Minecraft vs Valheim Server: Which to Self-Host?

Quick Verdict

Both are excellent self-hosted game servers, but they solve different problems. Minecraft is the better first game server — it runs on less RAM, has a vastly larger mod ecosystem, and the itzg/minecraft-server Docker image is one of the best-maintained in the entire Docker ecosystem. Valheim edges out on automation — the lloesche/valheim-server image includes built-in auto-updates, hourly backups, and crossplay out of the box, while Minecraft needs a sidecar container for backups.

If you are choosing between them for a friend group, pick whichever game your group actually wants to play. The self-hosting experience for both is painless.

Overview

Minecraft has been the dominant self-hosted game since 2010. The server software is mature, the modding ecosystem is enormous (Paper, Fabric, Forge, Spigot), and the Docker image supports every server variant. Hundreds of thousands of Minecraft servers run 24/7 worldwide.

Valheim launched in 2021 and quickly became one of the most popular co-op survival games. The dedicated server runs via SteamCMD, and the Docker image wraps it with quality-of-life features. The game continues receiving major updates (Ashlands, Deep North).

Feature Comparison

Feature	Minecraft	Valheim
Docker image	itzg/minecraft-server	ghcr.io/lloesche/valheim-server
Image maintenance	Actively maintained, frequent updates	Actively maintained
Server variants	Vanilla, Paper, Fabric, Forge, Spigot	Vanilla only
Auto-updates	Yes (downloads new JARs)	Yes (SteamCMD, idle check)
Built-in backups	No (use sidecar container)	Yes (hourly, compressed)
Scheduled restarts	No (use external cron)	Yes (configurable cron)
Crossplay	Bedrock-Java bridge via GeyserMC	Native (Steam + Xbox/Game Pass)
Mod support	Excellent (thousands of mods)	Good (BepInEx/Thunderstore)
RCON console	Yes (built-in)	No
Admin tools	Whitelist, ops, ban via RCON	Admin/ban/permit lists via env vars
Health checks	Via RCON	Via status web server (optional)
Graceful shutdown	Configurable	120s grace period

Resource Requirements

Spec	Minecraft (Vanilla, 10 players)	Minecraft (Modded)	Valheim (6 players)
RAM	4 GB	6-12 GB	6 GB
CPU	2 cores	4 cores	2-4 cores (high clock)
Disk	10 GB	20-30 GB	10 GB
Network	Low bandwidth	Low-medium	Low bandwidth

Minecraft uses more RAM when modded, but vanilla Minecraft is lighter than Valheim. Valheim is more CPU-sensitive — clock speed matters more than core count. A 4 GHz dual-core handles Valheim better than a 2.5 GHz quad-core.

Setup Complexity

Both are easy to set up with Docker Compose. The key differences:

Minecraft requires accepting the EULA (EULA: TRUE) and choosing a server type (vanilla, Paper, Fabric, etc.). Paper is recommended for most servers. The image downloads the server JAR automatically. Configuration is done through environment variables or server.properties.

Valheim requires a server password of at least 5 characters. The image downloads the server via SteamCMD on first startup (~1 GB, takes 5-10 minutes). Configuration is entirely through environment variables — no config files to edit. The cap_add: sys_nice flag is needed for process priority.

Both servers are ready to connect within minutes of docker compose up -d.

Mod Ecosystem

Minecraft’s modding ecosystem is in a different league. Paper and Spigot support thousands of Bukkit plugins. Fabric and Forge have thousands more. Server-side mods, client-side mods, modpacks like ATM and Create — the ecosystem is vast and mature.

Valheim uses BepInEx as its modding framework, with mods distributed through Thunderstore. The selection is smaller but covers the popular categories: quality-of-life mods, building mods, difficulty adjustments, and gameplay overhauls. All BepInEx mods work with the Docker image — drop DLLs into the plugins directory.

Aspect	Minecraft	Valheim
Mod frameworks	Paper, Fabric, Forge, Spigot	BepInEx
Total mods available	50,000+	2,000+ (Thunderstore)
Mod distribution	CurseForge, Modrinth, Bukkit	Thunderstore
Modpack support	Yes (auto-download via image)	Manual (copy to plugins/)
Server-side only mods	Many	Most require client-side too

Backup and Maintenance

Minecraft: No built-in backup automation. Use the itzg/mc-backup sidecar container for scheduled backups. The sidecar pauses writes via RCON before snapshotting, ensuring consistency. Updates are automatic — the image downloads new JARs when the container restarts.

Valheim: Built-in hourly backups with configurable retention (default: 3 days). Backups are compressed and stored in the config volume. Auto-updates check SteamCMD every 15 minutes and only apply when no players are connected. Scheduled restarts are built in.

Valheim wins decisively on operations — everything is built into the image. Minecraft requires composing additional containers or external tooling for the same functionality.

Player Management

Minecraft has comprehensive player management through RCON: whitelist, ops (admins), bans, game mode changes, teleportation, and more. The RCON console is accessible from Docker:

docker compose exec minecraft rcon-cli

Valheim handles admin/ban/permit lists through environment variables containing SteamID64s. There’s no in-container console — admin commands are issued from the in-game console by players with admin rights.

Minecraft’s approach is more powerful, especially for larger servers. Valheim’s approach is simpler but less flexible.

Multiplayer Scale

Both games perform well for small groups (2-10 players). At larger scales:

Minecraft can scale to 50-100+ players on a Paper server with optimization. The server handles chunks and entities per-tick, and Paper’s async improvements handle concurrency well. Plugins like ViaVersion enable cross-version play.

Valheim starts showing strain above 10 players, especially in areas with complex builds. The game wasn’t designed for large-scale multiplayer, and the dedicated server reflects this. 10 players is a practical ceiling for smooth gameplay.

When to Choose Minecraft

• Your group wants creative building, adventure, or modded gameplay
• You need to support more than 10 players
• You want access to a massive mod/plugin ecosystem
• You prefer detailed server administration (RCON, plugins)
• You need to run multiple server types (survival, creative, minigames)

When to Choose Valheim

• Your group wants a co-op Viking survival experience
• You want zero-maintenance automation (auto-updates, auto-backups)
• You need crossplay between Steam and Xbox/Game Pass
• Your server will have 10 or fewer players
• You prefer a simpler configuration (no server type choices, no plugin decisions)

Final Verdict

For pure self-hosting ease, Valheim’s Docker image is better out of the box — backups, updates, and restarts are all built in. For everything else — scale, mods, admin tools, flexibility — Minecraft wins. Both are excellent choices, and most home servers have enough resources to run both simultaneously if your friend group can’t decide.

Related

• How to Self-Host a Minecraft Server
• How to Self-Host a Valheim Server
• Best Self-Hosted Game Servers
• Pterodactyl vs Crafty Controller
• Docker Compose Basics
• Backup Strategy