7 Days to Die World Generation: RWG, Navezgane and Custom Maps
A 7 Days to Die server picks its map from GameWorld in serverconfig.xml. Set it to Navezgane for the hand-made map, RWG to generate a random world from WorldGenSeed and WorldGenSize, or to the exact folder name of a pregenerated or custom world.
Details below were checked against the V3.x line (stable V3.4.0, October 2026). World generation was reworked in V3.0, so seeds from older versions will not produce the same map.
GameWorld= Navezgane, RWG, or the name of an existing world folder.- Same seed plus same size gives the same RWG map on the same game version.
- Supported
WorldGenSizevalues are 6144, 8192 and 10240. Crossplay servers are limited to 8192 or smaller. - Bigger maps take longer to generate and use more RAM and disk. The default of 6144 suits most groups.
- To regenerate, change the seed or size and use a new
GameName, and back up the old save first.
On this page
The four kinds of world
| GameWorld value | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|
Navezgane | The hand-crafted map that ships with the game. Same layout every time. | Learning the game, small groups, mods built around a fixed map. |
RWG | A random world generated from your seed and size on first start. | Most public and private servers. |
Pregen06k01, Pregen06k02, Pregen08k01, Pregen08k02 | Pregenerated random maps that ship with the dedicated server. | Skipping generation time. |
| A custom world name | A world folder you uploaded, such as a community map. | Specific maps from the community or a map maker. |
The stock file lists these shipped pregenerated names as examples. Value spelling matters: on Linux hosts the world name is case sensitive, and a name that does not match a real world will stop the server from starting.
How GameWorld, GameName, WorldGenSeed and WorldGenSize work together
<property name="GameWorld" value="RWG"/>
<property name="GameName" value="MyGame"/>
<property name="WorldGenSeed" value="MyGame"/>
<property name="WorldGenSize" value="6144"/>- WorldGenSeed decides the layout of an RWG map. If a world with the resulting name already exists, the server loads it instead of generating a new one.
- WorldGenSize is the width and height. The stock file describes officially supported sizes as multiples of 2048 between 6144 and 10240, which means 6144, 8192 or 10240.
- GameName is the save name. It also seeds decoration placement such as trees, but it does not change the RWG layout. Changing it starts a new save without deleting the old one.
Because the layout depends on seed and size together, the same pair always produces the same map, which is how communities share seeds. The generation rules also depend on game version, so a seed that made a map on V2.6 is not guaranteed to make the same one on V3.x.
Map size, performance and what to pick
Larger maps cost more at every stage: generation time (minutes for small maps, noticeably longer for the biggest), RAM while the world is loaded, and disk space for saves. Zombie spawning is capped across the whole map by MaxSpawnedZombies, so a bigger map does not mean more zombies at once. It means more distance, more points of interest and more terrain to stream.
| WorldGenSize | Typical use according to hosting guides |
|---|---|
| 6144 (default) | Small to mid-size groups. The usual recommendation for most servers. |
| 8192 | Larger groups who want more room. Also the maximum for crossplay servers. |
| 10240 | Big public servers (guides mention 30 or more players). Needs the most RAM and has the longest generation time. |
Choosing a seed
- Use any text for the seed. It is a string, not a number.
- Preview before you commit. Try seeds in single player first (the V3 patch notes refer to an RWG preview on the new-game screen), then copy the one you like to the server. Use the same size, and the same game version.
- Check the start area, biome spread and nearby cities for the kind of game you want, such as a snow start or a desert start.
- Write down the seed and size. They are the only things you need to rebuild the same map later.
Using pregenerated and custom worlds
A pregenerated world skips the generation step, and it is also how you run a map made by someone else. The general process is:
- Get the world folder
Download the map and confirm it targets your game version. Look for the folder that contains the world's files, not the zip wrapper.
- Upload it to the server's Worlds folder
Place it in
Data/Worlds/under its own folder name, using SFTP for large uploads.Data/Worlds/MyCustomWorld/ - Point GameWorld at it
Set
GameWorldto the exact folder name, with matching case.<property name="GameWorld" value="MyCustomWorld"/> - Use a new GameName and start
A fresh save name keeps this world's data separate from any previous save.
Generated RWG worlds are cached after the first start in a GeneratedWorlds folder, so a restart does not regenerate them. Hosting with ChicagoServers? The 7 Days to Die server hosting page lists what is included, such as a one-click mod installer, free server backups and SFTP file access.
How to regenerate or reset a world
- Stop the server and back up
Copy the save and any generated world folders. Saves cannot be loaded by older game versions, so keep the backup matched to the version that wrote it.
- Change the world inputs
Set a new
WorldGenSeedorWorldGenSize. Either change creates a different world name. - Use a new GameName
This creates a new save folder instead of overwriting the old one.
- Start and wait
The first start generates the map. Do not stop the server while it is generating.
Changing these properties on an existing save does nothing, which is why a new world needs a new save. V3.0 also added an option to reset all unprotected chunks when continuing a game, with a server command for the same purpose. The official release notes cover it if you want new content to appear without a full wipe. Large overhaul mods usually want a brand-new world as well.
Frequently asked questions
What map sizes does 7 Days to Die support on a server?
The stock file describes officially supported RWG sizes as multiples of 2048 between 6144 and 10240, so 6144, 8192 or 10240. Some third-party guides mention smaller or larger values, but those are outside the officially supported range.
Does the same seed always give the same map?
On the same game version and with the same WorldGenSize, yes. The layout depends on both, and a different game version can generate a different map from the same seed.
How do I switch from Navezgane to a random world?
Set GameWorld to RWG, choose a WorldGenSeed and WorldGenSize, and use a new GameName so you get a new save. Back up the old save first.
Why does a bigger world use more resources?
More terrain and points of interest must be generated, stored and streamed to players. Generation takes longer and the server needs more RAM and disk, even though MaxSpawnedZombies still caps zombies across the whole map.