Configuring your Enshrouded server

Configure enshrouded_server.json files safely, set player limits, adjust difficulty, and avoid JSON format errors that reset progress.

Updated July 23, 2026

Enshrouded

This guide covers the configuration files and key settings for your Enshrouded server. For first boot and connecting, see Getting Started.

Edit enshrouded_server.json in the server root:

{
  "name": "My GSK Enshrouded Server",
  "saveDirectory": "./savegame",
  "logDirectory": "./logs",
  "ip": "0.0.0.0",
  "queryPort": 15636,
  "gamePort": 15637,
  "slotCount": 16,
  "voiceChatMode": "Proximity",
  "enableTextChat": true,
  "enableVoiceChat": true,
  "enableLogs": true,
  "enableAchievements": true,
  "gameSettingsPreset": "Default",
  "userGroups": [
    {
      "name": "Admin",
      "password": "STRONG_ADMIN_PASSWORD",
      "canKickBan": true,
      "canAccessInventories": true,
      "canEditBase": true,
      "canExtendBase": true,
      "reservedSlots": 1
    },
    {
      "name": "Friend",
      "password": "FRIEND_PASSWORD",
      "canKickBan": false,
      "canAccessInventories": true,
      "canEditBase": true,
      "canExtendBase": true,
      "reservedSlots": 0
    },
    {
      "name": "Guest",
      "password": "GUEST_PASSWORD",
      "canKickBan": false,
      "canAccessInventories": false,
      "canEditBase": false,
      "canExtendBase": false,
      "reservedSlots": 0
    }
  ]
}

Players choose a group by entering its password when joining. This is how Enshrouded handles permissions.

Setting	Notes
name	Server display name
slotCount	Max players (cap by your purchase)
gameSettingsPreset	Default, Easy, Difficult, Survival, or Custom
userGroups	Tiered access control with per-group passwords and permissions

Custom Difficulty Factors

Set gameSettingsPreset to "Custom" and add a gameSettings object to tune individual multipliers, where 1.0 is the baseline:

"gameSettings": {
  "playerHealthFactor": 1.5,
  "playerManaFactor": 1.5,
  "playerStaminaFactor": 1.5,
  "enemyHealthFactor": 0.8,
  "enemyDamageFactor": 0.8,
  "resourceDropStackAmountFactor": 2.0
}

Many more factors exist with self-describing names; the same JSON caution applies, since one malformed entry silently resets you to the preset defaults.

Restart after editing.