Book it if
You want a laid-back survival game that a big group can learn in minutes and finish together.
Skip it if
You want high replay value or real tension in combat.
Trip sheet
- Crew size
- 1–8 players
- Online
- Yes
- Crossplay
- No
- Split-screen
- No
- Solo
- Playable solo, but grindy early on
- Voice chat
- Optional
- Danger
- Steady
1The pitch
You begin on a handful of planks in open water with a plastic hook, catching driftwood, plastic, and leaves to expand your raft. A shark keeps biting at the edges, so repairs are a constant chore. Over time you build sails, engines, farms, and multi-storey homes, then follow radio signals to story locations.
2Playing together
Online co-op supports up to 8 players on one raft, according to official sources. There is no split-screen and no crossplay, since Raft is a PC game. Everyone shares the raft, so progress feels communal from the first minute.
3Roles in the squad
Early on, everyone hooks debris; later, one player cooks and farms, another builds, and others dive for resources and explore islands. The shark gives one person a reason to stand guard. The roles are informal and swap easily.
4Look & sound
Bright, simple visuals keep the ocean cheerful rather than bleak. Story locations add some variety in setting. The soundtrack is light and stays in the background.
5Setup & value
It costs $19.99 on Steam for Windows, and each player buys their own copy. Steam lists it as Playable on Deck, mostly because text input needs the on-screen keyboard. The story campaign gives a clear end point, roughly a few dozen hours for most groups.
Best bits
- Up to 8 players on one raft
- Easy to learn
- Clear story with an ending
- Low price
Watch out
- Early hours are repetitive
- Little reason to replay after the story
Score sheet
- Teamwork 25%
- 78
- Fun as a squad 25%
- 84
- Easy to join 15%
- 88
- Replay 20%
- 74
- Value 15%
- 86
78 × 25% + 84 × 25% + 88 × 15% + 74 × 20% + 86 × 15% = 81.40 → 81
Trip report verdict
Verdict
“Raft is a friendly, easy pick for groups up to eight, with a clear story arc that gives sessions purpose. Once the ending is reached there is less to return to, which keeps it near the bottom of this list.”
By the Squad Play Review editorial desk · Updated 6 Oct 2026 · How we score · Report an error
