Co-op with Up to Ten Players: How to Start Together on the Island
Ten people on one island sounds like chaos, and that is exactly the appeal. One lobby, the same map, and ten people who each think they know the fastest way to the village.
This guide covers the co-op side of Epstein Island Game: how the lobby opens, what the multiplayer package does and pointedly does not include, what you share with each other in the game, and where you will notice the whole thing is still a prototype.
One lobby, one island, up to ten people
The process is short to explain: open a lobby, invite friends, explore the island together. More than ten people will not fit. You get in through the same game page as solo play, and in the browser nobody needs a download to join.
In the current dev mode you first pick a username and build your character. That dev profile stays saved in whichever browser you created it in. If someone switches to a different computer, they set it up again from scratch there.
TipAnyone seeing the island for the first time will get lost. Send one person ahead who already knows the dock, and the rest of the group falls into place on their own.
What the 19.99 euro multiplayer package includes
The purchase page lists three packages, each a one-time purchase: Singleplayer for 39.99 euros with Story Mode, Multiplayer for 19.99 euros without Story Mode, and both together for 49.99 euros. The bundle saves 9.99 euros compared to buying them separately.
The multiplayer package describes the game in one sentence: an online co-op lobby for up to ten people. Story Mode is deliberately left out, you need the singleplayer package or the bundle for that. If you already own one of the two, you can add the missing piece later; the purchase page locks out exactly the package that would give you nothing new.
The license key arrives right after purchase, the invoice comes from Stripe, there is no subscription and nothing gets shipped. Everything about payment methods, guest checkout, and cancellation is covered in Packages and Prices.
Co-op with up to ten players: what you share
The most noticeable difference from solo play is how saving works. In co-op your save does not sit with you, it lives online with the Island server. Playing alone, it stays in your browser or on your device, and it is never synced across multiple devices.
The phone comes along for this too. Messages, quests, and marked locations are the same for everyone in co-op. If one person drops a pin on the lookout point, the others see it on their own map. That makes coordinating quick: marking a spot beats any spoken directions.
Then there are the voices. The island's characters speak live while you are out exploring, and you can respond with a key press or through your microphone. The browser asks for permission the first time. If you do not grant it, you just keep playing with the keyboard.
TipSet two separate goals at the start, say the dock and the island village. Ten people standing in one spot see far less of the island than two groups of five.
What is still a work in progress in co-op
Island grows every week, and it shows. Redeeming the license key in-game is still in development; until then your key sits in your account. The browser prototype itself runs without an account and without a license, so you can jump into a round right away.
Also expect an old save to stop working after an update. If you are planning one long shared campaign, plan for several short evenings instead.
The game does not support gamepads, only keyboard and mouse are tested. And the Unity build, the actual main project, has not been released yet. What you play today with nine friends is the browser prototype at version 0.12.0.
TipThe team does not give a date for a finished version. What is currently being built is listed with names and timestamps on the Current Work page.
Getting ready for your first evening with ten people
You do not need much, but a few minutes of prep save you the usual fumbling around in the first ten minutes.
- Everyone starts in the browser, no account and no install needed.
- Want the app instead: one file per system for Windows, macOS, and Linux, free to access without buying anything.
- Set up your username and character beforehand, the dev profile stays saved in the browser.
- Run through the controls together: W, A, S, D to move, mouse to look around, Shift to run, M for the map, P for the phone, T to talk, Esc for the menu.
- Grant microphone access if you want to answer the characters with your own voice.
When solo play is still worth it
Story Mode is tied to the singleplayer package, and it is the part of the game that gives you a direction: a new job, an island where something is off between the ordinary quests. What has been built of it so far is covered in Story Mode.
In co-op that thread disappears, but instead you get the island as an open space: the dock, the island village, the training grounds, Shelter Cave, the lookout point, and the rest of the locations on the phone map. Anyone who has walked the area alone beforehand leads the rest of the group much more calmly. The starting point for that is covered in Survive the First Night.
Frequently asked questions
How many people fit in a co-op lobby?
Up to ten people on the same island. That is what the game page and the multiplayer package description both state.
Is Story Mode included in the multiplayer package?
No. The multiplayer package at 19.99 euros gives you the co-op lobby but no Story Mode. That comes with the singleplayer package or the bundle at 49.99 euros.
Does every player need a license key?
The key unlocks multiplayer on your account. Redeeming it in-game is still in development, though, and the browser prototype currently runs without an account or license.
Where is the save stored in co-op?
Online with the Island server, not on your device. While the game is a prototype, an old save can stop working after an update.
Can we play co-op in the browser or do we need the app?
Both work. The browser version runs on desktop and mobile, and there are also files for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The app fetches its own updates on launch.