HANDS OVER Multiplayer: Players, Friends and Lobbies

Player count and the lobby start rule

ArtDock confirms multiplayer matches with up to five players in the Early Access version. Steam lists Online Co-op and Online PvP: friends share the table, but can bluff and sabotage one another while trying to survive. Official Steam page

An official Steam lobby screenshot, labelled version 1.0.0r31, says that at least two players are needed to start. This establishes the start rule shown in that screenshot, rather than promising a solo mode or bots. Official lobby screenshot

Why can’t the host start?

The screenshot gives a clear readiness rule:

1. Players who joined or were invited press READY.
2. They wait for the host.
3. The host can press START once every lobby member is ready.

If the group cannot start, first compare the player count and readiness state with those instructions. This is a rule shown by the game, not a tested fix for every lobby failure. The same screen shows INVITE FRIEND and a JOIN CODE. A developer’s support reply also distinguishes Steam invitations from lobby-code joins when investigating connection problems. Lobby instructions · Developer reply

Modes, locations and finding friends

That version’s lobby text describes three game modes and three locations, with selection through the mode image. It also says a character can be changed by left-clicking the character. These are official screenshot observations, not hands-on testing of the installed game. Check your current screen if its instructions differ. Version 1.0.0r31 lobby

Looking for a group? ArtDock’s launch announcement points to its official Discord for finding teammates. This does not guarantee a particular number of players online. Launch announcement

If a friend gets disconnected

Record whether the interruption happened while joining, loading, playing or returning after a match. Our private-lobby disconnect guide follows ArtDock’s request for reproduction details and logs.

The demo and paid game have separate Steam app IDs. Cross-version play is not established by these sources; compare which app everyone installed before assuming they can join each other. Read Early Access and demo for the version distinction.

Checked November 14, 2026. Console crossplay and demo-to-release lobby compatibility remain unconfirmed.