes the game this way on Steam: “Sons Of The Forest contains intense violence, blood and gore, as well as horror themes and occasional nudity.”
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What multiplayer in Sons of the Forest supports
Platform, purchase and online features
The authoritative Steam listing identifies a Windows PC release by Endnight Games, published by Newnight, released on February 22, 2024. It lists online co-op and Steam Cloud. The listing showed a price of $29.99 when accessed on October 15, 2026; storefront prices and regional taxes can change.
The same listing frames co-op as a shared survival experience: friends can share items, build defenses together and provide backup while exploring both the surface and underground areas. The listing does not establish cross-platform or console multiplayer support, so this guide is limited to the Windows PC/Steam edition.
#1 Best Overall
How many players can join?
The documented dedicated-server setup specifies a 1–8 player range. That makes eight the known ceiling for that server configuration, not a promise that every peer-hosted session or future build will expose exactly the same limit. Steam confirms online co-op but does not state a separate player number on the cited listing.
Peer host or dedicated server?
There are two practical ways to play:
- Peer-hosted co-op: one player runs the session and keeps the world save. It is the simplest choice for a regular group that can arrange sessions around the host.
- Dedicated server: a separate server process keeps the world available without relying on a player launching the game each time. It requires SteamCMD, configuration, port forwarding or firewall work, and disciplined backups.
Neither model changes the game’s mature content. Agree on the audience before inviting anyone, particularly younger players.
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Check every PC against the published requirements
Use the following Windows requirements as a compatibility gate before troubleshooting multiplayer. They are the requirements shown on the Endnight/Steam listing.
Rank #2
- Strategic Trick-Taking Gameplay: Master unique character abilities and special powers that let you change the trump suit, lead after losing tricks, and outwit your opponent with clever card play
- Compact Travel-Friendly Design: Perfectly portable for date nights, vacations, and weekend getaways with its small box that fits easily in bags and luggage without sacrificing quality components
- Beautiful Illustrated Cards: Stunning fairy tale character artwork with intricate botanical details and elegant brushwork makes analyzing your options quick and enjoyable during each game
- Quick 30-Minute Sessions: Ideal for busy adults seeking meaningful screen-free connection without long rulebook learning curves or extended play commitments on weeknights
- Balanced 2-Player Experience: Expertly designed trick-taking mechanics ensure neither player gains unfair advantage, rewarding strategic thinking and creating intense memorable moments every game
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 10 | 64-bit Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X | Not stated in the cited listing |
| Memory | 12 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 1060 with 3 GB or AMD RX 570 with 4 GB | NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti or AMD RX 5700 XT |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Not stated in the cited listing |
| Storage | 20 GB | SSD preferred |
These are baseline specifications, not a guarantee of a particular frame rate or of identical performance when several players build and explore simultaneously. Leave extra free space for updates and backups rather than treating 20 GB as a complete long-term storage budget.
Install the same current Steam build
Have every player update the game before joining. A host and client on different builds can fail to connect or behave inconsistently, so update first instead of trying to diagnose network symptoms. If a patch arrives during a campaign, finish a backup before launching the updated session.
Choose the world owner deliberately
For peer hosting, decide whose Steam account will create and continue the world. Keep that host available for scheduled sessions and make that person’s save location part of the group’s backup plan. Steam Cloud is listed for the game, but the reviewed authoritative pages do not document every host-change or save-transfer edge case. Do not promise that another player can automatically take over a world with identical progress.
Rank #3
- Strategic 2-Player Trick-Taking: Master the art of winning just enough tricks without overcommitting, using clever card play and tactical decision-making to outmaneuver your opponent
- New Module Variations: Three game modules (special cards, goal cards, poison cards) offer endless strategic combinations, keeping gameplay fresh and exciting for repeated plays
- Premium Deluxe Components: Foil-stamped cards, all-new fairy-tale illustrations, and acrylic scoring tokens deliver a visually stunning and tactile experience that enhances every game
- Quick 30-Minute Gameplay: Perfect for busy couples seeking quality time together, delivering strategic depth and meaningful competition in a compact, elegant format
- Complete Game Package: Includes 33 base cards, nine special cards, 16 goal cards, three poison cards, two reference cards, 17 scoring tokens, and comprehensive rulebook
Set a backup routine
- End the session normally and wait for saving to finish before closing the game or server.
- Copy the complete world-save location to a separate drive or protected folder. Do not rely on a single live copy.
- Label copies with the date and, after a major update, keep the pre-update copy until everyone confirms the world opens correctly.
- For a dedicated server, back up the complete
SonsOfTheForestDSdata directory, not only one configuration file. - Test one backup by restoring it to a separate location or test instance. A backup that has never been opened is only an assumption.
