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Godlike.Host hosts servers for Minecraft and more than 40 other games, with free DDoS protection and 24/7 support.
In 2026, you can host a persistent multiplayer server for games including Valheim, Palworld, ARK: Survival Evolved, ARK: Survival Ascended, and several Source-engine titles. A broader shortlist also includes Minecraft, Rust, Terraria, Project Zomboid, V Rising, and Satisfactory, but those games can have edition-, branch-, mod-, and version-specific requirements.
The reliable rule is simple: choose a game with official dedicated-server software or a well-maintained standalone server tool, then verify its current operating-system, hardware, port, and mod requirements. Self-hosting gives you control of saves and access rules, but you become responsible for networking, updates, backups, security, power, and uptime.
Games with documented dedicated-server support
The following games have clear evidence of dedicated-server support. Their requirements are not interchangeable: each game uses its own server files, ports, update process, and resource profile.
| Game | What is documented | Published details |
|---|---|---|
| Valheim | Iron Gate documents a dedicated server for maintaining a persistent world, including Steam installation, router configuration, Linux dependencies, and a Docker fallback. | Default port range UDP 2456–2457; official support guide dated April 11, 2024. |
| Palworld | Pocketpair publishes dedicated-server requirements and an official Docker image/example. | CPU, memory, and operating-system requirements are version-sensitive and must be checked on Pocketpair’s current requirements page. |
| ARK: Survival Evolved and ARK: Survival Ascended | The ARK Official Community Wiki documents app IDs, 64-bit requirements, supported Windows versions, Linux startup examples, and map-dependent memory use. | The Valguero example lists 3–4 GiB; actual needs vary by map, mods, and player load. |
| Source-engine games | Steam lists Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, Counter-Strike: Source, and Day of Defeat: Source as dedicated-server examples and explains Internet/LAN setup. | Default UDP port 27015 and a documented player range of 1–32. |
Additional games to investigate in 2026
A 2026 roundup identifies these games as common self-hosting candidates:
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- Minecraft
- Rust
- Terraria
- Project Zomboid
- V Rising
- Satisfactory
- Valheim
- Palworld
- ARK
Use this as a discovery list rather than a guarantee that every edition is interchangeable. Before downloading anything, confirm the exact game edition, server branch, supported mod loader, current binary, operating systems, port assignments, and publisher documentation. A Java and Bedrock edition, for example, may have different server software and compatibility rules even when the game name is the same.
What a self-hosted game server actually does
A dedicated server runs the game world as a separate process instead of making one player’s game client the host. Players connect to that process over a local network or the internet. When the server remains online, the world can continue to exist between play sessions; this is why Iron Gate describes its Valheim server as a way to provide “a persistent world in which you and your friends can play anytime” in its April 11, 2024 support guide.
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Game-by-game considerations
Valheim
Valheim is one of the clearest home-server choices because Iron Gate documents the complete path: install the dedicated-server package through Steam, configure the router, open the documented port range, install Linux dependencies when using Linux, and use Docker when the host does not meet the required GLIBC level. The default range is 2456–2457, so firewall and router rules must match those ports rather than a generic game-server rule.
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Decide whether the server should be reachable only from your home network or from the internet. For internet play, forward the documented ports to the server machine’s fixed local address, permit the same traffic in the host firewall, and test from an external connection. Keep the world and configuration directories in a backup plan before installing mods or changing launch settings.
Palworld
Pocketpair provides dedicated-server requirements and an official Docker image/example. Treat the requirements page as authoritative for the version you intend to run: memory and operating-system support can change as the server software evolves. Docker can make deployment reproducible, but it adds another layer to update and troubleshoot. If you use a package supplied through a distribution or hosting panel, verify that it tracks the same server branch as your players’ clients.
