The Isle is a dinosaur survival game where players grow from hatchling to apex predator on a massive open island. With support for 100+ players, it is one of the most ambitious dino survival titles out there. The Evrima branch is the actively developed version, featuring reworked mechanics, AI creatures, and a diet system that makes every playable species feel distinct. Running your own server gives you control over rules, growth rates, and whether your community leans toward realism or open deathmatch.
System requirements
- RAM: 6 to 12 GB. The map is enormous and the server tracks every player's dinosaur, their growth state, and AI creatures across the island. A server with 50+ players should budget at least 10 GB.
- CPU: 4 cores minimum. AI pathfinding and player physics across the large map are demanding. Strong single-thread performance matters here.
- Storage: 10 to 15 GB for the server files and logs.
- Network: Ports 7777 and 7778 UDP. High player counts generate significant network traffic.
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X in HostValues servers delivers the per-core speed The Isle needs, and NVMe storage keeps save operations smooth.
Installation
- Set up SteamCMD on your VPS or choose The Isle from the HostValues game panel.
- Download the Evrima server files:
app_update 412680 -beta evrima validate. Make sure you select the Evrima beta branch. - Open ports 7777 and 7778 UDP in your firewall.
- Edit the server configuration before first launch (see below).
- Start the server with
./TheIsleServer.shon Linux. Usescreenortmuxto keep it running.
Server configuration
Configuration files are in the TheIsle/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/ directory. Key files:
- Game.ini: Controls gameplay settings including growth rates, diet mechanics, and nesting.
- Engine.ini: Performance-related settings like tick rate and network buffer sizes.
Important settings to adjust:
| Setting | Effect |
|---|---|
| MaxPlayers | Player cap. Servers commonly run 50 to 150. |
| GrowthMultiplier | How fast dinosaurs grow from juvenile to adult. Higher values let players reach full size faster. |
| bEnableAI | Toggle AI-controlled dinosaurs and fish. Adds life to the island but costs CPU. |
| GlobalPassiveDamage | Passive hunger and thirst drain speed. Adjust to match your community's patience. |
Playable species and diet system
Evrima features a growing roster of dinosaurs, each with unique abilities and diet requirements. Carnivores hunt other players and AI prey. Herbivores forage specific plants and must avoid predators. Omnivores have more dietary flexibility but lack the specialization of pure carnivores or herbivores. As the server admin, you can adjust growth rates per species to balance the ecosystem. If one species dominates the server population, tweaking its growth speed or food requirements helps bring diversity back.
Running a roleplay server
Many popular Isle servers enforce roleplay rules: no random killing (KOS), mandatory grouping mechanics, and realistic behavior expectations. To run a successful RP server:
- Set clear rules in your Discord and on the server MOTD.
- Appoint active moderators who can teleport and observe with admin tools.
- Use lower growth multipliers to make each dinosaur's life feel meaningful.
- Consider disabling AI dinosaurs to keep the focus on player interactions.
- Create a registration system where new players pick a species before joining. This helps maintain a balanced population on the island.
Admin tools
Server administrators can use in-game commands to manage players. Common tasks include teleporting to a player's location to observe behavior, kicking or banning rule-breakers, and adjusting weather or time of day. Use a whitelist combined with a Discord application process to filter new members, especially on roleplay servers where community fit matters.
Performance optimization
- AI creatures are the biggest CPU drain. If your server struggles above 80 players, disable AI temporarily.
- Scheduled restarts every 4 to 6 hours prevent memory creep. The server does not clean up despawned entities perfectly.
- Lower the network tick rate for servers above 100 players if bandwidth becomes a bottleneck.
- NVMe storage reduces the impact of auto-saves on large servers with many tracked player states.
- Monitor server logs for repeated errors. Corrupted player save files occasionally cause persistent issues until removed.
Evrima or Legacy, which branch should I host?
Evrima is the only actively developed branch. Legacy (the older version) still has a player base, but receives no updates. New servers should choose Evrima for the latest content and mechanics.
How does the growth system work?
Players start as a juvenile dinosaur and grow over time. Growth is real-time and continues only while the player is online. The server's GrowthMultiplier setting controls speed. Most community servers set this between 1.5x and 3x to keep growth meaningful but not tedious.
Can I whitelist my server?
Yes. Enable the whitelist in your server configuration and add Steam IDs of approved players. This is common for roleplay communities that want to vet members.
Why does my server use so much RAM?
The Isle's map is large and the server tracks detailed state for every connected player. RAM usage scales directly with player count and whether AI is enabled. For servers above 80 players, budget 10 to 12 GB. Use the RAM calculator to pick the right plan.
Build your dinosaur community on a HostValues VPS with the CPU power and memory headroom The Isle demands.
