After a longer-than-usual content break, 99 Nights in the Forest is back in full swing with The Forest Wakes Up, which dropped on June 13, 2026, alongside a limited-time event running through June 20. The patch marks the game's return to its roughly two-week update cadence and brings a surprising amount of quality-of-life work alongside its headline world-building additions. Whether you are a veteran hunting specific chest tiers or a newcomer still finding your footing in the opening days of a run, this update has something meaningful for every type of player.
Lobby Selection: Choose Your Biome and Difficulty Before You Spawn
The most immediately impactful change in this patch is lobby selection for Biome and Hardcore mode, which went live on June 14, one day after the main patch itself. Previously, every session started with whatever configuration the server happened to be running. Now you can pick your biome and toggle Hardcore before you ever load in.
This change reshapes how experienced players plan their sessions. The Forest, Snow, and Volcanic biomes each carry a distinct loot spread across their chest tiers. The Snow Biome's Ice Chests yield Ice Axes, Ice Swords, and Frozen Shurikens — strong midgame weapons that become much more reliable when you can guarantee the biome. The Volcanic Biome is home to the Hellephant, a hostile Mammoth variant with 800 HP and 30 damage per hit, guarded by Cultists and occasionally dropping the prized Mammoth Tusk on death. Targeting that biome specifically rather than leaving it to chance transforms Mammoth Tusk farming from an unpredictable side outcome into a concrete session goal.
For Hardcore players, the benefit is different but equally important: you no longer have to hope a server is already running the harder ruleset when you join. You set it yourself from the lobby and start immediately on the terms you wanted.
The Sawmill: A New Crafting Node and Material Tier
The Sawmill is the defining new location in The Forest Wakes Up. It introduces a Plank material flow, meaning logs can now be converted into planks at this dedicated structure. The existing material ecosystem in 99 Nights in the Forest consists of Wood, Scrap, Cultist Gems, and Gems of the Forest — Planks represent a new processed intermediate that should unlock additional crafting options as future patches build on this foundation.
The practical impact right now is twofold. First, the Sawmill is a new landmark to route through during the early and middle days of a run, which adds meaningful decision-making to resource splits: do you commit logs to campfire fuel and upgrades, or invest some into Plank production? Second, getting familiar with the Sawmill's location and workflow now prepares you for when new Plank-gated recipes inevitably arrive.
Dilapidated Building and Seven New World Structures
The Dilapidated Building received focused improvements this update, making it a more genuinely useful point of interest. Before this patch, it was largely an empty shell that players jogged through while hunting scrap. The improvements add detail and make the building worth a deliberate stop, particularly in the early days of a run when every resource matters.
Beyond those two headline additions, 7 new default structures were scattered across the world, giving the map noticeably more density. More structures mean more chest opportunities and more resources for players who invest time exploring rather than camping near their starting point.
Eight New Badges and the Diamond Economy
The update ships with 8 new Roblox badges, building on a badge roster that already covers a broad range of playstyle goals. Badges in 99 Nights in the Forest all reward diamonds, the lobby currency used between runs. Here is a sample of the permanent badge roster and their diamond values:
| Badge | How to Earn | Stars | Diamonds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survive 10 Days | Reach day 10 | 1 star | 2 |
| Survive 20 Days | Reach day 20 | 2 stars | 4 |
| Survive 50 Days | Reach day 50 | 2 stars | 4 |
| Survive 80 Days | Reach day 80 | 2 stars | 4 |
| Teamwork | Survive 99 days with 5 players | 4 stars | 8 |
| Gardening | Buy seeds from the Fairy | 1 star | 2 |
| Combat | Defend your campfire from Cultists | 1 star | 2 |
| Hunting | Complete all Pelt Trader quests | 2 stars | 4 |
| Infiltration | Clear the Cultist Stronghold | 2 stars | 4 |
| Usurpation | Defeat the Cultist King | 1 star | 4 |
| Beastmaster | Defeat the Frog King | 1 star | 4 |
The 8 new badges from this patch expand that pool further. With no time limit on badge completion, there is no urgency — but clearing them shortly after an update while you are actively playing is the most efficient approach. Visit the badges page for the full current list.
Chest Loot Overview
Understanding the chest ecosystem helps you decide which structures and biomes to prioritize on a given run. Here is a current reference for the main chest types in the game:
| Chest | Notable Loot |
|---|---|
| Common Chest | Bandage, Old Rod, Revolver + Ammo, Fuel Canister |
| Iron Chest | Rifle + Ammo, Strong Flashlight, Defensive Blueprint Spikes |
| Ice Chest | Ice Axe, Ice Sword, Frozen Shuriken |
| Vampire Chest | Vampire Cloak, Scythe, Bouncing Blade |
| Ruby Chest | Chainsaw, Riot Shield, Thorn Body, Tactical Shotgun |
| Alien Chest | Alien Armour, Laser Sword, Laser Cannon, Ray Gun |
Performance Improvements and Stability
A substantial portion of this patch is dedicated to under-the-hood performance work and small gameplay corrections. The development team has clearly prioritized making the existing game smoother before adding more systems — a healthy signal for long-term stability. If you experienced frame drops or hitching in dense forested areas, this update is worth testing again.
How to Adapt Your Runs
The Forest Wakes Up is best approached as a systems patch with meaningful quality-of-life gains rather than a pure content drop. Here is how to take advantage immediately:
- Route the Sawmill in your early-day sweep. Planks are new and their full uses are still emerging — building the habit now pays off when new recipes arrive.
- Use biome selection deliberately. Volcanic Biome for Mammoth Tusk hunting and Hellephant kills, Snow Biome for Ice chest weapons, Forest Biome for standard pelt farming and campfire-level routing.
- Clear the 8 new badges for diamonds. No time limit, but doing it while you are actively running is most efficient.
- Stop at the Dilapidated Building. Its improvements make it a better resource stop in the early days of any run.
What to Expect Next
The developer has confirmed the two-week update cadence is restored, pointing toward the next content drop around June 27, 2026. Given that The Forest Wakes Up expanded the world with new structures and the Plank material, a follow-up that deepens crafting or introduces new biome content would be a natural continuation. Watch the codes page when the next patch lands — new codes almost always ship alongside major updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly did The Forest Wakes Up go live?
The main patch launched on June 13, 2026. Biome and Hardcore lobby selection followed on June 14.
How long did the limited-time event last?
The event ran from June 13 to June 20, 2026.
What is the Sawmill for?
The Sawmill converts logs into Planks, a new intermediate crafting material introduced in this update.
Were any new classes added in this update?
No. The class roster and balance remain unchanged from the previous cycle.
When is the next update coming?
Based on the confirmed two-week cadence, the next update is expected around June 27, 2026.