Trash Day Guide

Trash Day co-op guide — bring a crew

Quick answer

Up to 6 players online; balanced for co-op even though solo works. Couch co-op is not committed — plan a third-party call and for everyone to own the game.

Official screenshot: animals on the road with a truck parked behind

Built for a crew

Trash Day is designed around online co-op for up to 6 players. The store page says you "technically can play solo… but the wagon is a lot for one raccoon," and the Next Fest announcement is blunter: "Trash Day is balanced for co-op, so bring a squad of up to 6 players."

The launch announcement's own summary of the intended experience: "Someone can steer. Someone can push. Someone will insist the plan was working perfectly until you got involved. That's teamwork. Probably."

Facts, up front

QuestionAnswer
PlayersUp to 6, online
SoloPossible, explicitly not the balance target
Couch co-op / split screenNot committed. The FAQ says there were "more requests than we expected" but the team will not promise it before launch
Cross-platformNo — Steam (PC) only at launch
Voice chat in-gameNot listed. The store lists "Custom Volume Controls"; plan a third-party call if you want comms

How to set up a game

  1. Everyone needs Trash Day on Steam — the demo works too while it is live, and demo co-op supports the same 6-player cap.
  2. Party up in the game's online co-op lobby (the demo had one; the full game uses the same flow).
  3. Agree on roles before the first hill: tongue steerer, push crew, spotter. See the wagon guide.
  4. Set your audio once. Full controller support is listed, so couch players can join the same online session from one machine's controller.

Playing with strangers or alone

  • If your group is 2–3 people, expect the wagon to feel heavy. That is not you playing it wrong — that is the balance.
  • Solo runs exist, and the demo let players complete it alone, but every mechanic (pushing, repairs, stacking, watching the road) lands on one raccoon at once.
  • The community found the demo "really fun" to complete with a sibling or a friend in about an hour of play, per Steam reviews — a good difficulty gauge for a duo.

Why the crew is the point

The design post about deleting the inventory says it clearly: the game is "about chaotic co-op" and "you and your friends physically interacting with the world." The failures are the content — a friend launching your valuables into a ditch is not a bug, it is the product description.

Sources

  • Steam store page description and FAQ, checked October 6, 2026.
  • "The TRASH DAY Demo is LIVE for Steam Next Fest!" — June 16, 2026 (6-player co-op balance note).
  • "October 13th is Trash Day!" — September 10, 2026 (launch crew summary).
  • "Why we deleted the inventory system" — April 16, 2026.
Keep browsing

All guides12

Trash Day release date, price and platformsStart

Trash Day release date, price and platforms

Trash Day beginner guide — the first hourStart

Trash Day beginner guide — the first hour

Trash Day demo vs full gameStart

Trash Day demo vs full game

Trash Day wagon physics and hauling guideWagon

Trash Day wagon physics and hauling guide

Trash Day trash and values guideLoot

Trash Day trash and values guide

Trash Day controls and settingsSetup

Trash Day controls and settings

Trash Day areas and route guideWorld

Trash Day areas and route guide

Trash Day animals and hazards guideWorld

Trash Day animals and hazards guide

Trash Day hats, skins and cosmeticsExtras

Trash Day hats, skins and cosmetics

Trash Day demo updates and patch notesUpdates

Trash Day demo updates and patch notes

Trash Day roadmap and dev plansPlans

Trash Day roadmap and dev plans

Trash Day FAQ — launch questions answeredFAQ

Trash Day FAQ — launch questions answered