How to join a WARDOGS community server (and find a good one)
Open Play → Server Browser, pick one region, filter to Community, and type part of the server name in the search box. Join, or queue if it's full. No IP connect exists, so a server's name is how people find it.
Step by step
- Main menu → Play → Server Browser.
- Untick every region except yours. (Multiple regions selected shows an empty list on the current build.)
- Switch the tab or filter from Official to Community.
- Sort by players. 60–95 on a 100-slot server is the sweet spot: busy, not gridlocked.
- Use the search box for a name if someone gave you one.
- Join, or Queue if full. Queues move fast on 100-slot servers; a 5-deep queue is a couple of minutes.
- Star it to favourite, so it's on your list tomorrow.
Reading the browser
- Ping: under 50 ms ideal, under 90 fine, over 120 you'll feel it on vehicles.
- Map/mode: launch has three maps (Bakurani, Ozeti, Zestafona) in three variants each. A server that shows the same map for hours is either locked to it on purpose or nobody's admin.
- Player count trend: refresh twice a minute apart. Growing = people are choosing it. Shrinking at prime time = something's wrong there.
Spotting a good community server
- A Discord link in the server name or MOTD. That's where the community actually is.
- Admins visible in the player list at peak time.
- Map rotation set. Same-map-forever servers empty out by night two.
- A queue at 8–10 pm local. Full with a queue means people came back.
If the browser is empty
That's the region filter, a VPN, or launch-hour backend load. Fixes on the no servers showing page.
Running your own
If you'd rather be the admin than find one, you rent from an approved host; there's no self-hosting. The server hosting comparison covers who's approved and which to pick.
FAQ
Is there direct connect by IP in WARDOGS?
Not at launch. Every server, official or community, is joined through the in-game browser. Use the name filter to find a specific one.
What's the difference between official and community servers?
Official ones are run by BULKHEAD with default settings. Community ones are rented from approved hosts by players, with their own map rotation, name and admins.
Can I favourite a server?
Yes, from the browser. Favourites persist between sessions so you can get back to the same community.
Sick of full servers and queues?
Rent your own WARDOGS server from an approved host and play with your mates on your rules. UK/EU: QONZER (bare metal, no slot fees). Anywhere else: BisectHosting (21 locations). Casual group: xREALM (pay by the hour). Full comparison.