How to host a peer-to-peer co-op session
Menu wording can change between builds, but the flow is consistent: the owner creates or continues a multiplayer world, then invites friends through Steam. Use the following sequence rather than letting several players create competing copies of the campaign.
- Start Steam and confirm the game has finished updating.
- Launch Sons of the Forest and select the multiplayer option from the main menu.
- Choose to create a new world or continue the established world. The player who performs this step becomes the session host for that play session.
- Set the session’s visibility or invite option, then send invitations through the Steam overlay or the game’s available invite control.
- Wait for the intended players to appear before distributing scarce equipment or splitting into separate areas. A late joiner should be told where the group is operating and which supplies are reserved.
- When finished, return to the game’s save/quit flow and allow the host’s world to save before exiting Steam.
Joining a friend’s hosted world
- Accept the Steam invitation or open the game’s multiplayer join list after the host has created the session.
- Confirm that the displayed game version matches the host’s version.
- Join with the character and equipment you intend to use; do not assume that a different host will carry over every item or progression state.
- If the host disconnects, wait for the host to restart the same world. Starting a new world is a separate save and does not repair a disconnected session.
What happens to progress when the host is absent?
Peer hosting makes the host the practical custodian of the world. Steam Cloud may help synchronize that account’s files, but the cited material does not define a universal policy for transferring a save to another host. Keep a written record of the host account, the world name and the backup location so the group does not accidentally continue from an older copy.
Setting up a dedicated server
A dedicated server is worthwhile when several players need a persistent world, when the usual host cannot attend every session, or when one person is willing to handle maintenance. It is more work than peer hosting: you must install the server software, open the required network paths, edit JSON configuration and preserve the data directory through updates.
Rank #4
- Cooperative Trick-Taking Mechanics: Win together by collecting gems through strategic card play and special character abilities that let teammates exchange cards and support each other throughout the game
- Perfect Two-Player Game: Designed specifically for 2 players aged 10 and up with 30-minute gameplay, making it ideal for couples, parents with kids, or anyone seeking meaningful one-on-one connection
- Portable Travel Card Game: Compact design fits easily in bags, backpacks, or carry-on luggage, bringing engaging entertainment to vacations, road trips, or gatherings without bulky components
- Beautiful Hand-Illustrated Cards: Featuring stunning artwork inspired by forest themes with quality card stock that holds up to repeated play while looking attractive displayed or stored
- Easy to Learn, Challenging to Master: Familiar trick-taking foundation makes it instantly approachable for newcomers while unique powers and strategic decision-making keep every game fresh and engaging
Required server identifiers and ports
| Setting | Documented value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| SteamCMD application ID | 2465200 |
Identifies the Sons of the Forest dedicated-server package in SteamCMD. |
| Player range | 1–8 | Eight is the documented maximum for this server configuration. |
| UDP port | 8766 |
Must be allowed through the server’s firewall and, when applicable, router forwarding. |
| UDP port | 27016 |
Required network port in the documented setup. |
| UDP port | 9700 |
Required network port in the documented setup. |
| Configuration file | dedicatedserver.cfg |
Stores server settings such as player capacity and save behavior. |
| Data directory | SonsOfTheForestDS |
Contains the server’s persistent data and must be included in backups. |
Installation and first configuration
- Install SteamCMD on the Windows machine that will run the server. Use the SteamCMD application ID
2465200to obtain the dedicated-server files. - Choose a stable installation directory with enough free space for the game, updates and multiple backup copies. Avoid a folder that is automatically cleaned by a temporary-file utility.
- Locate the server’s
SonsOfTheForestDSdata directory after installation. Record its full path in your administrator notes. - Open
dedicatedserver.cfgin a text editor that preserves JSON formatting. SetMaxPlayersto a value from 1 through 8, matching the group you actually intend to support. - Set
SaveModetoContinuewhen the goal is a persistent campaign that reopens the existing save rather than starting a fresh state. - Save the file as valid JSON. A missing quote, comma or brace can prevent the server from reading the configuration, so make one change at a time and keep an untouched copy of the original file.
- Allow UDP ports
8766,27016and9700through the Windows firewall and any router forwarding layer between the internet and the server. Forward to the server’s fixed local address, not a device that can receive a different address after reboot. - Start the dedicated-server process and have one player connect before inviting the whole group. This isolates configuration and network problems from a full-session failure.
Backups and updates
Stop the server cleanly before copying its data. Keep the full SonsOfTheForestDS directory in each backup, including the save data and configuration. Before applying an update, make a dated pre-update copy. After updating, start the server with only one test player, confirm that the existing world opens, and then announce the server to everyone else.