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ARK: Survival Evolved and ARK: Survival Ascended
ARK server resource use depends heavily on the map, mods, and connected players. The ARK Official Community Wiki’s Valguero example cites 3–4 GiB, but that figure is a map-specific example, not a universal minimum for every ARK installation. The same documentation covers app IDs, 64-bit requirements, supported Windows versions, and Linux startup examples.
Choose the map before sizing the machine. Then add headroom for mods, save growth, updates, and operating-system overhead. Keep a tested copy of the save outside the live server directory so a failed update or corrupted mod cannot destroy the only world state.
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Source-engine dedicated servers
Steam’s dedicated-server documentation names Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, Counter-Strike: Source, and Day of Defeat: Source as examples. The setup lets you choose Internet or LAN operation. Steam documents UDP port 27015 and a player range of 1–32 for this server model.
Source servers use SteamCMD for obtaining and updating server files. Valve’s standalone-server FAQ states: “All Steam game servers now use SteamCMD to download and update game server files.” Keep SteamCMD separate from the game installation, restrict write permissions where practical, and schedule updates so the server is not restarted in the middle of a session.
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There is no authoritative, universal CPU, RAM, or storage minimum that applies to every self-hosted game. A lightly modded Source server, a large ARK map, and a heavily populated survival world place very different loads on a machine. Published figures also change with patches and server branches.
- CPU: Simulation-heavy games and busy worlds benefit from strong single-thread performance. More players, creatures, automation, or physics usually increase CPU demand.
- Memory: Reserve space for the server, the operating system, mods, and file caches. ARK’s 3–4 GiB Valguero example is evidence for that map configuration only.
- Storage: Use fast, reliable storage and leave room for world growth, update downloads, logs, and at least one separate backup copy.
- Operating system: Confirm the game’s supported Windows or Linux versions. Linux may require additional libraries, as Valheim’s documentation notes.
- Network: Upload bandwidth and latency matter to every connected player. A stable wired connection is preferable to a congested wireless link.
How to set up a dedicated server
- Choose the exact edition and branch. Write down the game edition, map, server branch, mod loader, and intended player count. Do not assume that a client update and a server update are interchangeable.
- Install the official server package. Use the publisher’s dedicated-server download or SteamCMD distribution where applicable. Steam states that all Steam game servers now use SteamCMD for downloading and updating server files.
- Check current requirements. Confirm CPU, memory, storage, operating-system, runtime-library, Docker, and mod requirements from the game’s current documentation. For Palworld, use Pocketpair’s versioned requirements; for ARK, account for the selected map.
- Create a non-administrator service account. Run the server with only the file permissions it needs. This limits the damage from a compromised plugin or misconfigured script.
- Set the world and access rules. Configure the world name, password, administrator list, difficulty, PvP rules, save interval, and mod settings. Keep a written record of changes.
- Reserve a local address. Create a DHCP reservation or static address for the server machine so router forwarding does not break after a reboot.
- Configure the firewall and router. Allow only the game’s documented protocol and ports. Valheim’s guide uses 2456–2457; Source documentation uses UDP 27015. Do not reuse either range for another game without checking that game’s manual.
- Start locally first. Join from the same network, create a test world, confirm saves, inspect logs, and verify that administrators and mods behave as expected.
- Test from outside your network. Have a player connect over a different internet connection. This catches incorrect port forwarding, carrier-grade NAT, firewall blocks, and incorrect public-address information.
- Automate safe operations. Schedule graceful restarts, updates, log rotation, and backups. Test that the server shuts down cleanly before copying live save files.
Networking, security, and access control
Internet exposure is the most common source of avoidable trouble. Forward only the ports the game requires, and restrict administration interfaces to your local network or a private VPN where possible. Use a strong server password, unique administrator credentials, and an allowlist when the game supports one.
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Keep the operating system, server binary, plugins, and Docker images patched. Watch logs for repeated failed connections, unexpected console commands, and crashes. If your internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT, ordinary port forwarding may not work; a VPS, VPN overlay, or managed service can provide an alternative path.
