You can play John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando without friends. AI bots fill the empty squad slots, and if you choose Private Game, no strangers will join you. What the game doesn’t have is an offline mode, and according to the developers it most likely never will, so even solo play needs an internet connection. Here’s how to set up a game with bots, what the bots can do after the latest patches and how the difficulty levels work.
Short answer: solo yes, offline no
Toxic Commando is built around co-op for up to four players, but playing alone is a proper option. Steam lists the game under Single-player, and the Xbox store says it supports single player mode. Missions, weapons and progression stay the same. You just have three bots next to you instead of three friends.
The catch is the connection. The developers’ official FAQ says there’s no offline mode. They describe the online requirement as a critical technical reason and say offline play most likely won’t be added. The game’s page on the Xbox store backs this up with a note that a persistent internet connection is required to play.
How to start a game with bots only
Following the developers’ official guide:
- Select Play in the main menu.
- Choose your mission, difficulty and class.
- Pick Private Game, so no strangers can join.
- Start the mission. Bots fill the remaining squad slots.
It works the same way with two or three players. Invite your friends into the private game and bots only take whatever slots are left. How to bring in someone on another platform is explained in our crossplay guide.
What the bots can do
Two big patches expanded what bots are capable of: 2.0 on 18 June 2026 and 3.0 on 2 September 2026. If you play solo, you’ll notice these changes in every mission.
Since patch 2.0
- Bots can pull you out of a cocoon. When an enemy wraps you up, you no longer have to wait for a human teammate.
Since patch 3.0 (Retrieval Update)
- They start with perks, abilities and weapons that match the chosen difficulty, so they don’t go into higher difficulties underequipped.
- They gather inside the domes placed by the Healer and the Tank, which keeps the team together.
- They heal any player below 70 HP.
- You can order a bot to use a Sludge Seed to revive both of you.
Hotfix 3.1 on 14 September 2026 fixed more issues, bots included. The full patch-by-patch history is in our roadmap and updates article.
Why Toxic Commando can’t be played offline
In the official FAQ, the developers say the online connection is required for a critical technical reason. They don’t go into detail and say offline mode most likely won’t come. Expect the game not to start without internet, even for a private game with bots. It’s not something to play on a train or a plane with no signal.
The Retrieval Update did add local servers on PC. They let you host a private game with friends on your own computer. The feature is experimental, and the host needs a stronger CPU, more RAM and a solid connection. It is not an offline mode, though.
Difficulty levels and unlocks
You choose the difficulty before each mission. When you play with bots, it’s the main lever for tuning the game to your liking. From easiest to hardest:
- Story
- Normal
- Hard
- Very Hard: unlocked by completing a mission on Hard.
- Insane: available since 30 April 2026, also unlocked by completing a mission on Hard.
Insane arrived with patch 1.6. The developers themselves say it’s practically unplayable without maxed-out progression, so upgrade your character and weapons before you try it. Your character isn’t tied to a class either. You can pick any of the four classes (Strike, Medic, Operator, Defender) and level each one up to 40.
When to bring other people in
Bots handle a lot, but the game is designed for four. Once you find friends, crossplay connects you across PC, PS5 and Xbox, and people can join a mission already in progress. On PC you can also host a private game on a local server. If you’re still deciding whether to buy, the editions and the Game Pass question are covered in editions and price.
FAQ
No. The game has no offline mode, and according to the developers’ official FAQ it most likely never will. You always need an internet connection.
Yes. Under Play, choose a mission, difficulty and class, select Private Game, and AI bots take the other three squad slots.
Yes. The Xbox store lists a persistent internet connection as a requirement, and that applies to private games with bots as well.
Complete a mission on Hard. The developers say it’s practically unplayable without maxed-out character and weapon progression, so go in with upgraded gear.
Information verified on 26 September 2026. More articles are in our Toxic Commando hub.