Sons Of The Forest server hosting for your group
Keep your island and your base online so your group can survive together, even when the host is away. The official server runs every game mode, with your own settings and an owner list.
- Official dedicated server from Endnight
- Up to 8 players
- Normal, hard, peaceful, creative and custom modes
- Password, owner list and in-game admin tools
- Players
- Up to 8 (MaxPlayers)
- PortsGame, query and blob sync ports, all UDP and IPv4. The server checks at start that they are reachable.
- 8766 · 27016 · 9700 UDP
- Config
- dedicatedserver.cfg
- Owners
- ownerswhitelist.txt
- Game modes
- Normal, hard, hard survival, peaceful, creative, custom
- Server
- Windows (Steam app 2465200)
Game modes
- Normal
- Hard
- Hard survival
- Peaceful
- Creative
- Custom
Game facts from Endnight’s dedicated server guide and patch notes and the Steam app data of the server, checked in October 2026.
- DDoS protection
- ۲۰ game server locations
Sons Of The Forest plans are being prepared
Tell us your group size and game mode, and our team will reply with the options. Or open a ticket and we will let you know when the plans are online.
How much RAM does a Sons Of The Forest server need?
A server holds at most 8 players, so the size of your bases and how much of the island you explore decide the load.
Find your size
| Feature |
Small group
Up to 4 players
|
Recommended Full server
Up to 8 players
|
Big builds
8 players with large bases
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore. | 8 GB | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. | 2 | 2–3 | 4 |
| Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods. | 20 GB | 25 GB | 30 GB |
| Frame rate while emptyIdleTargetFramerate lowers the server’s work while nobody is online; ActiveTargetFramerate applies with players on. | Lower when idle | Lower when idle | Lower when idle |
| Typical use | Friends on a new island | A full group of eight | Long-running worlds with big bases |
-
Small group
Up to 4 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 8 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 20 GB
- Frame rate while emptyIdleTargetFramerate lowers the server’s work while nobody is online; ActiveTargetFramerate applies with players on.
- Lower when idle
- Typical use
- Friends on a new island
-
Recommended
Full server
Up to 8 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 8 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2–3
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 25 GB
- Frame rate while emptyIdleTargetFramerate lowers the server’s work while nobody is online; ActiveTargetFramerate applies with players on.
- Lower when idle
- Typical use
- A full group of eight
-
Big builds
8 players with large bases
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 12 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 4
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 30 GB
- Frame rate while emptyIdleTargetFramerate lowers the server’s work while nobody is online; ActiveTargetFramerate applies with players on.
- Lower when idle
- Typical use
- Long-running worlds with big bases
Endnight publishes no server hardware figures; these starting points follow common practice for an 8-player Unity server with large bases.
Game modes, settings and access
The server is set up with one JSON file, dedicatedserver.cfg, and a plain owner list.
Every game mode
Normal, hard, hard survival, peaceful, creative or custom, set with GameMode for a new save.
Custom settings
In custom mode, set enemy health, damage and aggression, season and day length and more for a new save.
Tree regrowth and building damage
GameSettings switch rules such as tree regrowth and structure damage on any save.
Owners and admins
List owner Steam IDs in ownerswhitelist.txt; in game they promote admins and kick or ban players from the Players menu.
Password and LAN mode
Protect the server with a password of up to 40 characters, or keep it on your local network with LanOnly.
Save slots
SaveSlot picks the world and SaveMode continue keeps it; SaveInterval sets how often the server saves.
Set up your Sons Of The Forest server
Four steps from the config file to your first night on the island.
-
Choose a game mode
Pick normal, hard, peaceful, creative or custom, then a size from the table above.
-
Pick a location
Choose the one closest to your group from our ۲۰ game server locations.
-
Edit dedicatedserver.cfg
Set the server name, password, player limit and save slot, and add your Steam ID to ownerswhitelist.txt.
-
Join the island
Players choose Multiplayer, then Join, find the server in the list and enter the password.
Other game servers you might like
The Forest
Co-op survival for eight players with your own difficulty and modes.
7 Days to Die
Horde nights with random worlds, modlets and crossplay.
Valheim
Up to 10 Vikings with crossplay, modifiers and backups.
Project Zomboid
Build 42 or 41 with Workshop mods, maps and your sandbox rules.
Frequently asked questions
How many players can join a Sons Of The Forest server?
Up to 8. MaxPlayers in dedicatedserver.cfg accepts 1 to 8, and 8 is the default.
Which ports does the server use?
Three UDP ports: 8766 for the game, 27016 for queries and 9700 for blob sync. The server uses IPv4 and stops at start if the ports cannot be reached, unless LanOnly or SkipNetworkAccessibilityTest is set.
Where are the server settings?
In dedicatedserver.cfg, a JSON file in the server’s user data folder. It holds the name, password, player limit, ports, game mode, save slot and save interval, plus GameSettings and CustomGameModeSettings.
How do I become the owner or an admin?
Add your 64-bit Steam ID to ownerswhitelist.txt, one per line. Owners can promote and demote admins and kick, ban or unban players from the Players menu in game.
Which game modes can the server run?
Normal, hard, hard survival, peaceful, creative and custom. In custom mode you can tune enemies, seasons and days; those settings apply when a new save is created.
Will my world be kept after a restart?
Yes, with SaveMode set to continue. Set it to new only when you want a fresh island, because that overwrites the save slot on every start.
Can I use mods?
Endnight has no official mod support, and the dedicated server is designed for the unmodded game.
Can console players join?
No. Sons Of The Forest is a PC game on Steam, so only PC players can join.
Is the game still updated?
Sons Of The Forest reached version 1.0 in February 2024. The last content update, Rafts, came in January 2025, and a security patch for the game and the server followed in October 2025.
Does the server keep running when nobody is online?
Yes. IdleDayCycleSpeed sets how fast time passes while the server is empty, and IdleTargetFramerate lowers the server’s work until players return.
Ready to survive the island together?
Tell us your group size and game mode, and we will help you pick the right Sons Of The Forest server.