Once a viral hit, Muck is a free-to-play survival game available on Steam that blends crafting, base-building, and relentless nightly combat. Created by YouTuber Dani as part of a joke challenge, Muck unexpectedly found its footing with players who loved its quirky style and intense gameplay loop. But in 2025, does it still hold up? And more importantly, is it still fun?
Multiplayer in 2025 – A Struggle to Connect
Before diving into gameplay, it’s worth addressing a key issue: multiplayer isn’t what it used to be. Muck doesn’t offer public matchmaking, so joining games means tracking down lobby codes. These days, you’ll probably need to dig through Discord to find other active players and even then, games are hit or miss. That said, once you’re in, the fun can definitely begin.
Gameplay Overview
Muck borrows heavily from the survival genre with a formula that’ll feel familiar to Minecraft fans. You gather resources like wood, stone, and ore. You craft tools, weapons, and armour. You can explore villages, chop down trees, mine for iron, and build up your gear.
But the similarities mostly end there.
Where Minecraft offers calm creativity, Muck cranks up the chaos. Each day is a brief moment to collect and prepare. Then night falls and the madness begins. Waves of enemies spawn like clockwork. From small goblin-like creatures to hulking rock giants, enemies flood your space with one goal: destruction.
Your base isn’t safe. Enemies can and will destroy anything you build, meaning cosy, creative structures won’t last long. Survival is about mobility, quick upgrades, and reacting fast, not building long-term shelters.
Graphics and Style
Muck is visually odd in the best way. It walks a weird line between silly and slightly creepy, with simplistic, exaggerated models and strange enemy designs. It’s not trying to be beautiful and that’s part of the charm. Its oddball presentation adds to the sense of unpredictable fun.
What Works (and What Doesn’t)
One thing Muck does well is ramp up the tension. There’s always a sense of urgency, and you can’t really go on autopilot. If you’re playing with friends, that urgency becomes a shared panic that can be hilarious, or stressful depending on your group.
However, that fast pace also works against the game. It’s not very relaxing. It demands attention, and failing to prepare means restarting completely. This loop can wear thin, especially if you’re playing solo.
Final Thoughts
Muck is an odd, wild ride, and that’s exactly what made it popular. But as time has passed and the player base has shrunk, it’s a little harder to enjoy unless you have a friend group ready to dive in. It’s not for players looking to chill and build in peace. It’s a frantic survival sprint, night after night.
Rating: 6/10 – Fun with friends, but not for everyone.
If you like fast-paced survival, frequent restarts, and a bit of madness, Muck might be your thing. If not, you might want something more forgiving.