There are four missing kids in 99 Nights in the Forest: Dino Kid, Kraken Kid, Squid Kid, and Koala Kid. Each one is locked in a cave behind a colored gate, and you open it by killing the guards, who drop the matching key. The caves appear as you upgrade your campfire, roughly from Level 2 for Dino Kid up to Level 6 for Koala Kid. As of the latest update, rescued kids also work jobs around camp: Dino Kid chops wood, Kraken Kid fishes, Squid Kid cooks, and Koala Kid gathers scrap.
All 4 Missing Kids at a Glance
| Kid | Campfire Level | Key | Guards | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dino Kid | Usually 2 (sometimes 3) | Red | 5 wolves with red collars | Easy |
| Kraken Kid | Usually 4 (sometimes 5) | Blue | 4 alpha wolves with blue collars | Medium |
| Squid Kid | Usually 5 (sometimes 6) | Yellow | 2 bears with yellow collars | Hard |
| Koala Kid | 6 | Grey | 6 bears | Hardest |
The campfire levels are approximate. Guides agree on the general order, but a cave can show up one level later on some maps, so treat the numbers as a search trigger, not a guarantee. Koala Kid’s key is grey in most guides, and a few call it black.
Where the Kids Are: Why No One Can Give You Coordinates
The forest layout changes between runs, so the caves don’t have fixed locations. Any guide that gives you exact coordinates is wrong. What stays consistent is the system that points you to them:
- Find the Missing Kids board at your campfire. It unlocks posters one at a time as your campfire levels up.
- Click a kid’s poster. A red arrow appears at the top of your screen showing the direction of their last known location.
- Bring a map and compass. With a compass, the direction is saved, so you don’t lose it if you wander.
- Explore during daylight and watch for the cave. Listening for a crying child can confirm you’re at the right place.
- Mark the cave before you fight, so you can return even if night falls.
If you’re still new to leveling the fire, the campfire needs fuel to progress, and its progress bar is separate from the day counter and crafting.
How to Rescue a Kid, Step by Step
The process is the same for all four:
- Defeat every collared guard outside the cave. The last one killed drops the colored key.
- Pick up the key and open the matching gate.
- Carry the kid back to camp inside your sack.
- Bring them inside the campfire’s light, where they set up a tent at the edge of the glow.
You can move the tent with the hammer tool, but you can’t paint it.
Tips for Each Rescue
Dino Kid. Pull one wolf at a time instead of fighting all five at once. A spear or pistol is enough.
Kraken Kid. The alpha wolves hit harder than the red-collar group, so bring a ranged weapon, spare ammo, and healing. Separate them rather than standing where several can reach you.
Squid Kid. Only two enemies, but bears take more damage to kill and hit harder than wolves. Bring armor, healing, and extra ammo. Bear traps help if you have them. Don’t fight with the cave wall behind you.
Koala Kid. Six bears is the hardest standard rescue. Pull them in controlled groups, and don’t start with basic armor or a single healing item. You can finish the cave across more than one day, so if night is close, retreat and come back.
What Rescuing Does
Rescues are optional, but they change your run in a few ways:
- Faster days. Each rescued kid adds one to how many days pass per night. According to current guides, one rescue means two days per night, two rescues means three, and so on. That gets you to day 99 faster.
- A badge. Rescuing all four earns the Orienteering badge, reported as worth 4 diamonds.
- Passive jobs. Since the Kids Have Jobs update in August 2026, rescued kids work around your camp (see below).
You can also reach day 99 without rescuing anyone. The Self-Preservation badge confirms that, and the Mastery badge, which requires all four rescues plus campfire, crafting, and trader progress before day 99, covers the full-clear route.
What Each Kid’s Job Is
Once you rescue a kid, you interact with them at camp to start their friendship progression, then keep them fed and recover their lost trinkets to level them up. Here’s what each one does once leveled:
| Kid | Job | Where it delivers |
|---|---|---|
| Dino Kid | Chops wood | His tent, the campfire, or the Scrapper |
| Kraken Kid | Catches fish | Her tent |
| Squid Kid | Cooks food | His tent, or the Crockpot if it’s empty |
| Koala Kid | Scavenges scrap | Her tent or straight to the Scrapper |
Squid Kid’s automatic Crockpot delivery only unlocks at Level 5. Koala Kid leaves the camp area to dig for scrap, so if you can’t find her near the fire, look around the surrounding area.
