Best VPS for Game Servers: Top Hosting Picks for Minecraft, Valheim & More in 2026
Looking for the best VPS to host game servers? We compare top providers for Minecraft, Valheim, ARK, CS2, and other multiplayer game hosting.
Best VPS for Game Servers: Top Hosting Picks for Minecraft, Valheim & More
Running your own game server means your rules, your mods, and no monthly subscription fees. A VPS for game servers gives you the performance and control that dedicated game hosting can't match.
Why Host Game Servers on a VPS?
Unlike managed game hosting, a VPS gives you full control over your server. Install any mods, run multiple games, and customize everything — while often costing less.
VPS vs. Managed Game Hosting
| Feature | VPS | Managed Game Host |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Full root access | Limited panel |
| Mods | Install anything | Often restricted |
| Multiple games | Yes | Usually 1 game |
| Cost | $5-30/mo | $10-50/mo per game |
| Setup | DIY | Usually easy |
Popular Games to Host
- Minecraft (Java & Bedrock)
- Valheim
- ARK: Survival Evolved
- Counter-Strike 2
- Rust
- Terraria
- Factorio
- Palworld
Game Server VPS Requirements
| Game | Min RAM | Recommended | CPU | Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft (Vanilla) | 2GB | 4GB | 2 vCPU | 10-20 |
| Minecraft (Modded) | 4GB | 8GB+ | 4 vCPU | 10-30 |
| Valheim | 2GB | 4GB | 2 vCPU | 10 |
| ARK | 6GB | 16GB | 4 vCPU | 20-40 |
| CS2/Source | 1GB | 2GB | 2 vCPU | 24-32 |
| Rust | 8GB | 16GB+ | 4 vCPU | 50-100 |
| Terraria | 1GB | 2GB | 1 vCPU | 8-16 |
Note: RAM is usually the limiting factor. CPU matters for games with heavy simulation (Factorio, modded Minecraft).
Top VPS Picks for Game Servers
1. Hostinger VPS (Best Value)
$4.99/mo | 1 vCPU, 4GB RAM, 50GB NVMe
Great for smaller servers:
- 4GB RAM runs Minecraft, Valheim, Terraria
- NVMe for fast world loading
- 24/7 support
- Easy upgrade to 8GB for $9.99/mo
Why it's good for gaming: Best RAM per dollar. Upgrade path as your community grows.
2. Contabo (Best for Large Servers)
€4.99/mo | 4 vCPU, 8GB RAM, 50GB SSD
Massive specs for demanding games:
- 8GB handles modded Minecraft, ARK
- 4 vCPU for physics-heavy games
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 400GB NVMe option for €8.99/mo
3. Hetzner Cloud (Best EU Performance)
€7.59/mo | 2 vCPU, 4GB RAM, 40GB NVMe
Excellent for European players:
- Low latency across EU
- 20TB traffic included
- Snapshots for world backups
- Great network performance
4. Vultr (Best Global Coverage)
$6/mo | 1 vCPU, 1GB RAM, 25GB NVMe
For geographically diverse player bases:
- 32 locations worldwide
- High-frequency compute option
- Deploy servers near players
- Good anti-DDoS protection
5. OVH Game Servers (Best DDoS Protection)
€5.99/mo | 2 vCPU, 4GB RAM, 80GB SSD
Built-in gaming protection:
- Anti-DDoS VAC (game-aware)
- Low latency networking
- Dedicated gamer support
- Good for competitive games
Quick Game Server Setup
Minecraft Server (Java)
# Update and install Java
apt update && apt upgrade -y
apt install openjdk-21-jre-headless screen -y
# Create server directory
mkdir /opt/minecraft && cd /opt/minecraft
# Download server jar
wget https://piston-data.mojang.com/v1/objects/latest/server.jar
# Accept EULA
echo "eula=true" > eula.txt
# Create start script
cat > start.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
screen -dmS minecraft java -Xmx3G -Xms1G -jar server.jar nogui
EOF
chmod +x start.sh
# Start server
./start.sh
Valheim Server
# Install SteamCMD
apt install steamcmd -y
# Install Valheim
steamcmd +force_install_dir /opt/valheim +login anonymous +app_update 896660 validate +quit
# Create start script
cat > /opt/valheim/start.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
