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Cave Horror Project Modpack: How to Set Up a Server (Java 1.20.1 Forge)

Learn how to host Cave Horror Project 1 on Minecraft Java 1.20.1 Forge using the correct CurseForge server pack, JDK 17 or 21, or Aternos.
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To run a Cave Horror Project server, use the server-pack file for the exact modpack release, run it with JDK 17 or JDK 21, and make every player install the same Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge client version. The currently listed Cave Horror Project 1 v3.6.1 Server Pack was released on October 1, 2026. You can host the extracted pack on your own computer or install the pack through Aternos at Software → Modpacks → CurseForge.

What Cave Horror Project requires

Cave Horror Project 1 is a Minecraft Java Edition horror-survival modpack built for Forge 1.20.1. CurseForge classifies it under horror, hardcore, quests, exploration and multiplayer, and the project author is JustErikSK. The pack is designed for multiplayer as well as solo play, so a correctly prepared server can run its quests, world content and progression for a group.

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The project description on Modrinth advertises “Over 200 quests across multiple chapters, now with a proper progression path alongside some optional quests.” Because the quests and progression depend on the installed mod files, the server and every client must use the same release rather than merely the same Minecraft version.

CurseForge displayed 6,112,082 downloads in 2026. That is a time-sensitive project-page snapshot, not a guaranteed current total or a measure of server capacity.

Choose between self-hosting and Aternos

Both routes use the same core compatibility rule: Minecraft 1.20.1, Forge, the same Cave Horror Project release and the corresponding server files. The practical difference is who maintains the machine and the server folder.

Factor Self-hosted server Aternos route
Where it runs On a dedicated computer or another machine you control On an Aternos Minecraft Java server
Installation path Download and extract the release’s server pack, then use its included startup files Create a Java server, then open Software → Modpacks → CurseForge and install Cave Horror Project
Upfront cost No hosting fee is established here; you provide the hardware, storage and internet connection Aternos is the documented hosted option; current pricing, quotas and availability are not stated here
Java requirement Install JDK 17 or JDK 21 before launching the server The host manages the server runtime, but the selected modpack and version still need to be available in its catalog
RAM and player limits Determined by your machine and network; no universal minimum is published for this pack Ask Aternos for the limits that apply to your account and the selected modpack; no reliable figure is established here
Backups and updates You are responsible for copying the world, preserving the old pack and applying updates Use the controls Aternos exposes for backups and modpack updates; confirm what is retained before changing versions

Self-hosting gives you direct access to files and logs, which is useful when testing a new release or changing configuration. Aternos removes most operating-system work, but you are limited to the software versions and controls exposed by the host.

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Download the matching client and server files

Install the client release first

Each player should install Cave Horror Project through the CurseForge app or the Modrinth app. Select the same Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge release for everyone. Record the exact modpack version shown by the launcher; “1.20.1” alone is not enough, because different pack releases can contain different mods, configurations and quest data.

Get the server pack from CurseForge

The current CurseForge files listing identifies Cave Horror Project 1 v3.6.1 Server Pack for Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge, released October 1, 2026. Download that server pack when your players are using v3.6.1. If you choose another client release, download the server-pack file carrying that same release number instead.

The setup wiki says every version contains an additional server-pack file. Modrinth’s v3.1.4 version note states: “Server packs can no longer be uploaded on Modrinth for some reason, so download it from CurseForge.” Therefore, if you cannot find a server download on Modrinth, switch to the matching release in CurseForge rather than substituting an unrelated Forge server.

Keep a clean download folder

  • Save the server-pack archive separately from the client launcher files.
  • Keep the release number in the filename or in a note so you can identify it during upgrades.
  • Do not mix files from two Cave Horror Project releases in one server directory.
  • If a download offers both client and server files, choose the file explicitly labeled as the server pack.

Self-hosted setup: complete procedure

1. Prepare a dedicated server location

Create a new folder used only for this server. A dedicated location prevents old Forge jars, configuration files or worlds from another modpack being loaded accidentally. Choose a disk with enough free space for the extracted files and the world that will be generated.

