Recommended Free Tools
For a typical friends-only Don’t Starve Together world, start with the Survival Together preset, turn PvP off, set the player cap to your regular group with a little headroom, and leave the tick rate at its default 15 updates per second. Choose No Caves for the simplest, lightest session; choose Caves when your group wants underground progression and the host can run a second shard.
Those settings are a dependable baseline rather than a universal answer. The best configuration depends on group size, experience, tolerance for resource pressure, and whether someone is willing to administer a persistent server.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended starting settings
Use this profile when several friends want the normal cooperative progression without player-versus-player conflict or unnecessary server administration.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Setting | Recommended starting value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Server intention | Cooperative | Signals that the world is intended for teamwork rather than competitive play. |
| PvP | Disabled | Prevents accidental friendly-fire fights in an ordinary co-op group. |
| Surface preset | SURVIVAL_TOGETHER |
Provides the standard shared-survival ruleset. |
| Player cap | Regular player count plus modest headroom | Allows an occasional guest without advertising a much larger world than the hardware or group can support. |
| Tick rate | 15 updates per second | This is the documented default and Klei’s recommended value for most servers. |
| Caves | No Caves unless underground content is a priority | A single surface shard is simpler and uses fewer resources. |
Klei’s command-line documentation allows -players values from 1 to 64. That option overrides [GAMEPLAY] / max_players in cluster.ini. The cap controls how many players can connect; it does not make the world easier to run or guarantee that everyone will have a good experience at once.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Choose No Caves or Caves
No Caves: the safer default for a casual group
Select No Caves when the group mainly wants surface exploration, base building, seasonal survival, and a low-maintenance host session. You avoid the extra shard, reduce CPU and memory demand, and make backups and troubleshooting more straightforward. This is the right choice for a new group, a host playing on a modest computer, or a world that is usually active only when one person is online.
Caves: more progression, more administration
Select Caves when your group specifically wants the underground biome, ruins progression, and the resources and threats that come with it. Klei states that hosting the forest together with caves or ruins requires multiple servers running at the same time and is CPU-intensive. In practice, the host must keep both the surface and cave shards healthy, back up both sets of world data, and account for the additional load when several players are active.
Caves are not a difficulty slider. They add another area to explore and another server process to maintain. If the host is already seeing lag, disconnects, or slow world saves on the surface shard, adding caves is likely to make administration harder rather than solve the problem.
How to enable caves in the current host flow
- Open Host Game.
- Select Create New World.
- Choose the server playstyle, keeping the intention cooperative for a normal friends-only world.
- Select Caves or No Caves.
- If you selected Caves, open the Caves tab and adjust its world-generation settings.
- Review the surface and cave settings, then generate the world.
The caves choice is made when the world is created. Changing other world-generation values later does not automatically create a cave shard in an existing no-caves world.
Set the player cap to match your group
Use the real group size, not the maximum the game permits
For four regular players, a cap of four is appropriate if the world is private and attendance is predictable. If friends sometimes invite one or two guests, set the cap to five or six rather than the full 64-player range. A modest buffer prevents connection refusals without encouraging a crowd that the host cannot support comfortably.
Large caps also affect practical coordination. More players consume food, materials, storage space, and server simulation time. A world tuned for three or four survivors can feel starved and chaotic when a dozen people join, even if the server accepts every connection.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Understand the two cap controls
When launching a dedicated server, -players N sets the player limit and overrides max_players in cluster.ini. Keep those values aligned so that the launch command and configuration file do not tell different stories. For a listen-server or in-game host, use the player-limit field exposed by the host setup and verify it after saving the world.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The documented range is 1–64 players. That range is a technical limit, not a recommendation for a single consumer computer. CPU speed, tick rate, mod use, caves, and the number of entities in the world all influence how many connected players the host can serve smoothly.
Leave the tick rate at 15 updates per second
Klei documents a default rate of 15 updates per second and recommends leaving it unchanged for ordinary games. The simulation advances 15 times each second; increasing the value asks the server to perform more simulation work and does not automatically improve every player’s connection.
When a higher rate is justified
Klei says increases are best limited to LAN games. If you experiment, choose a rate that divides evenly into 60, such as 20 or 30, so the update cadence fits the display-time base cleanly. A higher value can increase CPU demand and expose performance problems that were not visible at 15.
Why changing tick rate is rarely the first fix
Internet latency, overloaded hardware, caves running on the same machine, large entity counts, and heavy mods can all produce lag. Raising the tick rate may make a CPU-bound server work harder while leaving network latency unchanged. Test at the default first, then change one variable at a time and observe whether the symptom is simulation delay, rubber-banding, or a player’s local connection.
