> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.freakhosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Change the Game Mode on a DST Server

> Change the game mode on your Don't Starve Together server to Survival, Endless or Wilderness in Game settings on FREAKHOSTING, then save and restart.

To change the game mode on a FREAKHOSTING Don't Starve Together server, open **Game settings**, choose **Survival**, **Endless** or **Wilderness** in the **Game mode** dropdown, click **Review and save**, then **Save changes**, and restart. Survival resets the world 120 seconds after every player is dead. Endless never resets. In Wilderness, dead players respawn at a random spot as a new character.

| Difficulty | Time | Works on | Panel page |
| - | - | - | - |
| Beginner | 3 minutes | Every FREAKHOSTING Don't Starve Together server | **Game settings** > **Server** > **Game mode** |

## Which game mode should I use?

| Game mode | When players die | Does the world reset? | Good for |
| - | - | - | - |
| **Survival** (default) | They become ghosts and can be revived | Yes, if all players are dead and nobody is revived within 120 seconds | The standard, harder co-op game |
| **Endless** | They become ghosts and can revive at the Florid Postern as often as they like, with a maximum health penalty each time | Never | Long-running worlds and relaxed groups |
| **Wilderness** | No ghosts. They go back to character select and respawn at a random place. Map progress, recipes and day counter reset | Never | A harder, every-player-for-themselves style |

Source: the official [Don't Starve Wiki](https://dontstarve.wiki.gg/wiki/Playstyles).

## How to change the game mode

**1. Open Game settings**

Open your server in the [Game Panel](https://games.freakhosting.com) and click **Game settings** under **GAME SETTINGS**.

**2. Choose the game mode**

In the **Server** section, open the **Game mode** dropdown ("The rules of the game.") and pick a mode.

**3. Review and save**

Click **Review and save**, check the change, then click **Save changes**.

**4. Restart**

[Restart the server](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/game-panel/how-to-start-stop-and-restart-your-game-server.md) so the new mode is used.

**Game mode** has a `STARTUP` label: the panel saves it as the **Game mode** variable on the **Startup** page, and the server reads it each time it starts. If you edit the variable on **Startup** directly, use exactly `survival`, `endless` or `wilderness` in lower case.

## Before you change the mode of an existing world

* Make a [backup](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/game-panel/how-to-create-and-restore-backups.md) first, so you can go back.
* Pick the mode before your group starts playing if you can. It is the simplest way to be sure everyone gets the rules they expect.
* To change seasons, resources or monsters instead, see [world settings](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/dont-starve-together/how-to-configure-dont-starve-together-world-settings.md).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the default game mode on a DST server?

Survival. It is set in **Game mode** on **Game settings** and as `game_mode = survival` in `cluster.ini`.

### What is the difference between Survival and Endless in Don't Starve Together?

In Survival, the world resets if every player is dead for 120 seconds. In Endless, the world never resets, and ghosts can revive at the Florid Postern as often as they like.

### Where is Relaxed or Lights Out?

Those are playstyle presets in the game's own **Host Game** screen. The server's `game_mode` setting only accepts `survival`, `endless` and `wilderness`.

### Do I need to restart after changing the game mode?

Yes. The server reads the game mode only when it starts.

## Related guides

> [card] [DST server guide](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/dont-starve-together/dont-starve-together-server-hosting-guide.md)
>
> Every Don't Starve Together page in one place.

> [card] [World settings](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/dont-starve-together/how-to-configure-dont-starve-together-world-settings.md)
>
> Seasons, resources and monsters.

> [card] [Name and password](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/dont-starve-together/how-to-change-dont-starve-together-server-name-and-password.md)
>
> Change how your server appears.

> [card] [cluster.ini explained](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/dont-starve-together/dont-starve-together-cluster-ini-settings-explained.md)
>
> Every setting in the file.

***

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Tested by the FREAKHOSTING team** on our Game Panel on 3 November 2026 (Don't Starve Together dedicated server, version 761239). Game mode rules checked against the official [Don't Starve Wiki](https://dontstarve.wiki.gg/wiki/Playstyles). Steps may differ slightly if the game changes.

> [!NOTE]
>
> ### Need Extra Help?
>
> If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:
>
> * **Live Chat:** Quick assistance via our website.
> * **Support Ticket:** [Open a Ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php)
> * **Discord:** [Join our Community](https://discord.gg/freakhosting)
> * **Email:** [support@freakhosting.com](mailto:support@freakhosting.com)

> [!TIP]
>
> ### Save on Your Hosting
>
> Ready to upgrade your hosting? Use code **KB20** at checkout for **20% off** your first order!

***

**Last Updated:** November 2026


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.