Best VPS for gaming: what to look for before you choose
Gaming on a VPS isn’t just about getting better ping. It’s about taking full control of your server, your mods, and your player experience—without shelling out for a full dedicated box. Whether you’re hosting an ARK cluster, a modded Valheim world, or a low-latency Counter-Strike server for your friends, a VPS offers the flexibility and performance serious gamers need.
Let’s look at the key features that matter most in a gaming VPS, plus the top providers worth considering in 2025.
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What to look for in a gaming VPS
Gaming workloads aren’t the same as web hosting. A solid gaming VPS needs to deliver low-latency performance and consistent resource availability, especially during peak play sessions.
Key specs for gaming VPS performance:
- High single-core CPU performance: Game engines often rely more on single-threaded power than core count.
- Dedicated RAM allocation: Shared memory pools won’t cut it when world sizes grow or mod packs expand.
- NVMe SSD storage: Fast I/O improves chunk loading and reduces save lag.
- DDoS protection: Essential for public or competitive servers.
- Root access: Gives you control over server binaries, configs, and mod loaders.
- Data center location: Closer is better. Latency makes or breaks real-time games.
Games that benefit most from VPS hosting
Some games run perfectly fine on pre-built shared hosting plans. Others need full control or more horsepower. VPS hosting is best for:
- Minecraft (Java, Paper, Spigot, Fabric)
- ARK: Survival Evolved
- Valheim
- Rust
- Project Zomboid
- 7 Days to Die
- DayZ
- Terraria
- CS:GO or CS2
- Garry’s Mod and other Source games
- Unturned
Best VPS for gaming: 5 top providers
Each of these VPS providers offers root access, flexible OS installs, and solid specs for gaming workloads. Here’s how they stack up.
1. Liquid Web – Best overall VPS for gaming
Liquid Web delivers premium VPS hosting for games with a rare combination of performance, security, and hands-on support. Their managed VPS plans are equipped with high-speed SSD storage, modern CPUs, and a 100% uptime SLA.
What sets them apart for gamers is their fully managed approach that still gives you root access and the ability to run any OS or game binary you want.
You’re not locked into templates or limited by resource pools—every VPS is isolated, customizable, and backed by 24/7 support. You also get built-in DDoS protection and server locations in the U.S. for low-latency connections to North American players.
Pros:
- High single-thread CPU speeds
- Managed and unmanaged plans available
- Built-in DDoS protection
- Fully customizable with OS choice
- 100% network uptime SLA
Cons:
- Higher price point than entry-level VPS servers
- Fewer international data center options
Best for: Gamers or small communities that want powerful, supported hosting without sacrificing control.
2. OVHcloud – for budget-conscious users
OVHcloud offers competitive VPS pricing with decent performance and DDoS mitigation. Their gaming-specific VPS line is designed to handle UDP-heavy traffic with low latency and includes game-specific protections.
They don’t offer managed services, so you need to take care of the VPS on your own. But plans are available across multiple global regions.
Pros:
- Competitive pricing
- Anti-DDoS optimized for game traffic
- Global data center options
Cons:
- No managed support
- UI can be unintuitive for beginners
Best for: Experienced admins running public servers on a budget.
3. Vultr – for custom global deployments
Vultr gives you granular control over your VPS setup with a quick, simple dashboard and hourly billing. Their cloud compute instances are backed by NVMe storage and modern AMD or Intel CPUs. DDoS protection is optional; snapshots and automation tools make it easy to redeploy or scale as needed.
For game servers, Vultr is a decent option when you need to host near a global player base, thanks to data centers on five continents.
Pros:
- Flexible hourly billing and deployment
- Worldwide datacenter footprint
- NVMe storage and modern CPUs
Cons:
- Entry-level plans share resources
- DDoS protection costs extra
Best for: Custom game server builds across multiple regions.
4. Linode – for Linux-savvy gamers
Linode’s flat-rate VPS plans are consistent and well-suited to self-managed Linux game servers. You get full root access, good performance, and detailed documentation for almost any use case.
They don’t support Windows, but their Ubuntu and Debian images are good for Minecraft, Terraria, or some Valheim servers.
Support is ticket-based, but hands-off—you’ll need to be comfortable managing your own firewall rules, server software, and performance tuning.
Pros:
- Flat-rate pricing
- Strong performance for the price
- Good community documentation
Cons:
- No Windows server support
- Not beginner-friendly
Best for: Linux users who want reliable performance without surprises.
5. Kamatera – for high-performance custom builds
Kamatera offers flexible cloud VPS hosting with global reach. Their infrastructure is powered by Intel Xeon Platinum processors and SSDs, making it suitable for CPU- or I/O-intensive games like Rust, Valheim, and ARK.
Kamatera’s data centers span four continents, and you can choose from dozens of OS templates, including Ubuntu, Debian, and Windows Server. You’ll need to manage everything yourself, so technical users only.
Pros:
- Fully customizable VPS resources
- Global data center locations
- 30-day free trial for testing
- Supports Linux and Windows
Cons:
- No managed support for game servers
- Pricing can rise quickly with resource scaling
Best for: Gamers who want enterprise-grade VPS infrastructure with global reach and total control..
VPS vs other game hosting options
Here’s how a VPS stacks up compared to shared game hosting and dedicated servers.
| Hosting Type | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared Game Hosting | Beginners or hobby groups | Easiest setup, no admin skills needed | Limited control, no root access |
| VPS Hosting | Mid-size servers or modders | Full control, scalable, affordable | Requires technical setup |
| Dedicated Servers | Large communities | Maximum power, total control, hardware isolation | Expensive, overkill for most players |
FAQ: VPS servers for gaming
Getting started with the best VPS for gaming
A VPS is the sweet spot between shared game hosting and full-on dedicated servers—giving you root access, mod flexibility, and serious performance without breaking your budget.
If you want a supported, high-performance VPS that doesn’t skimp on control, Liquid Web’s Gaming VPS is a great place to start. It’s built for demanding games, trusted by pros, and backed by a 24/7 support team that knows servers inside and out.
Click below to explore VPS hosting options or start a chat with one of our experts right now to learn more.
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Additional resources
How to start selling Minecraft servers →
Turn a hobby into a side-hustle
Latency and rage-quitting →
Liquid Web’s industry study on latency and gaming
Dedicated vs. listen servers →
Pros and cons of each so you can decide what you need
Alex Napier is an Affiliate Program Manager at Liquid Web and a gaming marketing specialist. He blends data with creativity to build engaging communities. Outside of work, Alex enjoys exploring new games, crafting tabletop worlds, and connecting with the gaming community.