Multiplayer and Controls
CastleMiner Z uses peer-to-peer multiplayer with no dedicated servers, so one player hosts and up to seven others join through the Steam lobby browser or a direct invite. Host Options covers passwords, visibility, build permissions, kicks, and bans. The game never explains right-click stack splitting, which is the control that matters most for sharing ammunition in co-op.
CastleMiner Z runs on peer-to-peer multiplayer. There are no dedicated servers and no port forwarding to configure. One player hosts the session and everyone else joins through the Steam lobby browser or a direct invite, up to eight players total (the host plus seven). Player data is stored per server.
Hosting a Lobby
Press Escape, then Options, then Host Options to control the session. You can set a password, choose between public, friends-only, and invite-only visibility, grant or deny build permissions, and kick or ban players.
Always set a password if you want a private session. Open lobbies attract random players, and overwhelmed hosts frequently panic-kick new joiners instead of managing their lobbies properly.
You do not need a lobby for achievements. Solo Endurance tracks them fine. What matters is being in Endurance at all, since Survival, Creative, and Dragon Endurance award nothing.
Finding Active Players
The public lobby browser often shows zero open games. This does not mean the game is dead, since most of the remaining community organizes outside the game.
A community-run Discord exists and hosts occasional community nights to fill lobbies, and there is an active Steam group (CMZPC). Check the Steam community hub for current invite links, since community server links go stale quickly and any invite printed in a guide is likely dead by the time you read it.
Hidden Inventory Controls
The game provides no on-screen tutorials for advanced inventory manipulation. These controls are critical for efficient play, especially in co-op.
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| Split a stack in half | Right-click on any item stack in your inventory. |
| Drop items one at a time | After right-clicking to split, keep right-clicking before placing the items down. Each click drops a single unit. |
| Hotbar retention on death | Items in your hotbar stay with you when you die, while your main inventory drops on the ground. Always keep your best weapon, pickaxe, and ammunition in hotbar slots. The exception is Hardcore difficulty, where you lose the hotbar too. |
Character Customization on PC
CastleMiner Z launched on Xbox 360 as an Xbox Live Indie Game in November 2011, where players appeared as their Xbox Live Avatars. The Steam version arrived in February 2014 with a single fixed character model instead, and there is no in-game customization on PC.
Interestingly, the developers left a placeholder avatar in the game files, and the modding community has replaced player models from there. So the PC model is fixed and not truly unalterable, though nothing in the vanilla interface lets you change it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CastleMiner Z have dedicated servers?
No. The game runs on peer-to-peer multiplayer with no port forwarding needed. One player hosts and up to seven others join through the Steam lobby browser or a direct invite, for eight players total.
How do you split a stack of items?
Right-click on any item stack in your inventory to split it in half. Keep right-clicking before you place the items down and each click drops a single unit, which matters for sharing ammunition in co-op.
Why are there no open lobbies in the browser?
The public browser often shows zero open games, but the community organizes elsewhere. A community Discord runs occasional nights to fill lobbies and there is an active Steam group, though invite links go stale fast, so check the Steam community hub for current ones.
Can you customize your character on PC?
Not in game. The Xbox 360 version used Xbox Live Avatars, while the 2014 Steam release ships a single fixed model with no customization interface. Modders have replaced player models using a placeholder avatar left in the game files.
Do I need to be online to earn achievements?
No. Solo Endurance tracks achievements fine. The requirement is the mode, not the connection, since Survival, Creative, and Dragon Endurance award nothing at all.
What to Read Next
- Game Modes. Which modes support co-op and how they scale.
- Getting Started. Basics to know before joining someone else in a lobby.
- Weapons and Tiers. Splitting tier progression across a co-op group.