Terasology vs Veloren
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted game servers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Terasology | Veloren |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Game Servers | Game Servers |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,896 | ★ 3,700 |
| First released | 2011 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Minecraft | Cube World, Minecraft |
What are Terasology and Veloren?
Terasology
Terasology is an open-source voxel game and engine offering immersive sandbox worlds with advanced lighting and modular gameplay. It can run dedicated servers for cooperative multiplayer sessions.
- Modular gameplay systems
- Dedicated server mode
- Advanced lighting
- Active modding community
Veloren
Veloren is a free, open-source, multiplayer voxel RPG inspired by games like Cube World and Dwarf Fortress. It includes a dedicated server for hosting persistent multiplayer worlds.
- Open-world voxel RPG
- Dedicated multiplayer server
- Procedurally generated worlds
- Active community development
Terasology vs Veloren: key differences
Terasology is written in Java, while Veloren is built with Rust. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Terasology versus GPL-3.0 for Veloren. Terasology is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Veloren. Terasology is the more established project (first released 2011), while Veloren arrived in 2018. Veloren lists first-class Docker deployment; Terasology does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Terasology if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Active community (3.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Choose Veloren if…
- Free and fully open
- Frequent updates
Watch out for
- Still in active development
- Server needs decent resources
Frequently asked questions
Is Terasology or Veloren better?
Neither is universally better. Terasology has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Terasology and Veloren free and open-source?
Yes. Terasology is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Veloren under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Terasology and Veloren with Docker?
Terasology: check the project docs for container support. Veloren: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Terasology or Veloren?
Terasology has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Veloren. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.