Quick Start (TL;DR): Which Don't Starve is Right for You?
Completely New?Start with Don't Starve Together (DST). It includes most of the original's content plus multiplayer, and you can still play it alone. It's the best value and is actively updated with events and tweaks.
Solo Adventurer?If you adore single-player and story challenges, get Don't Starve (DS) bundled with Reign of Giants (RoG), Shipwrecked (SW), and Hamlet. These DLCs add unique worlds not in DST. Just note DS is a finished experience, not updated frequently now.
Play with Friends?Don't Starve Together is the only choice for co-op. It lets you host private games, play offline or with strangers, and even has split-screen on consoles.
On Console/Mobile?On console, both DS (with DLC) and DST are available. On mobile, Don't Starve: Pocket Edition has base+RoG, and Shipwrecked is a separate app – Hamlet isn't on mobile. DST is not on mobile at all.
Want Updates?DST is continually updated with new features, characters, and events. The single-player DS and its DLCs received their last major updates around 2019–2020.
Solo Survival vs Multiplayer Mayhem: How Do You Like to Play?
One of the biggest factors in your decision: Do you want to play alone or with others? The answer will tilt you toward the single-player Don't Starve (plus its DLCs) or Don't Starve Together.
Don't Starve (Single Player + DLCs)
Designed for one player. It nails that lonely, atmospheric survival vibe. The world pauses when you pause (on PC/console), and death is permanent (unless you prepared touchstones or effigies) – true rogue-like style.
Challenge: By default, if you die in DS, that world is deleted unless you enabled the optional "No Sweat" mode or used a resurrection item.
Adventure Mode: DS includes a semi-hidden story campaign that you can unlock via Maxwell's Door. DST does NOT have Adventure Mode at all.
Characters & Progression: In DS, you unlock characters by surviving days or completing Adventure Mode. There's no XP grind beyond that.
Don't Starve Together (DST)
Built for 2–6 (or more) players, but totally playable solo too. DST is essentially a standalone expansion that started as "multiplayer Don't Starve" and has grown into its own beast with unique content.
Solo in DST: Many players actually play DST solo. Bosses have more health (4,000 HP vs 2,000 HP for Deerclops), but you can tweak settings or use mods.
Death in DST: More forgiving. When you die, you become a ghost and can be revived. There's also a rollback feature to rewind the server.
Cooperation & Chaos: Coordinate to take down giants, share responsibilities, or turn on PvP for "The Hunger Games" action.
Above: DST allows cooperative base-building – here two survivors tend a giant crop farm together. Farming was revamped in DST's updates with new giant veggies.
Solo Play in DST – Tweaks and Mods
If you decide on DST but plan to mostly play solo, here are some ways to tailor the experience:
Adjust World Settings: When creating a DST world, customize the difficulty. Enable "Portal Items" for starting resources, tune boss frequency, or turn off Wildfires.
Enable Endless Mode: Set the world mode to Endless so death isn't permanent. You can revive at the Florid Postern with only a sanity/health penalty.
Use Mods for Solo QoL: Consider "Companion" mods, Boss scaling mods to reduce boss health, or "Pause" mod since DST normally doesn't pause.
Character Choices: In DST solo, choose a character who's strong independently: Wigfrid or Wolfgang for combat, Wickerbottom for farming, etc.
Remember, you can play DST completely offline. Just host a local game (no caves, or use "Lan Mode" with caves) and you won't need an internet connection.
Which to choose?
If you know you want multiplayer (or even think you might down the road), DST is the better buy. It's effectively Don't Starve 2.0 with co-op.
You can play it by yourself and join friends later – best of both worlds. However, if you cherish a pure single-player progression and want those distinct DLC worlds, you won't regret grabbing Don't Starve + DLC on sale.
Hot Tip: You can actually have both – some veterans play DS single-player and DST, depending on their mood. Progress isn't shared between them, so treat them as separate games. If you get really into the game, owning both is worthwhile (often they go on sale for a few bucks).
Content Comparison: Base Game and Expansions vs Together
Beyond multiplayer, the next big question is content: What does each version include, and what might you miss? Here's a breakdown of the major content differences:
Don't Starve (Single Player) Editions:
The single-player Don't Starve can be expanded with three DLCs: Reign of Giants, Shipwrecked, and Hamlet. Each adds new seasons, biomes, items, and characters.
