The sun dipped below the blocky horizon, casting long shadows across the digital plains. A lone player, separated from their party, frantically typed into the chat, “Where are you guys?!” Suddenly, a creeper rounded the corner. Playing Hytale solo can be fun, but adventuring with friends? That’s where the real magic happens.
Like Minecraft and other games where crafting and survival are key, Hytale shines brightest when you’re building, exploring, and battling alongside your buddies. Grouping up isn’t always straightforward, though. Here’s how to link up with your comrades and conquer the world of Hytale together.
Here’s how to connect with friends to start your Hytale adventures together.
How to play Hytale with friends
Remember the joy of building a pillow fort as a kid? Hytale lets you recreate that joy in a digital world, but this time, you can defend your fort from hordes of monsters with your friends. There are a few ways to team up in Hytale: inviting friends to your game, joining theirs, or hopping onto a dedicated server. Let’s break down each method.
How to host a game in Hytale
Want to be the architect of your group’s adventures? Hosting a game is simple:
- Load into a single-player world you’ve created.
- Press ESC to open the pause menu.
- Click “Online Play.”
- Toggle “Allow Other Players to Join” to ON.
- You can optionally set a password for your game.
- You can toggle “Include Password in Share Code” to embed the password in the code so your friend doesn’t have to enter it manually.
- You can optionally set a password for your game.
- Click Save.
- After saving, Hytale syncs up a UPnP negotiation with your router. Once complete:
- A share code appears in the text field.
- Connection status shows below (e.g., “Connected via UPnP”).
- NAT Type displays your network configuration.
- Click “Copy to Clipboard” and send the code to friends you trust.
Important safety tip: The generated code reveals your IP address. Share it only with people you know and trust.
How to join a friend’s game in Hytale
Sometimes, you just want to jump into someone else’s world and cause some delightful chaos. Joining a friend’s game is straightforward:
- From the main menu, select “Servers.”
- Click “Join via Code.”
- Paste the share code sent by your friend.
- Enter the password if required (and not already embedded).
- Click “Connect.”
How to play dedicated servers in Hytale
Imagine a Hytale world that exists even when you and your friends aren’t actively playing. That’s the power of dedicated servers. Hytale allows for dedicated server hosting. These servers, often rented from third-party sites, let your online world live on. Hypixel has “launch verified” several providers, guaranteeing persistence for your creations:
How to host your own dedicated server in Hytale
Want complete control? Hosting your own dedicated server is an option. You’re the conductor, setting the rules and fine-tuning the experience. The developers offer a Server Manual for setup instructions here. This includes specific requirements and instructions on how to get it up and running.
Keep in mind that Hytale is still in early access, so expect a few bumps along the road. The initial release in January 2026 is expected to have bugs and glitches.
For server-related headaches, keep an eye on official Hytale channels. The Hypixel Studios Twitter/X account is your direct line to the developers, providing real-time updates. Also, the official Hytale Discord server is a good place to check for news.
Is the future of multiplayer gaming about massive servers, or tight-knit groups forging their own legends?