1. Avoid the official servers for now
Yes, you read that right! There are about 6 or 7 official servers, depending on the region (EU/NA). These servers are run directly by the developer, Afterthought LLC, but they are often overcrowded. You’ll frequently find yourself stuck in a queue, waiting for one of the 100 player slots to become available before you can even start playing.
Additionally, there are NO rules on official servers. There are no moderators or admins to assist you if you run into issues. On top of that, 100 players simply aren't enough for the new Gateway map. This often results in a lack of other dinosaur players to form herds or groups with. Even AI-controlled prey, which carnivores rely on for food, is often too scarce.
On unofficial servers, however, this can be manually adjusted through custom configurations. Server owners can increase the number of AI creatures—sometimes even doubling or tripling them—to improve the gameplay experience.
Important: Always familiarize yourself with the rules of a community server before joining. Breaking the rules could result in a ban.
Look for an unofficial The Isle community server with at least 150+ player slots. Additionally, make sure the server has German-speaking admins or moderators who can assist you if needed. Many community servers are labeled as "beginner-friendly," which makes them a great choice for new players.
For a smooth start, we recommend the following The Isle community servers:
3. Start with a herbivore
Even if you're eager to jump straight into the jungle as a carnivore, it's better to start with a herbivore like the Pachy.
Why?
You won’t starve as easily, and food is much easier to find. The Pachycephalosaurus (Pachy) is also very agile, fast, and easy to control. In just 45 minutes, you’ll have a fully grown, sturdy dinosaur that’s also fun to play. (Headbutt incoming!)
Once you’ve gotten used to the game, understand the basics, and have a better grasp of the island’s topography, you can try playing as a carnivore.
4. Use islempas.com to navigate the island
The Gateway map is huge, but it has plenty of landmarks to help you find your way. There are several hotspots and different spawn areas where you can choose to start as a new dinosaur.
To always know where you are, use islemaps.com.
Simply press TAB in-game, then left-click (LMB) on your coordinates. You can then copy and paste them into islemaps.com to see your exact location on the island.
This is especially useful if you want to meet up with another player at a specific spot. Just exchange coordinates, and you’ll be able to find each other easily.
5. Play together with others in a group/pack
As the in-game loading screen tip wisely states: Playing in a group can greatly increase your chances of survival! But beyond that, it's simply twice as fun to share your dinosaur adventure with others.
Tip: Use a Discord voice channel for communication.
While the game does have a built-in text chat that allows you to communicate with dinosaurs of the same species, there’s a catch—every time you send a message, your dinosaur makes a sound that can give away your location. Using a Discord channel not only makes coordination easier, but it also lets you hunt together as a pack without revealing your position through in-game chat sounds.
Achieve More Together: Form a Group with Your Own Species
Find fellow dinosaurs of the same species and form a group. Each species has a pack limit, meaning only a certain number of dinosaurs can be in a group at the same time.
Warning: Playing together with different species—especially carnivores—is called "Mixpacking" and is banned on most servers.
