papermc-docker
Game ServersContainerized Minecraft Java server image
Replaces Minecraft Realms
Best Single-User Game Servers for self-hosting
The 16 best Single-User game servers you can self-host, ranked by community traction.
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead
Game ServersOpen-source turn-based survival roguelike
Replaces NetHack
Endless Sky
Game ServersFree space exploration and trading game
Replaces Escape Velocity
shapez.io
Game ServersOpen-source factory-building puzzle game
Replaces Factorio
LinuxGSM
Game ServersCommand-line tool for dedicated game servers
Replaces TCAdmin, Multicraft
Steam Headless
Game ServersDocker container for headless Steam game streaming
Replaces GeForce NOW
SuperTux
Game ServersClassic-style 2D side-scrolling platform game
Replaces Super Mario Bros
Cytopia
Game ServersFree city-building simulation game
Replaces SimCity
OpenLoco
Game ServersOpen-source reimplementation of Chris Sawyer's Locomotion
Replaces Chris Sawyer's Locomotion original
Pioneer
Game ServersOpen-source space adventure and trading simulator
Replaces Elite, Frontier
unknown-horizons
Game ServersOpen-source 2D real-time strategy and economy simulation
Replaces Anno series
Evolve
Game ServersBrowser-based incremental idle game of civilization evolution
Replaces Cookie Clicker, Universal Paperclips
colobot
Game ServersSelf-hostable open-source educational programming game
Replaces Commercial programming games
Naev
Game ServersOpen-source 2D space trading and combat game
Replaces Escape Velocity
Factorio Server Manager
Game ServersWeb interface for managing Factorio servers
Replaces Factorio official hosting
LinCity-NG
Game ServersOpen-source city building and management game
Replaces SimCity
No apps match these filters.
At a glance
| App | Deploy effort | Difficulty | Min. RAM | License | ★ Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| papermc-docker | ≈5-minute setup | Easy | 1,024 MB | Apache-2.0 | 14,419 |
| Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 512 MB | CC-BY-SA-3.0 | 13,355 |
| Endless Sky | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 512 MB | GPL-3.0 | 7,631 |
| shapez.io | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 256 MB | GPL-3.0 | 6,989 |
| LinuxGSM | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 512 MB | MIT | 4,913 |
| Steam Headless | Under-an-hour setup | Hard | 4,096 MB | GPL-3.0 | 4,858 |
| SuperTux | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 256 MB | GPL-3.0 | 3,168 |
| Cytopia | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 512 MB | GPL-3.0 | 2,173 |
| OpenLoco | Read-the-docs project | Medium | 512 MB | MIT | 1,936 |
| Pioneer | Read-the-docs project | Easy | 1,024 MB | GPL-3.0 | 1,918 |
Quick picks
- Most adopted: papermc-docker (14,419 GitHub stars).
- Lightest footprint: Evolve (from 64 MB RAM, against 4,096 MB for the heaviest here).
- Fastest to deploy: papermc-docker (verified single-container compose).
- Licensing: 9 of 16 use GPL-3.0; check the rest individually if you plan to modify and redistribute.
Every option here is open-source and self-hostable, tagged Single-User within the game servers category. Deploy effort is graded from published container recipes, not vendor claims — see the methodology.