No Port Forwarding
Why Port Forwarding Sucks
Port forwarding is a pain. You need router access, it's different for every router, ISPs sometimes block it, and CGNAT makes it impossible. MoleTun uses NAT traversal to establish direct P2P connections without touching your router settings.
Traditional LAN gaming over the internet requires opening ports on your router. This means:
- •Accessing your router admin panel (if you even have the password)
- •Finding the right settings (every router is different)
- •Opening the correct ports for your game
- •Dealing with security concerns
- •Fighting with CGNAT if your ISP uses it
MoleTun eliminates all of this.
How NAT Traversal Works
MoleTun uses a technique called NAT hole-punching. Here's the simplified version:
- •Both players connect to MoleTun's coordination server
- •The server helps them discover each other's public IP and port
- •Both players simultaneously send packets to each other
- •This "punches a hole" through both NATs
- •Direct P2P connection established—no relay needed
NAT traversal works for ~95% of network configurations. The remaining 5% (strict enterprise firewalls, some CGNAT setups) use a relay server with minimal latency impact.
Setting Up MoleTun
Download MoleTun
Get MoleTun for your platform from moletun.com/download
Create or Join a Room
Click 'Create Room' to host, or 'Join Room' and enter your friend's code
Play Your Game
Start your game's LAN/local multiplayer mode. MoleTun handles the networking.
What About CGNAT?
Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT) is when your ISP puts multiple customers behind a single public IP. This makes port forwarding impossible.
MoleTun's NAT traversal works with most CGNAT setups. If direct P2P fails, it automatically falls back to a relay server.
If you're on a strict enterprise network (school, work), you may need to use MoleTun on a personal device or mobile hotspot.
Android Gaming
Even PC-exclusive games can be played on Android using x86 emulators like Winlator. Combined with MoleTun, this enables mobile gaming with friends anytime, anywhere.
Troubleshooting
Connection fails even with MoleTun: Try: 1) Restart MoleTun, 2) Check if your firewall is blocking MoleTun, 3) Try a mobile hotspot to rule out network issues
High latency / lag: You may be using a relay connection. Check if your NAT type is "Symmetric" (common on mobile networks). Try a different network if possible.
Is this less secure than port forwarding?▼
No, it's actually more secure. Port forwarding exposes your computer directly to the internet. MoleTun uses encrypted tunnels that only allow game traffic.
Does this work on any network?▼
It works on ~95% of networks including most home internet, mobile data, and public WiFi. Strict corporate firewalls may block it.
Ready to Get Started?
Download MoleTun and start playing in under a minute.
Download MoleTun