GRAIN ROT · Multiplayer

Lobby types and how to invite friends

How do GRAIN ROT lobbies and Steam invites work?

Quick answer

GRAIN ROT officially supports Windows online co-op. A dated August 12 community announcement reports four lobby choices—Public, Friends Only, Invite Only, and Private—and two invite routes: Steam invites for friends and the desk envelope for Invite Only. The hard player cap is not established here; an older FAQ's “best around four” wording is a recommendation, not a maximum.

Applicable versionSteam release available 2026-08-19; lobby report dated 2026-08-12
Applicable platformWindows / Steam
Updated2026-08-19

What we know

  • The official Steam listing marks the game as Windows online co-op.
  • The August 12 public-lobbies post reports Public, Friends Only, Invite Only, and Private modes.
  • The launch FAQ and later lobby post both describe Steam-based invites; the later post supersedes the FAQ's older no-public-matchmaking statement.

Before you start

  • The host and each joining player need access to the Steam release
  • Steam friends must be online for the Steam-friends invite route
  • The host must choose a lobby visibility mode that permits joining

What to do

  1. 01

    Choose Public if you want anyone to be able to find and join the lobby, according to the August 12 announcement.

  2. 02

    Choose Friends Only to limit joining to Steam friends, then use the normal Steam invite flow.

  3. 03

    Choose Invite Only and interact with an envelope on the lobby desk; the post reports an “Invite friends” prompt.

  4. 04

    Do not use Private when inviting: the same announcement says Private rejects joins and disables invites.

How to know it worked

  • The invited player appears in the same lobby before the run starts.
  • The chosen visibility mode matches who can enter the lobby.

If it does not work

  • Private mode blocks both joining and invitations according to the current report.
  • An expired Steam invite, offline friend state, host closure, or a later game update may change the flow.
  • A recommended party size is not a hard capacity; this page intentionally does not promise one.