A Roblox horror game called “99 Nights in the Forest” has millions of players chasing a deer through the dark. But the story it’s based on — four children surviving 40 days in the Amazon after a real plane crash — is far more remarkable than any game. Here’s the true story, separated from the fiction, with verified sources.

4 related posts

Plane crash date: May 1, 2023 ·
Children involved: 4 (ages 1–13) ·
Days lost in jungle: 40 ·
Rescue date: June 9, 2023 ·
Location: Amazon rainforest, Colombia

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Colombian plane crash on May 1, 2023 (NPR)
  • Four Indigenous children survived 40 days (The Guardian)
  • Rescued by Colombian military and Indigenous teams (Al Jazeera)
2What’s unclear
  • Whether the game developer intended to reference the crash specifically
  • The connection between the deer in the game and any real-world symbolism is speculative
  • Exact timeline of when the game became linked to the crash
3Timeline signal
  • May 1, 2023: Plane crash in Colombian Amazon (NPR)
  • June 9, 2023: Children rescued after 40 days (NPR)
  • 2025: Roblox game “99 Nights in the Forest” goes viral (NPR)
4What’s next
  • Children’s recovery continues; they remain alive as of 2026
  • Netflix documentary “The Lost Children” released
  • Roblox game likely to inspire more content and discussion

A few hard numbers, one striking pattern: a small Cessna 206 plane crashed with seven people aboard; only the four youngest passengers walked away — and then kept walking for 40 days through the world’s most unforgiving jungle.

Label Value
Event Colombian plane crash
Date May 1, 2023
Children 4 (ages 1–13)
Survival days 40
Rescue date June 9, 2023
Location Amazon jungle, Colombia
Indigenous group Huitoto

Is 99 Nights in the Forest a true story on Roblox?

Short answer: no, not exactly. The Roblox game 99 Nights in the Forest draws inspiration from a real event — the 2023 Colombian plane crash where four children survived 40 days in the Amazon — but it’s a fictionalized horror experience. The game adds supernatural elements, a mysterious deer, and survival-horror mechanics that have nothing to do with what actually happened.

  • Real: Plane crash on May 1, 2023, killing three adults including the children’s mother (The New York Times)
  • Real: Children survived 40 days alone in the jungle (NPR)
  • Fictional: The deer, the 99-night countdown, the horror atmosphere — all invented for the game

According to The Guardian, the Colombian army described the rescue with the phrase “Miracle, miracle, miracle, miracle.” No deer was involved — just soldiers and Indigenous trackers.

The distinction

For Roblox players: the game’s emotional hook — four lost kids — is real. The horror framing is not. Treat it as inspired-by, not documentary.

The implication: if you’re asking whether the game is factually accurate, the answer is no. But the core tragedy and survival story behind it are very, very real.

What is the real story of the deer in 99 Nights in the Forest?

There is no deer. The animal companion or stalker figure that appears in the Roblox game is a completely fictional addition. Online theories speculating that the deer represents a wendigo, a lost child’s spirit, or a “not-deer” cryptid are internet folklore — not grounded in any real event.

  • No deer appears in any news report of the 2023 Colombian crash (Al Jazeera)
  • The real survival story contains zero supernatural elements; children survived by eating seeds, roots, and fruit (Al Jazeera)
  • The deer is a narrative device, likely chosen for its eerie qualities — not because it appears in the true story
What to watch

Reddit threads and YouTube videos have turned the deer into a cryptid rabbit hole. For players, it’s a fun mystery. For anyone researching the real crash, it’s a dead end.

The catch: the deer theories are compelling because they connect to deeper folklore. But they have no factual basis in the 2023 event itself.

Did the kids in 99 Nights in the Forest survive in real life?

Yes — all four children survived the crash and the 40-day ordeal. They were found alive on June 9, 2023, by Colombian military and Indigenous search parties working together.

  • Children were evacuated to Bogotá for medical treatment (Al Jazeera)
  • They survived on cassava flour, fruit, seeds, and water from the jungle (The Guardian)
  • Their Indigenous Huitoto background gave them essential forest knowledge (The Guardian)

“The children are in good health despite the ordeal.”

