VGSources / Best Game Server Control Panels / HelmForge
What it is
HelmForge is a free, single-binary control panel for self-hosting Dockerised game servers on Linux, your own hardware, or the web. Its browser console streams live server output over WebSocket and accepts commands without SSH. Scheduled backups and version checks use SteamCMD and Mojang manifests to keep supported servers current. A lightweight agent manages servers across multiple hosts, secured with TLS certificate pinning. The file manager includes a Monaco editor and parsers that preserve structure in properties, INI, JSON, YAML, and XML files. Built-in templates cover Palworld, Minecraft Java and Bedrock, Space Engineers, Empyrion, Star Rupture, VEIN, HumanitZ, and Project Zomboid. Custom container servers can be added with validated YAML templates. Authentication includes Argon2id hashing, TOTP two-factor authentication, roles, scoped API tokens, and rate limiting.
Good, and not so good
- Free self-hosted plan
- Unlimited servers and custom templates
- Scheduled backups and version checks
- Multi-node agent management
- Role and token controls
- Requires self-hosting
- Commercial redistribution needs separate agreement
- Dockerised servers are required
- Listed platform support centers on Linux and web
Who it suits
HelmForge suits Linux users self-hosting Docker game servers who want browser controls, scheduled backups, templates, and multi-node management. It also fits operators adding custom container games through YAML.
HelmForge provides a broad free control layer for self-hosted Docker game servers. Its templates, custom YAML provisioning, security controls, and multi-node agents target operators managing their own infrastructure.
Plans
- Self-hostFree/ forever · Run it on your own hardware, at any scale · All nine built-in game templates · Unlimited servers and custom templates ·…Free
As helmforge.io lists them, read 9 Oct 2026.