Don't Starve Together Dedicated Server Hosting 2026

Don't Starve Together Dedicated Server Hosting 2026

Don't Starve Together is one of the best co-op survival games ever made, combining the original game's dark hand-drawn aesthetic with surprisingly deep multiplayer mechanics. Hosting your own DST server lets you and your friends experience the game without the limitations of Klei's public servers — and with mods that dramatically expand the experience.

DST Dedicated Server Structure

Unlike most games, DST splits its world into two separate server processes that run simultaneously:

1. The Surface server — the overworld, day/night cycle, base building
2. The Caves server — the underground cave system, always-night

Both processes connect to each other via a master/slave relationship and must run at the same time for cave access to work. This means hosting DST properly requires planning for two processes.

Hardware Requirements

| World | RAM per process | Total RAM needed | |---|---|---| | Surface only | 512 MB - 1 GB | ~1 GB | | Surface + Caves | 1-2 GB each | 3-4 GB | | Heavily modded | 2-4 GB each | 6-8 GB |

DST is one of the lighter games to host in terms of hardware. A 4 GB RAM plan handles a full DST server with caves and a reasonable mod list.

Getting a Server Token

DST requires a server token to run a dedicated server. Get it from:

1. Open Don't Starve Together
2. Go to Account — Server Token
3. Generate a new token

The token authenticates your server with Klei's backend. Store it in cluster_token.txt in your cluster folder.

Folder Structure

~/.klei/DoNotStarveTogether/
└── MyCluster/
    ├── cluster.ini
    ├── cluster_token.txt
    ├── Master/           ← Surface world
    │   ├── server.ini
    │   └── worldgenoverride.lua
    └── Caves/            ← Cave world
        ├── server.ini
        └── worldgenoverride.lua

cluster.ini Configuration

[GAMEPLAY]
game_mode = survival
max_players = 6
pvp = false
pause_when_empty = true

[NETWORK]
cluster_name = My DST Server
cluster_password =
cluster_description = A friendly survival server

[SHARD]
shard_enabled = true
bind_ip = 127.0.0.1
master_ip = 127.0.0.1
master_port = 10888
cluster_key = mysecretkey

Mods in DST

DST mods install via the Workshop. Add mod IDs to modsettings.lua in each server folder. The most popular categories:

• Character mods — new playable characters with unique abilities
• Item mods — new weapons, armor, food items
• World gen mods — different biome configurations
• QoL mods — map reveal, minimap, better inventory sorting

Important: Mods must be enabled in BOTH the Master and Caves folders if they affect both worlds.

Always-On vs. Pause When Empty

pause_when_empty = true is strongly recommended for small groups. When no one is online, the world pauses — resources do not regenerate, seasons do not advance, and characters do not suffer. This makes the server much more forgiving for groups that play a few days a week.

Hosting DST at Space-Node

Don't Starve Together is one of our lightest workloads. An entry-level plan easily handles a full DST installation including the cave server. Perfect if you want to share a world with friends without paying for hardware you do not need.

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🌙 Start your DST world today. → View Game Server Plans at Space-Node

Light on resources, big on survival fun. Netherlands and Canada locations.