Hey everyone,

I’ve noticed a lot of players asking how to set up a Project Zomboid server so they can play with friends without relying on public servers. The setup can be tricky at first, especially if you’re not familiar with server hosting. The main steps involve downloading the dedicated server files through Steam, configuring the servertest.ini and servertest_SandboxVars.lua files for settings, and making sure your ports (usually 16261 for UDP and 16262+ for TCP) are forwarded correctly on your router.

The biggest issue most people run into is either port forwarding not working properly or the server eating up too many resources on their own PC. That’s why many players prefer using a hosting provider so they don’t have to worry about downtime, lag, or security. If you don’t want the headache of managing all the technical details yourself, HostNoc is one option worth looking into since they offer reliable game server hosting solutions.

Has anyone here set up their own Project Zomboid server manually? Did you stick with self-hosting or switch to a hosting service after running into issues?