7 Days to Die Multiplayer Guide — Co-op and Server Play

Multiplayer Options

Local Co-op (LAN)

• Host a game from the main menu
• Friends on the same network join
• Free, instant, no setup

Online Co-op (Invite Friends)

• Host via Steam → Invite friends to your game
• Handles up to 8 players
• Your PC acts as the server (must stay on)

Dedicated Server

• Run 7 Days server software on a PC or VPS
• Always online
• Best for large communities

Starting Co-op

1. Main Menu → Play → New Game
2. Set up your world settings
3. In-game: ESC → Invite Friends
4. Friends join through Steam overlay

Co-op Mechanics

Shared World

All players exist in the same world. The 7-day horde hits all players simultaneously. All players contribute to the same base.

Blood Moon Scaling

Zombie count during horde scales with number of players. More players = bigger horde.

2 players: ~1.5× horde size
4 players: ~2.5× horde size

Loot Stage Sharing

Players in the same area share loot stage calculation. Higher average game stage = better loot.

Role Division for Teams

Role	Responsibilities
Builder	Base construction and upgrades
Looter	Resource gathering and supply runs
Fighter	Horde defense, clearing POIs
Farmer/Crafter	Food production, crafting supply chain

PvP Servers

Public servers with PvP enabled allow player conflict. Most survival servers are PvE only.

Server Settings

Configure before starting:

• Day Length: 60 min (default) = 1 in-game day per hour
• Zombie Count: Normal/High/Insane
• Loot Abundance: 25%/50%/100%/200%
• Air Drops: On/Off
• Enemy Spawning: Easy/Normal/Hard

Tips for Groups

• Build defensive positions for each player's preferred fight style
• Don't all go the same place: Split up for resources, meet back for horde
• Communicate horde timing — everybody must be at base by Day 7 sunset

Related Guides

• Blood Moon Guide
• Base Building Guide
• Beginner Guide