Book it if
You want a demanding survival game where planning ahead as a group is the only way to see spring.
Skip it if
You want something your least patient friend can enjoy without reading a wiki.
Trip sheet
- Crew size
- 1–6 players
- Online
- Yes
- Crossplay
- No
- Split-screen
- No
- Solo
- Playable solo, but punishing
- Voice chat
- Helpful
- Danger
- Dangerous
1The pitch
Dropped into a strange, hand-drawn wilderness, you gather food, build a camp, and prepare for the seasons. Darkness, hunger, sanity, and seasonal bosses all threaten the group. Klei has supported it with free updates for years.
2Playing together
Servers default to a maximum of 6 players; dedicated servers and mods can raise that, though 6 is the intended experience. It supports online and LAN play on Windows, macOS, and Linux, but there is no split-screen and no crossplay with console versions. Dead players become ghosts and need a teammate to revive them.
3Roles in the squad
Each character has a distinct perk: Wilson grows a beard for warmth, Wigfrid fights and eats only meat, Wickerbottom crafts books, and Warly cooks better meals. A balanced group splits gathering, cooking, base building, and fighting. Picking characters that cover each other is part of the strategy.
4Look & sound
The art looks like a dark storybook drawn in ink, and it still holds up well. The music shifts with the seasons and the danger. Characters speak in instrument sounds rather than voices, which adds charm.
5Setup & value
It costs $14.99 on Steam, and every player needs their own copy. Steam lists it as Verified on Steam Deck. Optional character skins are sold, but all characters and content updates are free to play.
Best bits
- Deep, long-term survival
- Characters with real gameplay differences
- Low price
- Verified on Steam Deck
Watch out
- Harsh for new players
- Little in-game explanation
- Default cap of 6 players
Score sheet
- Teamwork 25%
- 86
- Fun as a squad 25%
- 84
- Easy to join 15%
- 72
- Replay 20%
- 92
- Value 15%
- 94
86 × 25% + 84 × 25% + 72 × 15% + 92 × 20% + 94 × 15% = 85.80 → 86
Trip report verdict
Verdict
“Don't Starve Together gives groups years of depth for a low price, with character abilities that make teamwork matter. It is harsh and poorly explained for newcomers, so it suits groups who enjoy learning from failure.”
By the Squad Play Review editorial desk · Updated 6 Oct 2026 · How we score · Report an error
