📖 Markiplier vs Don't Starve: A Decade of Drama (& Bees!)
Markiplier's Journey through Don't Starve
From his first playthrough in 2013 to the fan-made Markiplier Mod and beyond - discover how the iconic YouTuber shaped and was shaped by the world of Don't Starve.
Introduction
Markiplier's relationship with Don't Starve is a beloved chapter in both the YouTuber's history and the game's community lore. From his first starvation in 2013 to a fan-made "Markiplier Mod" that turned him into a playable character, and even a surprise comeback stream in 2024, Markiplier's journey with Don't Starve has been full of humor and heart.
Quick-start tip: New to Markiplier's Don't Starve antics? Jump to the "Fan Reactions and Memes" section for highlights of what made his playthroughs special.
This guide explores how Markiplier embraced Don't Starve – and how the game's community embraced him right back – complete with notable moments, community reactions, and the legacy of content he inspired.
Markiplier's First Don't Starve Series (2013)
Markiplier (real name Mark Fischbach) began his foray into Don't Starve in mid-2013, not long after the game's official release. At the time, Markiplier was known for his energetic Let's Plays of indie games, especially horror titles – but Don't Starve's quirky gothic art and unforgiving survival caught his interest.
Launch & Format
In May 2013, he launched a single-player Don't Starve series on his YouTube channel, starting with "Don't Starve | Part 1 | MARKIPLIER STARVES." The title turned out to be prophetic, as Mark – still learning the ropes – indeed starved to death by the end of the first episode.
Series Launch: May 2, 2013
Video title: "Don't Starve | Part 1 | MARKIPLIER STARVES"
Markiplier learns the basics of Don't Starve while providing his signature commentary.
Notable Episodes
Losing Sanity (Part 3)
Mark's first encounter with the sanity mechanics had him yelling "What are those creepy eyes?!" at the screen. As shadow creatures edged closer, he realized picking evil flowers was a bad idea.
The Wolves Attack (Part 4)
The inaugural Hound attack on day 9 took Mark by surprise. His reaction – "Wolves!? Since when are there WOLVES?!" – became a bit of an inside joke.
Maxwell's Portal (Part 5)
Mark stumbled upon Maxwell's Door (the gateway to Adventure Mode) and was intrigued enough to jump through, leading to an Adventure Mode attempt spanning Parts 6-8.
Hiatus
By Part 8 ("YOU ARE NOT PREPARED"), Mark met his demise and concluded his initial Don't Starve series. He signed off with a mock-dramatic apology to Wilson and moved on to other games. Fans were disappointed but understood – Don't Starve could become repetitive, and Mark had many other titles to explore.
The Fan-Made Markiplier Mod (2014)
After Markiplier's initial playthrough, his community decided to bring Mark himself into Don't Starve. Enter the Markiplier Mod, a custom modification for the game that turned Markiplier (and his iconic quirks) into a playable character.
Mod Origin: March 23, 2014
Creator: Fidooop (Klei Entertainment forums)
Announced as "Markiplier Mod – Version 1.0 beta", inviting fans to play Don't Starve as Markiplier himself.
Mod Features & Markiplier References
Markiplier's Mod Videos
June 2014 - "Don't Starve - Markiplier Mod"
Mark's first look at the beta version of the mod featuring himself
Highlight: Mark's reaction when Tiny Box Tim "spoke" for the first time in-game: "Oh my god, hi Tim!"
October 2014 - "Markiplier Mod UPDATE!!"
Showcasing Version 2.0 with Bob and Wade's characters
Video description joked "WHERE'S THE BLACKSMITH!?!" - confirming he encountered the Easter egg
Fan Reception
The mod was a hit among Mark's fanbase. Downloads spiked after his videos, and Klei's forum thread filled with excited comments. The DST version allowed multiple players to play as various Markiplier personas in one server, essentially turning Don't Starve Together into a kind of Markiplier RPG.
"Looks like Markiplier did indeed play it. That's the only reason I found out about it."