export templdpath=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/valheim/linux64:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export SteamAppId=892970
./valheim_server.x86_64 -name "MyServer" -port 2456 -world "MyWorld" -password "secret123" -public 1
EOF
chmod +x /opt/valheim/start.sh
Using LinuxGSM (Easy Way)
LinuxGSM simplifies game server management:
# Install dependencies
dpkg --add-architecture i386
apt update
apt install curl wget file tar bzip2 gzip unzip bsdmainutils python3 util-linux ca-certificates binutils bc jq tmux netcat lib32gcc-s1 lib32stdc++6 -y
# Download and run installer
wget -O linuxgsm.sh https://linuxgsm.sh && chmod +x linuxgsm.sh
# Install Minecraft
./linuxgsm.sh mcserver
./mcserver install
# Start server
./mcserver start
Provider Comparison
| Provider | RAM | CPU | Price | DDoS Protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostinger | 4GB | 1 vCPU | $4.99 | Basic |
| Contabo | 8GB | 4 vCPU | €4.99 | Basic |
| Hetzner | 4GB | 2 vCPU | €7.59 | Basic |
| Vultr | 1GB | 1 vCPU | $6 | Good |
| OVH Game | 4GB | 2 vCPU | €5.99 | Excellent |
Game Server Performance Tips
1. Optimize Server Settings
Each game has performance configs:
# Minecraft server.properties
view-distance=10
simulation-distance=8
max-players=20
2. Use SSDs/NVMe
World loading and saving benefit hugely from fast storage. Always choose NVMe over HDD.
3. Set Up Automatic Restarts
Prevent memory leaks and clear garbage:
# Cron job for daily restart at 4 AM
0 4 * * * /opt/minecraft/restart.sh
4. Backup Worlds Regularly
# Before restart, backup world
tar -czf /backups/world-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz /opt/minecraft/world
5. Monitor Performance
# Install htop
apt install htop -y
# Watch server resources
htop
6. Use a Firewall
Only open necessary ports:
ufw allow 22/tcp # SSH
ufw allow 25565/tcp # Minecraft Java
ufw allow 19132/udp # Minecraft Bedrock
ufw allow 2456:2458/udp # Valheim
ufw enable
FAQ
How many players can my VPS handle?
Rough guidelines:
- 2GB RAM: 5-10 vanilla Minecraft, small Valheim
- 4GB RAM: 15-20 Minecraft, 10 Valheim
- 8GB RAM: 30+ Minecraft, modded servers, ARK
- 16GB RAM: Large modpacks, Rust, multiple servers
VPS vs. Dedicated Server for Gaming?
VPS works for most small-medium servers. Dedicated servers (Hetzner, OVH) are better for:
- 50+ concurrent players
- Heavy modpacks
- Games like Rust or ARK at scale
Can I run multiple game servers?
Yes! Size your VPS for total resource needs. Example:
- Minecraft (3GB) + Valheim (2GB) + Terraria (1GB) = 8GB VPS
How do I protect against DDoS?
- Use providers with built-in protection (OVH, Vultr)
- Hide your server IP where possible
- Consider Cloudflare Spectrum (paid) for serious attacks
What about mods and plugins?
Full control is the VPS advantage:
- Minecraft: Install Fabric/Forge/Paper freely
- Any game: Full file system access
- No mod restrictions or extra fees
Conclusion
For game servers, choose based on your needs:
✅ Hostinger at $4.99/mo — Best value for Minecraft, Valheim, smaller servers
✅ Contabo at €4.99/mo — Best specs for demanding games (ARK, Rust, modded MC)
✅ OVH Game at €5.99/mo — Best DDoS protection for competitive gaming
Start with what you need, monitor performance, and scale up as your community grows. Your server, your rules, your mods.
Ready to get started?
Get the best VPS hosting deal today. Hostinger offers 4GB RAM VPS starting at just $4.99/mo.
Get Hostinger VPS — $4.99/mo// up to 75% off + free domain included
// related topics
fordnox
Expert VPS reviews and hosting guides. We test every provider we recommend.
// last updated: February 6, 2026. Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links.