Don’t Starve Together on Linux

Q: Where are Don’t Starve Together files on Linux?

In ~/.klei/DoNotStarveTogether/, including client_log.txt and your servers’ logs.

Klei’s co-op survival game runs natively on Linux, is Steam Deck Verified and ships a free Linux dedicated server that anyone can download anonymously. Here is how it scores, how to host a world with caves, where your files live and what developers can learn from Klei. Updated November 2026. Part of our Linux games list.

Survivors around a campfire at night — Don’t Starve Together, running natively on Linux · Official screenshot, Klei Entertainment

01Scorecard

Don’t Starve Together on Linux: the scorecard

Native Linux build

Yes. Steam lists SteamOS and Linux. Proton is not needed.

Steam Deck

Verified, since Klei’s Steam Deck update in February 2022.

Dedicated server

Native Linux server through SteamCMD (app 343050), anonymous login.

Multiplayer

Online and LAN co-op and PvP. Dedicated servers allow up to 64 players.

Crossplay

Linux, Windows and Mac players share servers. No console crossplay.

Latest update

October 30, 2026.

Last big update

Cursed Confrontation Part 2 (October 22, 2026).

Released

Early Access December 15, 2014; full release April 21, 2016.

Developer

Klei Entertainment.

Reviews

Metacritic 83.

Verdict

Flawless. Native, Verified, and it hosts on Linux.

02Tests

How it does on our four tests

Runs natively or flawlessly

Pass. Native Linux client.

Steam Deck Verified

Pass.

Hosts on Linux

Pass. Native Linux dedicated server, free through SteamCMD.

Survives updates

Pass. Content updates reach Linux with every other platform.

Four out of four.

03Setup

Installing and requirements

Buy and install on Steam. The native Linux build is used automatically.

	Minimum (Linux)
CPU	1.7 GHz or better
RAM	1 GB
GPU	Radeon HD5450 or better, 256 MB or more
Network	Broadband internet
Disk	3 GB

Steam lists no recommended specs. The game is light: almost any Linux PC from the last decade runs it.

04Deck

On the Steam Deck

Valve rates it Verified. Klei shipped a Steam Deck update in February 2022: before it, the game was only Playable.

Like Terraria, it does not pick up a Bluetooth or USB controller on its own. Choose it in the quick access menu.

05Hosting

Dedicated server on Linux

Install libcurl-gnutls from your distribution, in the 32-bit or 64-bit version that matches the server binary you run.
Download the server: steamcmd +force_install_dir ~/dst +login anonymous +app_update 343050 validate +quit. Leave out validate once you have mods installed.
Get a cluster token from your account at accounts.klei.com, or type TheNet:GenerateClusterToken() in the game’s console.
Set up the cluster in ~/.klei/DoNotStarveTogether/MyCluster/: cluster.ini, cluster_token.txt, and a Master and Caves folder, each with its own server.ini.
Start both shards with dontstarve_dedicated_server_nullrenderer from the server’s bin folder, using -cluster MyCluster -shard Master and -shard Caves.
Open the ports. The server uses UDP, and each shard needs its own port. Forward 10999 UDP for the default setup.

If the server complains about libcurl-gnutls.so.4, the library from step 1 is missing or the wrong 32/64-bit version.

06Files

Files and folders

What	Where
Everything	`~/.klei/DoNotStarveTogether/`
Client log	`client_log.txt` in that folder
Local server logs	`<id>/Cluster_N/Master/` and `Caves/`
Steam Cloud saves	`<id>/CloudSaves/`

Klei publishes these Linux paths on its own support site, for bug reports.

07Mods

Mods on Linux

Steam Workshop

Subscribe and the game installs them. Mods are Lua and work the same on every platform.

Three kinds

Server-only, client-only and all-clients mods. Everyone needs all-clients mods; the server downloads them for players.

On a server

Enable mods per shard in modoverrides.lua. If Workshop mods will not download on a Linux server, the wiki’s fix is to replace the server’s steamclient.so.

08News

Updates and what is next

October 22, 2026: Cursed Confrontation Part 2. Ends the From Beyond story arc and makes travel between the Forest and the Caves load faster.
October 30, 2026: game update. Fixes on all platforms.
Next: a small Hallowed Nights quality-of-life update, as part of Klei’s 2026 “Year of the Clockwork Knight” plan.

09Devs

For developers: what Klei gets right

Native client and native server for Linux, for over a decade.
Anonymous SteamCMD downloads, so anyone can host without buying a second copy.
A Steam Deck patch that moved the game from Playable to Verified.
Published Linux paths for logs and saves on Klei’s support site.

10Gallery

Screenshots

A boss fight in a lightning storm — Storms and bosses · Official screenshot, Klei Entertainment

Rows of crops on a farm — Farming together · Official screenshot, Klei Entertainment

A large furry beast at a base — Big trouble at the base · Official screenshot, Klei Entertainment

A beam of light in a dark area — Light in the dark · Official screenshot, Klei Entertainment

Players fighting together in an arena — Teamwork · Official screenshot, Klei Entertainment

A dark, misty area at night — Night is the real enemy · Official screenshot, Klei Entertainment

A camp in a swampy area — Camp in the wild · Official screenshot, Klei Entertainment

?Q&A

Quick answers

Is Don’t Starve Together native on Linux?

Yes. Steam lists SteamOS and Linux, and Proton is not needed.

How do I host a Don’t Starve Together server on Linux?

Download app 343050 with SteamCMD and an anonymous login, add a cluster token, set up Master and Caves shards and open UDP ports.

Where are Don’t Starve Together files on Linux?

In ~/.klei/DoNotStarveTogether/, including client_log.txt and your servers’ logs.

Does Don’t Starve Together crossplay with consoles?

No. Linux, Windows and Mac players play together.

Sources, checked November 2026: Steam store, SteamDB, dontstarve.wiki.gg (dedicated server, mods, upcoming content), Klei support, GamingOnLinux, patch notes. Screenshots are official Steam store images from Klei Entertainment.