Do you dream of creating your own gaming world where you’re in charge? Hosting a private server for Minecraft, CS2, Rust, or another game is not just fun — it’s freedom, customization, and community building. And the best platform for it? A Virtual Private Server (VPS).
In this article, we’ll explain why a VPS is an ideal solution for game server hosting, its benefits and drawbacks, and which games work best on it.
What Is a VPS?
A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a portion of a physical server that offers dedicated resources like CPU, RAM, disk space, and root access. Unlike shared hosting, a VPS operates in isolation from other users.
This gives you the freedom to:
- install any software (including game engines),
- configure the system for a specific game,
- manage the server entirely by yourself.
Advantages of Hosting a Game Server on a VPS
Full Control
Root access gives you the ability to:
- install any version or modded build of a game;
- edit configs, manage player files;
- use custom plugins and anti-cheat systems.
Scalability
If your player base grows, you can easily switch to a higher-tier VPS plan with more resources.
24/7 Uptime
Unlike a home PC, a VPS runs around the clock — perfect for persistent multiplayer worlds.
Security
You can set your own firewall rules, make backups, and protect your game world from attacks.
Affordable Pricing
At Server.ua, you can get a powerful SSD-based VPS with sufficient CPU and RAM for just a few euros per month — enough for most games.
Potential Drawbacks
Requires Basic Knowledge
You should be familiar with Linux (Ubuntu or Debian), command-line tools, and SSH connections.
You’re in Charge
Unlike managed gaming hosts, you’re responsible for:
- updates,
- backups,
- security and configuration.
But if you’re an enthusiast — that’s a benefit!
Most Popular Games to Host on a VPS
Minecraft
One of the most VPS-friendly games. Host:
- Vanilla servers;
- Forge, Spigot, Paper modded versions;
- Add plugins, set up whitelists, PvP rules, in-game economies, and more.
Minimum specs:
2 CPU cores, 2–4 GB RAM, SSD, Java.
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
The next generation of CS:GO, now on Source 2 engine. VPS hosting via SteamCMD works great.
Benefits:
- private matches;
- custom maps and configs;
- full control over tick rate and performance.
Rust
A survival shooter that benefits from custom hosting. Easily deploy Oxide/uMod extensions and tweak gameplay.
Valheim
A co-op Viking survival game. Runs well on mid-tier VPS with optional mod support.
ARK: Survival Evolved
Requires high performance. Ideal on dedicated servers or powerful VPS plans. Supports PvP, modding, clans.
Terraria
Lightweight 2D sandbox with mod support via tModLoader. Runs well on basic VPS plans.
Garry’s Mod
A physics sandbox game with lots of community-built plugins and RP scenarios. Great for VPS.
Other VPS-compatible games:
- Team Fortress 2
- Don’t Starve Together
- Satisfactory
- 7 Days to Die
- Project Zomboid
- OpenTTD
- Palworld
- SCP: Secret Laboratory
- Unturned
- Factorio
- Killing Floor 2
- DayZ
How to Choose the Right VPS for a Game Server
| Component | Recommended Minimum |
| CPU | 2–4 cores (more for games like ARK or Rust) |
| RAM | 4 GB for Minecraft, 8 GB+ for ARK/Rust |
| SSD | Mandatory, at least 20 GB |
| Traffic | Unlimited or high-bandwidth plans |
| Location | Servers in Ukraine = low ping for UA players |
At Server.ua, you can choose a VPS plan tailored to your specific game and scale up easily when needed.
Setup Tips for Game Servers
- Use screen or tmux for running servers in the background.
- Set up autostart scripts after reboots.
- Schedule cron jobs for automatic backups.
- Configure ufw or iptables for firewall rules.
- Monitor performance with tools like htop, glances, netstat, and secure access with fail2ban.
Final Thoughts
Hosting a game server on a VPS gives you:
- full control,
- better performance than shared game hosting,
- the ability to build your own rules and community.
Whether you’re hosting Minecraft, CS2, Rust, or your own gaming clan — a VPS is a powerful, affordable solution.
Ready to start?
Rent a VPS from Server.ua and build your custom game server today!
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