As a lover of games, a streamer or a developer, you must have already realized that a game server may ruin or make your game. You can be hosting your own world in Minecraft, have your own server running your personal ARK: Survival Evolved server with your friends, or you could be running a massive eSports event, but the performance, stability, and fun of your environment depends on the server you have chosen.
Yet herein lies the trick about it, there are dozens of game server hosting companies in the market, and one can simply lose in the array of tech language, price packages, and services configuration. Then, before you jump in, we are going to take down the three most crucial points that you should know before selecting a game server.
1. Understand What a Game Server Really Does
Let’s start with the basics. A game server is a very powerful computer or a virtual machine upon which your multiplayer world of a game is run. It tracks the motions of all players, handles real-time interaction, and makes sure that the game is smooth and synchronized, regardless of the location of players who are connecting.
To keep it up simple, consider a game hosting as a host of your virtual world. In its absence, your multiplayer would be sluggish, crash, or even absent.
There are various kinds of game servers nowadays and it is necessary to know what one best fits you.
a. Shared Game Servers
Shared servers are the most convenient and cheap when you are starting or having small games with a few friends. Shared game server hosting is where resources of a server are shared amongst users. This helps to keep the costs down but at the same time there is a lack of control and may result in lags during the busy times.
b. Dedicated Game Servers
A dedicated game server is the most desirable to serious gamers or developers. You have a whole server to yourself that is, complete access to settings, mods and configurations. Dedicated servers are costly but they are better in performance, high uptime, and security. This will be your best bet in case you are going to have big communities or competitive events.
c. Cloud-Based Game Servers
Gamers are also moving towards cloud game servers, which are managed by a cloud service such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure. These are scalable, or in other words they can be expanded or contracted as the number of your players increases. Cloud systems are typically set up with auto backup, security, and international data center to provide low latency access.
Summing up, you can have a casual experience, community hosting, or even professional performance, so before you select your server, you should know what type of experience you desire.
2. Know the Core Game Server Requirements
The game server is not one size fits all. Technical requirements of every game are different. Knowing your game server needs will enable you to prevent lag, crashes and auto downtimes.
The following is what you need to think about before coming to a decision:
a. CPU and Processing Power
Gaming is an activity with high demand of resources. Your game server must have a powerful processor to support the actions of thousands of users at a time. With the majority of the modern multiplayer titles, a high clock speed (approximately 3.5 GHz or higher) is the best.
When you are hosting games such as Valheim, Rust, or Ark, you will have to get a quad-core CPU. More cores are the guarantee of better multitasking and clearer gameplay.
b. RAM (Memory)
RAM influences your game world’s smooth running. Lack of memory may result in lag spikes or even crash of the server.
- 2-4GB of RAM can be adequate in case of lightweight games such as Minecraft.
- When using larger, modded worlds or games with 10 or more players, target 816 GB of RAM.
You should never compromise with the option of upgrading without any difficulty.
c. Storage Type
Nevertheless, with SSD (Solid State Drives) it is possible to forget about slow hard drives and enjoy high loading speed and the ability to get data fast. The hosting of game servers using SSD significantly minimizes the time taken during storage or access of game files.
d. Network and Bandwidth
The bane of all gamers is latency (ping). Find servers with low-latency connection and a network connection speed of at least 1 Gbps. Also, be sure that your host offers unlimited or at least a large monthly limit of bandwidth – high-traffic games consume large amounts of data.
e. Server Location
It is important how your game server is physically located. The proximity is to your players the faster the response time. As an illustration, a server in Mumbai or Singapore would be much better than the server in New York should your players be mostly in India.
f. Operating System & Compatibility
Certain games can be better run on Linux; some require windows. Ensure that your computer game server setup configuration is compatible with your game OS needs.
You will prevent hours of frustration down the line by first verifying these game servers requirements before you buy them.
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3. Evaluate Game Server Setup, Performance, and Support
A best game server will not cost much but is difficult to install or maintain. Raw performance is not as important as ease of use, flexibility and customer support.
We shall examine what makes a hosting provider really unique:
a. Easy Game Server Setup
You do not need to be a tech-savvy user, so find providers that include one- click installation or ready-made configurations of such popular games as Minecraft, Counter-Strike, ARK: Survival Evolved, or Garry mods.
There are other hosts with control panels (such as Pterodactyl or TCAdmin) which allow you to:
- Start and stop your server easily
- Install mods or plugins
- Monitor CPU and RAM usage
- Manage backups and updates
Having an intuitive setup process means you spend less time configuring and more time playing.
b. Server Performance and Uptime
In the consideration of hosting companies, one should consider uptime guarantees (preferably 99.9% and more). It can be disastrous when your community is hit by frequent downtimes.
Another thing is to verify whether they have dedicated game servers or shared systems. Specialized resources provide reliable performance, even when it is also in use by other users.
c. Scalability
Your community can increase in size and therefore you can require additional power. The best game server hosting companies have scalability on demand – CPU, RAM or storage will be scaled without relocating your data to a different server.
d. Customer Support and Community
Improper customer service is a life savior when things go wrong, as seen at times. Select hosts with a 24/7 live chat or tickets. Others even possess Discord communities where members assist each other in solving common problems.
Bonus Tips Before You Choose a Game Server
Those are the three main elements, but a couple of additional considerations will allow a smarter decision.
a. Pricing and Value
Always do not go after the cheapest choice. An optimal best game server is one that will be affordable and at the same time perform well. Most of the providers have promotions on long-term packages, and it is always advisable to first check the monthly package before making a long-term commitment.
b. Security and DDoS Protection
There is probability of attack on online servers. Trusted hosts consist of an inbuilt DDoS protection and frequent security patches to ensure that your data and players are secure.
c. Backups and Data Safety
Automatic back-ups are essential. When something goes wrong and your world of games crashes or becomes corrupted, you will be glad you had a backup file recently.
d. Customization Options
Customization is a favorite among gamers – mods, maps, and plugins are game enhancements. Ensure that the host permits custom files as well as ensure that the host does not restrict access to the server folders.
e. Reputation and Reviews
User feedback on websites such as Trustpilot, Reddit, or gaming forums will be available before committing to anything. The feedback that will be provided by real players will tell you whether a hosting company is doing what it is promising it to do.
Popular Game Server Hosting Options to Consider
The following are some of the popular game server hosting companies used and trusted by gamers:
- HostHorde – Good with Minecraft and easy setups.
- OVHcloud – A reputable company with regards to DDoS protection and worldwide servers.
- Apex Hosting – Provides ready-made servers and excellent services.
- Nitrado – Best with ARK and 7 Days to Die.
- GTX Gaming – Semi-configurable and performance-oriented.
All these providers are friendly to dedicated game servers and they simplify the process of game servers setup.
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Final Thoughts
Even the selection of game server does not only consist of picking the lowest-priced plan or the blingiest site. It is all about getting a hosting solution to suit your needs in terms of performance, stability, security and scalability.
To recap:
- Know your type of hosting shared, dedicated or cloud.
- Be familiar with your technical specifications of CPU, RAM, bandwidth and location.
- Consider the ease of setup and quality of support since despite the best hardware, it is nothing without quality service.
On the one hand, by investing in the appropriate game server hosting, you are not renting a machine, but you are creating a world in which people can interact, play, and make memories. It could be a match that you are playing with your friends or it could be a massive multiplayer universe but whatever the case, your server is the foundation of that game.
Take your time, make comparisons, and make wise choices, though, since in gaming, it is your server and the magic fly.