Pick the right world preset
The preset controls the broad character of world generation before individual overrides are applied. Current recognized surface presets include:
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
| Surface preset | Best fit | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
SURVIVAL_TOGETHER |
Standard co-op | The normal shared-survival starting point. |
RELAXED |
Lower-stress groups | A gentler baseline for friends who want to build and explore with less pressure. |
ENDLESS |
Persistent play without a conventional end | Use when the group’s goal is continued construction and exploration rather than a finite survival arc. |
WILDERNESS |
Groups seeking a harsher, less settled start | Expect a different early-game rhythm from the standard preset. |
LIGHTS_OUT |
Darkness-focused challenge | Choose only when the group deliberately wants that special ruleset. |
TERRARIA |
Players looking for the themed preset | Uses its own preset rules rather than the ordinary survival baseline. |
SURVIVAL_TOGETHER_CLASSIC |
Classic-style survival | Useful when the group wants the classic preset variant. |
SURVIVAL_DEFAULT_PLUS |
A modified standard starting point | Provides a preset distinct from the current standard profile. |
COMPLETE_DARKNESS |
Extreme darkness challenge | Best reserved for experienced players who explicitly want it. |
For caves, the recognized presets are DST_CAVE, DST_CAVE_PLUS, and TERRARIA_CAVE. Choose a cave preset only after deciding that the additional shard is worthwhile; a themed cave preset does not remove the CPU and backup obligations of running caves.
Three practical co-op profiles
Standard co-op
- Surface preset:
SURVIVAL_TOGETHER. - Intention: cooperative.
- PvP: disabled.
- Player cap: the regular group size, with a small guest buffer if needed.
- Tick rate: 15 updates per second.
- Caves: disabled unless underground content is part of the group’s plan.
This profile preserves the familiar survival pressure while keeping the host’s workload predictable.
Lower-stress co-op
- Surface preset:
RELAXED. - PvP: disabled.
- Tick rate: 15 updates per second.
- Optional world overrides: shorter winter, shorter summer, rarer hounds, and faster regrowth.
One documented example expresses those overrides as winter = "shortseason", summer = "shortseason", hounds = "rare", and regrowth = "fast". Treat these as example values, not a mandatory balance formula. Shorter seasons can reduce the time available to prepare, while faster regrowth changes the value of exploration and resource management.
Persistent or larger-group co-op
- Use a dedicated cluster rather than relying on one player’s game session.
- Set a realistic cap based on the regular population and hardware.
- Keep the default tick rate unless a controlled LAN test justifies a change.
- Enable Caves only if the machine can run both shards reliably.
- Back up the complete cluster directory before editing settings or rebuilding a shard.
A managed server is optional. Its practical advantages are persistent uptime, automated or scheduled backups, and less day-to-day server administration. It does not remove the need to choose an appropriate player cap, preset, cave configuration, or mod set.
For a persistent Don’t Starve Together world, Godlike.Host offers game-server hosting with its own game panel, backups, and SFTP/FTP access, which can reduce day-to-day administration while you apply the settings above.
Create a new world with the in-game host tools
Use the in-game flow when you want a friends-only session and do not need a world running while the owner is offline.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
- Choose Host Game from the main menu.
- Click Create New World.
- Select the cooperative server playstyle and keep PvP disabled.
- Choose Caves or No Caves according to the hardware and content decision above.
- Set the surface preset. Use
SURVIVAL_TOGETHERfor the standard profile orRELAXEDfor the lower-stress profile. - Open the world-generation tabs and change only the values your group has agreed to alter.
- Set the player limit to the intended group size plus any small guest allowance.
- Generate the world and have one player join before inviting everyone. Confirm that the world loads, the intended shard exists, and the connection method works.
Make a note of the final settings before the first long session. That record helps distinguish a deliberate world rule from a later accidental change.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallDedicated-server settings and file locations
Use the correct override files
World-generation settings belong in worldgenoverride.lua. A cluster with caves uses one file in the Master/ directory for the surface shard and another in the Caves/ directory for the cave shard. Keep the surface and cave overrides separate so a change intended for one shard does not silently affect the other.
The third-party configuration reference reproduces Klei’s warning: “leveldataoverride is for GAME USE.” In other words, do not manually edit leveldataoverride.lua as if it were the supported world-settings file. Put intentional world-generation changes in the appropriate worldgenoverride.lua instead.
Change one setting at a time
- Stop the server completely so no process is writing the files.
- Copy the entire cluster directory to a separate backup location.
- Identify whether the change belongs to the surface shard, the cave shard, or both.
- Edit the relevant
worldgenoverride.luafile and preserve valid Lua syntax, including quotation marks and commas. - Start the server and inspect the log for parsing errors before players reconnect.
