This guide collects the environment variables, token request workflow, and lobby visibility rules most commonly used when launching a server. All content comes from the existing server configuration document and has been reformatted for the website.
1. Overview
This manual explains how to configure and launch your own game server through environment variables in a .env file. After startup, the server automatically registers with the official lobby, and your settings determine its visibility and server type.
Note: any GAME_ variable whose type is a presence flag is considered enabled as long as it exists, regardless of its value. To disable that feature, remove the line entirely or do not define the variable.
2. Prerequisites
- Required: request a valid game authorization TOKEN (
GAME_TOKEN) from the official team. Without a TOKEN, you cannot run a public server (authorized or official). - Prepare a server with a public IP, or a machine inside a LAN if you only need local network play.
- Install Docker and Docker Compose (recommended), or make sure the runtime environment meets the game requirements.
- Send your TOKEN request by email to
team@nextindie.cn.
TOKEN request template
Subject: TOKEN Request - IP: 127.0.0.1 (replace with your public IP)
Body:
User UID: your game account user ID (must be accurate to speed up review)
Public IP: your public IP address (it must be pingable or the request will be rejected)
Purpose: describe what the server is for (for example: personal server, community server)
Server region: specify where the server is hosted (for example: Asia, North America)
Please make sure all information is accurate. After approval, the TOKEN will be sent to your email. Review usually takes 3 to 7 business days.
Requesting a server TOKEN means you agree to follow our server rules and accept necessary enforcement on violating servers, such as TOKEN deletion or lobby removal. Do not share your TOKEN with others, or your server may be abused or attacked.
3. All configurable parameters
3.1 Basics and authorization
| Variable | Type | Default | Description |
GAME_NAME | String | The Mesozic | Server name shown to players in the lobby list |
GAME_TOKEN | String | Empty | Game authorization TOKEN. This must be requested from the official team. Without a valid TOKEN, the server cannot register as a public server (authorized or official). See Section 4 for details. |
GAME_AUTO_RESTART | Presence flag | None | When enabled, the server automatically restarts once per day to improve long-running stability |
GAME_ADMINS | String | None | Administrator user IDs for the server, separated by commas, for example 100001,10002,100003. |
3.2 Networking and connection type
| Variable | Type | Default | Description |
GAME_IP | String | 127.0.0.1 | The server's public IP address. Fill in the correct public IP or other players will not be able to connect |
GAME_HOST | Presence flag | None | LAN mode only. When defined, the server automatically detects the machine's LAN IP and ignores GAME_IP. The server becomes a LAN server and will not appear in the public server list |
GAME_PORT | Integer | 26666 | Server listen port (UDP). Make sure your firewall allows it |
GAME_MAX_PLAYERS | Integer | 64 | Maximum number of players that can be online at the same time |
GAME_GLOBAL | Boolean | true | Whether to use the global matchmaking node. In most cases this should stay true |
GAME_PUBLIC | Presence flag | false | Controls whether the server is public. If undefined, the server stays private (password-protected or only visible to friends). If defined, it becomes public and appears in the lobby, provided TOKEN and link requirements are met |
GAME_LINK | Presence flag | false | Forces the server to be a private server (PRIVACY). Define this if you want a password-protected private room. Private servers are usually not public or are only visible to a limited audience |
GAME_NODE | String | AS | Region node shown to players for latency reference. Valid values: AS (Asia), CN (China), NA (North America), SA (South America), EU (Europe), ME (Middle East) |
Connection type priority and combinations
If GAME_LINK is defined, the server is a private server (PRIVACY). Even if GAME_PUBLIC is also enabled, it still exists only as a password-protected private room.
If none of those special variables are defined, and GAME_PUBLIC is enabled with a valid GAME_TOKEN, the server is registered as an authorized server (AUTHORIZE). This is the main way regular players host public servers.
If GAME_PUBLIC is not defined, the server remains private regardless of TOKEN status and does not appear in the public list.