Backups and updates
A backup is useful only if it can be restored. Stop the server or use its supported save command, copy the world and configuration files to separate storage, and periodically perform a trial restore on a second directory or machine. Retain several dated versions so a corrupted save is not replicated over every copy.
Apply updates in a staging copy when the game, mod loader, or map is important to your group. Record the previous server version, configuration, and mod list. If an update causes crashes, revert the binary and configuration first; then test mods individually rather than deleting the only copy of the world.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Home machine, VPS, or managed hosting?
| Option | Strengths | Costs and responsibilities | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home server | Maximum control over saves, mods, access rules, and hardware; no recurring hosting bill after equipment is purchased. | You provide electricity, cooling, router configuration, backups, patching, monitoring, and uptime. Residential upload limits or carrier-grade NAT can restrict access. | Small groups with reliable internet and someone willing to maintain the machine. |
| VPS | Runs away from your home, can be resized, and provides a middle ground between a gaming PC and dedicated hardware. OVHcloud’s game-server whitepaper identifies VPS scaling as an option for persistent games such as Minecraft. | You still manage the operating system, server software, security, backups, and licensing. Performance depends on the allocated virtual resources. | Owners who want public reachability without keeping a home PC online. |
| Managed game host | Preinstalled server software, control panels, automated backups, support, data-center locations, and DDoS controls may reduce routine administration. | Recurring fees, plan limits, location choices, mod restrictions, migration rules, and cancellation terms vary. Provider claims should be checked on the live plan page. | Groups that value convenience and uptime more than low operating cost. |
Secondary 2026 comparisons describe managed plans for games such as Project Zomboid in roughly 2 GB to 6 GB memory tiers, with features such as backups, DDoS protection, and multiple locations. Those are commercial descriptions, not a universal specification; compare the provider’s current limits with your chosen game and mod set.
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How to choose the right game to self-host
- Start with persistence. If players need a world that remains available between sessions, prioritize games with an official dedicated-server mode.
- Estimate concurrency. Count normal and peak players, then leave room for spectators, administrators, and future growth.
- Audit mod support. Confirm that the server and every player use compatible mod versions and that the mod loader supports unattended updates.
- Measure maintenance tolerance. Home hosting is economical only when someone can handle patches, backups, outages, and troubleshooting.
- Check network constraints. Verify upload capacity, public addressing, port-forwarding ability, and firewall control before promising an internet-accessible world.
- Choose a recovery plan. If losing a world would end the group’s interest, use off-machine backups and consider a second location or managed service.
Common failure modes and fixes
Players cannot connect from the internet
Confirm the server is listening on the documented port, the host firewall allows the correct protocol, the router forwards to the current local address, and the test player is truly outside your network. Carrier-grade NAT can prevent inbound connections even when router settings are correct.
The server starts and then crashes
Check the game’s required runtime libraries, 64-bit support, available memory, and the server log. For Valheim on Linux, install the dependencies listed by Iron Gate or use the documented Docker fallback when the GLIBC requirement is not met. For ARK, reduce mod load or choose a map only after confirming its resource needs.
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Stop automatic updates temporarily, preserve the previous binary and save, and test the new server with a copy of the world. Restore the known-good version if the failure is version or mod related, then update dependencies one at a time.
The machine becomes unstable during play
Check CPU saturation, memory pressure, disk space, thermal throttling, and upload utilization. Move the server to a separate machine or VPS when the gaming PC cannot provide consistent resources.
Bottom line
For the strongest documentation in 2026, begin with Valheim, Palworld, ARK, or a Source-engine title. Minecraft, Rust, Terraria, Project Zomboid, V Rising, and Satisfactory are reasonable candidates, but verify the exact edition and current server package first. Self-host at home when you want control and can maintain the infrastructure; choose a VPS or managed host when public uptime and reduced administration are worth the ongoing cost.
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