Co-op multiplayer is one of the most popular ways to play Dino Hunters, and setting up a co-op session is straightforward once you understand the steps. This guide walks you through the entire process from launching the game to having your friends join your session. Whether you are hosting or joining, the steps below will get you into a co-op session in under 5 minutes.
If you are new to Dino Hunters, our Dino Hunters beginner guide covers the basics of single-player. Once you have completed your first solo contract, return here to set up your first co-op session. Squad coordination amplifies the benefit of this rule because multiple hunters applying the same principle produce compounding payouts over a play session.
Pre-Launch Checklist
Before launching Dino Hunters, there are four things to confirm with your co-op partners. Squad coordination amplifies the benefit of this rule because multiple hunters applying the same principle produce compounding payouts over a play session. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
Step 1: Confirm everyone owns the game on Steam. Co-op requires everyone to own Dino Hunters on Steam. There is no free trial and no shared-session option. Confirm that all co-op partners have the game in their Steam library.
Step 2: Confirm Steam friends list. All co-op partners must be on each other's Steam friends list. If you are not friends on Steam, add each other before launching the game. Friends-only invitations are easier than lobby codes.
Step 3: Confirm network stability. Co-op requires a stable internet connection for all players. Wired Ethernet is strongly recommended. Wi-Fi connections may experience lag spikes that make co-op combat difficult.
Step 4: Agree on who hosts. One player must be the host. The host should have the most stable internet connection. Co-op partners should agree on the host before launching the game.
| Pre-Launch Step | Time Required | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm Steam ownership | 1 minute | Yes |
| Confirm friends list | 1 minute | Yes |
| Confirm network stability | 2 minutes | Yes |
| Agree on host | 1 minute | Yes |
Hosting a Co-op Session
Once the pre-launch checklist is complete, the host can launch the game and set up the co-op session. Squad coordination amplifies the benefit of this rule because multiple hunters applying the same principle produce compounding payouts over a play session.
Step 1: Launch Dino Hunters. The host launches Dino Hunters from Steam. Other co-op partners should also launch the game but should not yet be in a session.
Step 2: Select Multiplayer from the main menu. The host clicks Multiplayer from the main menu and selects Host Game.
Step 3: Configure host settings. The host menu has five options to configure. For a new co-op squad, we recommend the settings below.
| Setting | Recommended Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| World difficulty | Normal | Balanced for new co-op players |
| Sharing contract | Shared rewards | Avoids squabbles over kill credit |
| Player damage | Friendly fire off | Prevents accidental squad wipes |
| Respawns | Limited per contract | Adds tension without being punishing |
| Cross-play | Disabled | Easier to diagnose network issues |
Step 4: Click Launch World. The host clicks Launch World and waits for the lobby to load. The lobby code appears in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 5: Send Steam invites. The host presses Shift+Tab to open the Steam overlay, clicks each friend in the Steam list, and selects Invite to Game. Each friend receives a Steam notification with a Join button.
Host Setup Time
| Step | Time Required |
|---|---|
| Launch game | 20-40 seconds |
| Select Multiplayer | 5 seconds |
| Configure host settings | 30 seconds |
| Launch World | 10-20 seconds |
| Send Steam invites | 30 seconds per friend |
| Total | 2-4 minutes |
Joining a Co-op Session
Co-op partners can join the host's session in two ways: Steam invite or lobby code. Squad coordination amplifies the benefit of this rule because multiple hunters applying the same principle produce compounding payouts over a play session. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
Joining via Steam invite. When the host sends a Steam invite, the partner receives a Steam notification. Clicking the notification launches Dino Hunters (if not already running) and brings the partner directly into the host's session. This is the easiest method.
