// modpack server guide
Prehistoric World server hosting & setup guide
A Prehistoric World server needs Java 17 and about 8.5–10 GB of RAM for up to 8 players.
Live a real prehistoric experience surrounded by impressive and realistic dinosaurs!
Summary from Prehistoric World on Modrinth.
Prehistoric World is a Forge modpack for Minecraft 1.20.1 with 295 mods, 258 of which run on the server. We'd pick our Heavy plan (12 GB) for it.
Quick facts
| Loader | Forge |
|---|---|
| Minecraft versions | 1.20.1 |
| Java needed | Java 17 for Minecraft 1.20.1 Java version chart. |
| Mods | 258 run on the server295 in the pack. The other 37 are client-only, and the server skips them. |
| RAM | About 7.5–8.5 GB for 1–3 playersBy player count. |
| Downloads | 460,311 on Modrinth |
| Last updated | September 24, 2026 (version 50.0.0) |
| First published | March 19, 2024 on Modrinth |
| Server support | Required: the pack has mods that must run on the server. |
| Server pack | Prehistoric World (Server Pack) - MC 1.20.1 - 90.0.0.zipOfficial server pack on CurseForge, for Prehistoric World - MC 1.20.1 - 90.0.0. Checked October 5, 2026. |
| Modrinth tags | adventure, quests, challenging, combat |
Prehistoric World server files
Yes, on CurseForge. Modrinth has no separate server pack for Prehistoric World, but the authors publish one on CurseForge: Prehistoric World (Server Pack) - MC 1.20.1 - 90.0.0.zip, for Prehistoric World - MC 1.20.1 - 90.0.0 (October 5, 2026).
That's not the version Modrinth has (50.0.0). A server and its players must run the same pack version, so either install the client pack from CurseForge too, or build the server from the Modrinth pack instead.
How much RAM does a Prehistoric World server need?
| Players online | RAM | DSN plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 players | About 7.5–8.5 GB | Heavy (12 GB)Premium (8 GB) can do if players stay close. |
| 4–8 players | About 8.5–10 GB | Heavy (12 GB) |
| 9–15 players | About 9.5–12.5 GB | Heavy (12 GB) if players stay closeMore than 12 GB if they spread out. |
Estimated from 258 mods on the server with our RAM calculator, not measured: low end if players stay together, high end if they spread out.
With 9–15 players spread across the map, Prehistoric World can need more than 12 GB, our biggest plan. A lower view distance and a pre-generated world help it fit; past that, a host with bigger plans is the better choice.
Set Java's heap (-Xmx) 10–15% under the RAM you have, about -Xmx10500M on 12 GB. Forge 1.20.1 reads it from user_jvm_args.txt: uncomment the -Xmx line. RAM guide.
Prehistoric World server requirements
| Java | Java 17 |
|---|---|
| Loader | Forge for Minecraft 1.20.1 |
| CPU | Fast single-core speed (one main thread). With 258 mods, the first start takes minutes. |
| RAM | About 7.5–12.5 GB for 1–15 players (table above) |
| Disk | The server files, a growing world and backups |
| Network | TCP port 25565 open to players |
Recommended plan
Our pick for Prehistoric World
Heavy
12 GB RAM · planned launch price $42/month
At about 258 Forge mods this is a heavy pack, and 12 GB keeps it clear of out-of-memory crashes.
Ordering is closed until we relaunch. We aren't taking orders or payments while we move to new hardware. Join the launch list and we'll email you when Heavy servers open.
Heavy is our biggest plan. Not sure? Email hello@dsnservers.com.
Planned launch price in USD, billed monthly once ordering opens, with a 7-day refund window.
How to make a Prehistoric World server on your own PC
What's specific to Prehistoric World, step by step. The full walkthrough for any pack: how to make a modded Minecraft server.
- Install Java 17.
Check with
java -version. Java version chart. - Get the server files.
Download the official server pack,
Prehistoric World (Server Pack) - MC 1.20.1 - 90.0.0.zip, from CurseForge and unzip it into an empty folder. Make sure your players install the same pack version. - Start it and accept the EULA.
Run the start script in the server files, or the
run.sh/run.batthe Forge 1.20.1 installer writes, then seteula=trueineula.txtif you accept Mojang's EULA (EULA step). With 258 mods, the first start takes minutes. - Set the RAM with
-Xmx, sized from the table above. - Let friends connect: forward TCP 25565, or use a tunnel or host behind CGNAT (can't connect?).
Or run Prehistoric World on DSN
Once we relaunch (join the launch list), on DSN you'd install Prehistoric World from the panel's Modrinth modpack installer (version 50.0.0), pick Java 17 on the Startup tab and accept the EULA in the console. No port forwarding.
How to play Prehistoric World with friends
Each player installs Prehistoric World version 50.0.0 with the Modrinth App or Prism Launcher, the same version as the server, and adds the server's address under Multiplayer.
Different versions of Prehistoric World on the server and a client show up as Mismatched mod channel list or mod rejections. Why friends can't join, timeouts included.
Lag and performance on Prehistoric World
Can't keep up! Is the server overloaded? means ticks take longer than 50 ms; more RAM won't fix that once Prehistoric World has enough (tick lag guide). For Prehistoric World:
- Measure first: spark's
/spark tpsand profiler work on 1.20.1 and name the mod or machine using the tick time. - Distances:
view-distance=8and a lowersimulation-distanceinserver.properties. - Pre-generate: Chunky for 1.20.1,
/chunky radius 3000then/chunky start, before people explore. - Chunk loaders keep machines running with nobody nearby; in a pack this size, dozens add up.
Common Prehistoric World crashes
What a Forge 1.20.1 server running Prehistoric World hits most. For any other error, paste the log into the free crash log analyzer.
- Out of memory. Prehistoric World (258 mods on the server) needs about 7.5–8.5 GB for 1–3 players;
java.lang.OutOfMemoryErrormeans it ran out. Out-of-memory fix. - Wrong Java version. Prehistoric World on Minecraft 1.20.1 needs Java 17. Started on Java 8, it stops with
UnsupportedClassVersionError: ... class file version 61.0, this version of the Java Runtime only recognizes class file versions up to 52.0. Java version fix. - Client-only mod on the server. Prehistoric World includes 37 client-only mods, which a server install skips; copying a player's mods folder brings them back and stops the server. Check a mods list with the client-or-server-side checker. Client-only mod fix.
- After adding or updating a mod. Mods you add to Prehistoric World by hand usually crash it with a missing dependency or a mixin conflict.
- Ticking entity or block entity. The crash report names it and gives its coordinates. Ticking entity fix.
Updates and support
Before moving Prehistoric World past version 50.0.0, back up the world: see updating a modpack server without losing your world.
Bugs in Prehistoric World itself go to its authors: Discord. Server problems on DSN: hello@dsnservers.com or Discord.
Packs like Prehistoric World
More: all modpack guides and how to make a modded server.
Run Prehistoric World on DSN when we relaunch.
Our pick, Heavy: 12 GB, planned at $42/month.
DSN Servers isn't affiliated with Prehistoric World or Modrinth. The pack's name, icon, summary and stats come from Modrinth's public API (checked October 4, 2026).