Don't Starve: Reign of Giants (RoG)
This is the first expansion and is often considered part of the base game nowadays.
Adds two new seasons (spring and summer)
Giant boss monsters for each season
New biomes (deserts, deciduous forests)
New characters (Wigfrid and Webber)
Important: RoG content is integrated into DST by default
Don't Starve: Shipwrecked (SW)
The second DLC takes the survival action to a tropical archipelago.
Build rafts and sail between islands
Tropical seasons (mild, monsoon, hurricane, dry)
New creatures (crocodogs, volcano gods)
New characters (Walani, Warly, Woodlegs)
Important: Shipwrecked is single-player only (officially)
Don't Starve: Hamlet
The third DLC takes a sharp turn: civilization!
Lost city of Pigmen in a dense jungle
Trade in shops using Oincs (currency)
Explore ancient ruins
New characters (Wilba, Wormwood)
Important: Not available in DST or on mobile
Above: Shipwrecked turns Don't Starve into a tropical expedition. You'll craft rafts, build on sandy islands, and deal with monsoons and volcanoes.
Above: In Hamlet, you experience Pigmen society – you can shop for goods using Oincs, and interact with NPCs. It's a very different vibe from the wilderness.
Bottom line for single-player content: If you buy the whole set (DS + all DLCs), you're getting three distinct ways to play:
Vanilla/RoG survival (temperate forests with seasonal giants)
Shipwrecked survival (tropical islands and sea)
Hamlet survival (jungle with towns and ruins)
These are almost like three games under one roof – you can even link them via special items (the Seaworthy and Skyworthy let you travel between worlds).
Don't Starve Together Content:
Don't Starve Together initially launched including the base game + Reign of Giants content. Over time, it has received TONS of free updates expanding its content in different directions than single-player.
DST Exclusive Content:
DST isn't just a copy of DS with multiplayer; Klei has continually added new bosses, biomes, and mechanics that are not in single-player DS:
New Giants & Bosses
DST introduced giants like Bee Queen, Klaus (a winter boss), Toadstool (in caves), Fuelweaver, Celestial Champion (big endgame boss), Shadow Pieces, etc. If you enjoy boss fights and group raids, DST has a lot to offer.
Events and Seasons
DST has limited-time events like Halloween (Hallowed Nights), Winter's Feast (Christmas), Year of the (Chinese New Year), etc., which add fun activities. Single-player doesn't have seasonal events.
Characters & Skins
DST has grown the character roster and added skill trees in 2023-2024, meaning DST now has RPG-lite progression for characters – something single-player doesn't have at all.
So, which version has more content?
If you want the most content in one package and especially if you play with others, DST is fantastic. The catch is just that it's missing the standalone DLC worlds (SW & Hamlet).
One fan summarized: "DST is better if you want a single world with tons to do (and multiplayer), single-player is better if you want varied content across different worlds each with their own feel".
Platform Differences: PC, Console, and Mobile
Your platform (PC, console, mobile) might influence your decision or experience:
PC (Steam/Windows/Mac/Linux)
Gold Standard: PC is the best platform for both DS and DST. Mods are easily accessible via Steam Workshop.
Updates: PC version tends to get updates first (often weeks ahead of console).
Server Options: On PC DST, you can play on Klei public servers, host your own, or play offline.
Extra Copy: DST on Steam has often come with a free extra copy to send to a friend (check if still available).
Advanced Tools: Only on PC can you use console commands or third-party tools to recover saves if needed.
Console (PS4, Xbox One/Series, Nintendo Switch)
Split-screen: DST on console has splitscreen co-op (particularly on PS4/Xbox) for local multiplayer.
No Mods: Keep in mind console versions have no mod support – you're playing vanilla DST.
Update Delays: Console versions get all updates, but often a few weeks or months after PC.
Content: Don't Starve on console (Giant Edition) includes RoG; Shipwrecked and Hamlet are separate DLC or in bundles.
Controls: Console versions have an optimized controller interface with object cycling, which works well.
Mobile (iOS/Android)
Limited Options: Mobile has Don't Starve: Pocket Edition (base game + RoG) and Shipwrecked as a separate app.
No DST: There is no Don't Starve Together on mobile at all.
Buggier: The mobile versions can be buggy and the touch controls can be challenging.
No Hamlet: Hamlet is not available on mobile as of now, and likely never will be.
