Getting all four missing kids back to camp is not optional in 99 Nights in the Forest. If you ignore them, the nights drag on, the Deer keeps getting stronger, and the run slowly slips out of your control. Most failed runs do not happen because of bad combat, but because players rush rescues without understanding how campfire levels, map access, and enemy difficulty scale.
This guide walks you through exactly how to find and rescue every missing kid in the correct flow, without overcomplicating things or wasting days.
How the missing kids system actually works
Your rescue journey starts at the campfire, not in the forest. Right next to the fire, you will find the Missing Kids Board. This board controls everything related to the rescue quest. As you upgrade your campfire, new kid posters unlock one by one. Clicking a poster activates a red directional arrow at the top of your screen that points toward the kid’s location.
That arrow is your main navigation tool. If you also craft a compass, the same direction shows there too, which helps a lot when visibility drops or you get chased at night. Crafting plays a bigger role here than most players expect, and knowing what you can make early saves a lot of trial and error. If you want to plan that properly, having a look at all the craftable items in the game helps set expectations early.
You can find the full crafting list here: all craftable items in 99 Nights in the Forest.
Each missing kid is locked inside a cave behind a colored gate. You cannot open these gates directly. A key drops only after you defeat every enemy guarding that cave. With each rescue, your day counter increases, which means time moves faster every night. It sounds risky, but it helps you reach later stages of the game sooner once you are prepared.
One small but useful detail many players miss is audio. When you get close to a missing kid’s cave, you can hear crying sounds. If your arrow feels unreliable because of terrain, trusting your ears often works better.
The order you should rescue the kids
There are four missing kids in total. While the game does not force an order, the difficulty clearly ramps up. Rescuing them in a clean sequence makes the whole run smoother.
Before breaking it down, here is the full overview so you know what you are preparing for.
| Key color | Missing kid | Campfire level needed | Enemies guarding the cave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Dino Kid | Level 3 | 5 wolves with red collars |
| Blue | Kraken Kid | Level 4 | 4 alpha wolves with blue collars |
| Yellow | Squid Kid | Level 5 | 2 bears |
| Black | Koala Kid | Level 5 or higher | 6 alpha bears |
Dino Kid is your first real test
Once your campfire reaches level 3, the Dino Kid poster becomes active. Follow the arrow and you will reach a small hill with a metal gate. Five wolves wearing red collars patrol this area.
These are regular wolves, but do not underestimate them early game. Before engaging, check nearby chests for a spear or revolver. Trading animal pelts early can also help if your loot luck is bad.
Pull the wolves one by one if possible. Headshots make a big difference here. After all five are defeated, one drops the red key. Use it on the red gate, go inside the cave, and you will find the Dino Kid along with a bonus chest.
Carry the kid back to camp and place them near the fire. They will walk a few steps and set up their own tent.
Kraken Kid turns the pressure up
At campfire level 4, the Kraken Kid becomes available. The arrow usually leads you to a playground area, and this is where fights start getting more punishing.
Four alpha wolves with blue collars guard this cave. They are faster, hit harder, and punish mistakes. This is where slowing down matters. Bring healing items, make sure your weapon is reliable, and avoid fighting more than one wolf at a time.
Around this stage, your class choice starts to matter more than it did early game. Some classes handle pressure better once enemy speed and damage ramp up. If you ever feel like the game suddenly got harder than expected, it usually helps to understand how the different classes compare.
You can see a full breakdown of the classes and how they perform here: all 99 Nights in the Forest classes and class tier list.
Once the last alpha wolf goes down, pick up the blue key, unlock the gate, and rescue the Kraken Kid.
Squid Kid is where gear starts to matter
You cannot reach the Squid Kid until your campfire hits level 5. This upgrade also opens up the far edges of the map, so expect longer travel time.
The cave is usually near a group of huts in an open area. Two bears guard the entrance. While there are only two, they have high health and deal heavy damage.
This is where stronger weapons and careful positioning matter most. Take your time, avoid trading hits, and focus on finishing one bear before dealing with the other. Once both are defeated, collect the yellow key, open the gate, and bring Squid Kid back to camp.
Koala Kid is the hardest fight in the game
The Koala Kid rescue is the most difficult part of the quest. The campfire requirement is level 5 or higher, but preparation matters far more than the number itself.
Six alpha bears guard the final cave. Fighting them together is almost always a mistake. Use terrain to break line of sight, rely on traps, and do not hesitate to disengage and return the next day. Clearing this area over multiple days is completely normal.
Once the final alpha bear falls, the black key drops. Use it to unlock the gate and rescue the Koala Kid, completing the missing kids objective.
What changes after each rescue
Every rescued kid adds a tent near your campfire. This is a visual indicator of progress, but the real reward is mechanical. Each rescue increases the number of days passed per night, accelerating progression toward the endgame.
The kids are completely safe once they are back at camp. You do not need to defend them or manage them further.
Final takeaway
Rescuing all missing kids in 99 Nights in the Forest is less about rushing and more about reading the game’s difficulty curve correctly. Follow the campfire upgrades, respect enemy scaling, and prepare before each rescue. If you take it step by step, the forest becomes manageable, and the game starts working with you instead of against you.
