- Trollheim: Gnomes multiplayer supports solo play and online co-op with up to 8 players on Steam.
- Shared base building is the core of co-op: agree on one central shelter before exploring.
- Role division — gathering, building, scouting, cooking — keeps a team efficient in the Dark Forest.
- Group exploration is safer: travel together through unknown biomes and keep a return route.
- Trolls are neighbors, not just enemies — coordinate encounters instead of attacking on sight.
Multiplayer Overview: How Co-Op Works
Trollheim: Gnomes is built as a cooperative survival crafting adventure set in a Nordic-inspired Dark Forest. According to the Steam store page, the game supports single-player and online co-op for up to eight players, with the development team planning an Early Access period of roughly 12–18 months to iterate alongside the community.
In co-op, everything the Dark Forest offers — gathering, crafting, treehouse building, and encounters with Väsen like trolls and faeries — can be approached as a shared experience. The game was officially announced during IGN Fall Fan Fest 2026, and its multiplayer design emphasizes cooperation over competitive survival.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Co-op size | Up to 8 players |
| Modes | Single-player, online co-op |
| Platform | PC via Steam |
| Status | Coming Soon / Early Access planned |
| Core loop | Gather, craft, build, explore, survive |
| Setting | Nordic Dark Forest with folklore Väsen |
Trollheim: Gnomes is still pre-release. Multiplayer details, player limits, and co-op systems may change during Early Access. Always verify current details on the official Steam community hub.
Team Setup: Starting a Co-op Session
A strong multiplayer opening in Trollheim: Gnomes is about alignment, not speed. Groups that scatter into the forest without a plan waste time and duplicate effort.
Shared Starting Plan
- Agree on a temporary base location
- Choose a short exploration route
- List the first materials the group needs
Communication First
- Call out resource finds
- Confirm return times to base
- Discuss encounters before acting
- Keep decisions collective
One Home Base
- Build one central shelter
- Shared storage for the team
- Common planning point
- Expand together, not apart
Before your first session, decide in advance who handles the initial shelter, who gathers, and who scouts. Even a loose plan beats improvising when night falls in the Dark Forest.
Step-by-Step: Your First Co-op Session
Follow this sequence during your opening hours as a group of Sprýg Gnomes.
Establish an Initial Foothold
Pick a defensible, easy-to-reach location near accessible resources. Build a basic shelter and a shared storage area so the group has a safe return point after every trip.
Gather Nearby Resources
Collect common materials such as twigs and blueberries close to the starting area. Build a repeatable gathering route so teammates can restock without unnecessary risk.
Explore in Short, Planned Trips
Expand outward gradually. Treat new biomes as scouting destinations first — keep familiar paths, mark landmarks, and never overextend past a reliable route home.
Divide Roles and Improve the Base
Assign responsibilities — builder, gatherer, cook, scout — and rotate as needs change. Upgrade the shelter's crafting and storage functions first so expeditions run smoother.
Approach the Väsen Together
When the group meets trolls or other forest beings, coordinate the response. Observe behavior before acting; many encounters allow coexistence rather than combat.
A successful first session ends with an upgraded shared base, organized storage, a mapped nearby route, and zero unnecessary creature confrontations.
Role Division and Resource Management
Clear roles are the biggest efficiency multiplier in multiplayer survival. Use this reference table to distribute responsibilities across team sizes.
| Role | Core Tasks | Best For | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builder | Shelter, treehouse, storage, bridges | Players who enjoy layout planning | ★★★★★ |
| Gatherer | Twigs, wood, berries, minerals | Players who like repeatable routes | ★★★★★ |
| Scout | Mapping routes, spotting Väsen | Careful, observant players | ★★★★ |
| Cook | Food prep, ingredient stock | Detail-oriented players | ★★★★ |
| Quartermaster | Storage organization, supply runs | Organized communicators | ★★★ |
Roles should rotate as the group's needs change. Early sessions favor gathering and building; later sessions shift weight toward exploration and cooking to support longer expeditions.
Key resource principles for groups:
- Separate building supplies from survival stock so constructors never starve the cooks.
- Return to shelter regularly instead of carrying everything deep into the forest.
- Store shared resources centrally — a common base prevents duplicated work and lost materials.
Group Exploration and Väsen Encounters
The Dark Forest is best treated as a living environment, not a combat arena. The developers have described trolls as part of the world's community — "neighbors" rather than simple enemies, as highlighted in PC Gamer's coverage.
| Encounter Type | Group Approach | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Trolls and giant beings | Observe territory signals, keep distance, avoid provoking | High |
| Faeries and sirens | Approach cautiously, watch for behavioral cues | Situational |
| Neutral forest residents | Observe before acting, allow non-combat interaction | Low |
| Environmental hazards | Travel as a group, maintain retreat paths | Variable |
Never assume a large creature is a standard enemy. In co-op, one impulsive teammate can turn a peaceful encounter into a group wipe. Agree on an "observe first" rule before every expedition.
Use the gnome's small scale to your advantage: read changes in visibility, sound, and vegetation as information before committing to a path, and let scouts lead while carriers hold resources.
Co-op Checklist and FAQ
Co-op Session Checklist:
- Agree on a shared base location before exploring
- Assign and communicate team roles
- Build shared storage at the central shelter
- Map a repeatable gathering route nearby
- Establish an observe-first rule for Väsen encounters
Q: How many players can join Trollheim: Gnomes multiplayer?
The Steam page lists support for single-player and online co-op with up to 8 players. Exact session details may evolve during Early Access, so check the official Steam community hub for the latest information.
Q: Is Trollheim: Gnomes co-op or PvP?
Trollheim: Gnomes is designed as a cooperative PvE survival experience. Players gather, craft, build, and explore together in the Dark Forest rather than fighting each other.
Q: Should our group build separate bases or one shared base?
One shared home base is strongly recommended. A central shelter gives the team common storage, a planning point for expeditions, and prevents duplicated construction effort across the map.
Q: Do we have to fight trolls in multiplayer?
Not necessarily. The developers present trolls as neighbors within the forest's folklore-inspired world. Groups should observe behavior first and treat encounters as potentially non-hostile rather than defaulting to combat.