How to play Horizon with friends

Same pack, same version

Everyone should install the same server-safe pack at the same version. The launcher shows the pack version on the profile; a mismatch is the most common “I cannot join”.

Campfire is the pack built for this: voice chat, chat heads and a server browser. Duel works for PvP. High Voltage, Drift and Any% are not server packs.

LAN

If everyone is on the same network, host from the launcher and share the local address. No port forwarding, no account for the server itself.

LAN is the fastest path for a first test. If it works, move to a public path only when you need it.

Invite codes

Horizon can issue an invite code for a hosted world. The code carries the address and the pack, so the guest does not have to type an IP.

Invite codes are time-limited by design. Do not post one in a public chat; create a new one for each group.

A public port or a VPN

• Public: forward the Horizon server port on the router, or enable UPnP if the launcher supports it. Test from outside your network before inviting anyone.
• VPN: Radmin VPN, Tailscale or ZeroTier put everyone on one private network. This avoids port forwarding and is the safer default for a small group.
• Whitelist: turn it on before the first stranger joins. Back up the world before the first session, not after.

If a friend cannot join

• Check the pack version on both sides; “latest” is not a version.
• Check the server log for the connection attempt and the reason.
• A client-side mod that a server rejects will show up as a disconnect, not a crash.
• Voice chat needs UDP; if voice fails but the world works, the port range is the problem.