The Forest server hosting: co-op survival without the hassle
The Forest is co-op survival for a small group. That makes hosting simple: no complex economy, no shards, no mod framework everyone must match. You switch it on and play.
Built for a handful of players
The game is designed around a few people working together — eight players is a common ceiling. That low count is exactly why your server stays light: there are not many simultaneous calculations to make.
Why run your own server anyway
You can host from inside the game, but then the familiar problem applies: if the host goes offline, progress stops. In a survival game where you spend days building a base, that grates. With a dedicated server everyone continues in their own time.
Progress and backups
Your world — built structures, felled trees, explored caves — is stored on the server. Keep backups before making big changes or updating the game.
How much RAM
2 GB covers a normal co-op group. You rarely need more for The Forest; the limit is the player count, not memory.
Mind the sequel
The Forest and Sons of the Forest are separate games with separate servers. Make sure you pick the plan for the version your group plays.