— Colombian Air Force commander, as reported by NPR

The children had only minor cuts and scrapes when found, according to The New York Times. They were discharged from the hospital after a 34-day recovery period, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Why this matters: the “miracle” framing was not exaggeration. For four children, the youngest a baby, to survive 40 days in the Amazon with no adults is extraordinary — and it’s the real story behind the game.

Are any children of the forest still alive?

Yes — as of 2026, all four children are alive and recovering. After their hospital discharge in July 2023, they were returned to family members. Follow-up reports from Colombian news outlets confirm their continued well-being.

  • The children spent 34 days in hospital after rescue (Al Jazeera)
  • They were returned to family after treatment, per official statements (NPR)
  • UNICEF representatives commented on the children’s recovery and family reunification (UNICEF)

“The children are recovering and have been reunited with their families. This is a story of resilience and the power of community.”

— UNICEF representative (paraphrased from official statements)

For anyone searching “children of the forest” in connection with this story: they’re real, they’re alive, and their names are Lesly, Soleiny, Tien Noriel, and Cristin.

What are the names of the children in the 99 Nights true story?

The four children who survived the crash are:

  • Lesly Jacobo (13) — the eldest, who cared for the younger children
  • Soleiny Jacobo (9) — sibling of Lesly
  • Tien Noriel Ranoque (4) — cousin
  • Cristin Ranoque (1) — the baby

These names were confirmed by Colombian government reports and international news coverage, including NPR and The New York Times. The children are siblings and cousins from the same Huitoto Indigenous family.

The trade-off: while the Roblox game doesn’t use their names, knowing who they really are adds a human dimension that the horror framing can erase. They’re not characters — they’re real kids.

Timeline

Bottom line: The event lasted exactly 40 days — not 99. The “99 nights” figure is a game narrative choice, not a fact. For anyone Googling the true story: focus on the 40-day timeline from May 1 to June 9, 2023.
  • May 1, 2023: Plane crashes in Colombian Amazon; three adults killed; four children survive
  • May 1 – June 9, 2023: Children wander and survive in the jungle, using Indigenous knowledge to find food and water (The Guardian)
  • May 18, 2023: False report that children were found alive — later retracted (CNN)
  • June 9, 2023: Children rescued by Colombian military and Indigenous search parties (NPR)
  • June – July 2023: Children hospitalized in Bogotá, discharged after 34 days (Al Jazeera)
  • 2025: Roblox game “99 Nights in the Forest” goes viral online
  • 2025/2026: Online speculation links game to real crash; Netflix documentary “The Lost Children” released

The pattern: the real timeline is shorter, less supernatural, and far more remarkable than the game suggests. Forty days, not 99. No deer. Just survival.

Additional sources

npr.org, aljazeera.com, youtube.com, aljazeera.com, people.com

For a deeper look at the real events behind the game, the real events behind the game provides a detailed comparison of the Roblox fiction and the actual survival story.

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Frequently asked questions

What plane crashed in the 99 Nights true story?

A small Cessna 206-type plane (a Cessna Stationair) crashed in the Colombian Amazon near Caquetá on May 1, 2023, according to Wikipedia and multiple news reports.

How did the children survive 40 days in the jungle?

They survived on cassava flour from the plane, fruit, seeds, and roots they knew from their Indigenous Huitoto background. Their forest knowledge was cited repeatedly as the key factor (The Guardian).

Did any indigenous search teams help find the children?

Yes. Colombian military and Indigenous search parties worked together. The children were found in a small clearing by soldiers, but Indigenous trackers were crucial in mapping their likely movement (Al Jazeera).

Is the Netflix documentary “The Lost Children” about this event?

Yes. The Netflix documentary The Lost Children covers the 2023 Colombian plane crash and the 40-day survival of the four children.

Where can I play the Roblox game “99 Nights in the Forest”?

The game is available on Roblox’s platform. Search for “99 Nights in the Forest” in the Roblox game directory.

Is 99 Nights in the Forest appropriate for children?

The game contains horror elements and jump scares. It’s rated for older players by the Roblox community standards, but specific age ratings depend on your platform settings.

Who is the longest missing child found alive?

While not the longest-duration missing-persons case, the 40-day survival of these four children in the Amazon is considered extraordinary due to their ages and the harsh environment.