The Forest server hosting for your co-op group
Keep your camp on the peninsula ready for your group. The Forest dedicated server holds eight players by default, with difficulty, enemy modes and tree regrowth set in one config file.
- Co-op for eight players by default
- Peaceful to Hard Survival, plus vegan and vegetarian modes
- Five save slots and automatic saves
- Steam login token and an optional VAC check
- Players
- 8 by default (serverPlayers)
- Ports8766 for Steam, 27015 for the game and 27016 for queries, on TCP and UDP.
- 8766 · 27015 · 27016
- Login tokenCreate the token on Steam’s game server account page with App ID 242760; each token works for one server.
- Steam GSLT (App ID 242760)
- Settings
- Server.cfg
- Version
- v1.12, the final patch (2019)
- Anti-cheat
- VAC (enableVAC, off by default)
Game modes
- Peaceful
- Normal
- Hard
- Hard Survival
- Vegan mode
- Vegetarian mode
Game facts from Endnight’s Steam announcements and the dedicated server guide linked in their patch notes, checked in October 2026.
- DDoS protection
- ٢٠ game server locations
The Forest plans are being prepared
Tell us your group size and preferred location, and our team will reply with the options. Or open a ticket and we will let you know when the plans are online.
How big should The Forest server be?
The Forest server is light. Endnight publishes no hardware figures, so these sizes follow common practice.
Find your size
| Feature |
Duo
Up to 2 players
|
Recommended Group
Up to 4 players
|
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. | 3 GB | 4 GB | 6–8 GB |
| CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores. | 2 | 2–4 | 4 |
| Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods. | 10 GB | 15 GB | 20 GB |
| Typical use | Two friends on the peninsula | A small co-op group | A full group of eight |
-
Duo
Up to 2 players
- Memory (RAM)Working memory for the world, the players and every mod. Leave headroom: memory use grows as players explore.
- 3 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.
- 10 GB
- Typical use
- Two friends on the peninsula
-
Recommended
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.
- 4 GB
- CPU coresThe game simulates the world mostly on one thread, so fast cores matter more than many cores.
- 2–4
- Disk spaceRoom for the game files, the world and its backups, plus updates and mods.
- 15 GB
- Typical use
- A small co-op group
-
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.
- 6–8 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.
- 20 GB
- Typical use
- A full group of eight
Endnight publishes no server hardware figures; these sizes follow common practice. The game has not changed since its last patch in 2019, so the needs stay stable.
Modes, saves and settings
Everything you set for The Forest server lives in Server.cfg.
Difficulty
Peaceful, Normal, Hard or Hard Survival, set with difficulty in Server.cfg.
Vegan and vegetarian modes
Vegan mode keeps enemies to the caves; vegetarian mode stops enemies from spawning during the day.
Tree regrowth
With treeRegrowMode, some cut trees grow back while players sleep.
Save slots
Five save slots; set initType to Continue after the first start so the world keeps its progress.
Building destruction
allowBuildingDestruction decides whether buildings can be destroyed; it is on by default.
Server.cfg
Created on the first start; command-line options override it. Set the name, passwords, ports and the auto-save interval here.
Set up your The Forest server
Four steps to your group’s first night in the forest.
-
Get a login token
Create a Steam game server login token with App ID 242760.
-
Pick a location
Choose the one closest to your group from our ٢٠ game server locations.
-
Set up Server.cfg
Add the token, name and password, pick the difficulty and save slot, and set initType to Continue after the first start.
-
Join the server
In The Forest, open Multiplayer, join a game and find your server by name in the server list.
Other game servers you might like
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Steam login token?
Yes. The dedicated server needs a Game Server Login Token, created on Steam’s game server account page with App ID 242760 and set as serverSteamAccount. Use one token per server and do not share it.
How many players can join?
serverPlayers is 8 by default, the size of a full co-op group.
Which ports does the server use?
8766 for Steam, 27015 for the game and 27016 for queries, on TCP and UDP. The settings are serverSteamPort, serverGamePort and serverQueryPort.
Why did my world not keep its progress?
With initType set to New, the server starts a fresh game. Set it to Continue after the first start, and pick the save slot (1–5) with slot.
What are vegan and vegetarian mode?
Vegan mode removes enemies except in the caves; vegetarian mode keeps enemies from spawning during the day. Both are off by default.
Where is Server.cfg?
The server creates Server.cfg on its first start. Command-line options override its values, and -configfilepath points the server to another file.
Can I use mods?
The Forest has no official mod support and no Steam Workshop. Community tools exist but are not supported by Endnight.
Is this for Sons of the Forest?
No. Sons of the Forest is a separate game with its own dedicated server. This page is for The Forest.
Is The Forest still updated?
The last patch, v1.12, came out in September 2019, so the server and players run the same final version.
Can I turn on VAC?
Yes, with enableVAC in Server.cfg. It is off by default.
Ready to survive the peninsula together?
Tell us your group and location, and we will help you pick the right The Forest server.