What is a Game Server?

A game server is a computer system that hosts multiplayer games. Servers allow players to connect and play games together in real-time.

They manage game data, player actions, and world states to ensure that you have an enjoyable and straightforward gaming experience. The server acts as the central hub, making sure that all players experience the same events.

Key Takeaways

Game servers host multiplayer sessions, synchronising player actions and game states to ensure a smooth experience.
There are two main types of game servers: peer-to-peer (P2P) for smaller games and dedicated servers for better performance and stability.
Setting up a game server with Kinetic Hosting is quick and easy through the Kinetic Panel, allowing full customisation and management.

Choose your game from our game server hosting list and get set up today.

A game server is essentially the backbone of any multiplayer gaming experience. They handle a lot of information, including processing player inputs, synchronising game states, and ensuring that everyone in the game experiences the same virtual environment.

Game servers can be run on personal computers, dedicated machines, or even cloud-based solutions. However, all game server hosting is contextual, and what type of server you'll need would completely depend on:

Game type
Network size
How much you are looking to grow the server

Different Types of Game Servers

Peer-to-peer Gaming

In peer-to-peer (P2P) gaming, one player's machine acts as both the host and a participant. This setup is common in smaller multiplayer games, reducing the need for external hosting. However, P2P gaming can suffer from lag, host advantage, and security vulnerabilities, especially when hosting a larger game server.

Advantages:

Easy to set up and maintain for developers
The workload is evenly distributed among players
One player acts as the server for the other players

Disadvantages:

Performance affected by the network of the host
Lack of central authority, making it difficult to manage network activities
Not suitable for games with lots of online players

Examples of games on P2P game servers:

Elden Ring Cooperative and PVP
Animal Crossing
Fighting games, such as Mortal Kombat

Dedicated Game Server Hosting

Dedicated game servers are external machines that handle multiplayer sessions independently of players’ devices. These are widely used in large-scale online games, offering better performance, lower latency, and enhanced security. Many hosting providers offer dedicated server solutions for various game titles.

Advantages:

Extensive amounts of customisation available
Easy to install and manage mods
Superior performance for games with lots of events and players

Disadvantages:

Player-managed servers cost money, however, we pride ourselves on reasonable prices, no hidden costs, and everything you need included in the service

Examples of games on dedicated game servers:

How Our Servers Work at Kinetic Hosting

At Kinetic Hosting, we offer a specialised form of Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting designed specifically for gaming. While our platform shares similarities with dedicated servers, there are key differences:

Dedicated RAM and storage are allocated to each customer, ensuring stable performance.
CPU resources are shared among multiple virtual servers on the same physical hardware.
Fully managed service—no SSH access or complex server configurations required.

This setup provides all the benefits of dedicated game hosting—improved performance, low latency, and reliability—without the complexity or high cost of a traditional dedicated server.

Our hosting solution makes it simple and accessible for gamers to host multiplayer sessions. You get the stability of a high-performance server without the hassle.

How do Game Servers Work?

A dedicated game server and an official game server work similarly:

Player Connection

Players connect to the game server through the internet, either directly or via a matchmaking system.

Data Processing

The server processes player inputs, such as movement and actions, and updates the game state accordingly.

Game State Synchronisation

The server ensures all players receive real-time updates on game events, reducing desynchronisation issues.

Latency Management

Advanced hosting solutions minimise lag by distributing servers across multiple locations.

Security Measures

Game servers use encryption and anti-cheat systems to protect against hacking and unfair play.

How to Easily Set up a Game Server

At Kinetic Hosting, we want to make sure game server hosting is accessible and straightforward for everyone. We’ve made our game server hosting services as simple to set up as possible. Even better, through our Kinetic Panel, server management has never been easier.

View our game server hosting services.

1. Purchase a Hosting Plan:

Visit Kinetic Hosting's website and select a hosting plan that suits your game's requirements.

2. Access the Kinetic Panel:

After purchasing, log in to the Kinetic Panel using your credentials. This centralised platform allows you to manage your game server efficiently.

3. Install Your Game Server:

Within the Kinetic Panel, navigate to the server management section.
Choose your desired game from the list of supported titles.
Click the 'Install' button. The panel will automatically download and set up the necessary files for your game server.

4. Configure Server Settings:

Access the 'Settings' page in the Kinetic Panel to customize your server's configuration, such as game modes, difficulty levels, and player limits.

5. Start Your Server

Once configured, initiate the server from the panel.
Share the connection address provided in the overview page with your players so they can join

Start Hosting Today

At Kinetic Hosting, we offer game server hosting for a wide range of popular multiplayer games.

Whether you’re looking to build a base with friends in Minecraft, fight off the undead in 7 Days to Die, or build up an industrial complex in Satisfactory, we can get you started instantly.