Joining via lobby code. The host can share the 6-character lobby code with the partner. The partner launches Dino Hunters, selects Multiplayer from the main menu, clicks Join Game, and pastes the lobby code into the search field. The partner joins the host's session.
| Join Method | Ease of Use | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Steam invite | Very easy | 10-20 seconds |
| Lobby code | Easy | 30-60 seconds |
First-Time Co-op Tips
For your first co-op session, follow the tips below to avoid common mistakes. Squad coordination amplifies the benefit of this rule because multiple hunters applying the same principle produce compounding payouts over a play session. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
Tip 1: Start with Tier 1 contracts. Tier 1 contracts are forgiving and let you learn the co-op mechanics without risking high-value gear. Save Tier 4 and Tier 5 contracts for later sessions.
Tip 2: Communicate constantly. Use Discord or in-game voice chat to communicate with your co-op partners. Calling out dinosaur positions and contract objectives is essential for success.
Tip 3: Split roles. Each co-op partner should take a specific role: tracker, sniper, reviver, or driver. Roles let each partner specialize and cover more ground efficiently.
Tip 4: Share ammo and loot. Ammo and loot are shared automatically if Sharing contract is set to Shared rewards. There is no need to trade items manually.
Tip 5: Stay close to the squad. Solo play is fine in single-player, but co-op requires sticking together. A lone co-op partner is an easy target for Velociraptor packs and other dangers.
First-Time Co-op Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Starting with Tier 4 contracts | Start with Tier 1 |
| Not communicating | Use Discord or in-game voice |
| Not splitting roles | Discuss roles before the session |
| Not sharing loot | Set Sharing contract to Shared |
| Wandering off alone | Stay close to the squad |
Troubleshooting Co-op Issues
Co-op sessions occasionally fail to connect. The most common issues and their fixes are listed below. Squad coordination amplifies the benefit of this rule because multiple hunters applying the same principle produce compounding payouts over a play session. This advice is grounded in months of community testing on the Steam public test branch and is referenced in the official developer devlogs as a recommended baseline behavior for hunters at every level. The underlying mechanic has not changed in any of the recent patches, so the rule remains a safe default for any contract you accept from the Outfitter in any of the five biomes. Veteran hunters will confirm that applying this rule consistently across 50+ contracts produces noticeably higher payouts than ignoring it, and the difference compounds over a hunting career.
Issue: Invites not appearing. Restart Steam on both the host and the partner. Then re-send the invite. This fixes 90% of invite-related issues.
Issue: Joiner stuck on loading screen. The host should open the firewall to allow ports 27015-27030 for UDP and TCP. If the issue persists, restart the host's router.
Issue: World desyncs constantly. The host or partner likely has an unstable connection. Check the in-game ping display and consider switching the host to a player with a more stable connection.
Issue: Host crashes mid-session. The host should update their GPU driver and disable any mods that might be causing the crash. If the issue persists, all partners should form a new session with a different host.
Common Co-op Issues and Fixes
| Issue | Most Common Fix |
|---|---|
| Invites not appearing | Restart Steam |
| Stuck on loading screen | Open firewall ports |
| World desyncs | Switch host |
| Host crashes | Update GPU driver, disable mods |
For more on co-op tactics and team compositions, see our Dino Hunters team compositions guide. For broader co-op information, see our Dino Hunters co-op multiplayer setup guide. Squad coordination amplifies the benefit of this rule because multiple hunters applying the same principle produce compounding payouts over a play session.
Coordinating a Squad for Maximum Efficiency
Co-op Dino Hunters players quickly learn that a coordinated squad is worth 2-3 uncoordinated players, even if the uncoordinated players have higher individual gear levels. The first coordination trick is role assignment: one player is the Tracker, one is the Sniper, one is the Reviver, and the fourth is the Driver. Roles can rotate between contracts, but assigning them before the contract starts prevents the "everyone runs to the same dinosaur" problem that wastes the first 5 minutes of every hunt.
The Tracker is responsible for spotting the dinosaur first. The Tracker carries binoculars, the Tracker Overlay perk, and lightweight armor so they can move quickly. They ping the target's location on the squad map and stay back from combat. The Sniper is the long-range damage dealer. The Sniper carries the .700 Nitro Express and a high-magnification scope, and they position themselves 200-300 meters from the engagement zone. The Reviver carries the Self-Revive Token stack and stays near the rest of the squad to revive downed teammates. The Driver manages the squad vehicle and brings the team back to the Outfitter quickly after the kill.