— Forum user, June 15, 2014
The mod's maintenance became challenging as Don't Starve updates and new DLCs rolled out, but community members stepped in to create unofficial updates. Eventually, fans created a "Markiplier Mod Remake" to ensure compatibility with newer versions - a testament to the mod's enduring popularity.
Don't Starve Together with Bob: Multiplayer Mayhem (2014-2016)
While the single-player saga and the mod were unfolding, another major development was happening: Don't Starve was getting multiplayer. When Don't Starve Together (DST) entered beta in late 2014, Markiplier saw an opportunity to return to the Constant (the game's world) – this time, with his friend Bob Muyskens (Muyskerm).
November 5, 2014 - "MULTIPLAYER MAYHEM | Don't Starve Together - Part 1"
Mark and Bob's first co-op adventure in Don't Starve Together
Highlight: Mark trying to punch a beehive ("I got this, Bob!"), leading to both running for their lives
Notable Co-Op Moments
The Great Poop Quest
Mark and Bob turned the mundane task of collecting beefalo manure into high comedy by role-playing it as an epic adventure.
Treeguard Terror
Bob's character chopped one tree too many and a giant living tree woke up, causing Mark to panic.
Attack of the Werebeaver
Bob, playing as Woodie, transformed into a raging werebeaver unexpectedly, prompting Mark's high-pitched panic.
DEATH BY BEES!!
The most iconic moment: Mark and Bob anger a swarm of killer bees and both die spectacularly.
Series Timeline
Community Impact
While Mark and Bob's series didn't result in any grand in-game accomplishment (they didn't exactly "beat" the game), it accomplished something else: it provided shared cultural moments for the Don't Starve community.
Their humor became a touchstone in the community:
- Some DST players still quote Mark's "Click here to panic!" when things go wrong
- The bee death scene became a meme about how quickly things can go wrong in survival games
- Their struggles helped normalize the game's steep learning curve for new players
The social media buzz around moments like the bee death was essentially free promotion for how fun Don't Starve Together could be, even when failing spectacularly.
Fan Reactions, Memes, and Creations
Markiplier's Don't Starve content didn't just entertain in a vacuum; it actively bled into the community's own discussions, fan works, and vernacular.
Tiny Box Tim – A Heartwarming Tribute
Tiny Box Tim, a small chest with a mustache and googly eyes, was originally a Markiplier inside-joke (born from another game). The Don't Starve mod brought Tim to life as a companion, and fans adored it.
One Redditor shared how, after finally fixing the mod for the Shipwrecked expansion, they sailed away only to see Tim stranded on the starting island – Tim's plaintive message asking why he's being left behind absolutely broke their heart.
"Oh, I'll catch you later then..."
— Tiny Box Tim when left behind
"Where's the Blacksmith?!" – From Meme to Maniac Mode
Markiplier's infamous outburst "Where's the blacksmith?!" (originating from a completely different Let's Play) found its way into Don't Starve culture via the Markiplier mod.
Fans on the Markiplier Wiki and Amino noted how the mod's "Maniac" state essentially references that moment. It's an example of how Mark's external memes bled into Don't Starve fan content, enriching the game with inside jokes that only Mark's viewers would get.
New players have even asked on forums why a random note item might turn them insane screaming about a blacksmith – leading to veteran fans gleefully explaining the Markiplier reference.
Fan Art and Animations
Character Portraits
Artist PsychoGhoul created a series of DS-style character portraits for Markiplier and his friends, complete with their in-game gear and companions.
Warfstache and Tiny Box Tim in Don't Starve style
Bee Death Animation
A short animated parody of Mark and Bob's "Death by Bees" scene circulated on YouTube and Reddit, turning their audio into a cartoon sketch.
Animated recreation of the infamous bee attack
4-Panel Bee Comic
A 4-panel comic shared on Reddit shows the classic bee incident: Mark sees beehive, punches it, bees chase them, and both end up as ghosts.
Simple but perfectly captures that chaotic moment
Quotes Becoming Catchphrases
"WHY IS IT ALWAYS BEES!?"
