I still remember my first attempt to play Ark with my best friend back when the game first hit early access. I’d watched dozens of taming tutorials, picked out the perfect base spot on The Island map, and stocked up on in-game supplies before we even launched the game. But we spent nearly three hours stuck on the main menu, googling vague error messages and messing with router settings, before we could actually spawn in the same world. If you’ve ever stared at Ark’s clunky main menu wondering how to start a 2 player game in Ark without that level of frustration, you’re in the right place. Ark’s co-op experience is easily one of the best parts of the game: surviving raptor attacks, taming your first T-Rex, and building a fortified base together is way more fun than grinding through the early game alone. The only catch is that the game’s setup process is far less intuitive than most other co-op titles, especially if you’re not used to hosting your own game sessions. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to get your 2 player game up and running in 10 minutes or less, plus tips to avoid the most common mistakes that ruin co-op play for new teams.
Step-by-Step to Start a 2 Player Game in Ark (Non-Dedicated Server)
For 90% of casual players, a non-dedicated server is the best option for 2 player play. It doesn’t require any extra software, subscription fees, or advanced technical knowledge, and it runs directly on the host’s gaming device. You don’t have to mess with port forwarding or IP addresses if you don’t want to, and setup takes less than 5 minutes once you know which menus to navigate. Follow these steps exactly to get your session up and running:
- Launch Ark and select "Host/Local" from the main menu, instead of joining an existing public server
- Adjust your preferred map, difficulty, and progression settings first, then scroll to the "Multiplayer" section on the left menu
- Set the max player count to 2 to keep random players from joining your private game, and check the box labeled "Host Non-Dedicated Session"
- Create a private session name and a secure password if you don't want anyone else to stumble into your game, then click "Host" to launch the world
- Have your friend open their Ark menu, select "Join Ark", filter for "Non-Dedicated Sessions", search for your session name, enter the password, and join
That’s all it takes to get your basic session running, but there are a few small tweaks you should make before you hit the host button to avoid headaches later. First, make sure you enable "Admin Password" and set a simple code you both know. That lets you use console commands to fix issues like misplaced items, stuck dinos, or spawn errors without having to restart the whole session. I also recommend enabling "Friend Only Join" if you’re playing on Steam, Xbox, or PlayStation, so only people on your friends list can even see your session in the server browser. The only real downside to non-dedicated sessions is the built-in tether limit, which we’ll cover more in the next section. But for casual players who only play together a few hours a week, this setup is more than enough, and far easier than managing a full dedicated server.
Ideal 2 Player Game Settings for a Smooth Co-op Experience
Most new players skip over the settings menu entirely when hosting their first 2 player game, and that’s a huge mistake. A few small adjustments can make the difference between a fun, low-stress co-op run and a frustrating grind where you get wiped by low-level dinos every 10 minutes. Let’s break down the most important settings to adjust before you launch your session. The Tether distance slider is the first setting you should touch. On non-dedicated sessions, this slider controls how far apart you and your play partner can be before the game pulls you back towards the host. By default, it’s set to a tiny radius that means you can barely go 100 feet away from each other without getting teleported back. Crank it up to the maximum allowed for your platform, and if you’re playing on PC, you can even edit the GameUserSettings.ini file to remove the tether limit entirely if you’re comfortable making small config changes.
Next, the Difficulty offset setting controls the maximum level of wild dinos on your map, and how much damage they deal. If you and your partner are new to Ark, set this to 1 or 2. That keeps the maximum dino level around 60, which is manageable for new players with basic gear. If you’re both experienced players looking for a challenge, crank it up to 5, so you can find wild dinos up to level 150, and get better loot from drops and boss fights. I also recommend adjusting your progression multipliers to fit how often you play. If you only play 2 or 3 hours a week together, set your taming speed, XP gain, and harvesting multipliers to 2 or 3. That way you don’t have to spend 2 whole play sessions just taming one medium-sized dino. If you play more often, you can keep them at the default 1 for a more vanilla experience. One setting most people forget about is friendly fire. By default, friendly fire is enabled in most Ark sessions, which means you can accidentally shoot or hit each other while fighting dinos. If you’re not playing a PvP-focused 2 player run, turn off friendly fire in the settings. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve accidentally killed my play partner with a stray arrow while we were fighting a raptor pack, and it’s an easy fix that saves a lot of frustration.
