DorkNet lets you run your own private server for old versions of Rec Room. It brings back the 2020-era game — logging in, hanging out in your dorm, matchmaking, chatting with friends, building rooms — all on a server you host yourself. You supply your own legally-owned copy of Rec Room, and DorkNet handles the rest: the server, the client patcher, and the setup tools to get you playing again.
⚠️ Not affiliated with Rec Room Inc. or Against Gravity. See DISCLAIMER.md. DorkNet ships no Rec Room game assets or modified binaries — you supply your own legally-acquired Rec Room install.
DorkNet maintains a separate branch for each Rec Room client build it supports. The server, client patcher, and seed data on each branch are tuned to that build's wire protocol.
| Client build | Branch | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rec Room 2020.12.18 (December) | december-2020-12-18 |
Active |
| Rec Room 2020.03.10 (March) | march-2020-03-10 |
Active |
See BRANCHES.md for the full per-branch breakdown: supported features, schema notes, and plugin compatibility. Tools that need the same list in machine-readable form read it from versions.json.
This main branch is docs-only — it carries the project README, the
manifest the launcher reads, the per-version setup guides, and the Easy
app source. Server and patcher code lives on the per-version
branches above.
One download, two flavours: an installer (Start menu shortcut +
rolling auto-updates) or a portable dorknet.exe (drop anywhere).
Pick a Rec Room build on first launch, host or join.
- Host a server — runs a local server, opens a free Localtunnel HTTPS URL for it (no account), patches your Rec Room install for the client version you pick, and gives you a shareable join code.
- Join a server — paste the code, point at your Rec Room install, hit play. The launcher fetches the matching patcher.
→ Easy setup guide — screenshots, ~5 minutes.
Download the latest launcher →
Command-line host for Linux (x64/arm64), macOS (Intel/Apple Silicon), and Windows. It runs the same server and tunnel flow as the GUI, so it works well on a VPS or permanent home server. Joiners still use the Windows launcher to patch their own Rec Room install.
dorknet-server --photon-id YOUR-APPID --name "Sunday games"→ Server CLI guide — install, systemd, launchd.
For community-server hosts, modders, and contributors. main is only
the launcher and project docs, so the real server instructions live on
the version branch you plan to run.
# Example: hosting for December 2020.12.18 clients
git clone --branch december-2020-12-18 https://github.com/DorkSquadRR/DorkNet
cd DorkNetFrom there, follow that branch's README.md and docs/deploy.md.
The December branch has the newer microservices/Dokploy path; March is
the older single-server branch.
Feature set varies per branch. The table below is the union — see each
branch's BRANCHES.md row for the exact deltas.
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Account creation + login | ✅ |
| Dorms (per-player save) | ✅ |
| Rec Room Originals (RecCenter, Paintball, Stunt Runner, etc.) | ✅ |
| Maker Pen (build + save rooms) | ✅ |
| Photon Cloud matchmaking | ✅ |
| Room chat | ✅ |
| DM / group chat | ✅ |
| Friend lists + invites | ✅ |
| Leaderboards | ✅ |
| Player profiles + cheer badges | ✅ |
| Store catalog + gifting | ✅ |
| Game invites | ✅ |
| Image upload (polaroids, room thumbnails) | ✅ |
| VR (Quest/Index/etc.) | ✅ |
| Mobile | ✅ |
| Voice chat | ❌ Routes through Photon Voice; needs separate Photon Voice AppId |
| Cross-server federation | ❌ Out of scope |
- Code: AGPL-3.0. Hosted forks must publish their source.
- "Rec Room" is a trademark of Rec Room Inc. See DISCLAIMER.md.
- DorkNet is a clean-room reimplementation of the 2020 backend protocol for educational and personal use.
- Branch chart — which branch matches your client
- Easy setup — Windows GUI launcher
- Server CLI — Linux / macOS / Windows headless
- Advanced setup — source, Docker, VPS, and branch deploys
- Joining a server — for players
- Photon setup — getting your AppIds
- Architecture — how the code is laid out
- FAQ
- Troubleshooting
- Contributing