How to Level the Kids Faster
Two things level a kid: feeding and trinkets.
Feeding is the steady method. Food quality matters. Basic cooked food gives low EXP, cooked fish gives moderate EXP, and stew from the Crockpot and cake give high EXP. Only feed a kid after their hunger bar has dropped, or the food is wasted. Koala Kid and Squid Kid sometimes crave cake, so keep a few in reserve.
Trinkets are the fastest method. Each kid has lost belongings hidden around the map. Returning one gives a large one-time EXP reward. Trinket locations are random and get circled on your map once found, and the search area narrows as you upgrade your campfire. Check inside buildings like shacks, not just the open ground.
In co-op, coordinate trinkets. If a teammate picks one up first, it may not register on your own map, and only the player who physically picked it up can hand it to the kid.
Daycare Badges and the Tree Swing
Three badges tie to the update, one for each kid except Dino Kid. Each needs that kid at Level 5:
| Badge | Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Kraken Daycare | Kraken Kid to Level 5 | 5 diamonds |
| Squid Daycare | Squid Kid to Level 5 | 6 diamonds |
| Koala Daycare | Koala Kid to Level 5 | 8 diamonds |
The badges aren’t handed over automatically. When a kid hits Level 5, go to the badge board and claim the badge yourself. Claiming all three unlocks the Tree Swing, a placeable item for your camp.
Common Mistakes
Fighting with a full inventory. If your sack is crowded, you may have trouble carrying the kid or finding the key among drops. Clear space at camp first.
Starting a cave fight late in the day. A marked cave is progress. A fight that starts at dusk and ends with no route home is a setback.
Forgetting to carry the kid inside the campfire area. The kid is unlocked when the gate opens, but the rescue only counts once they’re back at camp.
Feeding a full hunger bar. It gives no EXP and wastes the food.
Assuming the key failed. If the key doesn’t appear, check that every collared guard is dead and not stuck out of view, and that a teammate didn’t pick it up. Only treat it as a bug after ruling those out.
Rescuing everyone too fast without gear. Rescues speed up the day counter, which can help you finish but also gives you less time per night. Some guides advise against rescuing everyone before you have proper armor.
Best Rescue Order
Follow the campfire order: Dino Kid, Kraken Kid, Squid Kid, then Koala Kid. The reveal levels, guard strength, and equipment needs all rise together, so the order mostly picks itself. The jobs system rewards rescuing early, since each night a kid spends at camp fed counts toward their progress. Rescue Dino Kid and Kraken Kid as soon as you can, then build your armor and ammo before taking on the bear caves.
Conclusion
The four kids are Dino, Kraken, Squid, and Koala, rescued in that order as your campfire levels up. Kill the guards, take the colored key, and carry the kid home. After the Kids Have Jobs update, early rescues pay off beyond the day counter, because each kid works a camp job once you feed and level them.
FAQs
How many missing kids are in 99 Nights in the Forest?
Four: Dino Kid, Kraken Kid, Squid Kid, and Koala Kid.
Do you have to rescue the kids?
No. Rescuing them is optional, and day 99 is possible without them.
What do the kids do after you rescue them?
As of the latest update, Dino Kid chops wood, Kraken Kid catches fish, Squid Kid cooks food, and Koala Kid gathers scrap. Each one needs to be fed and leveled up first.
What campfire level do you need for each kid?
Roughly Level 2 for Dino Kid, 4 for Kraken Kid, 5 for Squid Kid, and 6 for Koala Kid. Some caves appear one level later.
What do you get for leveling the kids to Level 5?
Kraken, Squid, and Koala Kid each have a Daycare badge worth 5, 6, and 8 diamonds, and claiming all three unlocks the Tree Swing.
Why can’t I find a kid’s cave?
The map is randomized, so coordinates don’t exist. Check that your campfire is high enough, click the kid’s poster for the red arrow, and explore in daylight with a map and compass.
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