Enshrouded Multiplayer Guide: Co-op Setup & Tips (2026)

Enshrouded Multiplayer Options

Enshrouded supports up to 16 players in co-op. There are two ways to play with friends:

Option 1: Host a Game (Peer-to-Peer)

• One player hosts directly from the game
• Up to 4 players
• World only available when the host is online
• No port forwarding needed (uses Steam networking)
• Best for: Quick sessions with 2-4 friends

Option 2: Dedicated Server

• Runs independently on a separate machine or hosting service
• Up to 16 players
• World available 24/7 — friends play whenever they want
• Requires a hosting provider or your own hardware
• Best for: Groups larger than 4, persistent worlds, serious play

For anything beyond casual 4-player sessions, a dedicated server is the way to go.

Setting Up a Dedicated Server

The Easy Way: Managed Hosting

The fastest option is a managed hosting provider like HostedGG:

1. Go to HostedGG Enshrouded hosting
2. Pick a plan (16 GB recommended for groups of 6+)
3. Server deploys in under 60 seconds
4. Share your server IP with friends
5. Everyone connects via the in-game browser or direct IP

All plans are free for 3 days with no credit card required.

Connecting to a Dedicated Server

Method 1: In-Game Server Browser

1. Launch Enshrouded
2. Click Play → Join
3. Search for the server name
4. Enter password if required
5. Click Join

Method 2: Direct IP

1. Launch Enshrouded
2. Click Play → Join → Direct Connect
3. Enter the server IP and port (e.g., 1.2.3.4:15636)
4. Click Connect

Method 3: Steam Server Browser

1. Open Steam → View → Servers → Favorites
2. Click Add A Server
3. Enter the server IP and query port (e.g., 1.2.3.4:15637)
4. Click Add → select server → Connect

How Co-op Works in Enshrouded

Shared Progression

These elements are shared across all players on the server:

• Flame Altar upgrades — when anyone upgrades, everyone benefits
• NPC rescues — rescued NPCs are available to all players
• Shroud Root destruction — cleared Shroud is cleared for everyone
• Buildings — all players can build within Flame Altar radius

Individual Progression

Each player maintains their own:

• Inventory and equipment
• Skill tree points and allocation
• Level and experience
• Quest progress (some quests track individually)

Reviving

When a player's health reaches zero, they're downed:

• Nearby players can revive them within a time window
• If nobody revives, they die and respawn at the Flame Altar
• A tombstone marks the death location with dropped items
• The downed player must retrieve their tombstone to get items back

Group Size Recommendations

Coordinating Your Group

Role Specialization

Enshrouded doesn't have strict classes, but specializing helps:

• 1-2 Warriors (melee tanks) — lead the charge, take aggro from bosses
• 1-2 Rangers (ranged DPS) — pick off enemies, scout ahead
• 1 Mage (support/AoE) — crowd control, healing, area denial
• Rest: Hybrid — flexible roles as needed

Since you can respec freely, experiment and find what works for your group.

Base Management

With multiple players, base organization matters:

• Designate a builder — one person in charge of base layout prevents chaos
• Shared storage — create clearly labeled chests (Wood, Stone, Metal, Consumables)
• Personal chests — each player gets their own storage area
• Flame Altar placement — decide as a group. Moving it later wastes resources.

Exploration Strategy

The most efficient way to explore with a group:

1. Scout in pairs — never enter the Shroud alone
2. Mark discoveries — use the map ping system to mark resources and points of interest
3. Relay teams for deep Shroud — Team A pushes until timer gets low, Team B takes over
4. Gather on the way back — explore on the way in, gather resources on the way out

Boss Fights

Co-op bosses scale with player count. Tips for group boss fights:

• Everyone eat food before the fight (Well-Fed buff)
• Carry health potions — at least 10 per person
• Call out attacks — verbal communication (Discord/voice chat) is almost required
• Warrior holds aggro while Rangers and Mages DPS from safety
• Create a backup of your world before attempting bosses for the first time

Server Settings for Multiplayer

Customize your server settings for your group's playstyle:

Casual Groups

Reduce difficulty to focus on exploration and building:

enemyDamageMultiplier: 0.5
resourceDropMultiplier: 2.0
deathPenalty: "light"

Hardcore Groups

Increase challenge for experienced players:

enemyDamageMultiplier: 2.0
resourceDropMultiplier: 0.5
deathPenalty: "hard"

Building-Focused Groups

Maximize creativity:

resourceDropMultiplier: 3.0
miningDamageMultiplier: 2.0
deathPenalty: "none"

Troubleshooting Multiplayer Issues

"Server not found" in browser

• Wait 2-3 minutes after server startup
• Try direct IP connection instead
• Verify the server is running in the control panel

Lag or rubber-banding

• Check if the server has enough RAM (16 GB recommended for 6+ players)
• Reduce the number of active bases/Flame Altars
• Schedule server restarts every 6-12 hours

Player can't connect

• Verify game versions match (both client and server need the same version)
• Check server isn't full (max player setting)
• Ensure password is entered correctly

Desync issues

• Save and restart the server
• Players should disconnect and reconnect
• If persistent, restore from a recent backup

Ready to play? Enshrouded servers are free for 3 days — no credit card, up to 16 players.