Co‑op in the No Rest for the Wicked update works on a shared Realm that saves progress for all four players, not just the host. Everyone keeps the same world state, vendor upgrades, and boss kills.

Since every action affects the whole group, teams need to coordinate and handle loot responsibly.

No Rest for the Wicked – Before You Start

Before you begin, there are a few things you need to know:

  • You need the Together version in Steam Early Access, as older builds won’t show multiplayer at all.
  • Co‑op runs through Steam friends invites, so make sure your group is connected there.
  • You can use your existing characters in Realms, so you don’t always have to start from scratch.

How Co-op Works

Co‑op is now more flexible and works as a persistent realm multiplayer system, letting everyone play at their own pace while still pushing the Realm forward together. To break it down clearly, the core system works like this:

  • A Realm is a persistent multiplayer world shared by the fellowship.
  • Progress can carry over for members, including cleared areas, upgrades, and world‑state changes.
  • It also supports asynchronous teamwork, where one player can farm materials later while another jumps in to push bosses when they’re ready.

Step-by-step: Creation a Realm

  • Open the Co‑op / Together menu.
  • Select „Create Realm”.
  • Choose your Realm options, such as difficulty and the prologue toggle.
  • Invite your friends through your Steam friends list.
  • Once they accept, they join your Realm (up to four players total).

Step‑by‑step: Join a friend’s Realm

  1. Accept the invite from the Steam notification.
  2. Pick your character and confirm that you want to enter the Realm.
  3. Check in with the group about loot rules and goals before you start moving ahead.

Managing Multiple Realms

It’s important to manage several Realms when you play with different groups or want separate difficulty setups. You can switch between them easily, and each one keeps its own progress. Here’s what this system allows you to do: 

  • Create or join multiple Realms for different friend groups or difficulty modes.
  • Keep each Realm’s world state separate (upgrades, resources, and quest progress don’t overlap).
  • Stay organized by naming Realms by purpose, like “Main Story,” “Farming,” or “Hardcore.”

Fairly Trading

Trading is what keeps first‑come loot fair, because it lets players hand items to whoever actually needs them. When you want to trade, you simply open the trading window with a teammate and confirm the swap together. These are basic steps: 

  • Start a trade with another party member.
  • Put in the items or currency exchange you want to offer.
  • Both players confirm to finish the exchange.

Want a quick tip? Many groups use basic loot rules first come, then rely on the trading system to redistribute upgrades fairly.

Best Team Composition

If you want quick setups that work well in most situations, these three templates are easy to follow and adapt:

  • Balanced 4‑player: Tank / DPS / Support / Utility‑Hybrid
  • Ranged‑safe: Tank / Ranged DPS / Ranged DPS / Support
  • High‑control: Tank / Trap‑Utility / DPS / Support

No matter which setup you choose, keep your stat priorities simple: focus on survivability and stamina early on, then commit to your weapon’s scaling once your role in the group is clear.

Smart Revives

Understanding the revive mechanics is crucial, because reviving always costs something: health, resources, or exposure. So clear nearby threats before you try it. A few simple habits make revives much safer:

  • Assign one tanky player as the main reviver.
  • Approach from cover or safe angles, not open ground.
  • In boss fights, wait for stagger windows or safe moments before committing.

Remember to treat revives as a tactical choice, not a reflex.

How Enemy Scaling Changes in Co-op

Co‑op increases enemy scaling immediately. Enemies show up in bigger groups, hit harder, and target everyone instead of just one player.

With more players, enemy aggression increases, so boss fight timing becomes critical for survival. Knowing this helps the team adjust and stay coordinated instead of playing like it’s single‑player.

Shared Progression

Shared systems work best when the fellowship contributes with clear intent:

  • Upgrade vendors together to avoid wasted resources.
  • Specialize roles across gathering, combat, and crafting progression.
  • Set a weekly goal such as upgrading a vendor tier, unlocking recipes, or farming materials.

Realm Difficulty Options

Choose difficulty by following a simple, group‑first process:

  • Use Standard for initial co‑op runs.
  • Use Challenging only if the group is experienced and coordinated.
  • Use Hardcore/permadeath modes only with unanimous agreement and written rules.

Common Problems and Fixes

  • If the co‑op menu doesn’t appear, update the game and confirm the Together update is installed.
  • If invites fail, check Steam overlay and friends status, then restart the session.
  • If you get desync or lag, restart the Realm and do quick performance troubleshooting, like closing background downloads.
  • If loot issues happen, set simple loot etiquette and trade items right away.

What to Do First

  • Create a Realm and choose the difficulty together.
  • Agree on simple loot rules in two sentences or less.
  • Assign roles: Tank, DPS, Support, or Utility.
  • Run a quick objective to test spacing and avoid friendly fire issues.
  • Begin a shared goal such as improving vendor upgrades or unlocking a key crafting path.

FAQ

  • Is co‑op drop‑in/drop‑out? – Not exactly, it works more like a persistent Realm rather than a temporary session.
  • How many players? – Up to 4.
  • Do I need a new character? – Usually no. Existing characters can join Realms without starting over.
  • How does loot work? – Typically first‑come pickup, so trading and basic etiquette matter.
  • Does progress persist for everyone? – Yes, the shared Realm state is built to persist across the entire fellowship.