Playing with Strangers
The game needs exactly three players, and not everyone has two friends available on the same evening. Fortunately, you don’t need them: the game has public lobbies, a lobby browser, room codes and – since update v1.0.2 – matchmaking for solo players. Playing with strangers works surprisingly well, as long as you spend the first minute agreeing on a few basics. This guide covers how to find or host a lobby and how to make a random team work.
Ways to Get a Team
| Method | Best for | How it works |
| Room code | Friends | The host shares a code; others type it in to join a private room |
| Steam invite | Friends on Steam | Invite through Steam or the in-game invite button |
| Lobby list (server browser) | Choosing who you play with | Browse public rooms; filter by name, code or country |
| Public lobby | Filling one or two empty slots | Leave your lobby public and random players can join it |
| Matchmaking | Solo players | Added in v1.0.2 to help solo players find others |
The studio’s FAQ confirms that players can team up through the server browser or room codes without adding each other as Steam friends first.
Hosting a Lobby
- Create the lobby. From the multiplayer screen, use the create lobby button.
- Choose public or private. Private rooms are for friends with the code; public rooms appear in the lobby list.
- Share the code. The lobby code is shown at the top of the screen, and clicking it copies it so you can paste it into a chat.
- Hide the code if you’re streaming. Update v1.0.2 added a button to hide or reveal the lobby code.
- Assign roles. The host can choose which monkey each player takes, or turn on random role selection.
- Wait for all three. A lobby with two people isn’t ready – the game only starts with a full team.
Joining a Lobby
To join friends, type their room code. To join strangers, open the lobby list – sometimes called the server browser – and pick a public room. Filtering by country is the single most useful step: it makes it far more likely that everyone shares a language, which matters a lot in a game where two of the three players talk.
Making a Random Team Work
A team of strangers fails for the same reasons a team of friends does – unclear signals, acting too early, talking over each other – just faster, because nobody shares habits yet. One minute of setup fixes most of it.
The 60-Second Briefing
- Check which language everyone is comfortable with.
- Check that the Deaf and Blind players have working microphones.
- Agree on yes, no and wait signals for the Mute Monkey.
- Agree that positions are counted left to right, and from whose point of view.
- Agree that the Blind Monkey repeats every instruction before acting.
- Agree that a slap means “stop”.
Picking Roles with Strangers
| Situation | Suggested role |
| You have no microphone | Mute Monkey – the only role that doesn’t need one |
| You’re new to the game | Blind Monkey or Deaf Monkey; guides disagree on which is easier, but both agree the Mute seat is the hardest |
| You know the manual well | Mute Monkey – you’ll find answers faster |
| You’re a calm, clear speaker | Deaf Monkey – the team’s voice |
Etiquette That Helps
- Speak calmly to the Mute Monkey. They can hear you perfectly; shouting doesn’t help them gesture faster.
- Don’t blame after an explosion. Debrief instead: which link in the chain broke? Then try again.
- Keep it in the game. The voice chat is restricted by role on purpose. Moving to an outside app removes the puzzle.
- Swap roles after a few runs. It keeps the session fun, and everyone learns what the other seats need.
- Be patient with language barriers. Numbers, colors and directions are easy words to learn. Agree on them first.
Common Problems
| Problem | What to check |
| The game won’t start | The lobby needs exactly three players |
| Strangers keep joining your friends’ room | Make the lobby private |
| Viewers join from your stream | Hide the lobby code (v1.0.2) |
| Nobody can hear a player | Check whether that player is the Mute Monkey; if not, see the voice chat guide |
| You can’t hear anyone | If you’re the Deaf Monkey, that’s the role working as designed |
FAQ
Can I play solo?
No. The game always needs three players. If you don’t have a group, use matchmaking or the lobby list to find two others.
Do I need to be Steam friends with my teammates?
No. You can join through the server browser or with a room code without adding anyone as a friend.
Can I choose my role?
The host can assign roles or turn on random selection, so ask the host if you want a particular seat.
Can I play without a microphone?
Yes, as the Mute Monkey. The other two roles need to speak.
