How to Host a Risk of Rain 2 Dedicated Server (2026)

To host a Risk of Rain 2 dedicated server, install the free Risk of Rain 2 Dedicated Server (SteamCMD app 1180760), create Risk of Rain 2_Data/Config/server.cfg with sv_hostname, sv_maxplayers, sv_password and sv_port, then start it and open UDP 27015. Players join through the developer console with connect. The catch: the server build has lagged behind the Steam game since 2022, so check versions first.

Read this first: the version mismatch problem

Before you spend an evening on setup, know the biggest issue with Risk of Rain 2 servers. Gearbox has not kept the dedicated server tool in step with game patches, and it has sat one or more versions behind the current Steam client since 2022. Players on the latest version get a "version differs from the server" error when they try to connect. Threads in the Steam discussions cover the same problem.

Groups that run a server anyway use one of two fixes:

If your group always wants the newest patch and DLC, normal peer to peer lobbies (one player hosts from the game menu) are the simpler choice. A dedicated server is worth it when your group is happy on a fixed build, wants a lobby that stays up without one friend hosting, or plays modded runs together anyway.

What do you need to run the server?

The Risk of Rain 2 Dedicated Server is a free Windows tool on Steam. It does not need a copy of the game, though every player does. On Linux it runs through a compatibility layer such as Wine, which adds some overhead.

Runs are short and nothing builds up between them, so memory use stays flat from night to night.

How do I install the Risk of Rain 2 dedicated server?

1. Install SteamCMD, or find Risk of Rain 2 Dedicated Server under Tools in your Steam library.
2. With SteamCMD:

login anonymous
force_install_dir C:\ror2server
app_update 1180760 validate
quit

3. Open C:\ror2server\Risk of Rain 2_Data\Config\ and create a text file named server.cfg (next section).
4. Start Risk of Rain 2.exe in the server folder. A console window opens and loads the config. The window shows the server's build when it starts, which is the version players need to match.

What goes in server.cfg?

The config is a list of console variables, each line ending in a semicolon:

sv_hostname "Friday Night Runs";
sv_maxplayers 4;
sv_password "crew-only";
sv_port 27015;
steam_server_query_port 27016;
steam_server_steam_port 0;
steam_server_heartbeat_enabled 1;
sv_custom_tags "vanilla,friends";
gamemode "Classic";

Save, then restart the server for changes to apply.

How do players join a Risk of Rain 2 dedicated server?

Joining goes through the developer console rather than the menus:

1. Launch Risk of Rain 2 on the same build as the server.
2. Press Ctrl + Alt + ` (the key under Esc) to open the console.
3. Type the password and connect in one line:

cl_password "crew-only"; connect "203.0.113.10:27015"

If the server has no password, still send an empty one first, cl_password "";, or the game retries the last password you used and fails.

What ports does the server need?

Forward both to the server machine and allow them through the Windows firewall. Running a second server on the same PC means new port numbers in its own config. Our port forwarding guide has the router steps.

How do I run mods on a Risk of Rain 2 server with r2modman?

Risk of Rain 2 mods use BepInEx and come from Thunderstore, usually managed with r2modman. Most mods are written for the game client, so a modded server is really a matter of copying a working setup across and making sure every player matches it.

1. In r2modman, make a profile with BepInExPack and the mods you want. Pick mods whose pages say they work on a dedicated server, and skip purely visual client mods.
2. Launch the game modded once from r2modman to confirm the profile works.
3. Open the profile folder (Settings > Browse profile folder). Copy the BepInEx folder plus the doorstop_config.ini and winhttp.dll files that come with BepInEx.
4. Paste them into the server folder, next to Risk of Rain 2.exe.
5. Start the server and check its console for BepInEx loading each plugin.
6. In r2modman, use Export profile as code and send the code to your group, so everyone imports the identical mod list.

Every player needs the same mods in the same versions. A version matching mod in this profile is also how many groups solve the server build mismatch, but read its page carefully, since it changes what "matching" means for the whole group.

FAQ

How many players can join a Risk of Rain 2 server?

Four in the base game. Going higher needs a multiplayer mod that the server and every player run.

Why do I get a version mismatch error?

The dedicated server build is older than the current Steam game. Players either roll back to the server's build through Steam or use a version matching mod on both sides.

Do I need another copy of the game for the server?

No. The dedicated server is a free tool on Steam. Each player still needs their own copy of Risk of Rain 2.

How do I hide the server from the public list?

Set steam_server_heartbeat_enabled 0 in server.cfg, or set a password. Friends can still join by IP through the console.

Does a dedicated server save runs?

No. Runs reset when they end, the same as in normal co-op. The server's benefit is a lobby that stays up and a connection that does not depend on one player's home internet.

The easy option: host it with us

Our Risk of Rain 2 hosting runs the plain dedicated server, so the same version catch applies, and we would rather you know that before you buy. If your group is fine on the server's build, it starts at 7.99 USD a month for 3 GB, with 4 GB covering a full four player lobby. The panel sets the password, hostname, max players and public listing, so there is no config file to write. New customers get 50% off the first month, the squad can split the bill four ways, and new customers can get a full refund within 72 hours of their first purchase if it does not work out.