Alternatives: Some people use Steam Link or GeForce Now to play the PC version on a tablet – that's an option for DST on mobile.
Cross-Platform Play?
DST does not support cross-play between PC and console. If your friend has it on PC and you on PS4, you cannot join each other.
PC can only play with PC (Steam or Epic store players together though)
PS4 with PS4
Xbox with Xbox
Switch with Switch
Keep this in mind if multiplayer with specific people is a goal – you'll want to be on the same platform. On the bright side, DST is fairly cheap or goes on sale often, so aligning platforms isn't too costly.
Platform Recommendation
If you have the option, PC provides the most complete and flexible experience for both DS and DST.
Console is great for couch co-op play, and mobile works if it's your only option but with limited content.
Community and Support: Updates, Mods, and Longevity
By now, you might sense a trend: Don't Starve Together is the focus of ongoing development. If you care about being part of an active community, getting new updates (for free), or modding, DST has the edge.
Updates & New Content
Klei (the developers) have continued to release updates for DST on a nearly monthly basis for years:
In 2022–2023, they introduced ocean content, new bosses (the Eye of Terror, etc.), and skill trees for characters.
In 2023, Klei added skill trees to several characters giving players long-term goals to unlock character perks.
DST has plans for 2024 and beyond: the roadmap hints at four major updates in 2024 instead of many small ones.
DST consistently gets seasonal events (e.g., the Year of the Dragonfly event in Feb 2024 gave us a boat-racing mini-game).
By contrast, Don't Starve (single-player) is in maintenance mode. The last significant update it saw was a Quality of Life patch in 2020. There's been no new content for single-player since Hamlet's release.
Mods and Community Creations
On PC, DST has over 20,000 mods on Workshop – from simple ones like health bar displays to full new characters and monsters.
DS single-player also has mods (Steam Workshop supports DS too), though fewer in number.
Many modders focus on DST now because that's where the active player base is.
Popular mods include "Combined Status" (shows hunger/health numbers) and "Island Adventures" (replicates Shipwrecked in DST).
Mods can extend the life of whichever version you choose, adding new characters, biomes, and even fan-made "DLCs".
Recent Updates Timeline
Below is a brief timeline of notable updates in the past ~1.5 years for Don't Starve Together, with their early-game impact:
Date
Update (DST)
Early-Game Impact
Dec 19, 2023
Skill Spotlight Update (Walter, Wendy, Wortox)
Added Skill Trees for 3 characters – e.g., Wendy can upgrade Abigail (helpful for early combat), Walter gets skill buffs for survivability.
Feb 8, 2024
Year of the Dragonfly (Lunar New Year Event)
Introduced a boat racing mini-game accessible in early-game. Mostly for fun/cosmetics – little impact on core survival.
Mar 27, 2024
Scrappy Scavengers (QoL + Content update)
Added the Junkyard biome to world gen. Junk Piles contain gears, wires, etc., giving early access to resources.
June 15, 2023
From Beyond: Terrors Below (final arc update)
Concluded the "moon" storyline – added Ancient Archive biome in caves with new crafting station. Early game effect: not much, as it's end-game content.
Aug 24, 2023
Summer QoL Update (miscellaneous)
Traveling Merchants occasionally spawn in early days offering basic resources for trinkets – helpful for new players.
Oct 20, 2023
Hallowed Nights 2023 (Halloween Event)
Brought back Halloween items (candy, costumes). Players can trick-or-treat at pig houses for food and sanity gain.
Note: Single-player Don't Starve's last major update was May 2020 – "Home Sea Home" for Hamlet on console – mainly bug fixes, no new content for early-game.
Price and Value
It's worth noting the pricing:
Usually, Don't Starve (with DLC) and Don't Starve Together are priced about the same (in the ~$10 range) each, when not on sale.
They go on sale frequently for like $2-$5. Sometimes bundles give you a better deal.
On Steam there's a "Don't Starve Mega Pack 2025" that includes DS + all 3 DLC + DST for a discounted bundle price.
If you're truly unsure, grab a bundle on sale – get it all – then try both DS and DST.
DST can be the cheaper all-in-one if you only want to buy one thing. Also, DST has no further paid DLC (aside from optional skins). To experience everything DS offers piecemeal would cost more (unless on sale).
