How to Find the Missing Kids in 99 Nights in the Forest (All 4, Plus Their Camp Jobs)
TL;DR, bestie
There are four missing kids: Dino, Kraken, Squid and Koala. Each one shows up as you upgrade your Campfire (Levels 2, 4, 5 and 6), sits in a locked cave guarded by collared wolves or bears, and the last guard drops the key.
The fastest way to find them is the poster board at camp: pick a kid, follow the arrow. Rescue them early. Every kid speeds up your day count, and since August they all have camp jobs.
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🗓️ Last updated: 12 November 2026
Rescuing the kids is the part of 99 Nights that turns a “survive the Deer” game into a real run. It’s also where a lot of teams wipe, because they walk up to six bears with a stone axe and vibes. Here’s how to find all four, what’s guarding each one, and the order I’d do it in.
Quick facts: all four kids
| Kid | Campfire level | Guards | Key | Camp job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dino Kid | 2 (sometimes 3) | 5 wolves, red collars | Red | Chops wood |
| Kraken Kid | 4 (sometimes 5) | 4 alpha wolves, blue collars | Blue | Catches fish |
| Squid Kid | 5 (sometimes 6) | 2 bears, yellow collars | Yellow | Cooks food |
| Koala Kid | 6 | 6 bears, gray collars | Gray | Scavenges scrap |
Swipe the table sideways →
Guard counts and levels match PC Gamer’s walkthrough and what I see in creator runs. The map is randomly generated every game, so the exact Campfire level a cave appears at can wobble by one.
How to find them (the poster board trick)
Nobody can give you a fixed location, because the forest is new every run. What you can use is the tools the game hands you.
- Upgrade the Campfire. Kids stay out of reach until the fire is big enough to reveal their part of the forest.
- Use the Missing Kid poster board at camp. Interact with it, pick a kid, and you get an arrow plus a distance on screen.
- Carry a Compass. Players report the kid's icon shows on it once you've picked them, so you don't need to keep running back to the board.
- Build the Map early. As you explore, the fog lifts and the cave gets marked, which helps if you find it but can't clear it that day.
- Listen. When you're close, you'll hear the kid crying. It's creepy. It's also a free GPS.
If you’re still on your first few runs, my 99 Nights beginner guide covers the Campfire and Map basics, and the crafting guide shows what to build for each Bench tier.
Each rescue, step by step
Dino Kid (red cave)
He’s normally the first kid you’ll reach, guarded by five regular wolves. Wolves are fast but squishy, so the trick is pulling them one or two at a time instead of charging the pack.
I’d go in with at least a spear or a gun and some food in your pockets. The last wolf drops the red key, and the cave is tiny, so it’s in and out.
Kraken Kid (blue cave)
Four alpha wolves, and they hit noticeably harder than regular wolves. This is where a lot of solo runs end.
My honest advice: don't do Kraken Kid on the same day you find her unless you've got a rifle or a strong melee weapon and a couple of bandages. Mark the cave, go home, come back prepared. The kid isn't going anywhere.
Squid Kid (yellow cave)
Only two bears, but bears are tanky. Bear traps make this way easier. Bait the bears into traps instead of trading hits with them.
Koala Kid (gray cave)
Six bears. This is the final boss of kid rescues. Upgrade your armor, stack ammo and traps, and pick them off one at a time. It’s completely normal for this fight to take more than one day.
Fight guards in daylight. Night brings the Deer and its Cultists into the mix, and a bear fight plus the Deer is how runs end. If the sun is going down, walk away and come back tomorrow.
Why rescuing them is worth it
Faster days
PC Gamer’s guide and creator runs agree on this: each rescued kid adds one extra day to every night you survive. One kid means two days pass per night, two kids means three, and so on. It’s the single biggest shortcut to Night 99.
Kid jobs (the Kids Have Jobs update)
Since the Kids Have Jobs update in August, rescued kids pull their weight. Once a kid is back at camp, you keep them fed and return their lost trinkets to level them up and unlock their job:
- Dino Kid chops wood.
- Kraken Kid catches fish.
- Squid Kid cooks food.
- Koala Kid scavenges scrap.
Feeding gives more experience with better food (stew and cake beat basic cooked food), and only works once their hunger bar has dropped. Trinket search areas show up on your map and shrink as the Campfire grows. Getting Kraken, Squid and Koala to Level 5 is tied to three badges and a Tree Swing for camp.
Is it ever smart NOT to rescue them?
There’s a real badge for it. Self-Preservation asks you to reach day 99 without rescuing any of the Missing Children, so skipping them is a legit challenge run. For a normal game, though, I’d rescue every kid I safely can.
My rescue order and plan
- Day 1 to 2: Wood, scrap, Map, Campfire to Level 2. Grab Dino Kid as soon as you have a decent weapon.
- Mid-game: Push the Campfire to 4 and 5. Build bear traps before you need them.
- Kraken, then Squid: Whichever cave you find first, but only with a gun and healing.
- Koala last: Treat it as a planned trip with full gear, not a detour.
- Feed everyone stew: Once the Crockpot is up, it's the easiest experience for the kids.
Hot take: Koala Kid isn’t worth rushing. She opens at the top Campfire tier, and losing your whole kit to six bears sets you back more than an extra day of waiting. Play the long game.
Scam check: "Kid finder" scripts and teleport hacks can get your account banned, and there are no codes that rescue kids for you. My 99 Nights codes page lists what actually works.
FAQ
How many missing kids are there in 99 Nights in the Forest?
Four: Dino Kid, Kraken Kid, Squid Kid and Koala Kid. The game's own Orienteering badge is for locating and saving the 4 missing children.
Where are the missing kids?
Somewhere different every run, because each game generates a new map. Use the poster board at camp to get a direction and distance, and a Compass to track them.
Why can't I find Dino Kid?
His cave usually shows up after a Level 2 Campfire, and sometimes needs Level 3. Upgrade the fire and check the poster board again.
Should I rescue the kids?
For most runs, yes. Each rescued kid adds an extra day per night survived, and since August's Kids Have Jobs update they also work around camp.
Is there a fifth missing kid?
Not in the game's own badges. Orienteering asks you to save 4 missing children, and the Mastery badge also says all 4. Fifth-kid videos are theories.
Sources
- 99 Nights in the Forest: Orienteering badge (official, Roblox)
- 99 Nights in the Forest: Mastery badge (official, Roblox)
- 99 Nights in the Forest: Self-Preservation badge (official, Roblox)
- PC Gamer: missing kid locations in 99 Nights in the Forest
- AllThingsHow: what the Kids Have Jobs update adds
- Plex: All missing kids and locations
Last checked: 12 November 2026 (NZDT). Image credits: Plex, Big Stick and LaxanoBlox on YouTube, Grandma’s Favourite Games on Roblox.
kikomii is a fan site and isn’t affiliated with Roblox or Grandma’s Favourite Games.
