Set up the Prehistoric World modpack server

Prehistoric World is a dinosaur modpack for Minecraft 1.20.1 on Forge by Lupin. Its CurseForge page has you find fossils, extract DNA and revive extinct dinosaurs to build your own park, with quests that explain each step. You install the server from the Modpacks tab, using the CurseForge server pack.

Checked against Prehistoric World 90.2.0 (the CurseForge file dated 17 October 2026) on Forge 47.4.0 and Minecraft 1.20.1, October 2026.

What the pack needs

• Minecraft 1.20.1 with Forge 47.4.0. The server pack's variables.txt names both. Minecraft 1.20.1 runs on Java 17, which the panel picks for you.
• Memory. The author recommends a minimum of 7 GB of RAM for this pack, and more for a large number of players. Your plan sets the RAM, so read how much RAM a Minecraft server needs and check the Minecraft plans before you install. The server pack's variables.txt sets -Xmx4G -Xms4G for its own start scripts, which the panel does not use.
• Disk space. The server pack is a download of about 1.2 GB and unpacks to about 1.2 GB. The download sits on your plan's disk while it unpacks, so you need room for both.
• The same pack version for players. Players need the same version your server installs. This guide was checked against 90.2.0.

Use the CurseForge version

The pack is also on Modrinth, but the Modrinth page says it cannot include FTB Quests there and cannot host server packs, and it recommends the CurseForge version for the full experience. Its version numbers also differ from CurseForge's. This guide uses CurseForge.

Install the server

1. Open your server and choose Modpacks under Content in the left rail.
2. In the search card, press the CurseForge button in the row of sources, then search for Prehistoric World.
3. Pick the pack whose title starts with Prehistoric World - Dinosaurs, Adventure & Quests. A separate pack, Prehistoric World 2, is a different project, so check the title before you press Install.
4. Press Install. The popup says it reinstalls your server with the pack and names Forge and Minecraft 1.20.1.
5. Leave Take a backup first ticked. Your current world is replaced by the pack's. Tick Start the server when it's ready if you want it to start itself. Once that is ticked, an I agree to the Minecraft EULA box may appear if the EULA has not been accepted yet, and you tick it too.
6. Hold Install and reinstall until it fills, then wait for the install to finish.

The CurseForge file you are installing is the dedicated server pack, so no mods are fetched one by one. The pack ships no Forge files of its own, so the install reads variables.txt and sets Forge up itself.

First start

Press Start on the Console tab. If the EULA has not been accepted yet, the panel asks you to accept it first. The server is up when the console prints a line containing For help, type. Your address is in the left rail with a copy button beside it. The Server address label shows on wide screens only. Connect to your server for the first time covers adding it in Minecraft.

Common problems

• A player cannot join. Check they run the same Prehistoric World version as the server, on Minecraft 1.20.1 with Forge, then compare their mod list with the server's mods folder. The author's changelog warns never to change Minecraft version partway through a world.
• The install stops while unpacking. Your plan's disk may be too small. Check Disk Analyser, clear space and install again.
• The server lags or runs out of memory. Watch the RAM card on the Console tab and the TPS reading in the left rail. If the RAM card stays full, the author's 7 GB figure is the place to start. Why is my server lagging has more.
• The server crashes at boot. Find and read a crash report shows how to name the mod at fault.