If you’ve spent hours digging through caves for iron ore or fending off shrouded creatures solo, you’ve probably wondered if you can jump into a world with random players instead of only your close friends. The first question most new co-op players ask is does enshrouded have public servers, and the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think for this open-world survival crafting game. I’ve spent over 80 hours testing both private and shared Enshrouded worlds, so I’m breaking down exactly what server options exist, how to access them, and which setup fits your playstyle best.
Does Enshrouded Have Public Servers? Breaking Down Official and Player-Hosted Options
There are no official developer-run public servers for Enshrouded as of the latest patch, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play with random players from around the world. Player-hosted Enshrouded public servers have become extremely popular since the game’s full launch, with thousands of active lobbies available at any given time through the in-game browser. These servers are run by regular players, not Keen Games, so rules, uptime, and settings vary widely from one lobby to the next.
Third-party server hosting platforms also offer pre-configured Enshrouded server slots that players can set to public, allowing anyone to join even when the original host is offline. These 24/7 public servers are most common in dedicated Enshrouded communities, and many have custom rules, mod support, and active moderation to prevent griefing. You won’t find these listed in the default in-game browser most of the time, but they’re easy to find through official community spaces.
How to Join Public Enshrouded Servers Step by Step
Joining a public Enshrouded lobby takes less than a minute if you know where to look. First, launch the game and navigate to the multiplayer tab from the main menu. Select “Browse Lobbies” then toggle the “Public” filter on the top of the screen to hide private, friend-only worlds. You can sort results by ping, player count, difficulty, and PvP status to narrow down options that fit your preferences.
Always check the lobby description before joining because many public hosts have specific rules that will impact your play experience. If you don’t find a lobby you like in the in-game browser, you can also find links to 24/7 dedicated public servers on the official Enshrouded Discord or subreddit, where hosts share direct join codes for their worlds.
You don’t need to own a paid DLC or special edition of the game to join public servers, all multiplayer features are available for all base game owners. Just make sure your game is updated to the latest patch, because outdated versions won’t be able to connect to most public lobbies.
Pros and Cons of Playing on Enshrouded Public Servers
Public servers are a great fit for casual players who want to jump into the game without coordinating schedules with friends, but they’re not perfect for every playstyle. The biggest upside is that you can meet new players who share your interests, whether you want to team up to take down the Wraith of the Blight, build massive communal castles, or just mess around with silly base designs. You also don’t have to worry about using your own PC’s resources to host, which is a big plus if you have a lower-end setup.
The biggest downside of public servers is the risk of running into toxic players or untrustworthy hosts. Griefing, resource stealing, and random PvP attacks are fairly common on unmoderated lobbies, even if the host says the server is PvE only. Many player-hosted public lobbies also shut down as soon as the host logs off, so you might lose access to a world you spent hours building in if the host decides to stop playing for the day.
If you plan to build long-term projects on a public server, always ask the host about their planned run time and backup policies first. A lot of regular hosts will share their schedule in the lobby description or Discord server, so you’ll know if the world is going to stay online for weeks or just a single afternoon.
Should You Use a Public Server or Host Your Own Private Enshrouded World?
The right server setup for you depends entirely on how you like to play the game. If you’re a casual player who only logs on for an hour or two a week, and most of your friends don’t play Enshrouded, public servers are a great low-effort option. You can jump between different lobbies, try out different playstyles, and don’t have to commit to any single world.
If you’re playing with a consistent group of friends and want to work through the full story campaign, build a permanent base, or test custom mod setups, a private server is almost always the better choice. You’ll have full control over the rules, can set the world to only allow invited players, and don’t have to worry about random people interrupting your play sessions.
If you want a public-style world that stays online 24/7 without relying on a random host, you can pay for a third-party hosted server that you can set to public or private whenever you want. These plans usually cost between $5 and $15 a month depending on how many player slots you need, and most come with automatic backups, mod support, and built-in moderation tools to keep griefers out. I use a paid third-party server for my main 8-player friend group, and we occasionally set it to public on weekends when we want to invite new players to join our building projects.
At the end of the day, the answer to does enshrouded have public servers is yes, just not the official developer-run ones many players expect. Public player-hosted lobbies are easy to join, offer tons of variety for casual play, and are a great way to get more out of the game when you don’t have friends online. Just make sure to check server rules before joining, and back up any important builds if you plan to spend a lot of time on a public host’s world. Whether you pick public or private, Enshrouded’s multiplayer is easily one of the best parts of the game, so don’t be afraid to test a few different servers to find the right fit for you.