99 Nights in the Forest is a survival horror game on Roblox from Grandma’s Favourite Games, released on March 4, 2025. You and your team keep a campfire burning in a dark forest, gather wood and food, craft defenses and try to rescue four missing children hidden in caves. It became one of the most played games in Roblox history, peaking at 14.2 million concurrent players and passing 26 billion visits by April 2026. This guide describes what a run looks like, from your first minutes to the later nights, so you know the loop before you start.
The goal
The aim is to last 99 nights. During the day you prepare, and at night you survive. Along the way you can rescue four missing children, who are held in caves guarded by wolves, bears and cultists. You can play solo or with a team, and a full team of five makes some achievements possible.
The campfire is everything
The campfire is your base and your clock. Burning wood and fuel keeps it alive, and upgrading it increases the safe area, reduces fog and unlocks more of the map and loot access. If the fire dies, you are in serious danger. Guides repeat the same early advice: chop trees first, fuel the fire, grab flowers and raw food, and explore only after you have a stable base.
A day in the forest
By day you scavenge. Chop trees, collect scrap, food, fuel, seeds and amulets, and loot houses and chests for weapons and gear. Good early finds include revolvers, spears, sacks and any kind of armor. Once your campfire reaches level 3, you can explore nearby houses and chests. Beds can be crafted and placed around your camp, and they make days pass faster. You can craft a map to help you navigate, and later a teleporter, which needs two people to work.
A night in the forest
Night is when the danger arrives. The Deer is an immortal creature that hunts in the dark. You cannot kill it, but a flashlight stuns it if you tap, not hold, and campfires and light scare it off. Cultists raid your camp every few nights, so you need traps, weapons and teamwork to defend. Stay close to your camp at night and avoid wandering far.
Rescuing the kids
Four children are hidden across the map: Dino Kid, Kraken Kid, Squid Kid and Koala Kid. You choose a kid from the Missing Kids board, then find the cave where they are held. Caves are guarded by wolves, bears and cultists, so bring a weapon, food and light. The Dino Kid rescue is the usual first target. Rescuing all four is a milestone that most runs aim for.
Classes and diamonds
Over 30 classes change your starting gear and perks, and you buy them with Diamonds. Examples include Camper, Scavenger, Lumberjack and Cook. Guides rank Lumberjack as useful overall, Ranger for speed running and Cook for restoring team hunger. Diamonds are the main currency for classes, and you can earn them without spending Robux by finishing daily quests, collecting badges and playing often. Surviving 50 days awards two Diamonds in Normal Mode or four in Hardcore Mode, and reaching 99 days awards three more in Normal Mode or eight in Hardcore Mode. Running the Cultist Stronghold can give diamonds per run.
Bosses and later biomes
Later biomes add threats such as the Ram, Hellephants and the Cultist King. These need upgraded gear, a stronger camp and a team that works together. The Owl and other creatures add variety to the night.
A sample early game
On day one you spawn near the campfire and start chopping trees. You feed the fire, pick up a few flowers and raw food, and craft a basic tool. As the sun sets you stay near camp, keep the fire fed and watch the edge of the fog. By day two you explore nearby ruins for chests and a weapon, and you look for the Missing Kids board. By day five or six you have upgraded the campfire, built beds to move time along, and you are ready to try the first cave. This kind of rhythm, prepare by day and defend by night, is what the game is about.
Teamwork
You can play with up to five players, and teamwork matters. Players split roles: one keeps the fire, one scavenges, one crafts and others guard. A shared stash of fuel and food prevents a single failure from ending the run. A team can also take on cultist raids, caves and bosses that are very hard alone.
Resources you need to track
Four resources keep you alive. Wood and fuel feed the fire. Scrap is the glue of crafting. Food keeps you and your teammates from starving, which matters because a dead player cannot rescue kids. Amulets and rare materials from cultists unlock more advanced crafting. Keeping a stock of each makes the later nights much calmer.
Why runs end
Common reasons for losing a run are letting the fire die, wandering too far at night, trying to fight the Deer instead of using light, running out of food, and being caught by a cultist raid without traps. Learning from each failed run is part of the loop, and the class system gives you a reason to try again.
Tips for a good run
- Chop first, ask questions later on day one.
- Upgrade the campfire early.
- Craft beds and a map as soon as you can.
- Use a flashlight against the Deer by tapping it.
- Do not go too far from camp at night.
- Pick a class that fits your goal, and remember some cheaper classes are viable.
Updates and new content
The developer updates the game regularly, with new classes, balance changes and features. A fishing update, for example, added new fish types, upgradeable rods, the Fisherman and Pyromaniac classes and weekly quests that reward rare items and diamonds. Check the latest update notes when you return after a break, because items and strategies can change.
Hardcore mode
Hardcore mode raises the difficulty and the rewards. Surviving 50 days gives four Diamonds, and reaching 99 days gives eight, compared with two and three in Normal Mode. If you want a challenge, hardcore is where good teams show off, but start in Normal Mode to learn.
Why it works as a horror game
The tension comes from the darkness and the limits of your light. The campfire is a safe place, and the forest beyond is a threat. The Deer is a constant danger because you cannot kill it, only avoid it. That mix of safety and dread is what made the game popular.
If you are playing with strangers, agree on roles early. A team that assigns someone to the fire and someone to scavenging will outlast a team where everyone wanders off.
Finally, keep a flashlight handy, because it is your best tool against the Deer, and remember to tap it instead of holding it.
Frequently asked questions
How many nights do you survive?
99.
Can you kill the Deer?
No. It is immortal, but light and flashlights drive it off.
How many kids are there?
Four.
How do I get diamonds?
Daily quests, badges, playing often, and some codes.
Can I play solo?
Yes, or with a team.
Do I lose progress when I die?
A run ends when your whole team dies, but Diamonds and class unlocks carry across runs.
What is the best first class?
Lumberjack is widely recommended for overall usefulness, and cheaper classes are still viable.