How to Host a RuneScape Dragonwilds Server for Free (2026)

You can host a RuneScape: Dragonwilds server for free in two ways: host a co-op world from the game for up to 4 players, or run Jagex's free dedicated server tool on your own Windows or Linux PC for up to 6. The catch: co-op closes when you quit, and self hosting needs a PC left on and UDP port 7777 open.

Is the Dragonwilds dedicated server free?

Yes. Jagex gives the dedicated server away as a free tool. It is Steam app 4019830, it downloads with an anonymous SteamCMD login, and you do not need to buy a second copy of the game for it. Every player still needs their own copy of RuneScape: Dragonwilds to join.

What is not free is the machine it runs on and the time to look after it. That is the real choice this guide helps with.

Your free options at a glance

Option 1: Host a co-op world from the game

The simplest free option. Load your world as a multiplayer world and friends join you.

1. Start Dragonwilds and load your world in multiplayer.
2. Since 1.0, choose whether the session is crossplay each time you host.
3. Share the invite code from the pause menu, or have friends search the world name.

Limits:

• 4 players at most, you included.
• The world closes when you quit. Nobody can play in it while you are offline.
• Your PC does all the work. You are playing and hosting at once.
• Consoles can host co-op, but nobody on console can run a dedicated server.

For a duo or trio who always play together, this is all you need. More in how many players can play Dragonwilds.

Option 2: Run the free dedicated server on your own PC

This gives you 6 slots and a world that does not depend on one player's game being open. The short version:

1. Install SteamCMD and download the server:

   steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 4019830 validate +quit
   

2. Run it once with -log -NewConsole -Port=7777, then stop it.
3. Fill in OwnerId, ServerName, DefaultWorldName and AdminPassword in DedicatedServer.ini.
4. Check PlatformPolicy=Crossplay if console friends will join.
5. Forward UDP 7777 on your router and allow it through the firewall.

The full walkthrough, including Linux libraries and file paths, is in how to make a RuneScape Dragonwilds server.

What hardware do you need?

The server runs on 64 bit Windows or 64 bit Linux. Jagex's rule for memory is 2 GB plus 1 GB per player:

That is on top of anything else the machine is doing. If you also play Dragonwilds on the same PC, it needs enough memory for the game and the server together.

What does "free" really cost?

A self hosted server is free to download but not free to run:

• Electricity. As an example, a PC that draws 100 W around the clock uses about 72 kWh a month. At 0.17 USD per kWh that is about 12 USD a month. Check your own PC's draw and your local rate, since both vary a lot.
• Your time on patch day. Players cannot see a server on an older build, and Jagex shipped patches 1.0.0.4, 1.0.0.5 and 1.0.0.6 within two weeks of the 1.0 release. Each time someone has to run SteamCMD and restart. See the 1.0.0.6 patch notes.
• Your router. UDP 7777 must be forwarded. If your provider uses CGNAT, forwarding cannot work at all. Our port forwarding guide explains how to tell.
• The PC being on. If it sleeps, restarts for Windows updates or someone turns it off, the world goes offline.

What about free cloud servers?

Free cloud tiers are rarely a good fit. Many free tiers offer around 1 GB of memory, well under the 4 GB a duo needs, and the larger always free offers tend to use ARM processors, while Jagex ships the server for standard 64 bit Windows and Linux. Free trial credits run out. If a free offer looks too good, check the RAM, the processor type and what happens when the trial ends before you move your world onto it.

Be wary of sites offering free Dragonwilds hosting in exchange for logging in with your game account or downloading a "server launcher". The real server needs nothing but SteamCMD and your Player ID.

When is paying for hosting worth it?

Free is the right answer when one person always hosts and the group plays together. Paying starts to make sense when:

• People in your group play at different times and want the world available without waiting for the host.
• You have 5 or 6 players, which in game co-op cannot hold.
• Your group is on PlayStation, Xbox or Switch 2, where nobody can run a dedicated server.
• Nobody wants to keep a PC running or handle SteamCMD after every patch.

Dragonwilds hosting on GamezServers

Our Dragonwilds server hosting is sized on Jagex's own rule:

New customers get 50% off the first month. You can split the bill with up to 10 friends at checkout for a 1 USD fee per share, so a Pro world split six ways is about 4.33 USD each. There is nothing to forward, crossplay is on, backups are one click, and you can cancel any time. The quick start guide shows the whole setup.

FAQ

Can I host a Dragonwilds dedicated server on PS5 or Xbox?

No. Consoles can host a co-op world for up to 4 players, but the dedicated server only runs on 64 bit Windows or Linux.

Do I need to buy the game twice to run a server?

No. The dedicated server is a free tool that downloads anonymously with SteamCMD. Each player needs their own copy of the game.

Can I run the server and play on the same PC?

Yes, if the PC has enough memory for both. The server alone needs 2 GB plus 1 GB per player.

How many players can join a free Dragonwilds server?

Up to 4 in a co-op world hosted from the game, and up to 6 on a dedicated server, whether you run it yourself or rent one.

Why can my friends not see my self hosted server?

Usually it is a wrong world name in the search, an outdated server build or a closed UDP port 7777. Our server not showing up guide goes through each cause.