Fixing Common 2 Player Connection Issues in Ark
Even if you follow all the setup steps perfectly, you might run into connection issues when you first try to play 2 player Ark. These issues are super common, and most of them have simple fixes that take less than a minute to implement. The most common issue is that your friend can’t see your session in the server browser at all. First, make sure both of you are running the exact same version of the game. If one of you has a pending update that you haven’t installed, you won’t be able to connect to each other. If your versions match, try switching your server browser filter to "Non-Dedicated Sessions Only" and typing your session name exactly into the search bar. If it still doesn’t show up, have your friend join using your local IP address if you’re on the same home network, or your public IP address if you’re playing remotely.
Another super common issue is constant lag, rubber banding, or crashes during play. Almost always, this is caused by the host’s device struggling to run both the game and the server at the same time. Don't host a 2 player game on a laptop that's running on battery power, I’ve made that mistake before. Laptops throttle their performance by 30% or more when running on battery to save power, which leads to unplayable lag for both players. Plug the host’s laptop into a power outlet, close all other background programs, and lower the host’s in-game graphics settings a bit to free up processing power for the server. If you keep getting disconnected mid-session, check that both of you have a stable internet connection. Ark is very sensitive to internet drops, even small ones that don’t affect other games. If you’re playing over Wi-Fi, try switching to a wired ethernet connection if possible, that will eliminate 90% of random disconnection issues. If your friend spawns on the opposite side of the map when they join, don’t make them walk all the way to your base. If you enabled an admin password earlier, you can type "GiveAdmin [password]" in chat to give yourself admin permissions, then type "TeleportPlayerNameToMe [your friend’s in-game name]" to teleport them straight to your location. That saves hours of trekking across dangerous terrain early in the game.
Should You Use a Dedicated Server for 2 Player Ark Play?
Non-dedicated sessions work great for most casual 2 player teams, but they’re not the only option. If you play a lot of Ark together, or you hate the tether limit that comes with non-dedicated play, a dedicated server might be a better fit for you. Dedicated servers are separate instances of the Ark game that run 24/7, even if neither you nor your play partner is online. That means you can log in and work on your base or tame dinos even if your partner isn’t available, and there’s no tether limit at all, so you can explore opposite ends of the map whenever you want. You can also add more players later if you want to expand your group and bring in more friends to play with you.
But dedicated servers have some big downsides too. First, you either have to pay for a third-party server hosting service, which usually costs $10 to $20 a month depending on the slot count and map size, or you have to run the dedicated server software on a separate PC that’s always turned on and connected to the internet. Setup is also more complicated, you have to deal with port forwarding, firewall settings, and config file edits to get your server running the way you want it. I usually only recommend dedicated servers for 2 player teams that play 10 or more hours a week together, or teams that plan to keep their Ark world running for months at a time. If you only play a few hours a week, or you’re just testing out the game with a friend for the first time, a non-dedicated session is more than enough, and way less work to manage. If you do decide to go the dedicated server route, make sure you enable a whitelist for your server. That means only people you manually add to the whitelist can join, even if random players find your server IP address. That keeps your private 2 player game safe from trolls and random players who might destroy your base or kill your dinos.
At the end of the day, learning how to start a 2 player game in Ark doesn’t have to be the hours-long headache I experienced my first time. Whether you opt for a simple non-dedicated session for casual weekend play, or invest in a dedicated server for long-term co-op progression, the process is straightforward once you know which menus to navigate and which settings to adjust. Don’t let the clunky setup process stop you from experiencing one of the best co-op survival games on the market. I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing 2 player Ark with friends over the years, and some of my favorite gaming memories come from taming our first T-Rex together, fighting the Dragon boss for the first time, and building a giant floating base in the middle of the ocean on Genesis. Take a few minutes to adjust your settings to fit your playstyle, troubleshoot any small connection issues that pop up, and you’ll be exploring the Ark world with your friend in no time.