Lichess
Game ServersOpen-source chess server and platform
Replaces Chess.com
Best Real-Time Game Servers for self-hosting
The 18 best Real-Time game servers you can self-host, ranked by community traction.
Nakama
Game ServersOpen-source game server for realtime multiplayer and social features
Replaces PlayFab, Firebase
Pterodactyl
Game ServersFree game server management panel
Replaces TCAdmin, Multicraft
Colyseus
Game ServersAuthoritative multiplayer game server framework for Node.js
Replaces Photon Engine
Leaf
Game ServersLightweight, scalable game server framework in Go
Replaces proprietary game backends
MCSManager
Game ServersWeb control panel for managing game servers
Replaces Multicraft, Pterodactyl
Steam Headless
Game ServersDocker container for headless Steam game streaming
Replaces GeForce NOW
Widelands
Game ServersOpen-source real-time strategy and economy game
Replaces The Settlers
Pitaya
Game ServersScalable distributed game server framework written in Go
Replaces proprietary game backends
BlueMap
Game Servers3D web-based map renderer for Minecraft worlds
Replaces Dynmap
Pelican Panel
Game ServersModern open-source game server control panel
Replaces TCAdmin, Multicraft
Factorio Server Manager
Game ServersWeb interface for managing Factorio servers
Replaces Factorio official hosting
Red Eclipse
Game ServersFast-paced open-source arena first-person shooter
Replaces Quake, Unreal Tournament
MegaGlest
Game ServersOpen-source 3D real-time strategy game
Replaces Age of Empires, Warcraft III
MineOS
Game ServersWeb management panel for Minecraft servers
Replaces Minecraft Realms
PyChess-Variants
Game ServersSelf-hostable web server for playing chess variants online
Replaces Chess.com, Lichess
The Mana World
Game ServersOpen-source 2D MMORPG with self-hosted servers
Replaces Ragnarok Online
CnCNet Server
Game ServersTunnel server for hosting Command and Conquer multiplayer games
Replaces proprietary game matchmaking servers
No apps match these filters.
At a glance
| App | Deploy effort | Difficulty | Min. RAM | License | ★ Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lichess | Under-an-hour setup | Hard | 4,096 MB | AGPL-3.0 | 18,827 |
| Nakama | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 512 MB | Apache-2.0 | 13,510 |
| Pterodactyl | Under-an-hour setup | Hard | 2,048 MB | MIT | 9,327 |
| Colyseus | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 256 MB | MIT | 7,364 |
| Leaf | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 256 MB | Apache-2.0 | 5,511 |
| MCSManager | Under-an-hour setup | Medium | 512 MB | Apache-2.0 | 4,989 |
| Steam Headless | Under-an-hour setup | Hard | 4,096 MB | GPL-3.0 | 4,858 |
| Widelands | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 1,024 MB | GPL-2.0 | 3,105 |
| Pitaya | Under-an-hour setup | Hard | 512 MB | MIT | 2,833 |
| BlueMap | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 512 MB | MIT | 2,825 |
Quick picks
- Most adopted: Lichess (18,827 GitHub stars).
- Lightest footprint: Colyseus (from 256 MB RAM, against 4,096 MB for the heaviest here).
- Licensing: 6 of 18 use MIT; check the rest individually if you plan to modify and redistribute.
Every option here is open-source and self-hostable, tagged Real-Time within the game servers category. Deploy effort is graded from published container recipes, not vendor claims — see the methodology.