Honestly, if you haven’t logged into the game this weekend, you’re missing out on a massive shift in how survival works. The 99 nights in the forest new update, which officially dropped on January 17, 2026, is a lot more than just a few bug fixes or a new coat of paint. It’s officially the Caves Part 2 expansion, and it basically turns the entire progression system upside down by forcing us to look down instead of just scanning the treeline for that creepy deer.
The forest has always been a claustrophobic mess, but now the "Deeper Sections" are open. It’s dark. It’s loud. And it’s surprisingly explosive.
What actually changed in the Caves Part 2 expansion?
The big news is the Cave Expansion. Developers Grandma's Favourite Games finally unlocked the deeper regions of the cave system that they teased back in November. These aren't just empty tunnels. These are entire biomes buried beneath the grass. If you’ve spent the last few months just kiting the Deer around the campfire, you’re going to have to change your strat.
The update introduced Explosives. We're talking thrown weapons, explosive ammo, and literal bombs. You need these. Why? Because the paths to the deeper loot are physically blocked. You can’t just walk in anymore. You have to blast your way through.
Wait, there's more. The Decorator class just got a huge overhaul. It’s now a Gamepass-style unlock. If you already owned the Decorator, you’re grandfathered in, which is cool. But the kicker is that you can now combine its building benefits with other classes. Imagine having the defensive perks of a Base Defender but still being able to place those high-tier Decorator items. It’s kind of a game-changer for base building.
The end of the North Pole biome
We also have to say goodbye to the holiday stuff. As of the first week of January, the North Pole biome is officially gone. No more farming event currency. No more fake Santa mini-bosses in the workshop basement. If you didn't spend your event points, you're kinda out of luck. The forest has returned to its "usual" appearance, though "usual" still means being hunted by a two-legged deer god and a bunch of cultists.
New mechanics you need to know:
- The Basement Entity: There is a weird unknown entity behind bars in the basement of the workshop. You need a shovel to get down there. Nobody is 100% sure what it does yet, but it’s definitely not friendly.
- Admin Rain Events: During the New Year’s transition, admins were literally dropping Diamonds and Riot Shields from the sky. While the "rain" has stopped, the afterparty code (which gives 15 Diamonds) is still reportedly working for most players.
- Volcanic vs. Snow: With the snow melting, the Volcanic Biome is back to being the primary high-risk area. If you’re heading there, remember you need the Infernal weapons to really stand a chance against the Cultist King.
Why the "Caves" focus matters for your survival
Survival in 99 Nights in the Forest has always been about the campfire. Keep it lit, or you're dead. Simple. But the new update adds a layer of "underground survival" where the campfire doesn't help you as much. You're relying on the new Admin Flashlight (if you were lucky enough to snag one during the event) or high-tier torches.
The deeper you go, the more you find fragments of the "Gem of the Forest." This isn't just lore. You need these fragments to craft top-tier structures. If you're stuck with level 1 or 2 walls, the newer, aggressive entities added in this patch will tear through your camp in seconds.
I've seen a lot of players complaining that the game is getting too hard. It is. The "Deer is hurt" update from late 2025 was a teaser, but now the monster is agitated. The AI is supposedly learning from player movements more effectively now. If you stay in the same corner of the map every night, don't be surprised when the Deer finds a way around your barricades.
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How to handle the new difficulty spike
First, check your class. If you're still running Scavenger because you like the extra sack space, you might want to switch to Berserker or Undead if you have the Diamonds. The Undead class is particularly broken right now because you can move for 8 seconds after "dying," which is usually enough time to crawl back into the light of the campfire and get a revive.
Second, start fishing. Seriously. There’s a weird trick where typing "Yay fishing" in the chat while you have a rod out gives you two free Diamonds. It only works once, but every bit helps when you're trying to save up for the 400-Diamond classes like the Beastmaster.
Practical steps for your next run:
- Grab a Shovel: You can't access the new basement content without it.
- Stockpile Explosives: Don't waste your bombs on regular cultists. Save them for the rock walls in the deep caves.
- Check the Class Stock: The shop rotates every 24 hours. If the Lumberjack is in stock, buy it. It's still the best for speedrunning the 99-night requirement because of the wood bonus.
- Rescue the Kids Fast: Every child you find and bring back to the fire actually reduces the total number of nights you need to survive. It’s the only way to "skip" the grind.
The 99 nights in the forest new update has basically turned the game into a vertical experience. You spend the day blasting rocks in the caves and the night defending your loot at the surface. It’s stressful, it’s buggy at times, and it’s definitely harder than it was last month. But that’s why we’re playing, right?
Get down into those caves and start mining. The new gear hidden in the deep sections is the only way you're going to survive until night 99.