Do not delete the old directory simply because the new build created a fresh folder. If the updated server appears to have lost the campaign, stop it, preserve the current files, and compare the configured data path with the path used by the previous installation.
Peer host versus dedicated server
| Decision point | Peer-hosted co-op | Dedicated server |
|---|---|---|
| Host availability | The chosen host must launch the world for a session. | The server can remain available independently of a player’s game session. |
| Save control | Practical control stays with the host’s world and account. | Administrator controls the server data directory and its backups. |
| Setup effort | Low: create or continue a multiplayer world and invite players. | Higher: SteamCMD, JSON configuration, firewall and possible router forwarding. |
| Maximum documented group | Steam’s cited listing does not state a separate limit. | 1–8 players. |
| Ports | No dedicated-server port configuration is required by the cited material. | UDP 8766, 27016 and 9700 in the documented setup. |
| Recurring cost | No separate server fee is established; the host supplies the PC and connection. | No fixed hosting price is established; cost depends on whether you run the machine yourself or use a paid service. |
| Recovery after disconnect | Wait for the host to reopen the same world; save-transfer behavior is not universally documented. | Restart the server and verify the configured SaveMode and data path. |
Organize a group that does not collapse when one player disconnects
Co-op becomes safer and less frustrating when critical jobs are shared instead of assigned permanently to one person. A practical three-role rotation is:
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- Base, construction and storage: maintain defenses, organize shared containers and record where essential materials are kept.
- Food and seasonal supplies: maintain a reserve of food and other consumables so an extended cave trip does not strand the camp.
- Surface and cave scouting: mark routes, identify threats and lead expeditions while another player remains able to return to the base.
Rotate these jobs between sessions. Do not let one disconnected player be the only person who knows the location of critical items or the route to the base. Before an expedition, agree on a meeting point and a return condition, such as regrouping after a death or an unexpected network drop.
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Swimming deaths in multiplayer
Endnight’s January 21, 2025 announcement added the ability to revive players who die while swimming in multiplayer. The same update changed how Kelvin and Virginia behave around swimming. If a teammate dies in the water, use the current multiplayer recovery interaction rather than assuming the death is always permanent.
This documented change is specific to players who die while swimming. It does not establish a universal revival method for every death situation, and it should not be used as a promise that all lost equipment or progress will be restored.
Kelvin and Virginia
Kelvin and Virginia are gameplay companions, not substitutes for a second human player. Their swimming behavior has changed through patches, so plan around the behavior present in your current build rather than an old guide. Keep companions clear of hazardous routes when the group is moving through caves or water, and do not make a campaign-critical plan that depends on an undocumented revival outcome.
Troubleshooting common co-op failures
A friend cannot see or join the session
- Confirm that everyone is on the same current Steam build.
- Have the host create or continue the world before the other players attempt to join.
- Check that the invitation was sent to the intended Steam account and that the recipient accepted it through Steam.
- If the problem persists, close the game on both sides, restart Steam, and have the original host reopen the same save.
The dedicated server is not reachable
- Verify that the server process is running and that the three documented UDP ports—8766, 27016 and 9700—are allowed in the host firewall.
- Check router forwarding if players are connecting from outside the server’s local network.
- Confirm that forwarding points to the server’s current local IP address.
- Test with one player before adding the rest of the group; a single connection makes it easier to identify a port or configuration issue.
The server starts a new world instead of continuing
- Stop the server and preserve the current files before changing anything.
- Check that
SaveModeis set toContinueindedicatedserver.cfg. - Verify that the server is reading the intended
SonsOfTheForestDSdata directory. - Restore the most recent known-good backup only after copying the current directory to a separate recovery folder.
A save appears damaged after an update
Do not overwrite the pre-update copy. Stop the updated server or close the host session, preserve both the new and old directories, and test the backup on the same build that created it. If the backup opens, continue from that copy and keep the failed post-update files for diagnosis rather than repeatedly loading and resaving them.
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- Tell the group who owns the peer-hosted save and where the latest backup is stored.
- Announce major construction or storage changes so a returning player is not surprised by relocated supplies.
- Before quitting, return unique or mission-critical items to shared storage when practical.
- Do not update the dedicated server during an active session.
- Keep the mature-content warning visible to anyone you invite; the developer explicitly cites intense violence, blood, gore, horror themes and occasional nudity.
Bottom line
For a few friends who can meet at the same time, peer hosting is the fastest route: one player creates or continues the world, invites the group through Steam, and protects the host’s save with regular backups. If the world must remain available without that player, a dedicated server is the stronger fit. Use SteamCMD app 2465200, configure MaxPlayers from 1–8 and SaveMode as Continue, allow UDP ports 8766, 27016 and 9700, and back up the entire SonsOfTheForestDS directory before every update.
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