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2. Install a supported Java development kit

Install JDK 17 or JDK 21 before starting the pack. These are the Java versions named by the Cave Horror Project setup wiki. Confirm that the Java installation is available to the account that will launch the server; installing Java for a different user account can leave the startup script unable to find it.

Do not assume that the Java bundled with a launcher is automatically available to a standalone server. The server’s included startup files need to resolve a supported JDK on the host operating system. If the script reports that Java cannot be found, correct the JDK installation or the system’s Java path before troubleshooting mods.

3. Extract the exact server pack

Extract the archive for the selected Cave Horror Project release directly into the dedicated folder. Preserve the directory structure supplied by the pack. Do not run the server from inside the compressed archive and do not copy only a few jar files into an otherwise empty Forge directory; the server pack can include configuration, scripts and other files required by the modpack.

4. Review the supplied startup files

Use the startup script and supporting files included with the server pack. The setup documentation does not publish one universal command line or a guaranteed memory setting, so do not add copied RAM flags from an unrelated tutorial. The correct script name and first-run behavior can vary between server-pack revisions.

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On a graphical desktop, launch the included file using the normal method for your operating system. On a headless machine, use the server pack’s documented shell procedure. If the archive contains a readme, treat its instructions as authoritative for that release.

5. Start the server once

Run the included startup file from the server folder. The first launch may create configuration files, a world directory and other runtime data. Follow the generated prompts and allow the process to finish its initial setup before asking players to connect. First-run prompts can differ by server-pack revision, so use the text displayed by your downloaded files rather than a screenshot from an older version.

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Stop the process through the method provided by the pack or server console after the initial files are created. A clean stop gives the world and configuration files a chance to be written completely.

6. Configure only after the first successful launch

Make one change at a time, restarting the server after each change. Keep the original files available so you can identify whether a setting or a mod update caused a failure. The supplied material does not establish a required RAM minimum, a universal player cap or a special JVM argument for Cave Horror Project; obtain those values from your hardware, host or the pack’s current documentation instead of guessing.

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7. Test locally before inviting the group

Connect from the same machine or local network first if your setup permits it. Confirm that the world loads, the modded title or menu appears as expected and the quest content is present. A local test separates a broken server installation from an external-network problem.

8. Give players the exact client instructions

Tell every player to install the same Cave Horror Project release through CurseForge or Modrinth and to use Minecraft 1.20.1 with Forge. Players should close the game and launcher while updating so the launcher does not leave half-updated files in the profile.

9. Share the connection details securely

Provide the server address only after the local test succeeds. Do not publish a home network address in a public forum. If friends outside your network cannot connect, investigate your router, firewall and internet service separately from the modpack; an otherwise correct pack cannot bypass network restrictions.

10. Preserve a rollback copy

Before replacing the server pack with a newer release, stop the server and copy the world and configuration directories to a separate backup location. Keep the old server folder intact until the new release has been tested. This gives you a recovery path if a version change prevents the world from starting or clients from connecting.

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Install Cave Horror Project on Aternos

The Cave Horror Project community wiki documents Aternos as a hosted route. The menu labels below are the important part of that workflow.

  1. Create a Minecraft Java server on Aternos and open its control panel.
  2. Choose Software.
  3. Open Modpacks.
  4. Select CurseForge as the modpack source.
  5. Find Cave Horror Project and install the release that matches the clients your players will run.
  6. Start the server only after the installation completes, then allow the host to generate its initial files.
  7. Have every player install the identical Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge modpack release.

The wiki also recommends obtaining the version’s server pack when needed. Aternos may automate file deployment through its modpack catalog, but the server-pack release remains a useful reference when checking that the host installed the intended version. If a particular release is missing from the Aternos catalog, do not substitute a different release without first changing every client to match and confirming that the host supports the required Forge version.

Host-specific limits, restart behavior, storage quotas and backup retention can change. Check those details in Aternos before committing an existing world or inviting a large group; no reliable RAM or player-capacity number is established for this pack.