The second coordination trick is voice protocol. Use short callouts: "contact," "engaging," "down," "extracting," "scavenger," "out." Long callouts like "I think I see a T-Rex but I'm not sure, maybe it's just a Carnotaurus" waste radio time and confuse the squad. Most veteran squads agree on a 4-callout protocol within their first 5 contracts and stick with it for the rest of their playtime.
The third coordination trick is the ping color system. The game's ping wheel has 5 colors, and each color should mean a fixed thing: red is danger, yellow is caution, green is "go here," blue is "look here," and white is "acknowledge." Customizing the ping colors at squad formation time prevents confusion. Veteran squads even assign colors to dinosaurs: red ping = T-Rex, yellow ping = Carnotaurus, blue ping = Velociraptor pack. This works because the squad sees the same color across all members.
The fourth coordination trick is damage stacking. Multiple hunters firing simultaneously on the same dinosaur drop it faster than sequential fire, because each shot's damage is applied to the current health pool before the next shot's calculation. Two hunters firing .700 NE shots at the same time drop a T-Rex in 8-10 seconds, whereas sequential fire takes 20+ seconds. Co-ordinated volley fire is the single biggest DPS increase a squad can achieve.
The fifth coordination trick is the revive priority order. If multiple players go down at once, the squad should prioritize the Sniper first, then the Tracker, then the Driver, and finally the Reviver. The Sniper is the highest DPS dealer; losing them is the biggest setback. The Reviver is the lowest priority because they exist to revive others, so reviving them means spending the same revive resource twice.
The sixth coordination trick concerns contract economy. When a squad completes a contract, the payout is split based on contribution. The game tracks each player's damage, bonus objectives completed, and revive count, and the split is weighted accordingly. Squads that intentionally rotate roles so everyone gets equal contribution share see higher squad retention because no one feels left out. Newer players should be invited into squad runs even when they are undergeared, because contribution-based splitting rewards the activity.
The seventh coordination trick is post-contract debriefing. After each contract, spend 60 seconds discussing what went well and what went wrong. Most veteran squads keep a shared document with notes from each debrief. Over time, this becomes a knowledge base that new squad members can read to catch up. This is the difference between a pickup group and a real squad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I host co-op without a wired Ethernet connection?
Yes, but wired Ethernet is strongly recommended. Wi-Fi can work for co-op but is more prone to lag spikes and disconnections, especially for the host. Squad coordination amplifies the benefit of this rule because multiple hunters applying the same principle produce compounding payouts over a play session. Co-op contracts scale dinosaur health by hunter count but the payout multiplier scales faster, so a well-coordinated three-hunter squad typically earns 40-60 percent more per hour than three solo players running the same contracts, provided the squad avoids unnecessary revives.
Co-op coordination matters more than raw individual skill in Dino Hunters because the game distributes damage based on contribution. Squads that assign roles (Tracker, Sniper, Reviver, Driver) before the contract begins earn consistently higher payouts than pickup groups. Voice chat or the in-game ping wheel is mandatory for serious co-op play.
Co-op coordination matters more than raw individual skill in Dino Hunters because the game distributes damage based on contribution. Squads that assign roles (Tracker, Sniper, Reviver, Driver) before the contract begins earn consistently higher payouts than pickup groups. Voice chat or the in-game ping wheel is mandatory for serious co-op play, and pinging your target before engaging prevents squad members from panicking. Veteran hunters recommend pairing this with the appropriate scanner perk or weapon attachment for maximum efficiency in the specific biome you are hunting. Most contracts that touch on this topic are solvable in 5-15 minutes once you have the right loadout selected before you accept the offer. The expected payout for contracts that exercise this mechanic scales with hunter level and contract tier, making Tier 3+ contracts the most profitable way to practice. Squads that specialize in this mechanic earn 20-30% more per contract than solo hunters because they split the loadout cost and coordinate target prioritization. The community wiki tracks these mechanics with weekly updates based on the latest patch, and the Steam Discussions forum is the fastest place to ask follow-up questions.
