How to Install Darkness Falls on Your 7 Days to Die Server

MANAfuel Team

6 min readMay 27, 2026Updated May 2026

7 Days to Die Darkness Falls mod installation on MANAfuel

Install the Darkness Falls overhaul mod on your MANAfuel 7 Days to Die server with step-by-step setup through the dashboard file manager.

Understand Darkness Falls Requirements
Darkness Falls is a total overhaul mod that transforms 7 Days to Die with new classes, demons, quests, and a completely reworked progression system. It requires both the server and every client to have the mod installed — vanilla clients cannot connect. The mod uses significant additional RAM, so the Gamer plan (8 GB) is recommended for smooth performance with 4 to 8 players.
Deploy Your 7 Days to Die Server
Open the MANAfuel dashboard and click Deploy. Select 7 Days to Die and choose the Gamer plan or higher. Deploy with default settings first — you will install Darkness Falls onto the running server. Let the server complete its first boot to generate the base configuration files.
Download and Upload Darkness Falls
Download the latest Darkness Falls release from the official source (the 7 Days to Die Mod Launcher or the Darkness Falls forum thread). Extract the archive on your computer. Open the File Manager in your MANAfuel dashboard, navigate to the Mods directory, and upload the Darkness Falls folder. The mod contents include custom assets, prefabs, and server-side scripts.
Configure Server Settings for Darkness Falls
Darkness Falls modifies the serverconfig.xml file with its own recommended settings. Open serverconfig.xml in the File Manager and update the GameWorld property to match the Darkness Falls map name. Verify the mod is in the Mods directory path the server expects. Save and restart the server — the first restart with Darkness Falls takes longer as it generates the modded world.
Verify the Mod Loaded
Check the server log in your dashboard for Darkness Falls initialization messages. The log shows each mod component loading — new items, entities, quests, and world generation rules. If any component fails, the error appears with the specific file and reason. Bob monitors the startup process and alerts you if the mod fails to load or causes a crash loop.
Help Players Install the Client Mod
Every player needs Darkness Falls installed on their local 7 Days to Die client. The easiest method is the 7 Days to Die Mod Launcher, which handles downloads and version matching automatically. Share your server address and the required Darkness Falls version with your community. Mismatched versions between server and client cause connection failures — Bob logs version mismatch attempts in your server notifications.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can vanilla players join a Darkness Falls server?

No. Darkness Falls modifies core game assets. All players must install the exact same version of Darkness Falls on their client. The 7D2D Mod Launcher makes this easy by handling version management automatically.

How much RAM does Darkness Falls need?

The Gamer plan (8 GB) handles Darkness Falls with 4 to 8 players comfortably. The mod adds thousands of custom entities and prefabs that increase memory usage. For 10+ players or servers with high zombie spawn counts, consider the Creator plan.

Can I switch between Darkness Falls and vanilla on the same server?

You can switch by removing the Darkness Falls mod files from the Mods directory and restarting. However, Darkness Falls worlds are not compatible with vanilla — you would need to generate a new world. Create a save point before switching so you can restore the modded world later.

Troubleshooting