Version matching: the fastest connection checklist

When a player cannot join, compare the four versioned components before changing files:

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  • Minecraft: the client and server must both be 1.20.1.
  • Forge: both sides must use the Forge build expected by the selected pack release.
  • Modpack release: the client profile and server pack must carry the same Cave Horror Project version.
  • Server files: the extracted directory must come from that release’s server-pack download, not from another version or a generic Forge installer.

This four-way comparison is an editorial troubleshooting rule based on the versioned client and server artifacts. It is the first check because a mismatch can look like a missing mod, an incompatible network connection or a failed installation.

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Troubleshooting branches

The server does not start

  • Verify that JDK 17 or JDK 21 is installed and available to the account launching the included script.
  • Confirm that the archive was fully extracted into a clean folder and that the script is being run from that folder.
  • Check whether the first-run process is waiting for a prompt instead of being frozen.
  • Restore the original server-pack files if you edited configuration or copied jars from another installation.

The setup documentation does not provide one universal startup command, memory flag or error-specific fix. Use the files and instructions shipped with your release when the displayed error refers to a script or configuration option.

A client is rejected immediately

Compare Minecraft 1.20.1, Forge, the Cave Horror Project release and the server-pack release number. Reinstall the client profile if its launcher shows a different version. On a self-hosted machine, confirm that the running folder is the one containing the intended server pack; it is easy to start an older copy from a similarly named directory.

The server starts but the world behaves incorrectly

Stop the server cleanly, make a backup and check that no files from another modpack were merged into the folder. If the problem began after an update, return temporarily to the preserved old folder and its matching world copy. Do not repeatedly switch versions on the only copy of a world.

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Players cannot reach a healthy server from outside the network

First confirm that a local connection works. Then check the host computer’s firewall, router settings and whether the internet connection allows inbound game traffic. These network checks are independent of Cave Horror Project’s mod files. A hosted service such as Aternos avoids home-router configuration, but it still requires the correct modpack installation and client version.

Community reports conflict with your result

Search results and community-wiki discussions include anecdotal reports of startup and connection problems. Treat those reports as clues rather than official fixes: hardware, operating system, Java installation and modpack release can differ. Reproduce the issue with a clean, matching installation before applying a workaround.

Updating without breaking the world

Plan the change

Write down the current client release, server-pack release and Java version. Read the target release’s file notes and confirm that the host or machine can obtain it. Because Cave Horror Project’s quests and progression are tied to its mod collection, an update is a coordinated change for the server and every player.

Back up before replacing files

Stop the server, copy the world and configuration data, and retain the complete previous server folder. Label the backup with the release number and date. Never treat a launcher profile or a host’s automatic installation as your only backup.

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Update in a controlled order

  1. Install the target client release for testing on one machine.
  2. Obtain the target release’s server-pack file from CurseForge.
  3. Extract it into a new server folder instead of overwriting the working folder.
  4. Apply only the configuration changes you intentionally want to carry forward.
  5. Start the new server and test the world before asking the whole group to update.
  6. Move the other players to the target client release only after the server test succeeds.

If the new release fails, stop it and return to the preserved folder and backup. Keeping separate versioned folders makes rollback clearer than attempting to remove individual mods from a mixed installation.

What is established about the current release

Item Current fact Qualification
Edition Minecraft Java Edition Not a Bedrock Edition pack
Mod loader Forge Target version is Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge
Current listed server pack Cave Horror Project 1 v3.6.1 CurseForge listing; released October 1, 2026
Java prerequisites JDK 17 or JDK 21 Versions named by the project setup wiki
Quest content More than 200 quests across multiple chapters Project description; includes optional quests and a stated progression path
Downloads 6,112,082 CurseForge page snapshot reported in 2026; totals change over time
Published RAM minimum Not stated Do not copy an arbitrary memory flag or promise a player count
Published player cap Not stated Check the selected machine or host before planning a group

Recommended decision

Choose self-hosting when you want direct control over files, logs, backups and release testing, and you can provide a machine with JDK 17 or JDK 21. Choose Aternos when you prefer the documented Software → Modpacks → CurseForge installation path and do not want to maintain the operating system yourself. In either case, the non-negotiable step is matching Minecraft 1.20.1, Forge, the Cave Horror Project client release and the corresponding server-pack release for every participant.

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