SHSelfHostIndex

Lodestone Core vs Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted game servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
LO Lodestone Core Server hosting tool for Minecraft and other multiplayers VS CA Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead Open-source turn-based survival roguelike
FeatureLodestone CoreCataclysm: Dark Days Ahead
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicensefreeCC-BY-SA-3.0
LanguageRustC++
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM512 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, one-clickbare-metal, binary, source
GitHub stars★ 61★ 12,896
First released20232013
Replaces—NetHack

Why pick each one

Choose Lodestone Core if…

  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • One-click install on common self-host platforms
  • Written in Rust
Lodestone Core details

Choose Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead if…

  • Enormous depth
  • Active development
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead details

Frequently asked questions

Is Lodestone Core or Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead better?

Neither is universally better. Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead has the larger community, while Lodestone Core is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.

Are Lodestone Core and Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead free and open-source?

Yes. Lodestone Core is licensed under free and Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead under CC-BY-SA-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Lodestone Core and Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead with Docker?

Lodestone Core: yes. Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead: check the project docs for container support.

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