Nakama vs Valheim Server Docker

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?
FeatureNakamaValheim Server Docker
CategoryGame ServersGame Servers
LicenseApache-2.0Apache-2.0
LanguageGoShell
Setup difficultyMediumMedium
Min. RAM512 MB2,048 MB
Deploymentdocker, kubernetes, binarydocker
GitHub stars★ 13,121★ 2,239
First released20172021
ReplacesPlayFab, Firebaseofficial Valheim hosting

Why pick each one

Choose Nakama if…

  • Released under the Apache-2.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
  • Mature project with 13.1k GitHub stars
Nakama details

Choose Valheim Server Docker if…

  • Released under the Apache-2.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Active community (2.2k GitHub stars)
  • Written in Shell
Valheim Server Docker details

Frequently asked questions

Is Nakama or Valheim Server Docker better?

Neither is universally better. Nakama has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are Nakama and Valheim Server Docker free and open-source?

Yes. Nakama is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Valheim Server Docker under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Nakama and Valheim Server Docker with Docker?

Nakama: yes. Valheim Server Docker: yes.

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