How to Play Deep Rock Galactic on PC in 2026 — Complete Setup & Co-op Guide

Deep Rock Galactic is a co-op first-person mining and bug-shooting game developed by Ghost Ship Games. Released in full in 2020 after Early Access, it has earned over 250,000 Steam reviews, the vast majority overwhelmingly positive, making it one of the highest-rated co-op games on Steam. With over 5 million players and a passionate community, DRG is regularly cited as one of the finest four-player co-op experiences available. This guide covers PC installation, system requirements, performance tuning, a beginner's walkthrough of all four classes, the mission structure, and the most common questions new miners ask.

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What Is Deep Rock Galactic?

Set on the mineral-rich planet Hoxxes IV, DRG puts you and up to three teammates in the boots of Space Dwarves working for the Deep Rock Galactic corporation. Your job: descend into procedurally generated cave systems, mine resources, complete objectives, and fight your way back to the drop pod while waves of alien bugs try to stop you.

The game is fully cooperative — there is no PvP mode. You either play online with up to three other players, or solo with BOSCO, an AI drone companion. Every mission is procedurally generated, meaning cave layouts, enemy spawns, and resource locations change each run. The result is high replayability and consistently fresh encounters even after hundreds of hours.

Key pillars of the experience:

• Four asymmetric classes with distinct roles and tools — no two dwarves play the same
• Procedural generation of every cave, guaranteed different every time
• Fully destructible terrain — drill anywhere, create your own paths, reshape the entire level
• No PvP, no toxicity — the community is famously welcoming; "Rock and Stone" is a beloved in-game salute
• Deep progression — overclocks, upgrades, cosmetics, and Seasons with battle passes

DRG is available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass (PC). The base game costs approximately $30 USD on Steam; it is frequently on sale. As of 2025, the game supports cross-play between Steam and Xbox versions.

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System Requirements

Minimum

Recommended

DRG is well-optimized and runs smoothly on mid-range hardware. The game uses Unreal Engine 4 and scales well down to older systems. A GTX 1060 at 1080p typically holds 60+ FPS on High settings. The 15 GB install size is lean by modern standards.

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How to Install Deep Rock Galactic on PC

Via Steam

1. Open the Steam client (download from steampowered.com if needed)
2. Search "Deep Rock Galactic" or browse to the store page
3. Purchase the base game (~$30 USD; check for sales — DRG goes on sale regularly)
4. Click Install and choose your drive
5. Launch via the Steam library

No launcher beyond Steam is required. The game launches directly.

Via Xbox Game Pass (PC)

1. Open the Xbox app on Windows 10/11 (install from microsoft.com/en-us/gaming/xbox-game-pass)
2. Ensure you have an active Game Pass subscription
3. Search "Deep Rock Galactic" in the Xbox app
4. Click Install — the game will install via the Xbox app ecosystem
5. Launch from the Xbox app or Start menu

Cross-play note: Steam and Xbox Game Pass players can play together via the in-game cross-play lobby system. When hosting, the game generates a share code that any version can use to join.

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Performance Optimization

Graphics Settings (for 60 FPS on mid-range GPU)

Frame Rate Target

• 60 FPS is the standard playable target
• 144+ FPS is achievable on mid-high GPUs; use the Uncapped frame rate option
• Bug swarms in later hazard levels create GPU spikes — keep Effects at Medium or lower if you dip below 60

Launch Options (Steam)

Right-click the game in Steam → Properties → General → Launch Options:

-dx11

Force DirectX 11 if you experience crashes with the default renderer. DRG also supports Vulkan via -vulkan, which some AMD GPU owners report as smoother.

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The Four Classes — Roles and Playstyle

Deep Rock Galactic has four distinct dwarf classes. Every class is useful; the best team composition uses all four, though any combination can clear any mission.

Scout

Role: Mobility, scouting, lighting Primary weapon: DRAK-25 Plasma Carbine or Deepcore GK2 (assault rifle) Special: Grappling Hook — infinite uses, no cooldown Light Flares: throw anywhere to illuminate dark areas

The Scout is the fastest, most mobile class. The grappling hook lets you reach high caves, escape swarms, and collect distant minerals. Your job is to light up the cave, call out enemy positions, and use your high-accuracy weapons to pick off flying enemies (Naedocytes, Mactera). Beginners often find Scout hardest — your survivability depends on movement more than raw health or armor.

Best for: Players who like mobility and precision shooting.

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Driller

Role: Terrain control, crowd control, pathfinding Primary weapon: Cryo Cannon, Flamethrower, or Sludge Pump Special: Electric Drill — creates tunnels through any terrain

The Driller reshapes the battlefield. Need a shortcut to the extraction pod? Drill it. Surrounded? Drill an escape tunnel. Enemies clumped? Freeze them with Cryo Cannon and shatter them. The Driller is also the best class for getting teammates unstuck and creating efficient mining routes. Your area-of-effect weapons handle swarms effectively, and the C4 Explosive Plant provides devastating burst damage.

Best for: Strategic players who think about terrain and crowd control.

