This guide walks you through creating a game server using GameCP's simplified creator. In just a few clicks, you'll pick a game, configure the basics, and have a server running.

Prerequisites

Before creating a game server, you need at least one node connected and online. A node is the server hardware that hosts your game servers.

If you don't have a node yet, check out our Installing a Node tutorial first. GameCP will also prompt you if no nodes are detected when you try to create a server.

Step 1: Open the Game Server Creator

Navigate to Game Servers in the sidebar and click the Add button. This opens the game server creator in Basic Mode — a streamlined interface designed to get you up and running quickly.

Tip: GameCP remembers your preferred mode. If you've switched to Advanced Mode before, it will open in that mode instead. You can switch back using the toggle in the top-right corner.

Step 2: Select a Game

You'll see a grid of available games with banner cards. Use the search bar at the top to filter by name, or scroll through the library.

Click a game card to select it. The card will highlight and a configuration drawer will slide up from the bottom of the screen.

Step 3: Configure the Basics

The drawer shows only the fields that matter for your chosen game:

Server Name — give your server a name (optional — a default name is generated if you skip it)
Players — choose a player capacity from the preset buttons, or type a custom number in the input field
Location — optionally filter which node to deploy on by location

Some games may show additional required fields (like a server password or license key). Fill in any highlighted as required.

Step 4: Review the Network Preview

At the bottom of the drawer, you'll see a network preview showing:

The IP address the server will be assigned to
The port that will be allocated

GameCP automatically assigns ports to avoid conflicts. If you have multiple nodes or IPs, you can click the network preview to choose a specific one.

Step 5: Create the Server

Click the Create button (the save icon on desktop, or the full "Create Server" button on mobile).

GameCP will:

Assign the server to an available node
Install the game files automatically
Start the server once installation completes

You'll be redirected back to the Game Servers list where your new server will appear. Installation progress is shown in real time on the server card.

What's Next?

The Basic Mode creator is designed for speed. If you need more control over your server configuration, try Advanced Mode:

Click the mode toggle in the top-right corner of the creator
Advanced Mode gives you full control over environment variables, startup commands, Docker settings, port mappings, and more

GameCP remembers your mode preference, so it will open in whichever mode you used last.