How to Host a Necesse Server (2026 Guide)

To host a Necesse server, download the Necesse Dedicated Server (SteamCMD app 1169370) and start it with StartServer-nogui -world MyWorld. Settings such as port, slots, password and pauseWhenEmpty live in cfg/server.cfg, the default port is UDP 14159, and worlds are .zip files in the saves folder, so moving your world over is a copy and a -world name. Players join through Multiplayer with your IP and port.

Do you need a dedicated server for Necesse?

Not always. Necesse lets any player host from the main menu, and for two friends playing at the same time that is fine. A dedicated server earns its place when:

• people play at different times and do not want to wait for the host,
• your settlement should be reachable every day, not only when one PC is on,
• the group is bigger than a couple of players, or you want mods everyone shares.

Necesse left Early Access with version 1.0 in October 2025, so worlds made now are built to last. The Necesse wiki's multiplayer pages cover the server tool in detail.

What do you need to run a Necesse server?

Necesse is a Java game and a light server. Memory grows with how much of the world is explored and how big the settlements get, not just with player count.

Any modern CPU works. The server runs on Windows and Linux, and SteamCMD brings everything it needs.

How do I install the Necesse dedicated server?

1. Install SteamCMD and download the server:

steamcmd +force_install_dir ./necesse-server +login anonymous +app_update 1169370 validate +quit

Windows players can also install Necesse Dedicated Server from the Tools section of the Steam Library.

2. Start it without the GUI and name the world to load or create:

# Windows
StartServer-nogui.bat -world MyWorld

# Linux
./StartServer-nogui.sh -world MyWorld

Without -world, the server asks questions in the console (which world, which port, how many slots). The flag skips that, which is what you want for a server that restarts on its own.

3. Let it generate the world, then type save and stop, or close it, before you start editing config.

Useful launch arguments

-localdir is worth using. By default the server keeps data in %APPDATA%\Necesse on Windows or ~/.config/Necesse on Linux, mixed in with your own game's files. With -localdir, saves, config and logs sit next to the server, which makes backups simple.

What goes in server.cfg?

The file is cfg/server.cfg in the data folder. A fresh one looks like this:

SERVER = {
port = 14159, // [0 - 65535] Server default port
slots = 10, // [1 - 250] Server default slots
password = "", // Leave blank for no password
maxClientLatencySeconds = 30,
pauseWhenEmpty = true,
giveClientsPower = true,
logging = true,
language = en,
zipSaves = true,
MOTD = ""
}

Edit with the server stopped and restart afterwards. World rules like difficulty are per world rather than in server.cfg; change them from the console with /difficulty, which takes casual, adventure, classic, hard or brutal.

What port does a Necesse server use?

UDP 14159. Forward it on your router to the machine running the server and allow it through the firewall. If you change port in server.cfg, forward the new one instead. Our port forwarding guide walks through it if you have not done it before.

How do I move my world to the dedicated server?

Your single player and co-op worlds are .zip files in the saves folder:

• Windows: %APPDATA%\Necesse\saves
• Linux: ~/.config/Necesse/saves

1. Stop the server.
2. Copy YourWorld.zip into the server's saves folder (with SFTP if the server is remote, see what SFTP is).
3. Start the server with -world YourWorld, using the file name without .zip.

Make sure the server is on the same game version (and the same mods) as the world was played on. A server that has not updated after a patch is the most common reason a moved world will not load or players see a version mismatch.

How do I become admin on a Necesse server?

Start the server with -owner YourName, or set it from the server console:

/permissions set YourName owner

The levels are User, Moderator, Admin and Owner. Moderators can see who is online, kick and use /say, admins get most commands, owners get all of them. Type /help in the console or in game to list what your level can run. /save forces a save, handy before a boss attempt.

How do mods work on a Necesse server?

Necesse mods are .jar files, mostly shared on the Steam Workshop. Copy the same .jar files into the server's mods folder and restart. Every player needs exactly the same mods and versions; the server checks the list when someone joins and refuses mismatches. Agree on a mod list as a group, have everyone subscribe on the Workshop, and update the server's copies whenever a mod updates.

The easy option: host it with GamezServers

Our Necesse server hosting sets the save name, player slots (1 to 99), password, auto update and an optional Steam beta branch from the panel. server.cfg, the saves folder and the mods folder are all in the file manager, with full SFTP access for uploading your world.

New customers get 50% off the first month on monthly plans, and friends can split the bill so each pays their own share. One thing to know: Steam Auto Update is off by default on our Necesse servers, so turn it on after a patch or players will see a version mismatch. If Necesse is your group's kind of game, our list of cozy games with dedicated servers has more.

FAQ

What port does a Necesse server use?

UDP 14159 by default. Change it with port in server.cfg or the -port launch argument.

How many players can join a Necesse server?

server.cfg accepts 1 to 250 slots, with 10 as the default. Most friend groups play with 4 to 10.

Does a Necesse server keep running when nobody is online?

Not by default. pauseWhenEmpty = true freezes the world when the last player leaves. Set it to false if your settlers should keep working.

Where are Necesse world saves stored?

In %APPDATA%\Necesse\saves on Windows and ~/.config/Necesse/saves on Linux, as one .zip file per world.

Do players need the same mods as the server?

Yes. Necesse requires every player to run exactly the same mods and versions as the server, or they cannot join.