The Best Risk of Rain 2 Server Hosting

Hosting a Risk of Rain 2 server

Risk of Rain 2 is a third-person roguelike shooter from Hopoo Games, published by Gearbox: pick a survivor, stack items and fight through stages while the difficulty climbs with the clock. It left Early Access in 2020 and has had several expansions since, from Survivors of the Void and Seekers of the Storm to Alloyed Collective. Vanilla online co-op holds up to four players.

The game has a free dedicated server (SteamCMD app 1180760). A dedicated server hosts the lobby so no single player carries the session, and friends can drop in when they are free instead of waiting on the host's PC. Settings such as the server name and password are set in server_startup.cfg in the server's Risk of Rain 2_Data/Config folder. Runs are not persistent worlds, so the server's job is a stable, low-latency lobby rather than storing months of progress. Many RoR2 servers are modded: BepInEx mods can change the rules, add survivors and raise the four-player limit.

What to compare

• BepInEx and mod support. Most Risk of Rain 2 mods use BepInEx and are installed into BepInEx/plugins. Check the host lets you install the framework and upload mods, and remember every player needs the same mods.
• CPU for late-game runs. Long runs pile up enemies, projectiles and item effects, which the server has to keep in sync. Fast cores keep looping runs playable.
• Config file access. You want to edit server_startup.cfg and mod configs directly, not just a name and password field.
• Updates. Server and game versions need to match after each patch or expansion. A host that updates quickly avoids locked-out players.
• Location and ping. Dodging and timing matter in a fast shooter, so pick a datacentre close to your group.

See the current Risk of Rain 2 hosting deals for offers from listed providers. For a whole machine, see dedicated servers.

Risk of Rain 2 server hosting FAQ

How many players can join a Risk of Rain 2 server?

Four in the unmodded game. Mods can raise the limit, but enemies and items scale with players, and every player needs the same mods.

Can I run mods on a hosted RoR2 server?

Yes, on hosts that support BepInEx. Mods go in the BepInEx/plugins folder, and mod managers such as r2modman help players match the server's mod list.

Does a dedicated server save my run?

No. Runs end as they do in normal play. The server keeps a lobby available so your group can start new runs without one player hosting.

Can I host a Risk of Rain 2 server for free?

Yes, if you run it yourself. The dedicated server is a free download through SteamCMD. It is only online while that machine is on, so a rented server suits groups who drop in at different times.