- Join with one character first and verify the intended world behavior.
World-generation overrides are not all equivalent to live gameplay settings. Some values affect a newly generated world and will not retroactively rearrange an existing map. If a change appears to do nothing, confirm whether that setting is read only during generation before rebuilding anything.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Change settings without deleting your world
Many administrative changes can be made without regeneration: the player cap, server intention, PvP status, launch parameters, and other runtime or cluster-level options can be adjusted, followed by a controlled restart. World-generation changes require more caution because they may apply only to newly generated terrain or a rebuilt shard.
Safe workflow for an existing cluster
- Announce a maintenance window so no one is playing or saving during the change.
- Stop every relevant server process, including both Master and Caves when the cluster uses caves.
- Make a complete copy of the cluster directory, not just the save file you expect to change.
- Record the current preset, overrides, player cap, tick rate, and server launch command.
- Edit the smallest possible set of files.
- Restart the cluster and test with one player.
- Keep the backup until the group has completed a normal save, reconnect, and shard transition.
This approach lets you roll back a bad edit without sacrificing the established world. It also makes it clear whether a problem came from a syntax error, a shard mismatch, or a setting that is generation-only.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Understand rollback snapshots and backups
GameServerKings’ September 2026 reference, checked against build 747465, reports six default rollback snapshots. A rollback snapshot is useful for recovering from a recent mistake, but it is not a substitute for copying the cluster directory. It does not protect you from every configuration error, accidental deletion, or storage failure.
- Keep an offline or separately stored copy before major edits.
- Back up both
Master/andCaves/when caves are enabled. - Label backups with the date, build, and reason for the change.
- Do not test a destructive command on the only copy of the world.
Regeneration commands: use only with a verified backup
c_regenerateworld() permanently deletes and regenerates all worlds. Treat it as a full reset, not as a routine way to apply a setting. If only one shard needs rebuilding, c_regenerateshard() can rebuild a single shard, which is the safer choice when the surface or caves should remain intact.
Before running either command
- Stop the server and copy the complete cluster directory.
- Confirm which shard the intended change belongs to.
- Write down the current shard names and overrides.
- Tell every player that the selected world data will be destroyed.
- Run the shard-specific command when only one shard must be rebuilt.
A shard rebuild is still destructive for that shard. The command does not preserve buildings, inventories, or progression in the regenerated data merely because the rest of the cluster remains.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Troubleshoot common co-op problems
Players cannot join because the server is full
Check the effective player cap, not only the value in the configuration file. A -players launch argument overrides max_players in cluster.ini. Remove an unintended override or raise the cap slightly to cover the planned group, then restart cleanly.
The server lags after enabling caves
Verify that both shards are running on hardware with sufficient CPU headroom. Caves and ruins require multiple servers at the same time and are CPU-intensive according to Klei. Return temporarily to the default 15 updates per second, reduce unnecessary mods, and test the surface and cave shards separately before inviting the full group.
A world-generation change did not appear
Confirm that the edit was made in the correct shard’s worldgenoverride.lua and determine whether the option is generation-only. Existing terrain will not necessarily be regenerated by changing an override. Do not run a full reset until a complete backup exists; use c_regenerateshard() only when rebuilding that specific shard is acceptable.
The server fails to start after an override edit
Stop the process, restore the last known-good file from the backup, and compare the edit for missing commas, quotation marks, or invalid values. Keep the surface and cave files separate. A valid-looking setting in the wrong shard directory can still produce an unexpected result.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Players report rubber-banding rather than high ping
Leave the tick rate at 15 while diagnosing the issue. Check CPU usage, shard load, entity-heavy areas, mods, and the host’s network connection. Raising the update rate is primarily a LAN-oriented experiment and can increase simulation load without fixing an internet connection problem.
A decision framework for your group
- How many people play regularly? Set the cap to that number, adding only a small allowance for guests.
- Do you need underground progression? If no, choose No Caves. If yes, confirm that the host can run two shards and maintain both backups.
- How much survival pressure is fun? Choose Survival Together for the normal challenge or Relaxed for a gentler baseline.
- Will the world exist when the owner is offline? If yes, use a dedicated cluster and establish a backup routine.
- Is there a specific performance reason to change the tick rate? If no, keep 15 updates per second.
- Are you changing an existing map? Separate safe runtime edits from generation-only changes, and never regenerate without a complete cluster backup.
For most groups, the resulting choice is straightforward: Survival Together, cooperative intention, PvP disabled, a cap matched to the regular roster, 15 updates per second, and No Caves. Move to Relaxed when reducing pressure is more important than preserving the standard survival pace; move to Caves only when the group values underground content enough to accept the extra server and CPU work.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