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Gunner

Role: Sustained DPS, shield deployment Primary weapon: Minigun (Hurricane Guided Rocket System) or autocannon Special: Zip Line Launcher — deploy traversal lines across large caves; Shield Generator — deploy a protective bubble

The Gunner is the team's main damage dealer and sustain engine. Miniguns shred bugs consistently; the autocannon handles armored targets. The Shield Generator is one of the most powerful team tools in the game — deploy it during a desperate defense and everyone inside takes reduced damage. Zip lines help the team navigate vertically without the Scout's grapple.

Best for: Players who want to focus on raw firepower and team support.

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Engineer

Role: Area denial, elevated platforms, turret support Primary weapon: Jury-Rigged Boomstick (shotgun) or Warthog Auto 210 Special: Platform Gun — creates solid platforms on any surface; Sentry Gun — deployable turret

The Engineer builds. Platforms let teammates reach high mineral deposits without the Scout. The sentry gun holds a lane independently, freeing the team to mine or push objectives. Proximity Mines provide devastating area denial against swarming bugs. Engineers are the backbone of efficient mining runs — a good Engineer makes every objective faster.

Best for: Players who enjoy building and tactical placement.

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Mission Types

DRG has six distinct mission types, each with different objectives and structure:

Deep Dives are the pinnacle weekly challenge — every player worldwide runs the same three-stage cave with the same modifiers. "Elite Deep Dives" are the hardest variant and require solid class upgrades.

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Hazard Levels

Every mission has a Hazard Level (1–5+) that scales enemy count, aggression, and health:

Start at Hazard 2 to learn mechanics, move to Hazard 3 once comfortable, and farm Hazard 4 for Overclock drops and Minerals.

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Progression System

DRG has a deep but fair progression loop:

1. Rank (1–100+): Overall account level. Cosmetic milestone — doesn't gate content.
2. Class Upgrades: Spend Credits and Minerals to unlock weapon upgrades for each class. Four tiers, 2–3 choices per tier. These are the primary power upgrade path.
3. Overclocks: Rare weapon modification blueprints dropped from missions. Overclocks are the biggest power multipliers — they change how a weapon fundamentally plays. Earned via the Assignment system and forged at the Machine Management terminal.
4. Cosmetics: Hats, beards, armor paint, weapon skins — mostly cosmetic but extensive. Earned through missions, Milestones, and Season passes.
5. Promotions: Once all upgrades are unlocked for a class, you can Promote it. Promotions reset class rank to 1 but award Prestige cosmetics and unlock the ability to earn Overclocks for that class.

Priority order for new players:

1. Unlock basic weapon upgrades (tiers 1–3 on your main class weapon)
2. Complete the Assignment board tutorials
3. Farm Hazard 3–4 missions for Minerals
4. Start farming Overclocks on your main class first

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Common Errors and Fixes

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Beginner Tips

Rock and Stone. The community salute. Press V (default) to voice it. Never skip a Rock and Stone.

Resupply Pod costs Nitra. Every resupply costs 80 Nitra. Mine Nitra aggressively — it's the green crystal, always valuable. Call a resupply before you're fully out of ammo, not after.

Stay together. DRG is not a solo game in co-op mode. Bugs target isolated dwarves. Stay within revive range of teammates.

Watch the mini-map. Press Tab to open the expanded map. Use it to track teammates, objectives, and the drop pod location.

BOSCO is good for solo. If playing solo, BOSCO (your AI drone) can carry 1 Egg, revive you once, and shoot enemies. Don't underestimate it.

The Abyss Bar. Between missions, visit the Space Rig's bar. Order a barrel roll. It does nothing useful and takes 10 seconds. Do it anyway.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Deep Rock Galactic free to play? No. It costs approximately $30 USD on Steam. However, it is included with Xbox Game Pass (PC), which is a subscription service. DRG is frequently on sale on Steam, often 50–75% off during seasonal sales.

Can I play solo? Yes. Solo mode gives you BOSCO, an AI companion drone that can shoot, carry an Egg objective, and revive you once. All missions are completable solo, though Hazard 4+ is challenging without teammates.

Is there cross-play? Yes, full cross-play between Steam and Xbox Game Pass (PC). Console cross-play also exists — PlayStation and Xbox players can join Steam lobbies.

How many players per match? 1–4 players. All missions scale to team size automatically — smaller teams face fewer bugs.

What is the best class for beginners? Driller and Gunner are most forgiving — high health, simple weapons, clear roles. Scout is the hardest mechanically (grapple-dependent mobility).

Does DRG have microtransactions? Seasonal cosmetic DLC exists (paid battle pass), but all gameplay content — missions, overclocks, weapon upgrades — is earnable through play. No pay-to-win elements.

How often does the game update? DRG receives quarterly Seasons with new cosmetics and gameplay tweaks. The developer, Ghost Ship Games, has maintained the game actively since 2018.

What is the endgame? Elite Deep Dives, Hazard 5 missions, completing Overclocks for all classes, Promotions, and cosmetic collection. The community also organizes modded servers for custom experiences.

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Summary

Deep Rock Galactic is one of the best co-op games available on PC — cooperative, fair, consistently funny, and built with genuine craft. It runs well on modest hardware, installs in under 15 GB, and is available on both Steam and Game Pass. The four asymmetric classes mean there is always a role that fits your playstyle. For new players: start at Hazard 2, learn one class first, and always answer Rock and Stone.

Rock and Stone, miner.