Server browser
A server browser is an in-game UI that lets players manually browse and select which game server to join. Players typically see a list of active servers with details like map, player count, ping, and game mode. They choose a server and connect directly.
Server browser vs matchmaking
- Server browser — Player chooses. Used in community-driven games where players want control over which server, map, or community they join. Common in sandbox games, survival games, and games with custom/modded servers.
- Matchmaker — System chooses. Players press “Play” and the matchmaker finds or creates a match based on skill, region, and queue. Common in competitive games, battle royales, and any game optimising for fair matches.
Many games offer both. A competitive ranked mode uses matchmaking while a casual or community mode offers a server browser.
Infrastructure implications
Server browsers require long-running servers that persist between sessions. The server stays up, players join and leave, and the server continues running. This is different from session-based matchmaking where a server is allocated per match and released when the match ends.
For game server hosting, server browser games typically need reserved capacity (always-on servers) rather than on-demand allocation. The servers run 24/7, so cost efficiency depends on utilisation — how full the servers are on average.