The quintessential Mark quote from this series, it became a reaction meme for when life throws unexpected problems your way.
"I'm gonna die, Bob!"
Said with varying inflections in nearly every DST episode, this became a meme in co-op gaming circles beyond Don't Starve.
"Click Here to Panic!!"
Originally an episode title and call-to-action joke, fans now comment this whenever the game (or life) goes awry.
Reddit Discussions and Nostalgia
Even years later, Markiplier's Don't Starve videos are fondly remembered. On r/Markiplier, fans frequently list the Don't Starve series among "classic Markiplier moments."
"I still hear 'I'm gonna starve!' in Mark's voice whenever I'm low on hunger in-game."
— Reddit user, 2021
In Steam reviews of Don't Starve, you can even find joking entries like "Recommended – because Markiplier made starving look fun." Mark's unique blend of humor and frustration essentially created a sub-mythos within the fandom.
A Surprise Epilogue: Markiplier's Don't Starve Revival in 2024
After 2016, it seemed like Markiplier had closed the book on Don't Starve. He moved on to other huge projects (from Five Nights at Freddy's fame to original shows). However, much to fans' delight, Markiplier gave Don't Starve one more moment in the spotlight – in late 2024.
November 2024 - "Just Starving for a Bit" Twitch Stream
Markiplier's surprise return to Don't Starve after 8+ years
A nostalgic 30-40 minute stream that delighted long-time fans
On a quiet evening in November 2024, Markiplier started a Twitch stream titled "Just Starving for a Bit" (cheeky title spotted by fans), which turned out to be him booting up Don't Starve single-player again. This was unannounced and possibly just on a nostalgic whim.
Stream Highlights
- Mark remarking how "everything looks so HD now" due to graphical updates
- Humorously struggling on Day 1, having forgotten crafting recipes
- "I have no idea what I'm doing – it's like 2013 all over again!"
- Twitch chat flooding with bee emojis and "Tiny Box Tim!" messages
Community Reaction
Though the stream was short, the community reaction was huge. The VOD upload on YouTube garnered over 100k views within a week.
"It felt so good seeing Mark back in Don't Starve, even if briefly. Like a reunion with an old friend."
— Reddit comment
"This game…man, it takes me back. Y'know, I owe a lot to it – so many of you found me through it."
— Markiplier, November 2024 stream
Since then, Mark hasn't made additional Don't Starve content (he's a busy guy, and variety is his brand). But the door was left open just a crack. If Don't Starve or Don't Starve Together ever gets a significant new update or sequel, it wouldn't be out of the question for Markiplier to step back into Wilson's shoes for another round – especially now that he's shown he's willing to revisit it for nostalgia.
Complete Timeline
Below is a detailed chronology of Markiplier's journey with Don't Starve, alongside key game developments.
2013: The Beginning
2014: The Mod & DST Begin
2015-2016: Hiatus & Return
2017-2024: Community Legacy
A Lasting Legacy
Markiplier's journey through Don't Starve is a testament to the symbiotic relationship between game creators, content creators, and community creators. Each fed into the other:
- The game provided a rich playground for Mark's comedic survival antics.
- The content creator (Markiplier) brought personality and narrative to the game's systems, turning simple survival into an engaging story that drew many new players.
- The community responded by creating mods, art, and discussions, which in turn deepened the game's appeal and pulled the creator back to the game.
Even years later, the ripple effects are visible. New Don't Starve players still stumble on Markiplier's videos and laugh at the same jokes. The Markiplier Mod remains one of the most downloaded character mods for the game. And phrases coined in those videos remain part of the Don't Starve community's culture.
In the pantheon of YouTuber-game collaborations, Markiplier and Don't Starve stands out as especially wholesome and creative. It wasn't a sponsored series or a one-off trend-chasing video; it was a genuine exploration that evolved into a collaborative celebration.
For now, we can fondly look back on the wolves, the bees, the starvation, and of course that tiny little box with a big pink mustache – enduring symbols of what made this crossroad of internet culture so special.