Setting Up a Game Server on Your VDS – Step-by-Step for Beginners – HostEONS – Best VPS, Dedicated Servers and Web Hosting

If you’re a gaming enthusiast or a developer looking to run your own private game server, a Virtual Dedicated Server (VDS) from Hosteons gives you the perfect combination of power, control, and affordability. Whether it’s Minecraft, CS:GO, ARK, Valheim, or any other multiplayer title, you can set it up on your own terms.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through setting up a basic game server from scratch on your VDS.

✅ Why Use a VDS for Game Hosting?

A VDS provides:

Dedicated CPU cores – unlike shared VPS resources.
Full root access – install and configure any game server software.
High bandwidth & low latency – great for hosting players globally.
Scalability – upgrade RAM, CPU, or storage as needed.

🛠️ Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure:

You’ve purchased a Ryzen VDS or Hybrid Server from Hosteons👉 Order here
You have a basic understanding of SSH and Linux commands.
Your VDS is running a supported OS like Ubuntu 22.04 or Debian 12.

🚀 Step-by-Step: Installing a Game Server

Step 1: Connect to Your VDS

Use SSH to log into your server:

ssh root@your-server-ip

Step 2: Update the System

apt update && apt upgrade -y

Step 3: Install Dependencies

For most game servers (like Minecraft or Valheim), you may need:

apt install screen wget unzip curl -y

Step 4: Create a New User (Optional but Recommended)

adduser gameserver
usermod -aG sudo gameserver

Then:

su - gameserver

Step 5: Download Your Game Server Files

Example for Minecraft Java Edition:

mkdir minecraft && cd minecraft
wget https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/your_server_jar_link_here -O server.jar

Accept the EULA:

echo "eula=true" > eula.txt

Step 6: Run the Game Server

java -Xmx2G -Xms1G -jar server.jar nogui

You can also run it inside a screen session:

screen -S mcserver
java -Xmx2G -Xms1G -jar server.jar nogui

Press Ctrl+A then D to detach the session.

🔓 Open Required Ports

Make sure to allow incoming game traffic. Example for Minecraft (default port 25565):

ufw allow 25565

Adjust based on the game you’re hosting.

📡 Optional: Set Up a Domain or Subdomain

Point your domain (like play.yourdomain.com) to your VDS IP for easy connection.

💬 Common Games You Can Host

Minecraft (Java/Bedrock)
CS:GO or Team Fortress 2 (via SteamCMD)
Valheim
ARK: Survival Evolved
Rust
7 Days to Die
Terraria

💡 Tips for Better Performance

Choose a location closer to your players to reduce latency.
Use SSD or NVMe storage for faster world loading.
Regularly back up your game data using rsync or cron.
Monitor server usage with tools like htop or netdata.

🔥 Why Choose Hosteons for Game Hosting?

High-performance Ryzen 7950X VDS
10 Gbps network ports
Multiple locations – Los Angeles, Dallas, Salt Lake City & more
Full root access with no resource sharing
Crypto, Alipay, UPI, and 20+ local payment methods

👉 Ready to start?

Check out our VDS plans here:

🔗 https://my.hosteons.com/store/ryzen-7950x-based-hybrid-dedicated-server

🕹️ Conclusion

Hosting your own game server gives you complete freedom to customize, invite friends, and even build communities. With Hosteons VDS, you’re in control — no lag, no limits, and no middlemen.

Need help? Our support team is here 24/7 at https://my.hosteons.com