How to Run a Game Server for a Discord Server (2026)

To run a game server for a Discord server, keep the server on a host so it stays online without anyone's PC, then wire it to Discord with four things: a pinned join channel, roles that match in game access (whitelist, moderator, admin), a status bot or webhook that posts when the server is up or restarting, and an announcements channel for restarts, wipes and events. Minecraft (DiscordSRV) and FiveM (txAdmin) can whitelist players by Discord role directly.

Why run a game server for a Discord community?

A Discord server gives a group a place to talk. A game server gives it a place to play together that belongs to the group. Joined up, the Discord becomes the front door: people find the address there, read the rules there, get their whitelist role there and hear about the next event there.

The important part is that the game server does not depend on one member. If the person who hosts from home goes on holiday, the community stops. A hosted server keeps the world up around the clock, and its address does not change when someone's home internet does. If you have not picked a game yet, our list of the best games for Discord communities covers which ones suit a group.

Which channels should a game server Discord have?

Keep it small. Most communities need five channels for the game server:

Put everything a new member needs to join in one pinned message: the address with its port (for example 203.0.113.10:2456), the password, the exact game version and a link to any mod collection. A wrong version is the most common reason people cannot join, so say it plainly. Our guide on how to invite friends to your game server covers what each game needs in that message.

How do I set up roles that match the game server?

Roles work best when each one means a specific thing in game. A simple ladder:

1. Member. Joined the Discord and read the rules. Can see #server-info.
2. Whitelisted. Approved to play. This is the role your whitelist checks.
3. Moderator. Can kick, mute and handle reports in game.
4. Admin. Full access to the server console, files and settings.

Then give the matching rights in game. Each game does this differently: Minecraft uses ops.json and the whitelist, Valheim uses adminlist.txt with platform IDs, Rust uses ownerid and moderatorid, DayZ admins log in with #login and the admin password, and Project Zomboid uses access levels. Collect Steam64 IDs or game usernames in a form or a staff only channel when you approve someone, so adding them in game is quick.

Keep the Admin role small. Anyone with console access can wipe the world by accident.

How do I whitelist players by Discord role?

Two popular games can check Discord membership or roles directly:

• Minecraft: Java Edition with DiscordSRV. The plugin bridges chat between Discord and the server, and its link to join feature kicks players who have not linked their Discord account, telling them to message the bot a code. You can then require that linked players are in your Discord, or hold a certain role. The setup is in linking.yml, described in the DiscordSRV link to join docs.
• FiveM with txAdmin. txAdmin has a built in Discord bot. Paste the bot token and your guild ID in txAdmin's Discord settings, turn on the Server Members Intent in the Discord developer portal, then pick Discord Roles as the whitelist mode and paste the role IDs that grant access. Our FiveM whitelist guide has the full steps.

For other games, the Discord role is the approval step and a moderator adds the player to the game's own whitelist. Valheim has permittedlist.txt, Project Zomboid has whitelist accounts with Open=false, and most Steam games take a list of Steam64 IDs. See how to make a game server private for the per game options.

How do I add a server status bot?

A status channel saves staff from answering "is the server down?" all day. Options, from most to least integrated:

The txAdmin embed is set up from its Discord settings page and can be customised as Discord embed JSON, as covered in the txAdmin status docs. Query based bots work for most Steam games because the server answers standard player count queries on its query port, which your host shows in the panel.

Give bots only the permissions they need: view channel, send messages and embed links in the status channel. A bot with administrator rights is a risk if its token ever leaks.

What should go in announcements?

Predictable servers keep players. Post in advance:

• Restarts. A fixed daily or weekly restart time, posted once and pinned. Our guide on how often to restart a game server suggests schedules per game.
• Game updates. When a patch drops, players and the server must be on the same version. Post "server updated, restart your game" so people are not stuck on a version mismatch.
• Wipes and resets. Rust maps wipe with Facepunch's monthly update on the first Thursday. Other games wipe when you decide. Announce the date at least a week ahead.
• Events. Boss nights, build contests, raid windows, race nights. Use Discord's scheduled events so members get a reminder.
• Mod list changes. Post the new list before the server switches, so people can update first.

How should moderation work between Discord and the game?

Treat the Discord and the game server as one community with one set of rules:

1. One rules list. The rules in #rules are the rules staff enforce in game. If they differ, players argue about which applies.
2. Bans carry over. Decide whether a game ban means a Discord ban, and write it down.
3. Log actions. Keep a staff channel where moderators note every kick and ban with the reason. Many plugins can post these through a webhook.
4. An appeal path. A ticket channel or form for appeals stops arguments in public channels.
5. Back up before big changes. Take a backup before a wipe, a mod change or an admin cleanup, so a mistake can be undone. See how to back up a game server.

How do we pay for it as a group?

A server for a community does not have to be one person's bill. On GamezServers you can split the bill at checkout: each person pays their own share from a link, so members chip in without anyone collecting money. Plans have no contract, you can cancel anytime, and you can upgrade or downgrade as the community grows.

FAQ

Can a Discord bot host a game server?

No. A Discord bot can show status, bridge chat and run commands, but the game itself has to run on a computer or a hosted server. The bot only talks to it.

How do I show my game server status in Discord?

Use the game's own integration if it has one, like txAdmin for FiveM or DiscordSRV for Minecraft. For most Steam games, a query based status bot reads the player count from the server's query port.

Can I whitelist players with Discord roles?

Yes, directly in Minecraft with DiscordSRV and in FiveM with txAdmin. In other games, use the role as your approval step and add approved players to the game's own whitelist.

How do I keep random people out of my community server?

Use a password or a whitelist, and only post the address in a channel that new members see after accepting the rules.

Should the game server address be public in Discord?

For a private community, post it only in a channel limited to members with the right role. For a public server, a public address is fine, and the server list will show it anyway.

The easy option

The hardest part of a community server is usually keeping it online and up to date. With GamezServers the server is ready minutes after paying, runs behind DDoS protection, keeps backups before game updates, and gives staff full file access and SFTP for configs and whitelists. The Invite friends button gives you a join page to post in #server-info. Pick a game from the game list to get started.