Enshrouded Dedicated Server: Windows and Linux (Wine) Setup

Enshrouded is a co-op survival and building game for up to 16 players. A dedicated server keeps the world available so friends can play without the host online. The official server is a Windows application. On Linux it runs well under Wine or Proton, which is how most Linux and Docker-based hosts run it.

Requirements

4 vCPU and 8–16 GB RAM. Memory use grows with players and building.
About 30 GB disk.
UDP port 15637 (query/game). Older versions also used 15636.
A location near your players. See game server VPS.

Option 1: Windows Server

On a Windows VPS:

C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe +force_install_dir C:\enshrouded +login anonymous +app_update 2278520 validate +quit
C:\enshrouded\enshrouded_server.exe

The first start generates enshrouded_server.json. Stop the server, edit the file, and start again. Open the port in the firewall:

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Enshrouded" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 15637 -Action Allow

See Windows Server firewall with PowerShell.

Option 2: Linux with Wine

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y steamcmd lib32gcc-s1 wine64 xvfb
sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" enshrouded
sudo -iu enshrouded
/usr/games/steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows +force_install_dir ~/enshrouded \
  +login anonymous +app_update 2278520 validate +quit
cd ~/enshrouded
xvfb-run wine64 enshrouded_server.exe

+@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows downloads the Windows build on Linux. Community Docker images (with Wine or Proton GE preconfigured) make this simpler and handle updates. See Docker on a VPS.

Configure enshrouded_server.json

{
  "name": "Our Enshrouded Server",
  "saveDirectory": "./savegame",
  "logDirectory": "./logs",
  "ip": "0.0.0.0",
  "queryPort": 15637,
  "slotCount": 16,
  "userGroups": [
    { "name": "Admin",   "password": "admin-pass",  "canKickBan": true,  "canAccessInventories": true,  "canEditBase": true,  "canExtendBase": true,  "reservedSlots": 0 },
    { "name": "Friend",  "password": "friend-pass", "canKickBan": false, "canAccessInventories": true,  "canEditBase": true,  "canExtendBase": true,  "reservedSlots": 0 },
    { "name": "Guest",   "password": "guest-pass",  "canKickBan": false, "canAccessInventories": false, "canEditBase": false, "canExtendBase": false, "reservedSlots": 0 }
  ]
}

User groups: each group has its own password and permissions. The password players enter decides which group they join as.
Game settings (difficulty, enemy strength, resource rates) are in the gameSettings section in recent versions, or as a preset. Check the default file generated by your version.

Running as a service

On Linux, wrap the Wine command in a systemd unit, with ExecStartPre running the SteamCMD update. On Windows, use Task Scheduler (at startup) or a service wrapper such as NSSM. Restart daily, so updates are applied. See systemd unit files.

Firewall (Linux)

sudo ufw allow 15637/udp

See UFW.

Joining

In Enshrouded: Play → Join → Find Server, then search for your server’s name. Or use the server browser’s search, and enter the group password.

Backups

The world is in savegame/ (multiple rotating files). Back them up regularly, and before updates:

tar czf /backups/enshrouded-$(date +%F-%H%M).tgz -C /home/enshrouded/enshrouded savegame enshrouded_server.json

You can also move a world from a local co-op game to the server, by copying its save files into savegame/ with the correct file name. See the game’s documentation. See backup strategy.

Troubleshooting

Not in the server list: listing can take a few minutes. Check UDP 15637, and the log for errors.
Crashes under Wine: update Wine or Proton, or try a maintained Docker image.
High RAM: restart daily, and size the plan for your group. See how much RAM a VPS needs.

Quick reference

Item	Value
SteamCMD app ID	2278520 (Windows build)
Port	15637/udp
Config	`enshrouded_server.json`
Permissions	`userGroups` with passwords
Saves	`savegame/`

Game Server
SteamCMD
Windows