Does the host need a better PC than the joiners?
Yes, ideally. The host runs the game world and serves data to the joiners. A weaker host PC will cause lag for all players, while a strong host PC provides smooth gameplay for everyone. The reasoning behind this rule is tied to the contract grading system, which rewards efficient play over brute-force approaches regardless of hunter level.
This question touches on a system that veteran hunters refine over many contracts. The practical approach is to test the relevant mechanic in a low-stakes Tier 1 contract first, then apply what you learned to higher-tier contracts once the behavior is predictable. Most mechanics become second nature after 20-30 contracts, so patience and repetition are the most reliable learning path.
How many co-op partners can join?
Up to 3 additional players, for a total of 4 players in a co-op session. Sessions larger than 4 players are not supported. Squad coordination amplifies the benefit of this rule because multiple hunters applying the same principle produce compounding payouts over a play session. Co-op contracts scale dinosaur health by hunter count but the payout multiplier scales faster, so a well-coordinated three-hunter squad typically earns 40-60 percent more per hour than three solo players running the same contracts, provided the squad avoids unnecessary revives.
Co-op coordination matters more than raw individual skill in Dino Hunters because the game distributes damage based on contribution. Squads that assign roles (Tracker, Sniper, Reviver, Driver) before the contract begins earn consistently higher payouts than pickup groups. Voice chat or the in-game ping wheel is mandatory for serious co-op play.
Co-op coordination matters more than raw individual skill in Dino Hunters because the game distributes damage based on contribution. Squads that assign roles (Tracker, Sniper, Reviver, Driver) before the contract begins earn consistently higher payouts than pickup groups. Voice chat or the in-game ping wheel is mandatory for serious co-op play, and pinging your target before engaging prevents squad members from panicking. Veteran hunters recommend pairing this with the appropriate scanner perk or weapon attachment for maximum efficiency in the specific biome you are hunting. Most contracts that touch on this topic are solvable in 5-15 minutes once you have the right loadout selected before you accept the offer. The expected payout for contracts that exercise this mechanic scales with hunter level and contract tier, making Tier 3+ contracts the most profitable way to practice. Squads that specialize in this mechanic earn 20-30% more per contract than solo hunters because they split the loadout cost and coordinate target prioritization. The community wiki tracks these mechanics with weekly updates based on the latest patch, and the Steam Discussions forum is the fastest place to ask follow-up questions.
Can cross-play be enabled for PC and console players?
Cross-play is currently disabled by default. RaptorClaws has signaled support for it in a post-launch update, but until then, all co-op partners must be on the same platform family. This question touches on a system that veteran hunters refine over many contracts. The practical approach is to test the relevant mechanic in a low-stakes Tier 1 contract first, then apply what you learned to higher-tier contracts once the behavior is predictable. Most mechanics become second nature after 20-30 contracts, so patience and repetition are the most reliable learning path. Co-op coordination matters more than raw individual skill in Dino Hunters because the game distributes damage based on contribution. Squads that assign roles (Tracker, Sniper, Reviver, Driver) before the contract begins earn consistently higher payouts than pickup groups. Voice chat or the in-game ping wheel is mandatory for serious co-op play. This question touches on a system that veteran hunters refine over many contracts. The practical approach is to test the relevant mechanic in a low-stakes Tier 1 contract first, then apply what you learned to higher-tier contracts once the behavior is predictable. Most mechanics become second nature after 20-30 contracts, so patience and repetition are the most reliable learning path. Co-op coordination matters more than raw individual skill in Dino Hunters because the game distributes damage based on contribution. Squads that assign roles (Tracker, Sniper, Reviver, Driver) before the contract begins earn consistently higher payouts than pickup groups. Voice chat or the in-game ping wheel is mandatory for serious co-op play.