What is Garry’s Mod? | Full Guide | Kinetic Hosting

Garry’s Mod (often shortened to GMod) is a sandbox game built on Valve’s Source engine. There are no rules, and no objectives, just tools for building worlds! You can create anything, play in custom game modes, or download thousands of community-made mods.

Originally a Half-Life 2 mod created by Garry Newman in 2004, GMod has grown into a full standalone game with a massive following. It’s still popular in 2025 thanks to its flexibility, creativity, and endless ways to play. Whether you’re into roleplay, minigames, or building ridiculous contraptions with friends — GMod has it all.

Key Takeaways

Garry’s Mod is a sandbox game with endless creativity and no rules. Build, mod, or play custom game modes like Prop Hunt and DarkRP.
It’s still popular in 2025 thanks to its active community, flexibility, and massive mod support.
Hosting your own GMod server is easy with managed hosting, giving you full control without the technical hassle.

Garry’s Mod: A Quick Overview

Garry’s Mod is a sandbox physics game where you’re free to do just about anything. Built on Valve’s Source engine, it gives players tools to build, create, and experiment without limits.

The game started as a fan-made mod in 2004, created by Garry Newman. It was originally designed to let players mess around with Half-Life 2 assets. But the community quickly took it further. GMod developed into a sandbox full of custom maps, characters, and full-blown game modes.

Today, GMod is a standalone game with a huge player base. It’s still going strong in 2025 because of its freedom, creativity, and active modding scene. Get stuck into role-play servers, physics experiments, and create some meme-worthy chaos.

What Can You Do in Garry’s Mod?

Garry’s Mod is all about freedom. You’re not tied to missions or objectives. You just make your own fun. You can play solo or with loads of friends online.

Build your own world: Use physics tools and props to create anything you can think of, from detailed cities to weird contraptions.
Add thousands of mods: Download custom maps, characters, vehicles, weapons, and tools from the Steam Workshop or other sources.

You can also jump into unique game modes. GMod is home to player-made classics like:

Trouble in Terrorist Town (TTT): A social deduction mode with traitors and innocents.
Prop Hunt: A fast-paced hide-and-seek game where players disguise themselves as everyday objects.
DarkRP: A roleplay-focused mode where players take on jobs, build communities, and run in-game economies.

How Does Hosting a Garry’s Mod Server Work?

Hosting your own Garry’s Mod server gives you full control over how the game runs.

You can choose which mods, maps, and game modes to install. You set the rules, manage the community, and customise the experience exactly how you want it. Whether you’re running a private server for friends or building a large public role-play world, hosting makes it possible.

It’s especially popular for modes like DarkRP, where community interaction and rules are essential.

There are a few ways to host a GMod server:

Hosting it yourself on your own hardware (requires technical setup)
Renting a managed server through a hosting provider like Kinetic Hosting

How You Can Easily Host a Garry’s Mod Server

By using a managed server hosting provider, you can easily host a GMod server. This method requires little to no technical know-how and can be set up in minutes. And yes, you still get complete freedom.

1. Choose Your Hosting Plan

Pick a server plan based on how many players you expect and how many mods you’ll use. Need more space or power later? You can upgrade anytime.

2. Access the Kinetic Panel

3. Install GMod and Configure Your Server

Install Garry’s Mod in just a few clicks. Set your server name, rules, map rotation, and more. You can do all this from your dashboard.

4. Add Mods or Game Modes

Browse and install popular game modes like DarkRP, Prop Hunt, or TTT. Upload your own addons or choose from thousands available online.

5. Invite Players and Start Building

Once your server’s set up, invite friends or open it to the public. Whether it’s casual sandbox or full-blown RP, your world is ready.

Get Started With Garry’s Mod Hosting

Ready to get started playing GMod? Hosting a Garry’s Mod server is easy. You can be set up in minutes! Take a look at our Garry’s Mod server hosting options.

Using the file manager on our game hosting panel, you have full customisation. You can even upload your own! With 24/7 support, our team is on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Discover our full list of game server hosting options on our games page.

FAQs

What is Garry’s Mod used for?

Garry’s Mod is used to create custom games, maps, and experiences. This sandbox uses physics and assets from other Source Engine games. Players use it to build their own worlds, play community-made game modes like Prop Hunt, or host role-play servers with unique rules and content.

What do you need to play Garry’s Mod?

To play Garry’s Mod, you need a computer with Windows, macOS, or Linux, a Steam account, and a copy of the game purchased through Steam. Some community content may also require other Source Engine games like Counter-Strike: Source for additional textures.

Do I need Half-Life 2 to play GMod?

No, you don’t need Half-Life 2 to play Garry’s Mod. However, some mods and textures in the game may rely on assets from Half-Life 2 or other Source games, so owning them can improve your experience.

Is GMod still active in 2025?

Yes, GMod is still active in 2025. It has a large player base, regular community updates, and thousands of active servers running popular game modes like DarkRP and Prop Hunt.