3.3 Game rules
| Variable | Type | Default | Description |
GAME_DEAD_TIME | Integer (seconds) | 1800 | How long corpses remain before decaying away |
GAME_START_GROWTH | Float | 0.1 | Initial growth value for a new character (0.0 ~ 1.0) |
GAME_MAX_GROWTH | Float | 1.0 | Maximum growth value for a character |
GAME_SPEED_GROWTH | Float | 1.0 | Growth speed multiplier |
GAME_TEAM | Integer | 6 | Maximum team size |
GAME_CHILD | Integer | 0 | How many offspring or followers a player can own at the same time. 0 disables offspring |
GAME_SAFE | Integer (seconds) | 0 | Spawn protection duration for new characters |
GAME_TEAM_DAMAGE | Presence flag | Enabled | Enables friendly fire. Remove this variable if you do not want teammates to damage each other |
GAME_HATCH | Presence flag | Enabled | Allows invited hatching and cooperative breeding with other players |
GAME_EVOL | Presence flag | Enabled | Allows egg evolution, enabling progression across stages through eggs |
GAME_PK | Presence flag | Disabled | Enables voluntary player-versus-player duels |
GAME_ALT_TURN | Presence flag | Enabled | Allows turning in place |
GAME_MALE_REBIRTH | Presence flag | Enabled | Allows rebirth using male characters |
GAME_SINGLE_BREED | Presence flag | Disabled | Allows solo hatching without a mate |
GAME_ERA_REBIRTH | Presence flag | Disabled | Allows cross-era rebirth (generational rebirth) |
GAME_DOWNGRADE_REBIRTH | Presence flag | Disabled | Allows downgraded rebirth into a lower evolution stage |
GAME_LEARN | Presence flag | Enabled | Allows gene learning |
GAME_CHILD_ATTRIBUTE_INHERIT | Presence flag | Disabled | Whether offspring inherit parent attributes (this may cause unlimited stat growth) |
3.4 AI and ecosystem
| Variable | Type | Default | Description |
GAME_MAX_AI | Presence flag | Enabled | Whether AI ecosystem dinosaurs are spawned. If disabled, only players will exist on the map |
GAME_AI_MATE | Presence flag | Disabled | Whether an AI mate is allowed to follow and assist the player |
3.5 Genes and proficiency
| Variable | Type | Default | Description |
GAME_CRAZY | Presence flag | Enabled | Allows berserk genes to appear |
GAME_GENE_SKILLFUL | Presence flag | Enabled | Enables the gene proficiency system |
GAME_KILL_SKILLFUL | Presence flag | Disabled | Whether killing other players grants proficiency |
3.6 Game modes (choose one)
| Variable | Type | Description |
GAME_MODE_SANDBOX | Presence flag | Sandbox mode: players can freely choose species and berserk genes are disabled |
GAME_MODE_EVOL | Presence flag | Evolution mode: initial species choices are restricted, egg evolution is forced on, and stronger creatures are unlocked step by step |
GAME_MODE_PRIMEVAL | Presence flag | Primeval mode: berserk genes, downgraded rebirth, and solo hatching are forced on, while gene proficiency is disabled |
Enable only one mode. If multiple modes are defined, the one defined later overrides the earlier one.
3.7 Difficulty settings
| Variable | Type | Default | Description |
GAME_SIMPLE | Presence flag | Disabled | Enables simple difficulty (generational rebirth, downgraded rebirth, and solo hatching on; invited hatching off) |
GAME_NORMAL | Presence flag | Disabled | Enables normal difficulty (only generational rebirth is enabled) |
GAME_HARD | Integer | 0 | Directly sets the difficulty level and overrides the previous two flags. Valid values: 0=normal, 1=simple, 2=very easy, 3=hard, 4=hardcore |
3.8 PVP / PVE (choose one)
| Variable | Type | Description |
GAME_PVP | Presence flag | Enables PVP mode (players can attack each other) |
GAME_PVE | Presence flag | Enables PVE mode (player damage is disabled, but duels are still allowed) |
Choose one of these modes. It is not recommended to define both.
3.9 Map
| Variable | Type | Default | Description |
GAME_MAP | String | Tag of the first built-in map | Map identifier, for example Oasis. Refer to the official map list for available values |
3.10 MOD loading
| Variable | Type | Default | Description |
GAME_MODS | String | None | Comma-separated MOD names to load, for example ModA,ModB. Make sure those MODs are correctly installed in the server's Data/Mods directory |
4. Server types and lobby visibility
| Server type | Required environment variables | Characteristics |
| LAN server (LAN) | Define GAME_HOST | Only players inside the same LAN can connect. The server does not appear in the public lobby |
| Private server (PRIVACY) | Define GAME_LINK. No TOKEN required | Joining requires a password. The server remains private by default, though friends can still connect directly through other means. It does not appear in the public lobby list |
| Authorized server (AUTHORIZE) | Define GAME_PUBLIC and provide a valid GAME_TOKEN. Do not define GAME_HOST, GAME_LINK, or GAME_OFFICIAL | This is how most players host public servers. The server appears in the lobby and is marked as an authorized server, ranked just below official servers |
Key reminders
- If you want your server to appear in the lobby and be searchable by all players, all three conditions must be met: 1) enable
GAME_PUBLIC, 2) provide a valid GAME_TOKEN, and 3) do not enable GAME_HOST or GAME_LINK. - A public server without a valid TOKEN will be blocked during registration and will report that the server TOKEN is invalid or expired.
- After startup, the server sends a heartbeat to the lobby every 90 seconds to remain listed. If heartbeats stop, the server is removed from the list, but connected players are not disconnected.
5. Configuration example
5.1 Public authorized server (recommended for personal hosting)
# Basics
GAME_TOKEN=TOKEN_REQUESTED_FROM_THE_OFFICIAL_TEAM
GAME_NAME=The Mesozoic Dawn
GAME_AUTO_RESTART=1
GAME_ADMINS=100001,100002
# Networking: public IP and port
GAME_IP=203.0.113.10
GAME_PORT=26666
GAME_MAX_PLAYERS=100
GAME_PUBLIC=1
GAME_NODE=AS
# Rules (adjust as needed)
GAME_CHILD=2
GAME_SAFE=30
GAME_TEAM=4
GAME_DEAD_TIME=1200
GAME_EVOL=1
GAME_AI_MATE=1
# Mode: sandbox
GAME_MODE_SANDBOX=1
# Map
GAME_MAP=Oasis