Your first expedition

Open a shared world with Host Multiplayer

From the main menu, choose Play, then Host Multiplayer to open a world for friends. Loading the world in solo does not create a co-op session. Characters belong to their world, so a solo character cannot carry over into a friend’s game. To resume together, the host opens the same world again.

Developer guidance checked October 14, 2026. Official co-op guide

Join after the host reaches the cabin

Guests can join once the host has reached the cabin. For a Steam invite, the joining player must first launch Permafrost and wait at its main menu. The developers also support joining through the in-game menu.

Developer guidance checked October 14, 2026. Developer known issues

Start with a short loop

Choose a nearby shelter as your return point before setting a distant objective. Open the map and enable places, resources, containers and cold zones. Place a personal pin on your destination, then add a note with what you need to collect. Keep the first trip small enough that returning is part of the plan.

Pack for a task

Use the item database to check what a tool does and the crafting calculator to total its ingredients. Add the things you intend to make together so intermediate batches can be shared. Enter materials already gathered; the shopping list then shows what remains. Save the list before leaving.

Keep an expedition record

Recordings, quests and achievements have separate checklists. Mark only what you have completed, and use private notes for unfinished tasks. Export a workspace backup when you finish a session so the plan can move to another browser.