The first night in a survival game: a squad checklist
Five things to agree on before your crew drops into Valheim, Don't Starve Together or Project Zomboid.
1Pick a host
Decide who hosts the world and when they will be online. Persistent worlds depend on it.
2Agree on difficulty
Many survival games let you adjust settings such as resources and enemy strength. A softer first world keeps new players in the game.
3Stay close at first
Most first-night deaths happen when the crew spreads out. Build a small shared camp before anyone wanders off.
4Share the jobs
One gathers wood, one finds food, one builds. You will survive longer and learn more.
5Write down the rules
Who owns which chest? Can people play when others are offline? Agree early to avoid arguments later.
By the Squad Play Review editorial desk · Editorial policy