Stardew Valley's multiplayer lets up to 8 players work the same farm together. Normally one player hosts the game, which means the farm is only accessible when that person is playing. A dedicated server setup keeps the farm running 24/7, so your farmhands can water crops, fish, or explore the mines whenever they feel like it.
System requirements
- RAM: 1 to 2 GB. Stardew Valley is remarkably lightweight. Even a full server with 8 players rarely exceeds 1.5 GB.
- CPU: 1 to 2 cores. The game loop is single-threaded and not demanding at all.
- Storage: Under 1 GB for the game files. Save files are tiny.
- Network: Port 24642 UDP open. Bandwidth usage is minimal.
This makes Stardew Valley one of the lightest games to host. Even the smallest HostValues VPS plan handles it without breaking a sweat.
Setting up a headless server
Stardew Valley does not ship with an official dedicated server binary. Instead, you run a headless instance of the game itself. Here is how:
- Install Stardew Valley on your VPS via SteamCMD. You need a Steam account that owns the game.
- Install SMAPI (the mod loader) on the server. SMAPI is required for headless operation and for any mods you want to run.
- Install the "Always On Server" mod. This mod removes the need for a player to be present and handles day transitions automatically.
- On Linux, use a virtual framebuffer (
xvfb-run) since the game expects a display:xvfb-run ./StardewValley. - Open port 24642 UDP in your firewall. Start the game, create or load a farm, and enable multiplayer in the in-game options.
- Share the invite code or your server's IP address with your co-op group.
SMAPI and essential mods
SMAPI is the backbone of Stardew Valley modding. It loads mods, provides a console, and gives you logging for troubleshooting. For a server, these mods are particularly useful:
- Always On Server: Automates the host role. The server sleeps and wakes at the right times even with no players online.
- Unlimited Players: Raises the player cap beyond the default. Handy for larger friend groups.
- Chat Commands: Adds admin commands to the in-game chat for managing the server remotely.
- TimeSpeed: Controls how fast in-game time passes. Useful for servers where players are in different time zones.
All clients need SMAPI and matching mod versions. Coordinate updates with your group to avoid connection issues.
Server configuration tips
- Set the farm type before starting multiplayer. Changing it later requires a new save.
- Place enough cabins on the farm for all expected players. Each farmhand needs a cabin to join.
- Configure profit margins in the settings if you want a different economic challenge for co-op.
- Back up the save file before each major in-game season change. Saves are small and backups take a fraction of a second on NVMe storage.
Running the server as a service
For long-term hosting, set up Stardew Valley as a systemd service on your VPS. This way it starts automatically after a reboot and restarts if it crashes. A basic service file points to xvfb-run with the game's launch script, sets the working directory, and runs under a dedicated user account. This keeps the server running without you needing to maintain a terminal session.
If you prefer a simpler approach, tmux or screen works fine for smaller setups. Attach to the session when you need to see the SMAPI console output, and detach when you are done.
Performance and stability
- Stardew Valley is very stable on dedicated hardware. Most issues come from mod conflicts rather than resource limits.
- Keep SMAPI and all mods on the same version. After a game update, wait for mod authors to update before upgrading the server.
- Monitor the SMAPI console log for errors. It clearly reports which mod causes a problem.
- Automatic restarts at the start of each in-game day help keep memory usage flat over long sessions.
- The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X in HostValues servers is overkill for Stardew Valley, which means your farm will never be the bottleneck. You could even run a second game server alongside it on the same VPS.
Do all players need the same mods?
Players need SMAPI and any mods that affect gameplay or add shared content. Purely visual mods (like retextures) only need to be installed on the client side. The Always On Server mod is server-only.
Can I use my existing single-player farm?
Yes. Copy your save folder to the server, open it in-game, enable multiplayer, and build cabins for your farmhands. All your progress carries over.
Why do players get disconnected during the night transition?
This happens when the server has trouble syncing the end-of-day process. The Always On Server mod handles this gracefully. Make sure it is installed and configured correctly. A low-latency connection also helps, which is where choosing a nearby HostValues server location matters.
Is Stardew Valley cross-platform in multiplayer?
PC players (Steam and GOG) can play together on a dedicated server. Console and mobile versions have separate multiplayer and cannot connect to a PC server.
Set up your farm on a HostValues VPS. Even the entry-level plan is more than enough for Stardew Valley co-op.