Anecdotes: Experiences from Both Sides
Let me share two quick personal anecdotes that highlight the difference in feel between the single player and multiplayer versions:
Solo DS memory
"In my first Don't Starve (RoG) run, I remember the sheer panic of my first winter. I had no idea Deerclops was coming. I was huddled by my fire pit, low on food, when I hear that distant roar. Suddenly this one-eyed giant storms my base, destroys my crock pot and chests while I'm screaming (IRL)."
"I died in a hilariously futile attempt to fight it with a spear and log armor. World deleted. It was rage-inducing yet exhilarating. I immediately restarted, armed with meta-knowledge, determined to 'beat' winter."
That solo trial-and-error – it was frustrating but made eventual success (finally surviving one year) so satisfying. It's a very personal, high-stakes journey. When I finally unlocked Maxwell and understood the lore, it felt like I conquered something big.
DST memory
"Playing DST with two friends, we decided to divide and conquer: I was base-builder, one friend explorer, one combat specialist Wigfrid. Summer came (which is brutal in DST), and we started overheating. I'll never forget the moment a wildfire ignited our chests – my friend yelling on Discord, all three of us rushing with flingomatics and ice to put it out, chaos!"
"Later, we took on the Bee Queen together; it was a messy fight with us kiting bees everywhere and shouting calls ('heal me!', 'hit her now!'). We did it, and we each took a royal jelly as trophy."
That camaraderie and collective triumph was something I'd never gotten from single-player. Plus the hilarious ghost mechanics – when one of us died, they'd float around haunting stuff out of boredom, sometimes setting objects on fire by accident...
These anecdotes show: single-player is like a solitary roguelike campaign – scary and serene. Multiplayer is a social sandbox – unpredictable and fun, where even failure is entertaining when friends are involved.
Action Recap (The Decision in One Sentence) 🎯
If you're a solo purist craving all the distinct content Don't Starve offers, grab Don't Starve + DLCs, but for the richest ongoing experience (especially with friends), Don't Starve Together is the one to buy.
Further Resources 📚
Looking to learn more about Don't Starve? Here are some valuable resources to help you dive deeper:
Official Wiki
Don't Starve Wiki on Gamepedia has detailed pages on Don't Starve Together content and Single-player DLCs – great for deep dives into items, characters, and mechanics.
Browse the Most Popular mods to enhance your game. For DS single-player, look at the Don't Starve workshop for mods that catch your interest (just mind compatibility with DLC).
Good luck, whether you choose to brave the Constant alone or with allies. And remember the most important tip of all in any version:
"Whatever you do, Don't Starve!" 🥔
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play Don't Starve Together alone or offline?
Yes, absolutely! Don't Starve Together can be played completely solo and offline. You can host a local game and play without an internet connection. DST is designed to work well for both solo and multiplayer experiences, though some monsters have more health since they were balanced for multiple players.
Does DST have all the DLC content from single-player Don't Starve?
No, DST doesn't include everything from single-player DLCs. DST includes the content from Reign of Giants by default, but it does not officially include the Shipwrecked or Hamlet worlds. You cannot sail between islands or visit pig cities in DST without mods. However, DST has added its own unique content not found in single-player, including new bosses, biomes, and mechanics.
What's the best order to play Don't Starve expansions?
If you're new, start with vanilla Don't Starve + Reign of Giants (RoG) to learn the basics. Once you're comfortable with survival mechanics, try Shipwrecked for a different experience with sailing and island exploration. Hamlet is generally considered the most challenging DLC and introduces more complex mechanics, so save it for last when you've mastered the other environments.
Are there differences between PC, console, and mobile versions?
Yes, there are several differences. PC offers the most complete experience with mod support and earliest updates. Console versions (PS4, Xbox, Switch) have all content but no mods, and get updates later. They do offer splitscreen co-op for DST. Mobile only has the single-player game (Don't Starve: Pocket Edition includes RoG) and Shipwrecked as a separate app – there's no DST on mobile, and no Hamlet either. Controls and performance also vary by platform.
Which version is still being updated with new content?
Don't Starve Together (DST) is the only version still receiving regular content updates. Single-player Don't Starve and its DLCs (Reign of Giants, Shipwrecked, Hamlet) are considered complete and haven't received major updates since around 2019-2020, with only occasional bug fixes. If you want an evolving game with new content, DST is the way to go.
Ready to Not Starve?
Whether you're going solo or bringing friends, the Constant awaits!
